My forehead was still damp and tingling by the time Lady Ruan came with tea. “Where is Crown Prince Bennett?” she asked, looking around the suite.
I wiped his kiss away with the back of my hand. A sinking feeling settled in my stomach. I didn’t dare identify it. “He left for errands.”
“Ah, what a shame. I was about to propose a tour,” Lady Ruan said. “I suppose we can postpone it until he returns. Celeste was looking forward to meeting you.”
“Celeste? As in Celeste Carr?” I said.
She brightened. “So you’ve heard of her! She would be thrilled to know.”
I scrambled at the chance to distract myself. Rising soprano Celeste Carr. This could be my chance to see if she was connected to the rebels.
“Wait!” I said as Lady Ruan was about to leave. “Perhaps you could still give me the tour? I’m sure Bennett wouldn’t mind.”
Lady Ruan paused. “Well, alright. I suppose I can show you the auditorium and backstage,” she said, smiling. “I’ll be back to get you in ten minutes. Bring some friends along, if you wish.”
Once Lady Ruan left, I scoured the floor for Giselle. She was the only one I could think of who would want to go with me.
I eventually found the seamstress kneeling in an outdoor hallway with stone arches overlooking the city. Another figure sat beside her.
“Maddox?” I turned my collar up as I approached the pair.
Maddox looked up glumly, his eyes bloodshot. Pippin was curled up in his arms. The tabby enjoyed attention from everyone, it seemed. “So? Did His Highness decide to remove me after all?” His voice was a croak as if he had been crying the entire night.
Giselle stood and handed Misty to me. “He’s been like this all day,” she whispered. “You better have good news.”
I shifted Misty onto my shoulder and told them that Bennett hadn’t made a decision. “He left before I could convince him,” I lied. I hoped the cold was enough to excuse my flushed cheeks.
Maddox groaned and hugged Pippin to his chest, burying his face into his fur.
Giselle sighed. “You should have kissed him. That would’ve changed his mind.”
I knelt before Maddox. “Everything will be fine. And if you do get removed from the Royal Guard, I will tell Father it was for unfair reasons.”
“It won’t matter to him,” Maddox said, his voice muffled by Pippin’s fur. “I’ll still be a failure. He’s coming here, did you know? With King Maximus.”
“The king is coming?” I asked, surprised.
Giselle squatted beside me. “King Maximus is paying a surprise visit to see how we’re doing, since this is the last stop of the tour. The whole procession knows but...” She paused. “Rats. I don’t think I was supposed to tell you that.”
“I’m going to get a scolding and then he’s going to disown me,” Maddox said. A sob tore out of his throat.
I bit my cheek, not entirely sure how to proceed. He had never been in such a state before and I had little experience in comforting people. “Do you two want to join me for a tour of the opera house?”
Giselle heartily agreed and dragged Maddox to his feet, though he looked like he wanted nothing more than to crawl into a hole. After some cajoling, I managed to get him to wipe his face and hand Pippin over to Giselle.
We met Lady Ruan at the stairs. She seemed surprised at my choice of company, including the two cats, but proceeded with the tour graciously.
“You have already seen these grand steps, of course,” Lady Ruan said as we descended the endless flights of stairs, “but the real star of the show is the auditorium.”
She was right. The auditorium had rows upon rows of velvet seats and a high, domed ceiling from which a magnificent crystal chandelier hung. The stage was framed by yards of royal purple velvet, drawn open to expose a painted background of a starry night. Stagehands hauled a heavy wooden board in the shape of a crescent moon across the stage. Behind them, a swath of painted clouds were suspended on cables.
Giselle gave a low whistle. Even Maddox forgot to look miserable.
“A peek at tomorrow’s show,” Lady Ruan said with a wink. “It is Celeste’s opening night after a month break. We expect to have a full auditorium for the rest of the week. And bless her heart, she decided to give the witches of Alevine free entry for one of her performances.”
I shifted Misty’s weight to my other arm. It was an odd thing, after hearing so many human businesses complain about witches. Why would the Grand Alevine Opera allow them to see a show free of charge?
“Will you not lose money?” I asked.
