Page 84 of Crown of Hearts
“And no more drinking. I need you sober and focused.” Was I truly going to rely on his help from now on?
“I’m really starting not to like you.”
“Any news from Eloisa?” I contemplated taking a sip from the flask.
“No.”
“Lance, how can you not know where she is? She’s still the princess of Everness, and need I remind you, also has a claim to this throne.”
“Eloisa may have a claim by blood, but I can promise you she will never sit on the throne.”
I was taken aback by how serious he appeared. “What are you talking about?”
Lance sighed again and bit the inside of his cheek. I cringed at the realisation that this was a habit we shared.
“Ever since we were young, she’s had these... episodes. A lot of the time she seems normal, but then all of a sudden, she’lljust...” He sighed. “I don’t know. She’s my sister but I wouldn’t exactly call her mentally stable.”
“You mean she’s insane and now you’ve lost her?” How was it possible that matters were only getting worse by the second?
“When everything happened with Arthur, I sent her away with guards for protection,” he said defensively.
“But?”
“But they came back and told me that she’d somehow managed to escape them, and now she isn’t anywhere to be found.”
I closed my eyes, the feeling of a headache starting to develop.
“Have you sent men to look for her?”
“Of course I have. What kind of a monster do you think I am?”
The expression on my face convinced him that he didn’t really want me to answer the question. “Well, I’ve sent Ray to go and find her, so hopefully he comes back with some good news.”
* * *
I returned to my rooms tired from travelling.
Anesta offered to unpack my things before helping me get ready for dinner, but I told her to take the rest of the afternoon for herself. The last thing I wanted was company. And besides, I hadn’t become so high and mighty that I couldn’t unpack a few trunks of clothes. I used to live in the woods.
A hot bath would have been nice, but I wasn’t going to call on the servants now. I really just needed to be alone.
My room was clean, but it smelled slightly musty, so I opened a window to let in some fresh air. The scent of pine trees filled my nostrils. The queen’s chambers were some of the finest rooms in the palace. No expense was spared when it came tothe décor and furniture. Deep reds and gold flowed into patterns that decorated the chairs and silken sheets.
Though, in all the time I’d slept there, I’d never ventured to look through the things I’d inherited from my mother. Could never quite bring myself to. I grew up without her and spent my whole life without a single object or memory to accompany me. And looking through her things seemed to be asking to miss something I never had.
But I suddenly found myself curious so I strolled over to the nearest drawer and pulled it open.
Glittering pieces of jewellery stared up at me as if they’d waited years to see the daylight again. I picked up an earring and looked towards the mirror. It was large and decorative but not exactly suited for my face. I would look like a child playing dress up.
The next drawer held small bottles of perfume and oils, but most of the scent had evaporated over time. There was a golden hand-held mirror. The glass was grimy and stained, but the artistry of the object was delicate and beautiful. It was, unfortunately, cracked, so I put it back gently.
I also found a hair clip with a small hidden blade, which made me smile for some reason. When looking at her portrait and thinking back to stories I’d heard as a child, it was hard to imagine the gentle Queen Estella taking this out and stabbing someone with it.
A vivid image flashed into my mind of the Argonian soldier and the poker. The seeping blood. The sound as it pierced his flesh. A hint of anxiety and nausea washed over me. I placed the hair clip back before finally deciding to call for some tea.
I was surprised to open my chamber doors and find Rhen standing there with the tea tray. “Decided to resign your duties, have you?” I left the door open and walked over to one of thechairs near the fireplace. “Not that I think you’re incapable, but I never imagined you’d want to be a maid.”
“I wanted to make sure you were okay.” He gave me a soft smile and handed me the cup of hot tea. Rhen wasn’t in his official uniform and his white shirt hung loose over his shoulders. The expression on his face said everything. To hell with protocol for today.
