Antonia glances over at me as if seeking permission to share what we found. I open my mouth, then close it, unsure of how to proceed. I don’t want Ludis to know about the hidden objects.
She sets the book back down. “You know, you’re the ones who thought it was a good idea for me to get closer to the prince. If you think I’m compromised, I should just go.”
“Are you?” Antonia blurts.“You look really cozy with him when we see you together.”
“Because that’s what I’m supposed to be doing,” she snaps.
“He can be very persuasive…” I begin.
She rises from her seat.
“Wait,” I call. “Please, sit. Listen.”
With a sigh, she returns to her chair. “I’m listening.”
“I trust you, but you need to tell us how much you want to know or not know. Think about your interactions with him. Has he ever made you say more than you planned? He’s exceptional in that,” I say.
“I have him completely under control.” She grins. “He thinks he knows everything.”
“What do you mean?” Antonia asks.
“Oh, you know, about how Sabina is secretly pregnant and how she plans to run away with the baby and retake the throne for herself while the men are all off in Iskvaland.” She shrugs.
“What?” I blurt.
“He believes that?” Antonia asks.
“How would I do that?” I ask. “Especially since they’ve made it clear they plan to take me with them to Iskvaland.”
“Well, he’s been very busy interviewing guards and locals in the nearby town to find out who is planning to sneak you away,” she says with a shrug.
“He’s not hurting anyone is he?” I ask.
“I told him if anyone was harmed it would draw attention, and you’d know he was on to him.”
“That has to be the most unrealistic decoy I’ve ever heard,” Antonia deadpans.
“But it’s what he would do,” I say.
“Exactly,” Genevieve says. “He’s already promised me that he’ll make me his official mistress, and that I’ll live a life of luxury in Iskvaland.”
I wrinkle my nose. “He thinks that how he’ll win you over?”
“I told him it was everything I wanted. Freedom from this empire, my own money, not being tied down to a man…” She shrugs.
“I’m sorry I doubted you,” I say.
“Yes, sorry,” Antonia adds.
“It’s alright. I get it. Heisgood at what he does, but I was raised for court. It’s a game I was trained to play,” she says.
“You haven’t had to”—Antonia makes a choked sound—“sleep with him, have you?”
“I don’t think I want to know the answer to that,” I add quickly.
She bites down on her lip and bounces a little in her seat as if she’s dying to tell us.
“Go ahead,” I relent.
