The Legendary Knight bowed. “Thank you for coming, Lady Enchantress—and for youraid.”
Angelique barely registered the title with more than an internal sigh. She stood, brushing the skirts of her iridescent dress as it shifted from a deep blue to a plum color. “The curse modification is working perfectly. It seems I might have put a little too much power in my spell—the inexperience of youth—but the only thing it has done is make the reactions slightly more…explosive. There is nothing wrong with the spell itself. When Briar’s true love kisses her, she will wakeup.”
Prince Consort Filippo crouched by his daughter’s bedside, his eyes crinkled with worry. “Yes, butcanshe awake? What if she hasn’t met her truelove?”
At least the prince consort grasps how this works.Angelique eyed Briar, taking in the spell one last time. “Based on the weaving of the spell, I can confidently say she has a true love and is primed to wake. The only other necessary part of the equation needed is for him—whoever he is—to kiss her. The princess will befine.”
The prince consort exhaled deeply. When he stood, a smile returned to hisface.
(Angelique was very interested to see that the young, stone-faced Sir Isaia relaxed minutely aswell.)
“In that case,” Princess Alessia’s face was grave as she clasped her hands together. “I ask you, Lady Enchantress, what we are to do with the rest of thecountry?”
What?
Angelique smiled blandly and hoped in vain Princess Alessia would say something more, but shedidn’t.
What, what, what? I’m an apprentice—not a ruddy monarch! What, do they expect me to do, pop next year’s budget out of the skirts of my dress? How am I supposed to know what to do with acountry?
Angelique kept her voice light when she responded. “I fear I cannot give you any advice. I am but a magic user; I know nothing of running acountry.”
“But we need your help,” Princess Alessiasaid.
And what does that mean? Is this some kind of trap from the Council so they can finally get rid of me if I muck around in politics too much?Angelique stiffened. “According to Veneno Conclave laws, magic users are strictly forbidden from meddling with governmentalaffairs.”
Sir Artemio eyed Angelique with an edge to his gaze that Angelique didn’t like. “You helped Prince Severin when he was cursed, and you saved the princes of Arcainia,” hesaid.
Yep, they definitely have something in mind, and whatever it is, I’m not going to like it.Angelique hastily stepped back, anxious to distance herself from whatever task it was that would clearly get her inmoretrouble. “Not in the least,” she said. “It was Elle who broke Severin’s curse, and Elise saved her foster brothers. I only modified their curses—as I modified PrincessRosalinda’s.”
“That’s not entirely true,” Firra said. “In Arcainia, you tried to kill Clotilde with Gabrielle, then helped the princes get back to Arcainia and fought abasilisk.”
Angelique broke her charade of pleasant politeness and glared at Firra.Traitor! What are you trying toaccomplish?
Firra shrugged. “Sole is my homeland, and it’s going to crumble if we don’t dosomething.”
Nowthatis definitely illegal—from the Conclave’sperspective.
Mages were taughtnotto favor any one country—specifically their homeland—in order to keep the Conclaveneutral.
Angelique flicked her gaze to Donaigh, who was still splayed in his chair. When he caught her eyes, he noddedslightly.
Angelique pressed her lips together.Donaigh is a war mage, the only type of mage who takes any sort of pride in me. He wouldn’t let Firra lure me into a trap, which means this is more serious than I thought.She sighed. “I will hear you out, but I make no promises toact.”
“The specific problem is my father,” Princess Alessia said. “He’s lost hisway.”
Angelique interrupted before she could utter anything potentially blasphemous. “I am not doinganythingto affect his thinking or his mind. Such magic is only used by black mages orsorcerers.”
“We thought as much,” Prince Consort Filippo said. “But if things continue as they are, King Giuseppe will have to be removed from thethrone.”
“Princess Alessia would become queen, but it would not be a peaceful transition,” Sir Artemio said. “There will be bloodshed, and our allies will likely be displeased with us, as King Giuseppe was previously an exemplarymonarch.”
“Then leave the king on the throne,” Angeliquesaid.
“We cannot,” Princess Alessia said. “I love my father, but I know he will ruin this country and bring civil war to us if we let him continue.” She stood straight and proud as she set her true-blue eyes on Angelique. “Can the continent survive the chaos it wouldbring?”
The question took the fight out of Angelique because Alessia wasright.
The continent likely couldn’t survive the chaos. Not because Sole was more important than any other country but because of the way the continent teetered. Already they had avoided disaster in other instances, but how many more curses would be laid? How many more royal families would beattacked?
