“Aren’t you the drama queen?” I mutter.
“Not at all. Quite a few have already sworn allegiance to me. Yours, on the other hand… The House of Valois-Montevor chose to disappear.”
“Nonsense! We’re fighting for survival!”
“When Richard, the man I used to consider a friend, prioritized the interest of his people over the interest of the global superclass, including mine and his, I understood something about your family.”
I put my chin up. “And what’s that?”
“You’re shackled by loyalty to your people. And that’s a problem for me.”
“How?”
“Your very existence slows down the advent of the new world order in which my group owns everything and everyone,” he claims. “So, I had to find a way to get rid of your family and your ridiculous little country in a bloodless way.”
“Suddenly, you care about spilling blood?”
“I do, but not like you think, Your Highness.” He gives me a soft, friendly smile. “If I went all in and persuaded France or Italy to bomb the hell out of you, that would entail two undesired outcomes. First, the world would learn about your existence, which doesn’t align with my plans. Second, public opinion would take the side of a smaller country attacked by a bigger one. It always does, no matter the context.”
“How clever you are!” I say.
“I am, indeed,” he agrees, ignoring the mockery in my tone. “Now, Eugénie. I answered your question with the utmost honesty, and I expect the same from you. Where is the key?”
“No idea,” I say. “We never found it.”
“Don’t lie to me!” He shrieks before continuing in a normal voice. “I’m bringing a second team over here with specialized gear and what not. We’ll find the key tomorrow, I’m certain of it.”
Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure of it, too. A sweep with a metal detector will prompt them to look under that tree, or in its branches.
“If you’re so certain, then why do you need me?” I bite out.
“I prefer that you or Henri point me to the key tonight, so I don’t have to kill you,” he replies. “Like I said, I don’t enjoy violence.”
“And like I said, Henri and I haven’t found the key. We can’t help you.”
He turns away to hide the grimace of frustration on his wrinkled face.
When he turns back, all that’s left is cold rage. “I hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but here we are. You leave me no choice.”
They’re going to torture me.I ball my tied hands into fists. My entire body stiffens.
Will I be able to withstand it?How much pain can I take before I beg for mercy?
Kurt laughs. “You’re scared, aren’t you? Don’t be, my dear Eugénie. No one’s going to torture you unless my next move fails. And I don’t think it will.”
Having said that, he pulls a small tablet from the pocket of his bulletproof vest and spends a minute setting it up. As I watch him, a horrible realization dawns on me. To make me talk, he’s going to make me watch while Henri is beaten again, or worse, tortured. The thought sends a jolt of fear through me. My heart pounds with trepidation.
I can’t let this happen!
Raw, unbridled anger bubbles up inside me. I open my mouth and unleash a string of insults at Kurt.
“I forbid you from hurting Henri!” I yell after I run out of curse words. “If you do that, I swear I’ll find a way to destroy you!”
Kurt chuckles softly. “If there was such a way, don’t you think your uncle would’ve tried it already?” He tut-tuts at me. “My dear, you should know better. I’m too powerful for you. Actually, I’m too powerful for most countries.”
Watch out, you’re so full of yourself you might burst!
He tilts his head to one side. “Did you know that your sweet Henri had a secret?”
