27
“ F ather is here!”
I had just finished my toilette when Maddox burst into my room, face flushed from the cold. Misty yowled and dove under the mattress.
“What? So soon?” I fished her out, attempting to calm her.
That was what Ulysses meant when he mentioned a big day. I had forgotten about the king’s impromptu visit. Did he ever tell Bennett?
Maddox bent over my vanity mirror, smoothing stray hairs back into his ponytail and straightening his uniform. His sword knocked against a stool, toppling it to the floor. “How do I look?” he asked, splaying his arms out. The bottles on the table rattled.
“Fine,” I said flatly, righting the stool. “What has you so nervous?”
“Didn’t I just tell you? Father is here.”
I let a disgruntled Misty onto the windowsill and put my hands on my hips. “You’ll be fine. You’re still a guard. And I said I’ll speak for you if he’s unsatisfied.”
Maddox nodded, but his posture was still stiff. “Let’s go then. I’m here to escort you outside to meet Fa—I mean His Majesty.”
“Oh.” Of course. Maddox wasn’t the only one who had reason to be nervous. I had to face King Maximus, who hopefully would be happy with how the tour had progressed. If not, I doubt Maddox could talk him out of his dissatisfaction.
I went over to the window to stroke Misty’s head. “Stay here for now. I’ll be back soon.”
I followed Maddox outside the opera house, where Lady Ruan was already present, along with Bennett, Ulysses, and Lord Frederick. King Maximus rode forth on his steed, a small procession behind him. Father was beside him in full uniform. A pang of homesickness hit me, taking me by surprise. Since when had I considered Greenwood Abbey home?
Maddox stopped behind me as I took my place beside Bennett. He wore a gray coat, a contrast to his usual rich colors.
“How are you feeling, Narcissa?” he asked softly.
“Fine, thank you.” I blushed at the memory of our interaction the other night, though a gust of icy wind cooled my cheeks instantly. The procession approached. “Did you know King Maximus was coming?”
Bennett shook his head. “I should have. He rarely lets me handle things myself,” he muttered. He furrowed his brow when I shivered at another gust of wind. “You’re cold.”
“I’m not,” I lied. I should have layered on an extra petticoat .
Something warm and heavy weighed down my shoulders. I looked up to see Bennett without his greatcoat, but there was no time to protest. King Maximus dismounted and strode toward us. Father followed him, the picture of a loyal guard.
“Bennett, Narcissa. Good to see you two alive and well,” His Majesty said.
I curtsied. Father’s beard had grown longer since I saw him last.
“Father.” Bennett dipped his head. “How was your trip?”
“No one attempted an assassination if that’s what you mean,” King Maximus said. He surveyed us beneath his heavy brow. “We have much to talk about. Maverick, you would like to reunite with your children, no doubt. We’ll meet inside.”
Ulysses and Bennett followed him up the steps.
Father’s formal demeanor seemed to melt in the king’s absence. He broke into a smile and pulled me into a hug that swept me off my feet. I let out a startled laugh.
“I’ve missed you, Cissa!” He put me down to clap Maddox on the shoulder. “And you as well, Maddox.”
My brother’s eyes shone, but he couldn’t seem to muster any words.
“Maddox has been a great guard,” I said quickly.
Father raised his brows. “Has he?”
Maddox remained wide-eyed and silent.
I coughed. “Bennett doubled his wages.”
Father’s brows rose even higher as he took in the coat around my shoulders. “Bennett?”
“Um...” I found myself tongue-tied. Luckily, I was saved from speaking when someone else approached, her blond hair barely concealed by a petal pink cloak .
“Mother!” Maddox’s voice returned. He ran forward to embrace her, laughing in delight. “What are you doing here?”
Lady Vanessa held his face between her hands. “I couldn’t resist coming to see you,” she said. She turned to me. “Narcissa! Are you well? I read about what happened at Vandil!”
Father grunted at the mention of the fire. I figured he was holding back on a scolding.
I fidgeted. “I-It turned out all right in the end,” I managed. “And you, Lady Vanessa?”
“Perfectly well, dear.” She smiled softly. A few months ago I would have looked away. But now, her presence felt welcome. Comforting, even.
The four of us managed to have a pleasant conversation without either Father or Maddox exploding. Eventually, the cold was too much to bear and Father didn’t dare to make His Majesty wait any longer. We joined King Maximus and Bennett inside the opera house before the grand steps.
