I shake my head. “No. Too dangerous.”
“Twelve days,” she says. “That’s not a lot of time to change our parents’ minds about centuries of tradition.”
“I know.”
“But it’s not impossible.” She tilts her head. “And what makes her the perfect queen?”
“Addison is brilliant, honest, and doesn’t take my shit. She has the education, wealth, relatability, and she’s beyond talented. She’s not some random artist. She’s?—”
“Perfect for you.”
I nod, meeting her eyes. “Yes.”
“Then there is no other choice.” She walks toward the door.
“One more thing,” I say. “Addison found something in Henri’s paintings. He hid our grandmother in landscapes where no one would think to look. They form a trail that ends at a wall in Mother’s sitting room, where a painting was removed.”
Delphine’s eyes narrow. “Excuse me?”
“I need more information on everything that Henri painted that’s in the record. All landscapes, along with their locations. Please check the storage inventories and ask around about any artwork that’s been moved in the last twenty years. I want to know what was there.”
“You think someone is hiding something?”
“I don’t know.” I meet her eyes. “But I want to find out.”
She nods. “I’ll look into it. Now, I have to deliver your note. Go home and shower because you smell like stress and desperation. Also, please don’t get caught. That will ruin everything.”
Then she’s gone, and I’m standing alone in her disaster of a room, surrounded by clothes and a frozen image of a woman crying in a hot tub on her TV screen.
I don’t waste any more time, and I head back to my loft through the service corridors. It’s a route I’ve memorized over years of sneaking around this palace. Most of the staff finished their duties hours ago, so I make it to the door that leads to the east wing without passing anyone.
Once I’m inside my loft, I move fast, preheating the pizza oven, then removing the dough from the fridge so it can sit. I take a quick shower, then change into some jeans and a soft gray T-shirt that doesn’t feel like I’m wearing a costume.
When I return to the kitchen, I stretch the dough the way I learned from a YouTube video by an old Italian grandmother who yelled at the camera the entire time. I add fresh mozzarella, torn basil, tomatoes, and mushrooms from the palace garden. Before I slide it inside the oven, I throw fat pepperonis on top.
My phone vibrates on the counter.
Delphine
Delivered. You owe me a VERY expensive birthday present.
Louis
Thank you. If I get what I want, I promise I’ll give you anything you want.
Delphine
Anything?
Louis
Within reason.
Delphine
I slide my phone into my pocket and smile, knowing she’ll be here soon.
A light knock comes twenty minutes later.
