Chapter 62
Sixty-two
James
I sat in my chair in my office the next day and tried to figure out a plan.
After the whole fiasco yesterday, I’d sat with Helena and Edwin and tried to come up with a plan on how to get rid of this threat.
I wasn’t very effective, as having Edwin nearly poisoned had rattled me badly.
Even knowing how it happened and having safeguards to prevent its repetition could only soothe my heart so much.
I hadn’t slept well last night as a result, plagued by nightmares that had chased me until Edwin poured a sleeping draught down my throat.
Which was really the only sensible approach. I’d have been sleep deprived and useless today otherwise.
Still, a statement Edwin had made during the plotting yesterday stuck with me, like sharp glass in my throat. He’d said with this first ploy of Valentina’s, the odds of her being responsible for his death in the first life were high, by his estimation.
I’d wanted to argue, as Valentina had been in prison when we left for battle.
But, well, she’d been locked in her rooms here at the palace and still managed to get poison into Edwin’s candy, so…
I couldn’t dismiss the possibility. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t thought of the idea sooner.
My focus had been on those around us, and certainly someone had been Valentina’s hand, if she was behind it.
But I hadn’t considered her as the true mastermind.
I’d had too much faith in iron bars incapacitating her.
There wasn’t anything I could do about his death in my past life, of course, but I’d be damned before I let Valentina have a second go at my Edwin.
Clearly, Valentina would also not take no for an answer. I still couldn’t believe she’d shown up in a negligee and tried to barge into my rooms. Apparently fifteen-year-old Valentina was just as audacious as her twenty-year-old self.
Edwin had handled the situation beautifully.
There might be some complaints about it, but she’d done nothing to warrant respect.
Tossing her out on her ear was well within his rights, and I backed him one hundred percent.
Still, how did I get her to stop such attempts?
How did I get it through to her, my adoptive parents, and anyone else siding with them that I would never marry her?
I’d rather be executed. I wasn’t being facetious.
I would literally rather be in my grave than married to her.
For all our plotting yesterday, we had no easy answer for how to get rid of her completely.
Unfortunately, she was protected by court laws and etiquette.
When a foreign princess came to visit, it took something serious to force her home again.
Right now, I couldn’t prove anything except the seduction attempt, which wasn’t serious enough, sadly.
Heavy boots treaded to my desk before stopping. “Your Highness?”
I looked up at Captain Rowan’s face and straightened in my chair. “Captain. What is it?”
“I figured out how Princess Valentina got into your rooms the other night. I apologize for the delay. The poisoning attempt and its prevention took precedence.”
“Understandable. So? How did she do it?”
“She apparently bribed a staff member into sneaking her into your wing. It was clever how she went about it. She went to the floor above yours and then was let down via a window into your hallway. We’ve since closed off all access to the wing in its entirety.
I’m so sorry, Your Highness. Both Alloways and Pedan feel awful and are willing to receive any punishment you wish to dole out. ”
I was peeved because this shouldn’t have happened.
I also had faith they’d learn from this mistake and never make it again, so I wouldn’t remove them from their position.
But a punishment was in order. “They will take half-pay for the next month and cover any shift changes that happen for the next three months. That’s punishment enough in my books.
Thank you for figuring it out and plugging the hole. What about the staff member?”
“Fired. I reported the incident to Harland, and he fired the man on the spot. I won’t tolerate anything less than absolute loyalty to you.”
For the first time that morning, I had a genuine smile. “Thank you.”
Another visitor entered the office, and he did not look pleased to be there. Ramsey bowed and said apologetically, “Queen Beatrice and King Patrick request your presence. Immediately.”
Couldn’t say I was surprised. “Just mine?”
“Just yours,” he confirmed.
Why not Edwin’s as well?
This smelled, and I didn’t like it. Not one iota.
With a sigh, I stood. “I’m coming.”
I met Edwin’s eyes, and he rose with me, automatically picking up his portfolio as he moved. He would accompany me, as always, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the support. Also, if I had to run for it, I could snag him and take him with me.
It said something about my state of mind that I was already considering running away.
