Violie
While most of the household is at the lake ice-skating, takes the opportunity to sneak once more into Daphne’s bedchamber, though this time Leopold is at her heels.
“You’re going to get caught,” he whispers.
She glances at him over her shoulder as she makes her way to Daphne’s wardrobe, lifting a single eyebrow. “I have yet to, accidentally at least,” she says primly. “Close the door, but don’t lock it,” she adds, relieved when he does as she asks.
“Why not lock it?” he asks.
“A locked door is suspicious,” she explains.
“As opposed to someone simply walking in and finding us here?” he asks.
“If someone walks in and finds us here, we’ll just convince them we snuck in here for unsuspicious reasons,” she tells him, finding Daphne’s cosmetics case and lugging it out. When she glances up at Leopold, his brow is furrowed in confusion she can’t help but laugh at. Sometimes, it’s difficult to remember just how sheltered a life he’s led.
“We would hardly be the first servants to slip away to an empty bedroom for a little…privacy,” she says.
Recognition dawns on Leopold’s face for a second before his cheeks flush and he drops his gaze.
“No one does that,” he says.
“Plenty of people do that,” she says, laughing. “Most people wouldn’t be bold enough to try the princess’s bedchamber, but it would be more believable than the alternative.”
She opens the lid of the cosmetics case and begins removing vials and powders, sorting them into two piles.
“Which is…stealing lip paint?” Leopold asks, watching her.
She glances up at him. “Sophronia had the same set,” she says, motioning to the one pile. “These are cosmetics.”She gestures to the other. “These are poisons.”
He stares at her for a moment. “Poisons,” he says slowly. “Sophie kept poison alongside her cosmetics?”
“She never used it, as far as I’m aware, but I’m sure the empress would have preferred it if she had,” says. “Daphne, though, isn’t quite so precious about it.”
She finishes sorting through everything in the cosmetics case, including all of the vials and tubes she finds in the hidden compartment at the bottom.
“Can you get the jewelry case out of the wardrobe?” she asks as she begins to put the ordinary cosmetics back in their place, jamming the poisons into the pockets of her apron.
Leopold lifts his eyebrows but does as she asks, dragging the jewelry box out and taking the liberty of opening the lid.
“Are these poisonous as well?” he asks warily.
stands up, moving toward him and peering over his shoulder. “That is,” she says, pointing to a heavy gold pendant necklace in the shape of the Hermit’s Cane constellation. He lifts it, looking at it closely before passing it to her. She shows him how the top of the pendant unscrews.
“It’s only sleeping powder,” she says, shrugging. “But I’m not taking any chances.”
She pockets the necklace as well before crouching next to Leopold. She sifts through the rest of Daphne’s jewelry, pulling out a cuff bracelet that hides a small dagger, a heavy ring that emits a cloud of noxious gas when two of its stones are pressed at once, and a moon-shaped diamond brooch that decides is too ugly not to contain some hidden and dangerous facet.
That done, they pack away the rest of the jewelry and Leopold puts the boxes back in the wardrobe, just as they were before.
“Do you think I’m safe from her now?” Leopold asks.
snorts. “Stars, no,” she says. “Daphne could kill you with her bare hands, Leo. She could fashion a weapon out of practically anything in this or any room, and I’ve heard she’s even more skilled at crafting poisons of her own. If she decides to kill you, you stand the same chance of surviving as you would trekking across Friv in winter in the nude. But I’m not inclined to make killing you any easier for her.”
Leopold blinks. “Are you trying to scare me?” he asks.
rolls her eyes. “You’re the one insisting on sending me, the only one who actually can hold my own against her, away and remaining alone in the company of a princess who seems to constantly vacillate between wanting to kill you and not,” she points out.
For a moment, Leopold doesn’t speak. “You are the only one who stands a chance against her,” he says slowly. “Which is why I need you to go with my brothers.”
knows there is no talking him out of the decision, but she can’t help letting out a huff. She understands what he’s saying, why he’s asking it of her, but it doesn’t make it any easier for her to agree.
“You’re sure you trust your brothers under my watch?” she asks him. “I might introduce them to some questionable characters in a tavern. Teach them how to cheat at dice. Show them the best methods for pickpocketing.”
