“And he just obeyed,” I bite out.
Lucie turns to me. “Nothing justifies his actions, but he faced an impossible choice. It was Princess Felicia’s and your husband’s lives or his wife’s and daughter’s.”
“His mission wasn’t just to assassinate Mother,” Maximilian clarifies. “He was ordered to eliminate Geoffroy, too. The drivers were shot to make sure the cars went off the cliff as an extra precaution. Julian was the only one without a specific target on him.”
I can feel my pulse in my throat. “That’s not what we were told.”
“Von Dietz told us both Geoffroy and Julian were collateral damage,” Alex says tightly.
Lucie shakes her head. “That’s what it looked like at first. But now we have Tobias Brunner’s confession. Geoffroy’s driver’s autopsy corroborates that Geoffroy was a target.”
“How?” Alex asks.
“Geoffroy’s driver took a bullet between the eyes,” she replies.
“He was shot deliberately, not just caught in the crossfire,” Maximilian adds. “Even if Mother’s car hadn’t pushed Geoffroy’s off the cliff, it would’ve likely ended up there, anyway.”
“But why?” I whisper. “Why target Geoffroy?”
“We don’t know,” Maximilian admits. “We’re still investigating.”
I blink, trying to process. “Geoffroy wasn’t part of the quest for the keys. He had no prophetic ability. He was never read in about Ozzi’s scheme. Why would Kurt Ozzi want him dead?”
No one answers.
Maximilian’s jaw tightens. “Our best investigators are trying to find out. But until they do, if either of you sees or hears anything, be it a letter, a file, people Geoffroy may have met?—”
“We’ll look,” Alex says. “And you’ll be the first to know.”
Maximilian nods. “Thank you.”
Lucie exhales. “If it’s any comfort, Tobias Brunner will spend the rest of his life in an Evorian prison. He’ll never get out.”
“Unless Kurt wins,” Maximilian interjects with a bitter smirk. “Then maybe he’ll get Brunner out and return his family to him.”
“If they’re still alive,” Alex points out.
I stare into the dark down the path. There’s a coppery tang in the air, and my mouth tastes like confusion and blood.
15
EVA
I’ve been quieter than usual all day, still turning over the royal visit. With Millie at her friend’s, dinner has been… introspective.
Alex and I are finishing dessert when the storm starts. The thunder doesn’t bother me. What does is the flicker in the chandelier, followed by darkness that swallows half the room.
I sigh. “Old wing’s out again.”
Alex sets down his napkin. “I’ll send someone.”
“There’s no one to send,” I point out. “Most of the staff is off, and the ones on duty wouldn’t know what to do.”
I rise, already picturing the clunky fuse panel.
He stands, too. “Eva, stay. This isn’t your job.”
“It would’ve been the new estate manager’s,” I parry. “But you still haven’t replaced Eric.”