“I haven’t step foot here since I was a boy,” King Maximus said, his voice echoing in the hall.
Lady Ruan smiled. “I’m sure much has changed, Your Majesty. Would you be interested in a tour?”
King Maximus nodded slowly. “I suppose there’s time. We can discuss kingdom matters tonight.”
A meow came from the left. Pippin strode out from beneath the stairs, his ginger fur disheveled, dragging a rat half his size along the marble floor.
Lady Ruan pressed a hand over her mouth.
“Are there strays roaming the opera house now?” His Majesty asked, looking down at the tabby in disgust. Bennett took a step back as Pippin laid the carcass at his feet .
Pippin! This is hardly the time, I thought to him.
What? Is a cat not allowed to bring his master food anymore? Pippin said, peering up innocently.
He’s the crown prince. He has plenty of food. I said, covering my nose when I caught a whiff of the rat. Where did you get that? The sewers?
Yes, in fact, I did, Pippin meowed. You should see them. They’re enormous .
“Lady Narcissa, is this your cat?” King Maximus asked.
I realized everyone was watching me having a silent conversation with Pippin. I cleared my throat. “He’s the crown prince’s.”
The king frowned. “Bennett does not have a cat.”
Bennett stiffened. “A recent acquisition,” he said, so quickly that his words slurred together. “Did Lady Ruan mention another tour?”
LADY RUAN ONCE AGAIN showed us the auditorium, the hallways, and the back rooms of the various singers and actors, and the third floor where the living quarters were. Eventually, after King Maximus expressed interest, Lady Ruan led us back down to the auditorium to take a closer look backstage.
“We just had our rigging system redone,” Lady Ruan said. “Hopefully it’ll be finished by tomorrow.” We craned our necks to see a few men above, standing on crisscrossing wooden beams and a myriad of wires.
Bennett lingered behind to stare at them for a little longer as the rest of us followed Lady Ruan further backstage.
“And here are the fliers Celeste signed,” Lady Ruan said, pointing to a nook where a small desk sat piled with papers. The very same fliers I found in Dominic’s bag and the farmer’s pocket. “Isn’t the illustration just lovely? It’s a favorite among the audience–we had to print so many!”
A stagehand rushed past us, arms laden with a wooden set piece. A corner knocked into my shoulder. I stumbled back, steadying myself against the desk. A few fliers rained to the floor.
Father furrowed his brow. “Cissa, are you hurt?”
Before I could respond, Bennett rushed to me.
“Narcissa!” he said, grabbing my wrist. “Are you injured? Where does it hurt?”
I blushed. “I’m fine. I promise.” It felt like the billionth time he had asked about my well-being.
“No need to raise your voice, Bennett,” King Maximus said, raising a brow. “Lady Narcissa has not been impaled.”
Bennett released my wrist.
“Apologies, milady.” The stagehand who bumped into me bobbed a shallow bow, wringing his hands.
I inclined my head.
Lady Ruan frowned. “Patrick, you really ought to watch where you’re going!” She ushered the youth behind the curtains, no doubt to give him a good scolding.
Pippin rolled onto the pile of fliers carpeting the floor. It smells like a lemon grove , he said.
One caught my eye. It had a wet spot. I picked it up. The scent of lemons wafted to my nose. I frowned, turning it over. Why would there be lemon juice on the fliers? The mark looked deliberate, a trail of liquid forming into something that resembled a letter. But the rest had dried, indiscernible.
King Maximus rubbed his face. “I’ll take my leave. I am tired.”
Lady Ruan rushed out from behind the curtain. “Of course, Your Majesty. I will have a meal sent to your suite as soon as possible.”
King Maximus nodded. He motioned for Father to follow as he left.
“Settle down first, my dear,” Father said to Lady Vanessa. Turning to me and Maddox, he smiled. “I’ll see you two soon.”
The group scattered, but I stood, puzzled, as I held the flier. Bennett rested a hand on my arm. I turned to him.
“There...might be something going on here,” I said.
Bennett searched my face. “You think so too?”
I blinked in surprise. “Yes.”
His expression turned serious. “Come. We can discuss this elsewhere.” He looked down at the tabby cat rolling in the fliers. “You too, Pippin.”