She means the words as a joke, but Leopold fixes her with a serious look.
“Just get them to Lord Savelle alive,” he says. “That’s all I ask.”
hesitates a second before nodding. “All right,” she says. “Talk to them tonight, let them know to expect me—the last thing I need is for them to believe they’re being kidnapped again. We’ll leave at midnight.”
—
That evening, when Daphne, Prince Bairre, Gideon, Reid, and the others arrive back at the castle, something is wrong. notices it as soon as she catches a glimpse of Daphne walking into the banquet hall, where is wiping down the long wood table. Daphne’s head is bent low toward the only other girl in the party—Cliona, Daphne said her name was. Both of them wear somber expressions, and it’s unclear to whether they are quarreling or conspiring.
Either one is a concern.
Daphne glances up, her eyes colliding with ’s, and ducks her head, knowing now is not the right time for a conversation, but Daphne surprises her by saying her name, the sound ringing like a bell in the quiet room.
looks up, blinking. Her eyes dart to Cliona, who is eyeing her warily, as if she is sizing her up. decides to play things safely.
“Yes, Your Highness?” she asks, maintaining her Frivian accent.
Cliona laughs. “I must say, your accent is much better than Levi’s…or rather, King Leopold’s?” she says.
’s hands ball into fists at her sides. “You told her?” she asks Daphne through clenched teeth.
“You’ll thank me for it if you give me a moment to explain,” Daphne says, her voice level.
“You said not to trust her,” points out.
“Ouch,” Cliona says, though she doesn’t actually sound wounded, more amused.
Daphne doesn’t deny it. “In some things, we are on the same side,” she says carefully. “And in this, we’re on your side.”
“In what, exactly?” asks.
Daphne glances sideways at Cliona before looking back at . “The east wing of the castle is closed off. Meet us there.”
“There’s a sitting room on the first floor,” Cliona supplies. “Up the stairs from the servants’ quarters, third door on your right.”
Daphne nods. “Right. Bring Leopold.”
“Will it be just you?” asks warily. “What about Bairre?”
Daphne and Cliona exchange a loaded look that can’t begin to decipher.
“Not Bairre,” Daphne finally says, the words heavy. “Not yet.”
—
finds Leopold and together they follow Cliona’s directions to the parlor in the east wing. When they enter, it’s to find the windows boarded up, the fireplace cold, and sheets covering the furniture. Daphne and Cliona are already there, standing side by side, both still wearing their heavy coats from their earlier journey to the lake. When closes the door behind her, Cliona takes a moment to look Leopold over.
“Should I bow, Your Majesty?” she asks, the question dry.
Leopold, to his credit, isn’t ruffled. “I wouldn’t dream of telling a lady what to do,” he says in his natural accent.
Cliona laughs, the sound loud before Daphne elbows her and lifts a finger to her lips.
“Oh, but I like him,” Cliona tells her, shaking her head.
“The feeling won’t be mutual if you assist in kidnapping his brothers,” Daphne says.
And just like that, any element of levity in the room evaporates.
“And here I thought that was your assignment,” says, looking at Daphne.
“My assignment was to murder them,” she says plainly. “And you,” she adds, nodding at Leopold. “But as it happens, Cliona is every bit as…ambivalent as I am.”
“ Ambivalent is not the word I would prefer you use in this context,” Leopold says, his words coming out a growl.
“If you’d rather I lie to you, I’ll keep that in mind for the future,” Daphne retorts. “But I told we had the same goal, at least in this, and I meant it.” She glances at Cliona, then back at Leopold. “Neither of us wants to do harm to innocent children.”
It isn’t the first time has heard Gideon and Reid referred to as children, but the description always unsettles her. They’re twelve and fourteen. When was their age, she was already in the employ of the empress—she hardly felt like an innocent child to be protected at all costs. She can’t imagine Daphne did at their age either. Still, she isn’t about to question the line Daphne has decided she is unwilling to cross. She’s just glad it exists at all.
fights not to look at Leopold, though she’s sure he’s thinking the same thing she is—that if their plan goes off as scheduled tonight, Gideon and Reid will be out of Daphne’s and Cliona’s reach.
