31
D ear Lady Narcissa ,
I hope you are enjoying your stay here at the Grand Alevine Opera. The living quarters are absolutely divine, are they not? I suppose you won’t be staying long as the end of the tour draws nearer, but it would mean the world if you could attend my show one last time with His Majesty and the crown prince tonight.
Looking forward to seeing you ,
Celeste Carr
I stared at the neat, swirling script, so unlike the coarse lemon juice messages on the back of the fliers. Misty surveyed the letter before walking across it, crumpling the paper.
She wants you to see a show you’ve already seen? Sounds suspicious , Misty meowed.
It was suspicious. But what was the point of investigating whether Celeste was involved in the meetings? King Maximus already decided on his plan of action. This was no longer my concern.
“Suspicious or not, we’re going,” I said, standing from my vanity. “You heard Ulysses this morning. The tour is ending in four days.”
I hadn’t expected it to end so soon. The past few months had gone by in a blur.
“And after that, of course,” Ulysses added, “is the wedding. Thank heavens I don’t have to plan that.”
I balked at the mention of the wedding. Being Bennett’s wife was something I never considered. It had always been about my role as the crown princess of Olderea. It was difficult to forget our conversation last night in the king’s chambers. Bennett made his feelings for me abundantly clear. He didn’t want anything from me. He just wanted... me . Yet I couldn’t bring myself to believe him.
Don’t act so surprised. He was bound to like you , Misty said, hopping onto the carpet. Besides, is it so bad?
I turned to the window, leaning against my bed post. “It’s not bad, ” I said, struggling to form my thoughts. “I did not expect it, that’s all.”
Misty sat back, giving me a hard stare. Her whiskers and elegant form made her look wise beyond her years. Solitude is essential in moderation, but crippling in excess. Even strays like me find solace in company .
“You’re not a stray anymore,” I said, joining her on the carpet. I petted her ears fondly. “Besides, we have each other. We always have. Together forever, remember?”
That was what we had promised each other—a lifetime of love and friendship.
Misty pushed her head into my hand. I know, darling. But don’t you think it’ll be better with more than two of us against the world?
I gave her a peculiar look. “What has gotten into you?” Misty always liked it when it was just the two of us. She was upset with me the other day for this very reason. Realization dawned on me. “Is this because of Pippin?”
Misty licked her paws. Partly. I love you to the moon and back, but having a feline companion is an entirely different experience. He made me realize what I was missing.
I frowned. “I didn’t know you were missing anything.”
I’m only being honest.
A pang shot through my chest. Misty had always been with me the moment we found each other at the palace dumping grounds all those years ago. The thought that I had kept her from living how she pleased pained me more than I could describe.
“Do you think you would’ve been better off if...if you hadn’t met me?” I asked.
Misty meowed indignantly. Don’t put words into my mouth. I’m only saying that accepting Pippin’s companionship has been for the better. It gets lonely when you’re out and about.
Protestations died on my lips. Misty was always by herself whenever I had events to attend. But the thought of not having her waiting when I got back was unbearable. She had always been the one to comfort me, to make me laugh, to help me sleep at night. She was the only one who knew me in and out—the only one who loved me.
I hope you’re not delusional enough to think that , Misty said, pulling away from my hand. You’re surrounded by love, both potential and existing. You have been for months. Whether you dare to accept it is another matter. I, for one, am going to find Pippin.
She turned up her tail and stalked toward the door.
“Misty—”
The door , she meowed.
I wordlessly turned the knob and watched her slink down the hall. Whistling and light footsteps came from the other end. Giselle raised her eyebrows at the sight of me.
“Why so gloomy?” she said.
I shook my head. “It’s nothing.”
IT TURNED OUT THAT the seamstress was on her way to fit me for a new dress. Lady Ruan had convinced King Maximus to attend the show tonight, and to my surprise, he had accepted. Giselle was in charge of dressing us all.
“But His Majesty plans to ambush the rebels tonight,” I said as she buttoned me into a midnight blue gown, complete with a chiffon shawl.
“Oh? There’s no reason he can’t attend while Lord Frederick does the dirty work,” Giselle said through a mouthful of pins.
I stood still as she adjusted the length of the slight train. “I suppose. I just think...” I sighed and shook my head. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter.” Whatever mystery was left to solve, it was up to Lord Frederick and the king. Perhaps Father as well. Bennett and I had done our part .
