Page 4 of Kingdom of Today
A beep sounded, the results in. Per custom, I wasn’t told the results before he exited. As minutes passed with agonizing slowness, more and more perspiration dotted my palms.
CURED might not know I’d switched sides, but they absolutely suspected I’d had dealings with Soalians. Even if a suspect was innocent of wrongdoing, such transactions almost always led to accusations of illness. So. This could go one of two ways. Either CURED lied, labeling me “infected” so they could “treat” me, or they told the truth and allowed me to go so they could secretly observe me in my natural habitat.
Dr. Korey, the physician who’d overseen my “care” since my first day at the base, entered with a sure stride. “You’re about to meet Emperor Dolion’s right-hand man,” she announced. “I suggest you behave.”
Showtime.
A handsome gentleman with cold eyes strode in next. Though we lowly peons wore uniforms, he dazzled in a black-and-white pinstripe suit. His slick, put-together appearance should’ve inspired calm. I only wanted to vomit as he looked me over, silent.
“Congratulations, Lady Roosa.” Dr. Korey pulled different things from her lab coat pockets and placed them on a rolling table. “You are negative for Madness.”
Relief deluged my muscles, unraveling knots of tension. Observation in my natural habitat for the win.
“Your identity chip is now registered with a special designation reserved for the royal family.” She grated the words as if they tasted foul. “From now on, medical personnel must explain what we do.”
Thank you, Cyrus, for logging me in as a royal.
As she shifted my shirt this way and that to adhere small, round transmitters on my neck, collarbone, and above my heart, she said, “I’ll be monitoring your vitals while you chat with Mr. Vyle.”
Great. A man with no royal title but a higher clearance than Cyrus would catalog every blip of my tumultuous emotions.
Normally I might have replied “I’ve got nothing to hide, carry on,” but that would’ve been an elaboration, so I stayed quiet.
Mr. Vyle dragged a metal stool in front of the gurney, unfastened a button on his suit jacket, and eased down. In his early thirties, he projected enough confidence to fill the entire base.
“I’m pleased to meet you, Lady Roosa.” His rich baritone stroked my ears, conveying only charm. “My dear friend Count Folley tells me High Prince Dolion is quite smitten with you. That he encouraged you to question officials about our protocols.”
Uh-oh. We were starting off with a bang. Mr. Vyle had just let me know he’d investigated my actions at a high society event where I’dquizzed the former head of Ourland Medicine about forbidden things. Designed to make me defensive indeed.
“I’m romantically involved with Cyrus, yes.” Excellent. Short, sweet, and as unembellished as it was true. Now, for the rest. “I did ask Count Folley and others about the mass outbreak of Madness that had just transpired among civilians, but I did it of my volition. As a lady-in-training, I’m eager to learn prevention rather than intervention.” Oops. I’d explained my reasons.
Mr. Vyle’s lips quirked at the corners. “Such a diplomatic answer. Cyrus has coached you well.”
A lump grew in my throat. I couldn’t deny the claim without jumping headfirst into an obvious trap, exactly as the high prince had, well, coached me. I merely offered a fleeting smile.
“Didn’t Cyrus coach her well, Dr. Korey,” Mr. Vyle stated without glancing her way.
“He did, sir,” she replied, bowing her head in deference. Something she hadn’t done even for the high prince.
Mr. Vyle tapped his fingers over his knee. “Let’s get business out of the way. Not too long ago, Cyrus consumed a berry grown only in Theirland. You are the budding horticulturist assigned to map his reaction. How do you think this berry affected him?”
Hold up. “You aren’t here to ask me about Tagin Dolion’s death?”
He arched a brow. “Is there something you’d like to share about Tagin Dolion’s death?”
Okay, so, I’d expounded when I shouldn’t have. “I can only tell you what happened.”
“All right. Please do so.”
Hmm. He’d urged me along a specific route, yet now we were traveling another. Either he’d played me, or I’d played myself. Nothing I could do but forge ahead. “Cyrus and I argued about our relationship. I left. He hunted me down with his father’s help.” As I spoke, I divided my attention between Dr. Korey and Mr. Vyle, gauging their reactions. She grew tenser. He displayed only polite interest. “The three of usheaded to the base. In the vehicle, mid-drive, Tagin broke with Madness and killed an entire contingent of soldiers. To save myself and Cyrus, I confiscated one of Cyrus’s weapons and killed Tagin.” There it was, everything and nothing, all rolled into an accurate but misleading story.
Mr. Vyle didn’t take notes or ask a follow-up. He merely adjusted a cuff of his jacket. “Thank you for the information. Now, let’s return to our discussion about the berry.”
I gulped. The fact that the fruit mattered more than a king’s death couldn’t be good. Did Mr. Vyle envision pinning Tagin’s death on Cyrus, courtesy of the little fruit? “I know Cyrus was assigned to bring a berry back to the base. In order to succeed, he was forced to eat it. I’ve since noticed no differences in him. He is the same today as he was before.” Truth.
“Then describe him.”
“Excuse me?”