A soft knock sounds at the parlor door and feels herself stiffen, but Cliona and Daphne don’t appear surprised.
“Come in, Rufus,” Daphne says.
The door opens and a tall boy with lanky limbs and an overgrown mess of red hair enters. His broad, handsome face and easy smile are familiar to —he’s a friend of Bairre’s, she remembers, having seen him around the summer castle earlier in the day.
“I was summoned,” he says, closing the door behind him.
“Rufus,” Daphne says, “has no ties to my mother, no ties to the rebellion in Friv, isn’t that right, Rufus?”
Rufus looks perplexed, like he’s vastly misread the situation he just stepped into. “I…uh…yes, that’s right.”
“And you have no reason at all to wish harm on Gideon and Reid,” Cliona continues.
“Why in the name of the stars would I? What, exactly, is going on—”
“It’s settled, then,” Daphne says, giving him a beaming smile. “You will escort the boys back to your family’s estate—it’s far enough from Eldevale that no one will think to look there.”
“And if they do,” Cliona adds, “you can say they’re orphaned children of one of your servants whom you’ve taken in as wards.”
Rufus doesn’t say anything for a moment. “I’m very confused,” he says finally. “But if the safety of Gideon and Reid is an issue, they are, of course, welcome at Cadringal House.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Leopold interrupts.
Rufus gapes at him. “Levi, your accent—”
“Is not important right now, Rufus,” Daphne cuts in smoothly.
“I beg to differ,” Rufus says. “If the four of you don’t tell me what, exactly, is going on, I’ll walk out that door this second.”
For a moment, no one moves, but finally, Daphne lets out a sigh. “Fine,” she says, nodding toward Leopold. “Tell him whatever you see fit,” she says.
Leopold looks wary. “Really?” he asks, glancing to for confirmation.
“You trust him?” asks Daphne.
Daphne holds her gaze. “In this, yes,” she says. “Because Rufus owes me for my kindness to his own sister. Isn’t that right, Rufus?”
Rufus hesitates. “That’s right,” he says.
looks toward Leopold and nods. Leopold shakes his head before turning back to Rufus and giving him an abridged version of the truth—his true name and title, the identity of his brothers, and the fact that Eugenia was behind the plot to kill him, hence his need to remain hidden.
“I’m not keen on sending my brothers back into her care, for obvious reasons,” Leopold says. “But I won’t send them to a stranger, either. No offense.”
“There’s no other choice,” Daphne says.
“There is, actually,” inserts. “Leopold is right—and what’s more, frankly we have no reason to trust you to know where they’re being sent. If you change your mind—”
“We won’t,” Cliona says, sounding offended at the thought.
“You’ll pardon me for not taking you at your word,” retorts, gratified when Cliona doesn’t have a comeback to that. “I have an alternate plan,” she says. “Rufus and I will take the princes to a destination Leopold and I have already agreed to.”
Daphne looks surprised at that, but laughs.
“You didn’t really think we were going to let them stay under your care,” she says.
Daphne’s jaw tightens, but after a moment and a glance toward Cliona, she nods.
“Very well,” she says. “Rufus, that’s all. I’ll send a note when it’s time.”
Rufus glances around the room once more, his gaze furtive. “I take it I don’t get any more questions?” he asks.
“You don’t,” Daphne says. “But after this, I’ll consider us even for Zenia.”
Rufus looks like he wants to argue, but finally he nods. “Fine, then,” he says before ducking out of the room.
When he’s gone, Daphne looks at Cliona. “And which of us is going to tell Bairre that his mother was responsible for kidnapping the boys he was so determined to rescue?” she asks.
Cliona winces. “I still don’t believe it was the rebellion,” she says. When Daphne opens her mouth, looking ready to argue, Cliona shakes her head. “I know, I know, but I need to speak to my father about it. She may have been working on her own.”
“The Frivian rebellion kidnapped Gideon and Reid?” Leopold asks, frowning.
What’s more, if read that conversation correctly, Cliona is part of the rebellion. Remembering how the empress used the Temarinian revolutionaries to suit her purpose, it raises her suspicions.
