Page 7 of Kingdom of Crowns and Daggers

My chest feels tight every time she appears in my mind, which happens to be almost constantly since I encountered her. I have to see her again. Someone like her, with her knowledge of the city and the criminal underworld, is exactly what I need. Where I am tethered to the castle like a dog tied to a tree, she has insider information that I need. We could make a difference to this kingdom by working together.

She is the secret weapon I have been searching for.

Perhaps I am just a naïve moron with his head in the clouds, dreaming of a better world. However, after what I saw last night and the state my city has fallen into, I know I have to do something.

The king and the assassin.

One of my advisors chuckles as if he can see into my thoughts, and I quickly tune back into the room. They are not discussing me or my wishful thinking. Instead, they are discussing revamping the upper market in the Tundra Province—a market that was only built two years ago and is deemed one of the best places in the region to shop. It is nothing like the muddy ramshackle of Christ Church at our very door.

Anger boils in my gut once more, and before I realise what I’m doing, I’m leaning forward and addressing the table, drawing every eye to me.

“Should we not be investing this money into the city itself? I—” I manage to stop myself from blurting out that I’d seen where our citizens live. Clearing my throat, I try once more. “I have heard that people in the city are suffering, especially around the market area. Bandits lie in wait to mug and kill, and the conditions they have to live in are?—”

“Where did you hear this, Your Majesty?” Advisor Ruik asks lightly, cutting me off mid-sentence. As a noble from the family Rivershade, the same family as the Queen Mother, he has always been bolder than most. His brown hair is greying at his temples, and his mouth is twisted in an unfriendly expression, but his eyes, so much like the Queen Mother’s, give me pause.

They are cruel.

No one would usually dare to cut me off, even my advisors, and it takes me aback for a moment. That is when I see the tension around his eyes and shoulders. A quick glance around the table confirms that my other advisors are wearing the same expression. I have made them nervous by asking questions they don’t want to answer. I must have asked too quickly and too out of the blue, and they are now wondering if I’m going to cause them problems in passing the motion they are proposing.

I do not wish to tip my hand, so I must relent.

“Oh. I must have overheard it from someone in court.” Smiling, I shrug and wave off the question, playing up to their opinion of me.

I obviously convince them, as they all let out sighs of relief and Ruik smiles at me like I’m a simpleton—a condescending smile that has my hands gripping my chair tightly. “Your Majesty, I can assure you that the city is fine. I have seen it myself. The people are happy and thriving under your rule. However, the Tundra Province would really benefit from the redevelopment of the market.”

Liar.

He is a liar, and he has the gall to do it right to my face, expecting that I will just smile and agree. The relaxed set of his shoulders and crinkles around his eyes just prove how sure he is that he’s in control here. It sparks an anger inside me that I’ve not felt for a long time. It’s a wild, untamable anger that moves like a wildfire, turning everything to ash in its path.

I want to stand up, slam my hands on the table, and make sure that every single one of the puffed-up males in the room is paying attention. I have been there. I saw the conditions my citizens live in with my own eyes, and that was only a tiny portion of the city. His assurances mean nothing to me, especially now that I know for sure that the reports I am being fed are false.

However, calling them out on their lies is not an option and would only destroy the persona I’ve created. Shattering the illusion that I am just a dumb puppet to be manipulated would put me in danger and cause them to act differently around me.

Sucking in both my anger and pride, I give them what they want. My smile feels bitter as I press a hand against my chest.

“Well, that is reassuring to hear!”

Leaning back in my chair, I beam at them, waiting until they turn their attention back to their conversation before I allow myself to plot. The only person still watching me is Orion, and as I glance over my shoulder, I see the giant of a man observing me with a frown, his arms crossed over his chest.

I will have to explain everything to him later, but for now, I face forward and stare out the window. They have already made up their minds about the market, so I don’t fight it when my mind returns to Alyx.

Who is she truly? Is she from the Lowers?

What must have happened to a female to make her an assassin?

Once again, I can feel myself struggling against sleep, a loud yawn escaping me. Pressing a hand against my mouth, I take a deep breath and find Advisor Ruik’s narrowed eyes on me.

“Are we keeping you awake, Your Majesty?”

He’s annoyed that I interrupted him. However, he has just given me the perfect excuse to leave. There is nothing more I can do here, especially when there is something very important that I could be doing.

“Actually, yes, I am most tired today. I believe I shall retire.” Standing, I smile brightly at the others around the table as they hurry to get to their feet. “You have everything under control here, yes?”

They have already made up their minds thanks to the Queen Mother whispering in their ears, so my contribution is neither wanted nor needed. They do seem surprised by my abruptness, but not enough to stop me, nodding at my comment.

“Then I bid you all farewell.”

Bowing, they mutter their goodbyes, but I do not stick around to hear them. I leave the room with Orion on my heels, my other guards meeting us in the hallway. They dutifully follow behind me without question, even though I know they will wonder why I left the meeting early. The journey back to my chambers within the king’s palace is short, and thankfully we don’t come across anyone. Once we reach my chambers, Orion barks an order, and the guards depart, stationing themselves outside as usual.

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