“Finding Denis.”
“You don’t need to do anything!”
“Yes, I fucking do.”
“Damien, stop! I don’t want?—”
He whipped around. “You are going to be the queentomorrow, Evelyn. Members of your own Royal Guard don’t get to say shit like that and live.”
Damien rushed down the rest of the stairs and through the hallway. Evelyn hesitated at the door to the dining room, not wanting to go near the kitchen again.
“Where the fuck is Denis?” Damien yelled at the kitchen staff.
Evelyn couldn’t hear their answer, but Damien reappeared in the hall and headed for the front door. Simon and Rory prevented Evelyn from following him.
“Captain Fontaine can handle it, Princess,” Simon told her.
Leo walked out of the ballroom. “What’s going on?”
“There’s been some trouble with a guard this morning, Your Majesty,” Simon explained. “Captain Fontaine is addressing it now.”
“What kind of trouble?” Leo raised Evelyn’s chin. “Are you hurt?”
She shook her head, then followed him into the ballroom, where her father was also waiting. Simon, Rory, and Nicolas joined them.
“What’s all the commotion?” King Tristan asked.
“I’m not sure yet,” Leo replied.
This is humiliating. I don’t want the whole palace to know what the man said about me.
“I didn’t fucking do anything!” an angry voice screamed from the hallway.
Damien strode into the ballroom. Behind him, two soldiers dragged in a guard, presumably Luc Denis. Another pair of soldiers escorted a second guard, who must be Gage.
Evelyn left Leo to stand with Nicolas against the wall. It felt safer, somehow, like she was out of the line of fire.
The two soldiers shoved Denis to the floor, forcing him to kneel in front of Leo and King Tristan. Damien stood next to Denis, arms folded over his chest and feet shoulder-width apart. Gage was held off to the side.
“I need an explanation, Damien,” Leo said.
“This vile piece of shit was overheard insulting Princess Evelyn.” Despite the profanity, Damien maintained a professional tone.
Leo looked confused. “Overheard by who?”
“The princess herself, as well as her guards.”
“She’s a fucking liar!” Denis yelled.
Damien swiftly kicked Denis in the stomach before facing the kings again.
“What kind of insults?” Leo wanted to know.
“The kind I am not willing to repeat in front of her father.”
“And you are certain it was this man?” King Tristan asked.
“Yes,” Damien confirmed. “One of Evelyn’s guards was able to identify him.”
