Page 8 of The Queen's Crown
Sabine spent the next few weeks attending daily tea with her mother. Every afternoon there seemed to be a visitor or two of some importance. While the gentlemen would meet with the king, the ladies would take tea together. There was usually some idle talk about nothing of consequence, and then it would be over. Most days Sabine felt herself nodding off. How her mother managed to do this day in and day out, she had no idea.
Unable to handle another afternoon of complete boredom, she headed to the great hall, intending to exit through the back and sneak over to the stables. A ride through the countryside was exactly what she needed. The fresh air, the sun on her face. She’d finally be able to have a moment of peace to herself.
“What are you doing?” Karl asked, startling Sabine.
She turned in a slow circle until she spotted all four of her brothers coming out of the kitchen. “I’m just passing through.”
“Just passing through, huh,” Viktor said with a low chuckle. “Toward the back exit when the sitting room is the other way?”
She wanted to punch the smug expression off his face.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at tea with Mother?” Karl asked.
Otto snorted. “Tea? She must be bored out of her mind doing that every day. No wonder she’s running away.”
Commotion came from the hallway to the right. A sentry came running through it, headed straight for Karl, yelling something as he approached.
Sabine couldn’t make out what he was saying.
Karl took off running, Viktor and Otto right behind him. Rolf cursed and then ran after them as well.
Not knowing what else to do, Sabine sprinted after her brothers. They ran through the castle and to the main entrance. The doors were wide open, and the king and queen were standing outside on the top steps, watching something in the distance.
“Any idea who it is?” Karl asked no one in particular.
“No,” the king answered. “A rider bearing the royal colors of Lynk has been spotted about a mile out accompanied by two of my soldiers.”
Sabine squinted. She could just make out three people on horseback, dust floating in the air behind them. “They’re traveling awfully fast. Do you think it’s a message from Alina?”
The king and queen glanced at one another, and Sabine knew that that must not be the case.
“Maybe it’s someone coming to let us know they’re married, and King Rainer is sending soldiers?” Karl suggested.
The riders reached the gates. Sabine could see the sentries speaking with them. The gates immediately swung open, and the foreign rider continued racing toward the front of the castle flanked by the two Bakley soldiers.
The king moved to the bottom of the steps.
The Lynk rider stopped before him, half sliding, and half tumbling from his horse. “Your Majesty King Franz Ludwig?”
“Yes,” the king said.
The rider heaved in a deep breath. “I am King Rainer Manfred’s personal steward.” His face was covered in dirt, his eyes red-rimmed. “I have been tasked with delivering a message.” He glanced at everyone on the stairs before focusing back on the king. “I am sorry to inform you that Princess Alina Ludwig is dead.”
ChapterThree
“What did you say?” the king asked, his voice laced with danger.
The steward glanced between the two Bakley soldiers on either side of him before responding. “I’m sorry to inform you that Princess Alina is dead. Her body is on its way here as we speak. King Rainer insisted I deliver the news on his behalf.”
Sabine’s world felt as if it tilted. This could not be happening.
“My daughter is dead?” The queen let out a wail before collapsing onto the steps.
“Careful,” Viktor said as he slid his arm around Sabine’s waist.
She hadn’t even realized her knees had grown weak. A sick feeling took root in the pit of her stomach.
“Explain,” the king demanded.
