30
“You brought Lady Narcissawith you?” King Maximus’s voice flooded the confines of his room with barely concealed rage.
“Deepest apologies, Your Majesty,” Flannery squeaked. Maddox hung his head, his face growing pale as the king glowered at all three of us.
I shifted uncomfortably, though it was more from Bennett’s frown than King Maximus’s shouting.
“Your orders were to infiltrate the meeting without drawing attention to yourselves, not take the future crown princess into a pit full of rioters who want her dead!”
“Your Majesty, I was the one who insisted,” I said.
King Maximus scowled mightily. “Why? Do you have an incurable impulse to throw yourself into unnecessary danger?”
My cheeks grew hot as I stared at the damask rug. “The important thing is that we escaped unnoticed. Maddox and Flannery have information.”
He grunted irritably. “Well, get on with it.”
Maddox recounted everything we found, including the magic tunnel, the rioters’ opinions, and the mysterious mistress. Flannery chimed in to explain the involvement of Dominic Turner and his father.
“The general,” King Maximus said, face darkening. “You were right about him from the start, Bennett.”
Bennett dipped his head. “I took the necessary precautions in Coriva when his son appeared,” he said quietly. His gaze slid to me. “Though extra guards didn’t seem to be enough.”
The king exhaled. “I will discuss next steps with Lord Frederick and Captain Greenwood. You two are dismissed.”
Maddox and Flannery shuffled out, both looking thoroughly ashamed. I felt a pang of guilt as I trailed behind them.
King Maximus stood from his seat.
“Father, you look pale,” Bennett said, brows furrowed.
“I just discovered my general is in cahoots with rebels. I need some air.” His Majesty frowned. “Don’t leave, Lady Narcissa. Since you insist on involving yourself in these matters, I will return shortly to speak to both you and Bennett.”
He walked briskly past me, the door slamming shut.
Silence pervaded the room. I tugged on my sleeve, unable to speak as Bennett rounded the table. “Cissa. You do not have to prove that you’re some kind of hero. Not to me. Not even to Father.”
I turned my face away. “I didn’t go down there for heroism.” It wasn’t completely a lie. I did it to avoid him.
Bennett pressed his lips together, his expression identical to the king’s. “You cannot run off and douse fires and infiltrate enemy grounds like you’re immune to danger. Why do you have to do this?”
“It’s my duty as crown princess,” I said quietly.
“It isnot.”
Something in me cracked. My eyes snapped to his. “Well, it is for me!”
“Cissa.”
