Page 37 of The Kingdom's Crown

"Princess Camellia has had four attempts on her own life from her Chosen," Head Guard Amos said, and I stiffened. "One of those men remains locked up in the dungeon, awaiting execution."

"And the other three?" I cried out, eyes growing wide.

"Their executions took place, Your Highness."

"When?"

"One was a year ago, the other two shortly before your choosing ceremony."

"But I never heard of such a thing!" I glanced at Cosmo and Wendell, who both shook their heads, faces pale.

"Conflicts between a woman of the queen's line and her Chosen are mandated to be privately handled," Head Guard Amos said.

I leapt up from the chair, shielding my face with my hand as I started to pace. "Stars. Who else knows of this? How often has this happened?"

The older man shook his head. "There's no record kept. I only know of those four. But it's not a new duty for my role, so there must be a precedent."

"And my mother?" The room was too small, and I hurried to the window, ignoring the grunt of the guard's objection as I pushed it open, closing my eyes against the sharp breeze that rushed in, cooling the hot anger on my cheeks.

"She ordered the current execution postponed indefinitely."

I spun, mind racing. "At my grandmother's urging?"

"Not to my knowledge, Your Highness."

I glanced at my Chosen, pain striking my heart at the thought of any of them being left to waste away in a dungeon. I was nothing like Camellia. I chanted the fact as a refrain in my thoughts, but it didn't eliminate the fact that she existed, a persistent, growing thorn in my side.

"There are a couple of others there, imprisoned for attempting to kill others of her Chosen. One is very ill. I don't expect him to make it through winter. Another is…ill in a different way, I suppose."

My knees crumpled, but Owen had hurried over before I could sink to the floor, shielding me from the room and holding me up with his large hands around my waist.

"Send the doctor to him as well," Thao snapped.

I nodded but couldn't find my tongue to voice my agreement. There was a grumble of assent from beyond Owen's chest, and I only leaned forward to press myself into his warmth. Everything was wrong. Everything was crooked and ugly here in the castle, smothered under a glistening facade, and I wanted desperately to find my way back to the north as if it might rewind or erase the problems we'd tangled ourselves into.

"Your Highness," Head Guard Amos said, standing from his chair.

I pushed against Owen, and he turned us slightly, refusing to pull away from me.

"My vows are to the crown and to Kimmery."

"To the queen," I said, nodding.

He nodded slowly, eyes drifting aimlessly around the room. "I cannot… I would not…"

"I want no secrecy, Head Guard Amos. I don't trust my sister, I don't want her to take the crown from my mother, and I will act openly in that regard," I said, adding after a moment, "Lawfully."

Wendell sat forward at that. "If it is possible, I would like to examine any record or written word of this measure that allows for secret executions. If there's any way to allow for their testimony to be used against Princess Camellia, it could be very valuable."

Amos blinked at that. "A criminal trial against a member of the queen's line?" I held my breath as he seemed to consider the idea. That broad flat face was almost unreadable, just the faintest flickering of thought. "I won't deny you any information that would help build a case."

I let out a whoosh of air, and Owen hauled me back to the couch, fitting himself between the others with me on his lap.

"My mother will have to know," I said softly.

"Is that wise?" Thao asked.

"I requested she join us, but was informed that she found Lady Amelia's departure too distressing," Head Guard Amos said quietly.

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