“It looks like I won’t be occupying that post much longer.”
“But they just appointed you! Like, in late November or something.”
“Correct.” He shoots me a triumphant glance. “Our own PM tapped me to be Mount Evor’s next foreign minister.”
My jaw falls. “Congrats, cousin! I’m so proud of you!”
I love Louis. He’s more than a cousin to me. He’s my second-best friend after Leo, and my business associate. There isn’t a shade of envy in the emotion I’m feeling right now. I am not at all covetous that he is, by all accounts, a worthier descendant of Isidore Pox-Face than I am. Louis’s dad—my maternal uncle—is a permanently inebriated douche, but Louis proved himself as the real deal, a strong man who was able to restore the honor of the dukes of Arrago. My joy about that fact doesn’t have a bitter tang.
Naturally, the news of his upcoming nomination doesnotjack up my fear that I might fail where he succeeded and that the d’Alenq name will remain forever marred.
He grins. “Thank you, bro!”
“Did you say yes?” I have no doubt he did, so the question is a pure formality.
“A career diplomat can’t really say no when offered a post like that.”
“Sounds like an ‘accept the honor or quit’ kind of offer.”
He nods. “I’m looking forward to the challenge, though.”
“Of course, you are.”
“And to living in Mount Evor again, after years of diplomatic service abroad!” His eyes sparkle. “I’ll be able to oversee the duchy and Falcon’s Nest much better from Pombrio than from Paris, or from Lisbon before that.”
“What about Cannes?” He knows I don’t mean the town.
“Our studio means the world to me, you know that, don’t you?”
I nod. “It’s Grandfather Louis’s legacy. It means the world to all three of us.”
“I’ll remain as involved as I can possibly manage.”
“Good,” I say. “How does Camille feel about your return to Pombrio? I know she was happy in the French capital.”
“Mount Evor has been growing on her lately.”
We exchange a meaningful look. Louis’s betrothed used to be the most hated person in the country through no fault of her own. It was because of the long shadow cast by her traitor of a sister, Jeannette.
From there, the conversation moves on to various Royal Riviera matters, the movie we’re making, and how we need to look into hiring a manager. Celeste hates administration, Louis has no time for it, and I am much better at raising money and running the artistic side of things than the day-to-day business of running a studio. Not to mention that bookkeeping fills me with dread.
Half an hour later, Louis cuts to the chase. “Adam Von Dietz briefed me late last night about your upcoming museum visit. Well done, Jonas!”
“I don’t have the key yet,” I point out. “But what gives me heart is that Kurt doesn’t seem to have caught on this time.”
“Don’t underestimate him.”
“I don’t. I’ve been extra circumspect.”
He shoots me a narrow look. “Including with Leo?”
“Including with Leo.” I let out an impatient sigh. “Adam is wrong to suspect him. Leo can’t be the mole.”
A tiny smile touches my cousin’s lips. “Why? Because he’s a great guy, and we all love him? That makes for a perfect mole in my book.”
“You don’t know him as well as I do.”
Louis humphs, unconvinced.
