Page 158 of The Mad King and the False Queen

Dagmara tried to read Sabien, but his face was a mystery to her.

“Fine, don’t believe me, see if I care,” Sabien shrugged. “But at least let me help you.”

Dagmara hesitated. “Why?”

“I need to know who I am and why I have Life magic,” he said. “If I help you, maybe you can get me an audience with Queen Bernadette? Or Princess Magdalena? They have to know something. I need to know who I am.”

Dagmara didn’t like anything about this. Her top priority was maintaining Magdalena’s secret. No one could know she didn’t have Life magic.

“You and I are on the same side,” Sabien continued, taking a step toward her. “Claude killed King Bogdan moments before I was going to discover the truth about my magic. We both need the truth.”

“Do you have proof Claude was behind the assassination?” Dagmara questioned.

“I’m not positive but…” Sabien paused. “No, it’s nothing.”

“Tell me.”

He let out an exaggerated sigh. “I know it may be unrelated, but he signed some false documents a few days before the coronation.”

False documents? Those had to be the three identities Teos had told Dagmara about.

Sabien continued, “And one time I thought I caught him with…a mask.”

“A mask?”

“Maybe it was nothing. But I could’ve sworn it was the symbol of the First Prince.”

A sick feeling rose in Dagmara’s stomach. Her mind flashed back to the day of the coronation and the assassin who had killed Aleksy. The man had stared her down in the center aisle. The man had worn a white mask with the symbol of the First Prince.

It couldn’t be.

“If Claude was responsible, why hasn’t he tried to kill me by now?” Dagmara asked.

“Well why would he before tonight?” Sabien countered. “He wants to claim Azurem. First he killed your family to convince you to marry him. Now that you’re legally wed he can kill you and take Azurem for himself…”

“Magdalena!” The call came from around the corridor. She recognized that voice immediately. Claude was approaching.

“Where is this mask?” Dagmara asked in a whisper, suddenly in a hurry.

“Has to be in his room,” Sabien’s voice was quiet. “I can sneak in—”

“No,” Dagmara cut him off. “Leave it to me.”

Then Claude appeared at the opposite end of the corridor, jogging into sight. “There you are!” he exclaimed, approaching at a slower pace. He glanced once at Sabien before returning his attention fully to Dagmara. “Are you alright?”

“A little overwhelmed,” Dagmara said, forcing a laugh. “Your captain wouldn’t let me escape.”

Claude shifted his gaze to Sabien. “I appreciate you trying to help, Sabien, but I can take it from here.”

“I admire your confidence,” Sabien replied. “I would be humiliated if my bride ran from me at my own wedding.”

“Sabien,” Dagmara scolded, no more than a whisper.

Claude’s jaw ticked. “For you to have a wedding, Captain Renaud, you would need a bride first.”

“Yes, well, at least I know I can find one who isn’t simply marrying me for my title.”

“That’s enough!” Dagmara snapped. “Leave us, Captain.”

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