“Marcella?” the king calls out to me.
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“My aunt has the children on the third-floor crow’s nest. Would you mind going up there and asking her to come down and join us here?”
I nod. “Of course, sir.”
“I’d also like you to stay with the children for now.”
“Very good. I’d be honored.”
Shocked, I curtsy to everybody and leave the room. So…maybe he’s not suspicious of me?
Winding my way up through the palace to the third floor, a pang of unease hits me. I was only in this room once, and it was during my palace tour after I was hired. After last night, I know this is where it happened. Signoria and Antonia had said it was the library window he was thrown out of.
But now I know better. It was the third-floor crow’s nest. A room that’s been redone since that night. My breath settles in my lungs, and a fresh wave of sadness hits me. The room has been transformed from the video I saw last night. It used to be lined with bookshelves with an open floor area that was connected to the second and first floors of the library through a winding staircase.
Now the floor has been closed up and the bookcases removed. There are comfortable sofas in front of the fireplace, a large, open play space for the children, and an office area for the queen. It’s cozy and pleasant. You’d never know that death happened here. That blood stained the floors.
The children are off to the side playing, while Althea reads a book in the corner on the window bench. Zayer is making a palace out of blocks while Sabrina and Phaedra are playing dolls, dressing them up, and having them do things in the massive dollhouse.
I clear my throat, and all the attention turns to me. “Lady Althea?”
Her head lifts from her book, and she sits up.
“Sorry to disturb your reading, but His Majesty is requesting your presence downstairs. Emily has returned home. They’re in her space.”
“Lovely. I’m so glad she’s home. Thank you for coming to get me. Are you staying with the children?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Marcella, come play with us,” Sabrina calls out.
“I want to play chess,” Phaedra agrees.
Just as Althea reaches the door, an attendant enters. Althea looks surprised by his presence but doesn’t question it. She may be surprised, but I’m not.
So much for him not being suspicious. If I were questioning it before, it’s confirmed now.
The king doesn’t trust me.
He knows something.
But what is the question? And what does Rowan know?
I do my best to shove down my nerves and ignore him as I take out the chessboard and lay it out, then set up the pieces.
“I want to be black,” Phaedra demands.
“Then I get to be white.” Sabrina snatches a white pawn from the box.
Zayer is too busy with his blocks to care. The three of us play chess, me helping both of them. My personal phone buzzes in my pocket, and I ignore it. I don’t even so much as flinch or go toward it. If I learned one thing from the videos last night, there are cameras all over this room.
On one side of me, I have Signoria and Antonia orchestrating something I no longer want to be part of. On the other side, I have the royal family that I’m growing more and more attached to. Including the prince who surprises and thrills me in ways I never expected were possible.
All I know is that everything is becoming harder and more difficult by the second. And I’m not sure how any of us will survive unscathed when the end comes.
30
