Page 124 of The Mad King and the False Queen

Samuel Arsenault departed the day of the coronation. One assassin escaped, so it must be him. I think we’re onto something. We asked for a detailed description, and all they could give me was that he has a scar down his face and red hair with a beard. Have you seen anyone that fits that description?

Furthermore—I know it gets more exciting—one border agent reportedly quit and went on a lavish trip right after the coronation. Seems like he received a large sum around the time of the coronation. Looks like the Ilusaurian you shoved into the ravine paid to have his name removed from the border list. But why?

More sleuthing.

Just the coolest partner in crime, T

Why would Sabien pay off the border guards to have his name removed? Dagmara knew she couldn’t ask him outright without informing him that she knew he was in Azurem, but the question lingered on her mind.

She flipped past her message from Teos and was left with a blank page. No messages from Magda. Now was the time to get worried. Had she even made it to Flaustra safely?

“You done?” Sabien asked.

Dagmara felt uneasy. She stepped away from the Scribestone and nodded.

Sabien returned to her side, closing the case and sealing it. He faced her, a smirk on his face.

“Whenever I’m in here, I think of the last time we were here together,” he said.

Dagmara frowned. He was referring to their kiss. “I told you to forget it happened.”

“I don’t want to.” Sabien inched closer, staring down at her. “So tell me, who is a better kisser? Claude or me?”

Dagmara’s face went pale. She stuck her chin up before replying, “Claude.” Even if she said it to get under Sabien’s skin, she couldn’t deny how she felt about her kiss with Claude in the forest. It had altered every emotion in her body.

Reaching out, Sabien placed a finger under her chin. “No need to lie to yourself.”

Dagmara batted his hand away before whirling on her heel, returning to the entrance and where Martine was waiting. “I’m not,” Dagmara replied.

“You’ll see the real him soon enough,” Sabien stated. “Then you’ll come crawling to me.”

She glanced over her shoulder and smirked right back. “Don’t be jealous, it’s not a good look on you.”

Sabien’s expression darkened, and for the first time, his smirk turned into an expression that could only be described as feral.

Walking back to her room, Dagmara’s mind was running wild with thoughts. How she wished she was back in Azurem preparing for the coronation. Everything was better back then.

Or was it?

“Is there something going on between you and Sabien?” Martine said from beside Dagmara.

“He thought I was flirting with him when I wasn’t, and now he won’t leave me alone,” Dagmara said briefly. “I’m trying to avoid him.”

“Does the king know?”

“No,” Dagmara was quick to reply, “and let’s keep it that way. I can handle the captain.”

Then a tune began to play in the distance that made Dagmara freeze. She recognized the music—she could sing it in her sleep. It was—

The music ended abruptly. Had she imagined it? Was the Azuremi Waltz simply playing in her mind?

“Strange,” Martine muttered under her breath. “I wouldn’t think the instrumentalists are practicing this late in the night.”

“The Azuremi Waltz will be played at the wedding?” Dagmara gasped.

“I don’t recognize the music,” Martine admitted. “I don’t know.”

The music commenced once more. It was only the violin’s line. Faint, but present.

---