Chapter 26
LOUIS
The folder sits open on my desk, pages spread across the surface like evidence at a crime scene. It’s past midnight, and I should be sleeping. But that’s impossible when I’m forced to have Addison in the same room as me without being able to speak to her.
Delphine recently gave me this folder of information.
I’ve been through the palace art archives, going back sixty years.
I’ve read inventory lists, written in faded ink, that smelled like dust and old libraries.
There are catalog numbers and locations for every piece Henri Beaumont created during his tenure, provided nothing has been moved.
The paper is yellowed with age and brittle on the edges, so I handle each page carefully as I cross-reference locations against what I know.
Most of the paintings are exactly where they should be.
They’re hanging in galleries around the palace and in private quarters throughout.
I’ve personally checked myself, and Davis—the guard who’s required to be my shadow per my mother’s orders—is my witness.
Just as Addison quickly discovered, one painting has vanished.
I pull the page closer, reading the notation for the hundredth time. Landscape, oil on canvas, forty-eight by thirty-six inches. Original location: queen’s sitting room, west wall.
But it’s missing.
There is no updated location or transfer record listed. It vanished without any indication of where it went. The dimensions match the faded rectangle on the wall. It’s a dead end—again.
I shove back from the desk and pace to the window.
As I stare out at the dark grounds, I press my palm against the cool glass.
If I move to the edge of the room, I can barely see the cottage.
It looks like the lights are off, which means Addison is probably asleep.
Or maybe she’s lying awake in the middle of the night, like me.
Instead of sheep, I’ve been counting the days until this ends.
My neck aches from hours of hunching over documents, and I roll my shoulders to loosen the knot that’s been caused by stress.
This week so far has been frustrating.
Tatiana promised to help me see Addison, but every attempt has been blocked by convenient complications.
Monday, she had a headache that required me to join her at dinner.
Tuesday, the queen scheduled an impromptu tea that ran four hours long.
On Wednesday, Tatiana claimed she couldn’t find a time to break away to help.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday brought excuse after excuse until I stopped believing her.
Three pre-portrait sessions happened while I was trapped in meetings I couldn’t escape, but since I know the process, Addison said it wasn’t needed.
Delphine caught me in the hallway yesterday and reported that Addison had been professional, composed, and revealed nothing during her private meetings with my mother and Tatiana as they discussed poses.
I wish she weren’t wasting her energy on something that will never be displayed.
There are a few days until the ball, until Tatiana and I end this in front of an audience. I’m growing more impatient with every passing day. Not being able to talk to Addison makes me stir-crazy, and now I somehow want her even more.
I grab my jacket and head for the door.
Davis straightens when he sees me. “Your Highness. It’s late.”
“I’m aware.” I keep walking. “I need to speak with Princess Tatiana immediately.”
“Sir, the queen has requested—”
“I don’t care what my mother requested.” I stop and turn to face him. “I’m going to the north wing; you can follow me if you’d like.”
He hesitates, and I continue down the corridor with his footsteps trailing behind me.
This part of the palace feels different at this hour.
It’s nothing but long empty hallways and shadows.
I pass the guest quarters, where dignitaries and extended family members sleep.
Most are oblivious to the drama unfolding around them.
The air is cooler from a draft from somewhere.
I pull my jacket tighter as I round the final corner.
Tatiana’s suite is at the end of the hall, and I don’t bother knocking.
The door is unlocked, and I push it open to find her sitting at her vanity in a silk robe and lingerie set, brushing her dark hair with long, rhythmic strokes.
The soft rasp of bristles through her hair is the only sound in the room.
The space smells like jasmine and vanilla—too sweet, in a way that makes me want to open a window. It’s warm in here, and fresh flowers sit on every surface. The furniture is ornate in a style that doesn’t match the rest of the palace because she’s made this space hers, like she’s planning to stay.
She meets my eyes in the mirror without surprise, her gray gaze steady and cool, like she was expecting me.
“Louis.” She sets down the brush and turns on her stool. “What a surprise.”
“We need to talk.” I keep my eyes focused on her face, even though her body is on full display.
“So I gathered.” She gestures to the bed. “Please sit.”
I close the door behind me and lean against it with my arms crossed. She walks toward me, shaking her hips like they’re a weapon. The silk robe whispers against her legs as she moves. The material of her bra and panties is thin enough to see through, and I’m sure that’s intentional.
“You haven’t held up your end of the deal,” I say.
“I’ve tried.” She pushes off the robe, settles into one of the chairs, and crosses her legs. “You can look.”
“I’m good,” I tell her.
“This is yours, Louis. I will let you do whatever you’d like.”
I blink at her. “Have you lost your fucking mind?”
“Have you?”
I sigh. “You’ve given me a week of excuses and obstacles that only seem to affect my ability to see Addison.” I push off from the door and take a step closer. “Either you’re incompetent, which I don’t believe, or you’re playing fucking games.”
She studies me, and then she smiles. It’s evil and controlled. “I’ve been thinking about our arrangement, and I’ve realized there might be a better option for both of us.”
I slide my hands into my pockets as my jaw clenches. The exhaustion I’ve been ignoring all week catches up with me. “Explain.”
“Marry me.” She holds up a hand before I can respond.
“Hear me out. Your mother wants this alliance, and my father wants this alliance. The council, the advisors, everyone with any power in either of our countries wants this marriage to happen. You can fight it, but you’ll lose.
You might delay it, but the pressure will become unbearable, and you’ll have to choose between the crown and your happiness. ”
“I’ve already made that choice.”
“Have you?” She tilts her head. “Because from where I’m sitting, you’re still here, still playing games with me, still hoping for a miracle that isn’t coming. You know we’d be good together. Look at what we’ve accomplished so far.”