“It would appear so,” Daphne says to Leopold before pausing. “I expected you to insist on traveling with them,” she says. “Not .”
Leopold glances at and shrugs. “Would you have let me?” he asks her.
Daphne’s lips purse, but rather than answer, she shrugs and turns to . “You’ll leave tonight. When Bairre realizes, Cliona and I will tell him the truth and he won’t follow. Take them wherever you see fit.”
Without another word, Daphne brushes past and Leopold and out of the room, Cliona at her heels.
—
That night, goes with Leopold to the room his brothers are staying in, finding Gideon and Reid already in their nightclothes, though they aren’t asleep. Gideon is reading a book of Frivian folklore in his bed while Reid sits cross-legged on the floor by the fire, surrounded by half a dozen pieces of paper scribbled with drawings can’t quite make out.
Gideon notices Leopold first, closing his book and sitting up straighter, blue eyes bright.
“Leopold!” he says, which draws Reid’s attention as well.
Leopold lifts his finger to his lips to signal for them to keep their voices low as closes the door. Then he sits at the edge of Gideon’s bed and gestures for Reid to come closer. hangs back, watching and listening as he explains to Gideon and Reid that they’ll be leaving the castle tonight—without him.
“Are we going back to Mother?” Reid asks, frowning.
Over his head, Leopold gives a strained look, and she can’t bring herself to envy him his position. As far as Gideon and Reid know, their mother is just that—the woman who dried their tears and tucked them into bed, the one who told stories and sang lullabies.
“No, that isn’t safe,” Leopold says, rather than try to explain why that is. “You’re going to go with ,” he adds, nodding to her.
Both boys turn to look at her.
“I know you,” Reid says, frowning. “You were at the palace, in Kavelle.”
opens her mouth to answer, but Leopold gets there first.
“ was a friend of Sophie’s,” he says. “She’s going to take you to another friend—Lord Savelle.”
The name doesn’t seem to spark any recognition in them, but supposes that they would have been very young the last time Lord Savelle was in the Temarinian court, if they crossed paths at all.
“He lives in the Silvan Isles,” Leopold continues. “I’m very jealous—you’ll certainly have much better weather than I’ll have here.”
hears the forced lightness in his voice, and she knows that despite how insistent he was on this path, saying goodbye to his brothers again is difficult for him.
“You don’t have to be jealous if you come too,” Gideon says.
“I can’t, Gid,” Leopold says, shaking his head. “I told Sophie I would help Daphne, and I have to see that through. But when it’s safe, we’ll see one another again. I promise.”
averts her eyes as Leopold hugs both his brothers, speaking low words to them that aren’t meant for her ears. Then he tells them to change into the warmest clothes they have. There is nothing to pack, since they arrived with nothing, and assumes Rufus will be well funded for this trip and able to purchase whatever they need.
Leopold and step out into the hall while Gideon and Reid change, but Leopold remains silent.
“Leo…,” starts, unsure what to say. She knows better than to promise him he’ll see his brothers again someday, but she wants to nonetheless.
“Please don’t try to convince me to go with them,” he says, his voice quiet. “I’m already close to agreeing, but I can’t.”
“No,” agrees. “You’re right—you have the best chance of fully swaying Daphne. She’s already almost there. I don’t think she’d let your brothers go if she weren’t.”
Leopold laughs, but the sound is hard-edged. “She’s letting them go because she doesn’t trust herself not to kill them,” he says. “And because she doesn’t want to risk Cliona’s morals being weaker than hers.”
He’s right, knows he’s right, but she can’t help but think that two weeks ago, Leopold wouldn’t have seen that truth.
“I’ll keep them safe, Leopold,” she tells him, her voice soft. She reaches out to him, her hand landing on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “I promise you that.”
Leopold looks at her, his dark blue eyes nearly glowing in the dark. “Thank you, ,” he says. “I wouldn’t trust them with anyone else.”
When Gideon and Reid emerge from their room, dressed in the heavy cloaks and boots, they say their goodbyes to Leopold before letting lead them out of the palace, to the stables where Rufus is already waiting, four horses saddled and ready to go.