Asking me to face Carabosso would be understandable. I wouldn’t like it, but it’s still understandable. But given Firra’s entirely inappropriate loyalty to Sole, she has a history of asking me to cast spells in situations expressly forbidden by Conclave Law. I already have enough I’m responsible for; I don’t need taboo work aswell!
Angelique risked glancing in theirdirection.
“Briar Rose woke up,” Firra blurtedout.
Angelique paused. “Who?”
“Princess Rosalinda,” Donaighsupplied.
“Oh.” Angelique furrowed her brow, thoroughly confused. “I don’t understand—how is that poor tidings? Isn’t it a reason tocelebrate?”
“Not quite,” Firra groaned. “It’s become a royalmess.”
“As you probably remember, Rosalinda was spelled to sleep until she received a kiss from her true love. Well, her true love happened to be Sir Isaia—the Magic Knight who chose to guard her while she slept,” Donaighexplained.
“I still fail to see the problem,” Angelique said. “Magic Knights are highly respected inSole.”
“Yes,” he said reluctantly, dragging the word out. He leaned back on his heels and folded his hand behind hishead.
“Isaia is a problem on his own—he’s being a stubborn mule about accepting Briar’s feelings for him. But the bigger issue is KingGiuseppe.”
Angelique tiredly rubbed her eyes. “Why am I notsurprised?”
She had…complicatedfeelings for the Sole King. She was aware he was considered a competent ruler, but in her sparse meetings with him, he had always been demanding, accusatory, and dangerouslystubborn.
King Giuseppe was why Angelique had cast the sleeping spell not only on Princess Rosalinda, but all of Ciane as well. In his worry for Rosalinda, he was going to strangle the country. His daughter and only child, Princess Alessia, had personally asked Angelique to cast the spell so as to save thenation.
It seems the nap hadn’t tempered King Giuseppe’s badmood.
“What’s his problem now?” Angelique demanded. “If she’s awake, Princess Rosalinda’s curse is broken. Carabosso’s spell can no longer do her anyharm.”
“For some asinine reason, King Giuseppe is convinced Briar Rose—that is, Rosalinda—needs a noble who can rule the country for her,” Firrasaid.
Angelique mashed her eyes some more. “I thought that despite being raised as a peasant, your reports said she received a complete and thorougheducation.”
“She did.” Donaigh bared his teeth in a rather savage smile. “Really, I think she’s better educated than the Sole nobles wouldlikeher tobe.”
“Regardless, Giuseppe has either entered his dotage or completely lost his mind, for he’s decided he will pick out Rosalinda’s husband for her,” Firrasupplied.
Odette scowled. “Why does sheneedto bemarried?”
“The whole country knows the condition of her curse was true love’s kiss to wake her from a deep sleep,” Donaigh explained. “So everyone willalsobe wondering who woke herup.”
Odette glanced at Angelique when Donaigh outlined the rules, but she mercifully pressed her lips together in a line and said nothing more on the topic of Angelique’s limited curse-alterationabilities.
Angelique put her hands on her hips. “What do you expect me to do? I’m not a romance facilitator—and if either of you are so dense as to suggest I make a love potion, I will blow up the gates of Ciane out ofspite.”
“No—nothing of the sort,” Donaigh soothedher.
“Rather, we were hoping you might be able to talk some sense into King Giuseppe,” Firrasaid.
“We suspect Rosalinda has loved Isaia for years,” Donaigh said. “She won’t take to anyone else. And though Isaia is fighting it, he loves her aswell.”
Angelique ground her teeth. “The Chosen have the mirror, and Carabosso is destroying villages. I donothave time to try my hand atmatchmaking!”
“You don’t need to matchmake,” Firra said. “Just convince the king to think! If he blunders into this, Rosalinda will come to despise both him and her parents. Factions will form in the courts and the countryside, and things will only grow worse fromthere.”
“Firra,” Angelique barked. “I understand you love your home country, but you must understand that it isnotour duty to meddle in politics! Rosalinda’s curse is broken. I have no further ties to the country, and above all, it is not my business what the Sole royal family does!” Angelique said the last sentence in what could only be construed as a shout. It wasn’t at all the sort of character she usually wanted to portray, but she was so tired—and Firra was asking her to directlyinterfere!