My nostrils flare, and I find the conversation unbelievable. “We had an agreement. This ends at the ball in front of everyone. What about your secret relationship?”
“He can come here. We can both have our lovers on-site. The public is obsessed with us, Louis. It would do good for both of our countries.” She stands. “This way, we can have what we truly want.”
“You can have what you truly want,” I say.
“I have your best interests in mind as well.”
She moves closer, and I hold my ground even though my jaw is tight enough to ache.
“Marry me. Be my husband in name, in appearance, in all the ways that matter to our parents and the endless parade of diplomats who care about alliances and bloodlines. And in private …”
She reaches out to touch my chest, and I catch her wrist before she makes contact.
“Give me a baby. You can keep Addison. Live out your fantasies together.” Her gray eyes meet mine, steady and calculating.
“We’ll create several heirs. While you have your fun, I’ll look the other way and deny any allegations.
You can love her however you want, and I’ll never say a word.
She becomes your secret, and I become your wife. Everyone wins.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Think about it, Louis. I’m offering you my loyalty. My allegiance to the Crown. And everything I am. However you want me, I’m yours.”
She takes a step forward, and I take a step back.
“Your mother will never accept her. You can threaten abdication all you want, but we both know you won’t actually do it.
Not for a woman. You love this country too much to deny it of you.
There is a part of you that enjoys this, or you’d have ended it weeks ago.
” She steps back to give me space, playing reasonably. “You’ll have everything you want.”
“I want Addison as my wife. She’s the only woman I could ever see ruling Montclaire beside me.”
“The American?” Tatiana’s voice sharpens. “Hilarious, considering, right now, she’s painting your engagement portrait to the future queen of Montclaire.”
“If you don’t follow our plan and you break your word, you will regret this for the rest of your existence.
” I force my voice to stay level even though I want to shake her.
“We had a deal, Tatiana. I trusted you, and you don’t want to break that.
At the ball, you make your accusations, we have our public breakup, and you get to play victim.
Everyone feels sorry for you, and then we will walk away from each other. ”
“Are you living in a fairy tale, Louis?” She sarcastically laughs.
“Your mother is ruthless. She will not accept defeat. You think she’ll welcome Addison with open arms because you want her to?
She’ll find another princess, another alliance, another woman to parade in front of you until you finally give up.
You sold your soul to the devil, Louis; you should’ve never signed that contract.
I’m offering you something you will find with no other princess. Do you understand that?”
“I will not settle,” I state. “I will face the consequences.”
“You don’t have to do this alone. We could be partners.” She softens her expression, shifting back to the vulnerable woman who cried in my room. “I’m offering you a solution, Louis, a real one that lets you keep everything you want.”
I shake my head. “No thanks.”
“You’re not going to consider it at all?” she asks.
“The answer is, fuck no.”
She sighs and moves back to the vanity. She picks up her brush and runs it through her dark hair, and I watch her reflection watch me. “What some people will do for love. You’re willing to risk it all because you feel all fuzzy inside? Give me a break.”
“Royals don’t ever find love, Tatiana. You know that. I have. It’s lightning in a bottle. No crown or kingdom or making my parents happy will make me give her up. People wait a lifetime for this.”
“Blah, blah, blah. You’re pussy-whipped to the extreme.
In a year, when you’ve destroyed your life, and you wake up from this dream, call me.
For the right price, we can reconcile and fix your reputation because after this, you’re done for.
Because this won’t work. There’s nothing I could say to actually end this, Louis.
It’s a runaway train. Your mother has too tight a hold on the situation.
She will explain away my public fit, say I’m insecure, and then the next day, we’ll issue an apology, and everything will be fine. ”
“Just do what you said you’d do.”
“Are you listening to me?” She meets my eyes in the mirror. “She has every angle covered.”
“You’ve only seen my mother’s pieces, Tatiana. You don’t know what I have planned.”
“Freedom like you want isn’t as simple as you think. Addison wasn’t made for this life. She won’t last.” She sets down the brush and turns to me. “We could be good together, Louis.”
“I’m sure you’re perfect for someone, and maybe, had we met earlier, you might have been good for me. But I’m stubborn. I know what I want.”
“Great. Tomorrow, you’ll get your wish. Good luck, Louis. You’re going to really fucking need it,” she says. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get some sleep. I have a very busy day tomorrow.”
As I move to the door, she speaks. “One day, you will regret this.”
“If you learn anything from this, it’s don’t settle.” I leave without another word and close the door behind me.
Davis falls into step behind me as I retrace my path back to the east wing.
“She’s impossible,” I whisper. “Always rewriting the rules. I can’t believe my mother actually believes she’s my perfect match.”
“Agreed, Your Highness,” Davis says, following behind me.
“You know, at first, I really hated you always being around. When this is over, I might actually miss you.”
He smiles. “Same.”
“Make sure you report back to my mother that I went to compromise with Tatiana and she refused,” I say.
“Of course.” He nods.
I move inside my loft, strip off my jacket, and pour myself a whiskey. After I take a long sip, I let the burn settle.
Then I replay the entire conversation I just had with Tatiana. I played nice, and she still continued to play dirty.
I carry the whiskey to the window and stare out at the darkness.
My reflection stares back at me; I barely recognize myself.
If I continue down this path, I may lose every part of myself that I like.
My mother’s stronghold has tightened, and Tatiana has helped with that.
I’d bet the crown that she made a pact with my mother.
There was something in the way she smiled at me tonight that makes me think that’s the case.
The whiskey goes bitter on my tongue, so I slosh the rest of the shot back.
Things will get worse before they get better.
Tonight, I’m preparing for war.