It’s not her fault she doesn’t see me as a romantic partner. It’s not her fault I love her. This is enough. No matter how much it hurts, this is the way it has tobe.
Chapter 21
Loire was markedly morehumid and warmer than Kozlovka. Angelique had to braid her hair into a tight weave to avoid looking like a frizzy-haired goblin, and she was grateful for her dress’s cooling charms as she stalked through Chanceux Chateau’s gardens, searching for the master andmistress.
She had used the several-day-ride from Kozlovka and Loire to practice gently correcting Severin of the foolish idea that she was this generation’s Snow Queen, so she could explain it without visibly clenching herteeth.
All I have to do is keep the front up long enough to correct him and find out what task he wants me to do next—because there is no chance they sent for me without having some godforsaken quest they want me to takeup.
Angelique heard Elle’s familiar laughter, so she plunged into the gardens, which were bright and bedecked with all the early summerflowers.
When she turned the corner, she was treated to a rather unexpectedsight.
Severin—in a stained cotton shirt rolled up to his elbows—sat in front of a rose bush and was carefully pruning it of dead leaves and weeding aroundit.
Elle, however, wore a mint green gown, and though her dark hair was enviably frizz free, it looked a little mussed. As if she had recently been riding and the wind had pulled some of her locks free from the pinned style. She was addressing some of Severin’s troops, her hands on herhips.
“When you travel to Erlauf,” the princess said, “you will be received at what was once the Trieux royal palace. You ought to use this opportunity to see if you can uncover proof that Erlauf has dug itself out of the steep debts it had with Arcainia. Surely you’ll be able tohappenupon something that will confirmit.”
One of the soldiers raised hishand.
“Yes?” Elleasked.
“Our assignment is to support the Erlauf army against goblins so they may send troops to Torrens and Sole,” the soldier said. “His Highness gave us those specific instructions.” The soldier glanced at Severin, who did not seem inclined to meddle in the situation and instead clipped a dead rose from hisbush.
“Obviously,” Elleagreed.
“Why would we be attempting to ferret out our ally’ssecrets?”
“Ferret out? Hardly—you’re merely satisfying a tiny curiosity. And it’s agoodrumor you’d be confirming, no less!” Elle laughed falsely and covered her mouth in what was most likely a purposeful imitation of the courtladies.
I highly doubt that Elle will ever lose her intelligencer habits. But I don’t know that Severin would want her to lose that extra bit of fire, either.Angelique watched the pair from the shadows.They are a bit of an odd couple—but wellpaired.
Severin finally looked up from his bush. “Elle,” he saidwarningly.
“What? They’re always soinsistenton learning the ways of the Rangers so they can hound me endlessly—even when I’m only going on a simple social call,” Ellesaid.
“I don’t believe you’ve ever been on a simple social call in your life, Your Highness,” the soldiersaid.
Elle ignored him. “It’s only natural we ask them to put that training to good use!” She finished with a brilliantsmile.
Severin stood and brushed dirt off the knees of his trousers. “Lady Enchantress Angelique, I am glad to see you have returned safely.” He turned around and bowed to Angelique with great gravity despite the pruning shears heheld.
Angelique wasn’t too surprised she’d been found out.Perhaps he still retains superior hearing from his time as abeast?
She glided forward, offering a smile to Elle—who winked in return. “Good afternoon, YourHighnesses.”
Elle swatted her hand through the air. “Yes, yes, we won’t use your title if you don’t use ours. Did Stil tell you what welearned?”
“He said Prince Lucien uncovered the historic patterns that pointed to the Chosen as the dark enemy we face,” Angeliquesaid.
“He did,” Elle confirmed. “Healsobroke his frog spell and is in love with the most fabulous girl. She can actually bring him to heel! Can you imaginethat?”
Severin ignored his wife’s observations. “We’ve further looked into it, and it seems most likely. We put together a timeline of the catastrophic events that have taken place over the last eighteen to twenty years or so, and it seems nearly every one of them was planned ormanipulated.”
Elle’s eyes lost their mischievous glint as she moved to stand with Severin, resting her hand on his forearm. “And nearly every last one of them,youput an end to,” she added. “There were a few in which you were only indirectly involved—like healing Puss when Princess Gabrielle faced the ogre in Arcainia—but only a rare few happened without your presence,” Elle hesitated, then added. “We’ve wondered if the deaths of Queen Ingrid of Arcainia and King Matvey of Mullberg were planned by theChosen.”
“Ingrid was once a powerful Lady Enchantress,” Angelique said. “It seems like a plausibleconclusion.”
