“We have to talk to Addy,” I tell Delphine.
“How? You can’t take a piss without someone documenting it.”
“I’m going to climb out the window.”
She shakes her head. “You can’t do that. You could hurt yourself.”
“Then help me.”
“No! If you die, they’ll say I killed you for the crown. No way that’s happening,” she says.
Delphine opens her mouth to respond, but the door swings open before she can speak. We both turn, and my entire body goes rigid when I see who’s standing in the doorway.
Tatiana.
She’s wearing a pink sundress, her hair loose around her shoulders, and she looks pissed.
“Get out,” Delphine says, stepping forward with her fists clenched at her sides.
“I need to speak with Louis.”
“You need to get the hell out of his room before I throw you out myself.”
“Delphine”—Tatiana’s voice is quiet, almost pleading—“please. Five minutes. That’s all I’m asking.”
“After what you did? You’re lucky I don’t?—”
“It’s fine,” I say, and both women turn to stare at me.
Delphine looks at me like I’ve lost my mind because I told her exactly what happened. “Louis, you can’t be alone with her.”
“Give us a moment.”
“You can’t be serious,” my sister pleads.
“It’s a direct order.” I hold Delphine’s gaze until she realizes I’m not going to back down. “Wait outside.”
She shakes her head, her expression shifting from disbelief to rage. “If you try anything, I’ll publicly call you a liar.”
“Noted.”
Delphine shoulders past Tatiana on her way out, knocking into her hard enough to make her stumble. The door closes behind her, and then it’s just the two of us.
Tatiana stays near the entrance, keeping her distance, like she knows she’s not welcome any closer. “Thank you for agreeing to speak with me.”
“I haven’t agreed to anything. You have five minutes, and then you’re gone.”
“That’s fair.” She takes a breath and clasps her hands in front of her. “I came to apologize. What I did in your office was wrong. I violated your boundaries, I disrespected you, and I’ve felt sick about it ever since.”
“This is an act. I’m not buying it.” I keep my voice flat.
“Staying and doing this—it isn’t my choice,” she finally says.
And for a brief moment, I understand.
She meets my eyes, and I see something I wasn’t expecting. “Louis, I need you to understand something. What happened in your office … I did it on purpose.”
I stare at her.
