Page 54 of Blooms of Darkness

“That, you see,” she said, nodding. “But make no mistake, I am as vocal as he is away from the public eye. Our guards can attest to it.”

I shook my head. “Why wouldn’t you show your strength to others then? So many believe a king rules alone.”

“We are nothing without each other, and the beliefs you have are because of my own shortcomings, I’m afraid.” She patted my hand. “The very first outing as King and Queen consisted of commissioning a new batch of royal guards. The king insisted I lead the proceedings.”

I’d yet to hear this story. Her eyes shifted as though she replayed the memory instead of being here with me. A smile spread across her lips. “Andras made the mistake of insinuating a queen couldn’t perform the task, and your father went feral. Raging over how Brookmere had always been ruled by its King and Queen, and anyone who believed otherwise didn’t belong in his Court.”

“I’m surprised Andras lasted then.” I grimaced, wishing my father had removed him then and there.

“Hmm,” she said before returning to her story. “Anyway, I got up and froze in front of everyone. My stomach suddenly queasy, tossing and turning about. I stretched my hand behind me, hoping your father noticed my terror, and after he took over, I ran and vomited where no one could see.”

“You threw up? Why?”

“I hate speaking in public. It terrifies me.” She shook her head. “From then on, he has allowed me to have my quiet, supporting role in public, while giving him a piece of my mind in private. I make as many decisions as he does, and we never make an announcement without coming to an agreement together first.”

Realization dawned. Tugging my hand away, I took a few steps back. My chest tightened, but my mother stood her ground. “You support the trials?”

She nodded. “You may not put stock in what Vivienne says, but we do. We know what she claims is true.” She moved forward, leaning toward my ear. “He is sick, darling. He refuses to leave anything up to chance if he were to be taken from us suddenly.”

Bile rose in my throat, making it hard to swallow. The terrace doors opened and Ian, Kade, and Frederich entered.

Kade shot me a devilish grin and made his way toward the drinks instead of me. Frederich’s lips curled in a sickening smile, at least I thought it appeared like a smile from what I could view beneath all his hair. He moved toward me speedily.

Perdot blocked him, holding a tray of drinks, and I thought of kissing him for his interference. His slight step in front gave Ian time to reach us first.

“Your Majesty.” Ian bowed his head before my mother leaned in and accepted a kiss on the cheek from him.

“Sweet Ian.” She cupped his face with one hand and then removed it. “Oh, I better not play favorites.”

“You flatter me, my Queen.” He grinned back at her.

Flicking her hand daintily, she shooed us away. “I’m the chaperone this evening, so leave the elderly Queen to her desserts. Have fun.”

“Not likely,” I hissed through clenched teeth.

Ian and I walked to the edge of the balcony, and he leaned against the marble railing. “Well, things are less than ideal now.”

“Less than ideal?” I scoffed. “You mean impossible. Ruppert is a stickler. I have no idea how we’ll continue—” I stopped, holding a hand to my chest.

My father’s announcement removing Ian as my personal guard remained difficult to fathom in more ways than one. Most especially, because the well-executed patterns we’d developed in our Hidden Henchman activities would be disrupted.

My emotions got the better of me, considering the short-term nature of this arrangement. A small part of me knew it was irrational to be this worked up, but the Hidden Henchman had become the one thing giving me freedom to be who I wanted to be, despite the mask. The Hidden Henchman persona made me feel enough, more than enough.

Leaning onto the marble railing, I let the cool stone calm the fire burning within me. Gripping onto it tightly, I grounded myself in the here and now.

Ian rested one of his gloved hands over mine. “We’ll figure it out.”

He exuded confidence, both in himself and in our team. He would make it work somehow, regardless of the extra weight it put on his shoulders.

“I noticed Andras’s favorite guard Warrick with a broken nose this afternoon.” I glanced at my best friend, trying to gaugehis reaction. It was well known that Warrick and Ian had sparred on more than a few occasions, both in and out of the ring.

“Well, it’s what happens when you call your Princess a common whore.” Ian clenched his fists at his side.

“What?” My smile fell instantly, the teasing nature of my comment sucked away.

Ian ran a hand over his face. “I’m used to the rumors I slept my way to the role of Captain. I can handle them. However, I refuse to listen to my troops trash the Crown. Even if you weren’t the future of this kingdom, you’re my best friend, Lan.” He shrugged. “If he weren’t being sent to the border in a few days, he’d be released from duty. The nose was a kind punishment from me compared to what he deserved.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “So, it has gotten worse since you entered the trials.”

---