Giselle didn’t seem to be listening. She was scrutinizing the fliers that lay at the corner of my vanity, the pins abandoned.
“This woman...” she said, pointing at the likeness of Celeste. “She looks familiar.”
“She’s the new soprano everyone is raving about,” I said. “Do you know her?”
Giselle shook her head, but the crease between her brows didn’t disappear even as she finished making adjustments on the dress. I stopped her at the door.
“You should come with us,” I said. Misty would likely not join me after our conversation, and I had little desire to be stuck in a box with a father and son upset with each other.
Giselle waved her hand in the air. “Oh, I never liked theatrical productions. Besides, I want to sleep early tonight. Enjoy yourself.”
After she left, I found myself meandering about the halls, pacing in front of a certain door. My palms felt clammy. I shut my eyes before mustering up the courage to knock twice.
The door opened.
“Narcissa,” Lady Vanessa said, blue eyes widening. She was still in her dressing gown with curl papers in her hair, despite it being nearly noon.
“Is this a bad time?” I asked.
She broke into a smile. “Not at all. Come inside, I’m having tea.”
Lady Vanessa’s room was less grand than mine, though the tasteful pastel furnishings suited her perfectly. I took a seat at the edge of a chaise longue.
“Can I help you with anything, dear?” Lady Vanessa asked, pouring herself a cup of tea .
I fidgeted, pushing the fringe of the rug with my shoe. “I was wondering if you would like to attend the show tonight? With me.”
She set the teapot down, her expression all surprise. I couldn’t blame her. I avoided her at every turn in Greenwood Abbey.
“It’s alright if you do not have time,” I said when she didn’t answer.
Lady Vanessa shook her head, a few curls falling from their papers. “No, I do! I have all the time in the world.” She beamed, lighting up the room.
“So you will come?”
“Of course! I’m quite fond of the theater,” Lady Vanessa said. “I was hoping your father would take me, but alas he’s on duty.”
I cracked a smile. “He’ll be there. Just facing away from the stage.”
She laughed. “Yes, precisely.” She looked around the spotless room. “Though...I’m afraid I don’t have anything appropriate to wear.”
“I know just the person to help.”
IT WASN’T LONG BEFORE the night came. A pair of guards escorted Lady Vanessa and I to the auditorium where King Maximus and Bennett already stood in our box. Father was stationed outside with a couple of other guards, their uniforms matching the deep purple carpeting.
He beamed when he saw us. “My dear, you look divine.”
Lady Vanessa was swathed in a luxurious gown of soft periwinkle chiffon. The color livened her complexion. Giselle had certainly outdone herself in such a short amount of time.
“I’ll have to thank Narcissa for inviting me and lending me her dressmaker,” Lady Vanessa said with a smile.
Father raised his eyebrows, pleased.
King Maximus welcomed my stepmother when we entered the box. I stood back with Bennett.
“I presume His Majesty didn’t change his mind?” I whispered.
“No.” Bennett sighed. His lapels was uncharacteristically lopsided, though he didn’t seem to notice.
I reached over to straighten them. “Is he always like this?”
Bennett’s expression softened. “For all my life.” He smiled sadly.
I looked down. How wrong I was when I assumed Bennett didn’t understand my relationship with Mother. King Maximus was the same sort of parent. Rigid. Demanding. He expected great things from Bennett yet wouldn’t let him go beyond his control. I wondered what nuggets of affection the king would give him to show that he loved him in spite of everything.
“Recently he has been more...paranoid,” Bennett said quietly. “He’s threatened by the riots and his policies being disliked. Ash and I think his age is making it worse.”
I couldn’t find the words to comfort him, so I squeezed his hand instead.
“Hopefully nothing too disastrous happens tonight,” I said, peering over the crowded auditorium. There was no saying if the rioters would decide to take the chaos here.
“Hopefully.” Bennett exhaled and gave me a small smile. “You look beautiful. ”
I still hadn’t gotten used to his compliments. I ducked my chin. “As do you.”
He looked as if he wanted to say something more, but King Maximus cleared his throat. I pulled my hand away.
“Bennett, Narcissa. No reason to lurk in the shadows like criminals,” he said gruffly.
So he wasn’t entirely cured of his sour mood. Bennett turned stone-faced and sat next to his father. The king sighed.
