“Forgive me, Your Grace. You never told me exactly what youdocare about.”
He seethed at her. “Need I remind you that I gave you this position? I could easily take it away.”
“I apologize, Your Grace,” she said quickly, fervently hoping to be released from this meeting as soon as possible.
“There is nothing unusual about the duchess?” he asked impatiently. “What does she do during all her time? Write letters, go on long walks?”
“She reads, Your Grace.”
“Reads what?”
“Novels. Mostly pirate adventures.”
The duke let out a snort. “A front. Come now, there’s more. You’re twisting your hands.”
Cinderella’s hands flew apart. She hadn’t even noticed.
“Youhavelearned something from the duchess. Something valuable. Out with it, my child, I haven’t all day.”
“I...”Think of something,Cinderella urged herself.Anything.
But all she could think of was the truth: the king was planning to abdicate.
The duke inhaled in frustration before softening his tone. “Come, my dear, it’s all right. Sit down, sit down—I’ve frightened you, haven’t I?”
He ushered her toward one of the plush chairs across from his desk, but Cinderella remained standing.
“You can tell me. Do you not care about the kingdom? It is my duty to see to it that our country remains strong and safe. The king’s sister spends a great deal of time lobbying with the common folk, and arguing against laws that the council has passed to secure the future of our people. If she has shared something with you, it is your duty to tell me. It is your duty to Aurelais.”
He said it so convincingly that Cinderella nearly believed him. Nearly.
“Th-thank you, Your Grace,” she stammered, “but all the duchess and I talk about are tea, my dog, Bruno, and what books she’d like from the library.”
Following a long exhale, the Grand Duke folded his hands over his lap. “Is something troubling Her Highness? A physician was seen leaving her chambers yesterday.”
Cinderella tilted her head. “I don’t know. I didn’t see him.”
“I ask only out of concern,” Ferdinand pressed. “Is something amiss with her health?”
The question seemed innocent enough. “Oh, no. She’s fine,” Cinderella responded. “But she has had some trouble sleeping... she takes a sleeping draught.”
The duke leaned forward with interest. “Come again?”
“A sleeping draught,” Cinderella repeated. More hastily, she added, “Every afternoon after lunch with the king. It’s the same one His Majesty himself takes.”
“No wonder he no longer takes tea with me,” the Grand Duke muttered, stroking his chin. “Interesting.”
It seemed like a common enough thing for a woman the duchess’s age to do—and the king. She didn’t know why it interested the duke so much.
“You needn’t look so frightened, Cinderella. The duchess is a powerful woman, yes, but she has had a turbulent past, and I would not be surprised if she harbored deep resentment toward her brother—and toward me and my late father.”
“But why?”
“There was an incident, you see....” The duke frowned, as if he’d remembered something that tasted sour. “There was an incident revolving around the duchess that endangered the kingdom, and it is my duty to see nothing like it ever happens again. Genevieve is not to be trusted. Understood?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Very good,” he said. “You’ve done well, Cinderella. Very well. If you learn anything else of note, come find me at once. You are dismissed.”
