“How could you?”
Ferdinand sniffed, twirling the chain of his monocle flippantly around his finger. He seemed to revel in justifying his wicked deed. “His Majesty has become weak. Twenty years ago he would have never eventhoughtabout repealing the ban against magical beings. Yes, Cinderella, under King George’s last decree, your precious fairy godmother would be allowed back into Aurelais.” He sneered at her. “Don’t look so surprised. Yes, I know it was she who helped you seduce the prince. Imagine, a doe-eyed young woman like you being a sorceress.”
He laughed. “Your fairy godmother will never be safe in Aurelais, so long as I am in power. And as of noon today, I will be.”
“Why...” She seethed. “I don’t know how you live with yourself.”
“Quite pleasantly, if you must know. Genevieve told you he means to pass on the throne to Charles, didn’t she? At first, I was appalled by George’s decision. Charles isn’t ready to rule, and he knows it. Then I thought to myself... this is an opportunity to restructure the monarchy. Should Charles rise to the throne prematurely, he would naturally need someone by his side, guiding him.”
Ferdinand tugged on the ends of his mustache. “Once the council meets today, it isIwho will be safeguarding the kingdom, as Grand Overseer and Councilor Regent. That is, until Prince Charles is sufficiently prepared to be king—a determination that lies, naturally, with me.”
“You lied to the king from the very beginning!”
“Iguidedhim, young lady, as is my job... my duty! So you see, Cinderella, I cannot have you staying in the palace and knowing all my secrets. Especially not as princess of Aurelais. You will be brought to a proper dungeon, the location of which onlyIshall know. And there you shall end your days—”
“How could you do this to your prince?” Cinderella burst out, barely listening to the duke. “Your king? He trusted you.”
Ferdinand scoffed. “I chose love for my country over love for my king.”
“Why should they be different?”
“You think me without a heart, my child. But in time, you will see that all I have done is for the good of Aurelais.”
“It sounds like all you have done is for the good of yourself,” said Cinderella.
“A reputation takes a lifetime to build. I won’t have mine fall to ruins because Prince Charles chooses an unsuitable girl to take as a wife, and the whole country falls to chaos as a result. Aurelais needs a traditional queen, one whose presence will not undermine the rigors of the monarchy.”
“Maybe the people would welcome a queen like them,” Cinderella countered.
“The people don’t know what is best for them.” The duke donned his hat, pushing the feather so it did not obscure his vision. “They complain that we nobles have all the power and all the gold, but if we were to allow peasants to make laws, then imagine the chaos that would unfold. If we were to give every commoner a hundred pieces of gold, then who would bother tilling the fields and working the land? Aurelais would fall into disarray. No, no, I shan’t allow that to happen. Order must be upheld, above all.”
“You think you’re protecting this country,” she said quietly, “but you’re not. It’s people like you who are hurting it.”
“We shall see, Cinderella. We shall see. It is no longer your concern. Now I must go, for the council awaits my announcement of Charles’s imminent marriage to the Princess of Lourdes. The guards will alert me when your fairy godmother arrives.”
He bent, whispering conspiratorially, “You see, I’m quite confident she will come to your aid. And when she does... she’ll regret she ever set foot in Aurelais.”
He gave a dark chuckle, and Cinderella’s insides clenched. “No!”
But he whirled away, and the door closed behind him, his steps clicking against the cold, dank stone. A plea for him to come back nearly crawled out of Cinderella’s throat, but she closed her mouth, refusing to beg. She would find a way out of this herself.
Taking in her bleak surroundings, she swallowed.Somehow.
Doubt pricked at her insides. There was no Bruno to help her distract the guards, no Louisa to help her sneak out of the prison. And calling upon Lenore was out of the question. That was what the Grand Duke wanted.
She’d have to do this alone. But how?
Wringing her hands together, she leaned her head back against the wall, ignoring the mice skittering at her feet. Had it only been a few weeks ago that she’d been alone on the streets, promising herself she’d never feel this helpless again?
Think, Cinderella.She gritted her teeth.Think.
She only had until noon, when the guards would arrive to take her away from the palace. When the duke would meet with the council and become the Grand Overseer of the kingdom.
She needed to beat Ferdinand to the council.
For the hundredth time, Cinderella kicked at her skirt, searching its silken layers for something,anythingthat could help her get out of there. Odds were slim an absentminded seamstress might have left some pins or a needle in such a fine garment, but Cinderella was desperate.
She flipped the folds of her skirt back and forth and did the same with her sleeves, unrolling them. Nothing.