Captain Rowan followed us out the door, automatically giving me protection. No one trusted Valentina to behave and not accost me.
We traversed the hallways in silence. I was already pissed off and dreading this meeting, which left me in too foul a mood to make chitchat. Ramsey took us to the king’s personal study, which I didn’t like, because he’d never given me good news in this room. This smacked of trouble.
I entered the room, wary and cautious, and wasn’t relieved to see just the queen and king. Honestly, that made me more irritated. What were they up to now?
“James,” Patrick welcomed warmly. “Please, don’t be nervous, come sit with us.
I’m so sorry about the other night. It was reported to me Valentina barged into your chambers, and I’m quite wroth with the girl for pushing her agenda like that.
I have her under house arrest at the moment, so you can rest easy. ”
“Thank you. I do feel better hearing that.” Which was true, but Vuheia defend me, what was this man up to? The caginess in his eyes shone brightly.
I sensed Edwin and Captain Rowan taking up station near the door behind me, as they were wont to do during meetings such as this. On hand if I needed them, but unobtrusive until called for.
The sitting area of the king’s study was simple—an array of four chairs and a low tea table, with a massive desk beyond it. They sat in the chairs, a tea set spread out on the table, untouched. I took the chair opposite them but didn’t fully settle. My instincts were insisting I run. Now.
I was inclined to listen.
“Cut to the chase,” I requested.
Patrick’s face twitched into a frown before smoothing out. “As you like. James, as I’m sure you’re very aware, we can’t just send Valentina back.”
I grunted, not agreeing or disagreeing. I did understand the problem.
“She’s…well…technically despoiled by Victor, and unlike every other time he’s done this, I can’t just wave money at the problem and make it go away. Young as she is, her parents still have every right to demand she marry into our family to restore her reputation.”
Also correct and not something I could argue.
“But we can’t have her marry Victor,” Beatrice tacked on, speaking very gently, as if I was some cornered animal who might tear her arm off if provoked. “Surely you see that.”
I stared at her for a long moment before speaking.
“I understand that by having Victor and Valentina marry, it would give Victor a boost toward the throne, despite him not being technically of the royal family right now. He could use the political leverage through his wife’s family to reclaim the throne, and when you deny it, use that as justification to rally an army and make trouble.
Not that many would support him, but enough would to make it problematic. ”
Her expression eased. “Then you do understand.”
“A child could understand. This isn’t deep.”
“Then you understand why we need you to—”
“No.” I lashed the word like a whip, cutting her off.
Beatrice startled, pressing back into her chair, expression offended.
I didn’t regret my tone and kept the same harsh volume.
“No, I will not be sacrificed on the altar of Victor’s mistakes.
I understand why you’re worried, yes. I understand you’re in a very difficult position because of your son.
That’s your problem to navigate, not mine.
That’s his sin to pay for, not mine. I will not marry Valentina or even enter a brief engagement with her to smooth things over.
It’s about fucking time you stopped smoothing things over for Victor and let him actually suffer the full consequences of his actions. ”
“We can’t do that,” Patrick burst out, a tic forming at the corner of his eye. “This entire country will face the repercussions!”
He might be right, but frankly, I didn’t care about the fallout. They were asking me to do the one thing I would never do. Asking me to once again forfeit Edwin for a woman who had almost driven me insane.
I could not, would not, do this.
“James, as a member of this royal family, you must do your duty to protect the country!”
“But you’re not asking me to protect the country—you’re asking me to protect your pride. Your pride isn’t worth my sanity.”
“This isn’t about pride!” Patrick slammed his hand against the armchair. “We cannot go to war with Ascor!”
He was unfortunately right about that. This silence from Ascor held a terrible, awful portent of doom.
The fact that I still hadn’t heard from my spies weighed on me.
Were the monarchs still debating how to respond to Valentina’s elopement?
Or were they preparing something nasty in response to the former prince taking off with their daughter?
I honestly didn’t know.
And that wasn’t a good thing.
I stared into Patrick’s eyes and felt what little respect I had for him die a quick death. So this was how it would be?