The chatter quieted as the lights dimmed. Once again, the curtains lifted to reveal Celeste in all her glory. She caught my gaze and smiled. I wondered how she could see me in the dark, but I gave her a nod.
Then she started singing. Nothing had changed, yet somehow I found her dulcet voice grating, like sandpaper against skin. I sat, entranced, unable to move as the opera progressed. A dull pain pulsed at the base of my head. It spread up my scalp, tingling and burning its way to my ears and then shooting to my throat. I coughed.
Lady Vanessa’s concerned expression floated at my periphery. I blinked, eyes watering.
“I think I need some air,” I whispered to her. She nodded and moved aside so I could leave the box.
Father stood on the other side of the curtains, the hallway dazzling compared to the darkness inside.
“Are you ill, Cissa?” he asked, frowning. I must have looked as pale as I felt.
“I just need some air,” I said, rubbing my throat. The tingling subsided. I excused myself to the washroom, not wanting to disturb Father while he was on duty.
When I exited, the hallway was sprinkled with audience members. Was it intermission already? I returned to the box, feeling faint. I was surprised to see Celeste there, still in her stage costume, conversing with King Maximus.
“....to say, Your Majesty, that I greatly respect what you have been doing for Olderea,” Celeste said in her soft, husky voice. “Your perseverance in helping those poor witches is admirable.”
His Majesty responded, looking immensely flattered. Celeste turned to me.
“Lady Narcissa! Thank you for obliging me tonight,” she said, smiling. Her stage makeup looked garishly intense up close. “I was sorry to see you leave before the first act was complete. Are you quite alright?”
I managed a nod. The headache had faded into a dull throb, not unlike the one I felt the other night. “I needed some air.”
Celeste tilted her head. “Oh dear. I hope it was nothing serious.” She rearranged her robe and pulled out a small lavender vial, spritzing something into her mouth. “Keeps my throat comfortable after all the singing,” she said with a wink. She tucked the spray bottle back into her robe pocket. “Now, off I go. The ensemble will be cross with me if I’m late.”
She swept into a low curtsy and glided off.
King Maximus grunted. “Good to know someone still respects royalty.”
Bennett touched my arm when I returned to my seat. I knew the question on his lips before he could vocalize it.
“I’m fine,” I whispered .
Intermission ended far too soon. My hands were shaking inexplicably when the curtain drew open once again, flooding the auditorium with colored light. There was something I couldn’t put my finger on. Something strange...
Celeste’s singing drowned out all thoughts. My eyes were glued to the stage, my limbs stiff in my chair, my head sluggish with dull throbs.
Then, something slashed my eardrums.
I keeled over in pain, clutching my head. My reaction must’ve been more disruptive than I thought.
“Narcissa!” Lady Vanessa and Bennett said in unison. I slid from my seat. Bennett knelt before me, grabbing my forearms.
“Get back to your seat, Bennett. And quiet down,” King Maximus whispered harshly to my left. “Narcissa, what ails you?”
I didn’t understand how the king’s voice was perfectly audible when my ears felt like they had been cut off. “A-a headache,” I said. It came out more like a whimper. Something wet dripped onto Bennett’s hands. Tears. My tears.
I wiped them away quickly.
“Something’s wrong,” Bennett said. Somehow he managed to pull me up. My knees buckled. He wrapped his arm around my waist, holding me against him. I gasped into his chest when another surge of pain hit me.
Whispers started along the surrounding boxes.
“Good heavens. What happened?”
“Lady Narcissa appears ill.”
“Look at the crown prince. That is the most I’ve seen him emote.”
Then, the agony stopped. No residual throb remained. My limbs felt strong enough to support me. I teetered back from Bennett’s embrace, bewildered .
Bennett cupped my face, wiping my tears away with his fingers. “Cissa. What’s wrong? What is it?”
King Maximus stood, exhaling.
“Should we call for the physician?” Lady Vanessa asked, touching my hand. “My dear, you’re shivering.”
I shook my head. “No. No, I’m fine.”
Bennett began to protest, but King Maximus quieted him with a stern stare. He did not look pleased.
“Narcissa. Bennett. To my office,” he said, and abruptly exited, disappearing behind the curtains.
“I-I’m sorry,” I managed to say to Lady Vanessa.
She furrowed her brows. “Don’t worry about me, dear. You must rest if you aren’t feeling well. ”
The king’s stormy expression told me I wouldn’t be resting any time soon.