“He may be powerful, and cunning,” the countess concedes, “but he can’t destroy a country, can he?”
“Being hidden as we are, is both a blessing and a curse,” Adam remarks. “We’ve enjoyed centuries of prosperity and uninterrupted peace. But we’re also vulnerable to someone like Kurt, someone who can get world leaders to do his bidding.”
A heavy silence settles in after those words.
I use it to gather my thoughts. The next part is tricky. We aren’t supposed to reveal the specific threat hanging over the House of Valois-Montevor. Except for a handful of people, the country still thinks that my father died of a mysterious illness, and that Theo’s near-fatal crash was an accident. We can’t talk about the fake addendum to the Treaty of Pombrio that Kurt had forged and validated by corrupt experts. Our only hope to save the country from being split between France and Italy is to retrieve the authentic addendum before January 1.
Historical records, the prophecy, and the oracle’s visions all suggest the real addendum is locked away in the impenetrable vault. And that is why we must recover the long-lost Montevor keys—all nine of them. Together, they will open the sealed chamber.
It’s a bloody shame the vault is too small to use dynamite without the risk of damage to the treasure inside!
Under Carlo, too many were privy to all that information, which is how Kurt got wind of it. After Adam took over, any information, including cousin Louis and his wife Camille’s shocking discovery about Father’s death, was doled out on a strictly need-to-know basis. This morning, Uncle Richard, the prime minister and Adam agreed that the de Bellays didn’t need to know.
So, I cut straight to the matter. “Now that you’re aware of the danger Mount Evor is in, let’s talk about the specific reason we’re here.”
The count and countess lean in.
“We need your son’s help to find an antique key,” I say to them. “That key will help us protect Mount Evor from Kurt.”
“Antoine will be honored to assist the royal family!” the count exclaims, puffing his chest.
“May I inquire how that key will help dispel the danger?” the countess asks.
Adam answers that one. “I’m afraid it’s classified.”
“That’s all right,” the count says. “We don’t need to know.”
Ah, that’s music to Adam’s ears!
Sitting taller, Antoine turns to me. “Your Highness, I’ll do anything for my country, no matter the personal cost. The de Bellay lineage goes back all the way to Fat Amalric, who served your forefather Isidore Pox-Face. Whatever you need me to do, it’ll be an honor to do it.”
His parents nod vigorously.
Henri doesn’t.
CHAPTER SEVEN
With my hand against my heart, I level my gaze with Antoine’s. “Thank you for your inspiring words! Maybe it will be your turn one day, but today it’s Henri’s help that we need.”
Four de Bellay jaws drop, including Henri’s.
“In an effort to thwart Kurt,” I speak over their shock, “we must find a priceless key lost over two hundred years ago. We have good intel that it’s hidden somewhere on Henri’s estate in Dordogne.”
Mouths shut, normal breathing resumes, and the de Bellays regain their composure.
“I understand now,” the count says. “You need Henri because you must search the Dordogne estate, and it’s him that my late mother left it to.”
“Henri had lived there with her for six years prior to her passing,” the countess chimes in. “She’d grown very fond of him.”
Is it me, or do they sound… apologetic?
Nah, I must’ve imagined it. They’re Henri’s parents, for Chrissakes! Why would they feel they must justify the dowagercountess’s preference for Henri? Why would an old aristocratic family be so dismissive of their younger son?
The count interrupts my train of thought. “I’m sure Henri will put his estate at your disposal for the duration of the search.”
“He will do his best to help you in any way necessary, Your Highness,” the countess says.
Would’ve been nice to hear that from Henri!
