52. Nicholas
52
Nicholas
M arco stood behind me, presenting a unified front. Ricks and Sebastian had been summoned, and they entered the war room decorated with years of maps and strategies.
“Prince Marco, I see you’ve had men arrive. Funny, I found no reports of guards from Duski entering?” Commander Druller eyed him up and down, another standoff.
“Perhaps you’re not as good at your job as you might have thought, Commander,” Marco retorted with a light casualness I knew would send Seb’s blood boiling.
I cleared my throat, a targeted sound for Marco.
My cousin inhaled deeply. “What I mean to say, Commander, is that it was my intention to keep my men’s presence hidden. Prince Nicholas is already aware of the situation.”
A muscle flickered in Sebastian’s jaw as he tossed a questioning stare my way.
“That is correct. However, that is not why I have brought you both here today.”
“How can we be of service, Your Highness?” Ricks asked.
His attitude had lifted greatly after I’d told him I had made a decision on which woman from the dinner would be selected. Though, I failed to inform him of who—a calculated move on my part. He hadn’t loved being kept in the dark, but was appeased enough that I had reached a decision.
“As you are both aware, the kingdom has suffered great losses in recent months regarding missing persons. I have seen to it personally to investigate matters, and have uncovered connections within the castle itself. Weapons from the armory have been steadily stolen, placed upon unpermitted ships in the harbor.
“I’ve narrowed down the list of possible assailants. Marco has acquired first-hand accounts from his men corroborating this information, and I have come to the conclusion that the men on this list are to be immediately apprehended and placed in the dungeons. Interrogations will be overseen as we pry for information. As of now, these men are enemies to the Crown, and will be treated as such.” I slid the paper with a list of a dozen names across my desk.
Ricks adjusted his spectacles and grabbed the paper, scouring the document.
“Why haven’t you briefed me on this, Nick?” Seb asked, not bothering to hide the hurt in his tone.
Guilt swelled, lodging in my throat. My father had been a tyrant, executing decisions without consulting others. I’d sworn to not be that way, and Commander Druller and I had built our entire relationship upon mutual respect. I knew how much he cared for his men, and how much of a shock this revelation would be. Now, he would need to act as an enemy to his men without any hint of warning.
“ Prince Nicholas ,” Marco corrected, too pointedly to a man clearly hurt.
“Not necessary.” I waved a hand in dismissal. “Sebastian, I’m sorry for not involving you up until this point. I had suspicions of castle connections, which have unfortunately been confirmed. I needed to do this on my own.”
In the span of a couple breaths, we went through the conversation silently. He hated being left out of the loop. I hated keeping him out. He wished he could have offered me help. I regretted not trusting him. He accepted that this was what happened, and his shoulders slumped before Ricks had finished with the paper and he took it.
I saw the sorrow weigh on his features, taking in the names of men he worked alongside daily. “I’ll have them rounded up immediately.”
“My men don’t mind helping,” Marco interjected with an insistence that seemed out of place.
When Seb tore his eyes from the list, he leveled Marco with barely restrained rage. Then he looked at me. “With all due respect, Your Highness, my men don’t need to be witnessed going into custody by guards with no rank here. A pointless insult, and one that might call question to Highcrest leaders.” He returned his fiery gaze to Marco. “Why are you so insistent that your men oversee?” Two bulls pawing at the ground, winding up for the charge.
“Enough,” I said, drawing my attention to no one in particular. “Commander Druller, once you confine the suspects, the first information I want to learn is their temperament towards magic wielders.”
That broke his trance of anger lingering on Marco. “Magic? I thought you wanted to know about the kidnappings?” Surprised confusion marred his features, and I hoped his bitterness wouldn’t rear again every time I had to admit to keeping him in the dark about something.
“There’s a connection. That’s all you need to know.” I cleared my throat and sat straighter in my seat, my fingers interlocked. I tried to refrain from superiority carrying my statement, but until I figured out who had connections and their other associations, I didn’t need word getting out of this room about the information I’d gathered.
Commander Druller dipped his head slightly before striding out of the room. I hoped secrets wouldn’t strain the relationship we’d built. I needed him to trust me going forward, and I needed him on board with Nora giving orders without questioning them.
Ricks raised a hand between us with a finger pointed. “Your Highness, if I may add, the artist in charge of invitations will require a name for the cards by end of day tomorrow.”
In order to keep that information secret, I hadn’t sent any correspondence or carriages to Nora’s home. Without knowing which eyes squirreled information away, I wouldn’t put her at risk. It hadn’t stopped our rendez-vous last night.
Knowing where that masked woman lived, I had snuck out, catching a glimpse of her through her attic window, and tossed rocks until I got her attention. We’d traveled to the woods on the ledge between cities, visiting a familiar tree. Then, with no walls between us, we laid in the growing grass, limbs intertwined as we shared details of our lives with each other.
Details that had my heart breaking in two. My rage crackling like an uncontrolled flame. Pride beaming from the depths of my being. And love washing over my soul.
“The future Queen of Highcrest. That shall be on the cards. Is that all, Ricks?”
His eyelids fluttered, full of disappointment. “As long as she is indeed real, Your Highness…”
Marco barked out a laugh. “She is very much real, Ricks. I can vouch for the girl.”
A narrow gaze that questioned the credibility of that statement hit Marco.
“You’re going to love her,” I reassured Ricks, reconsidering the moment I envisioned the two of them in conversation with one another. “And if you don’t, it doesn’t matter, because I do.”
Marco released a long, drawn out whistle behind me. Ricks’ face beamed, his smile reaching the corners of his face.
“I will respect and honor the future queen with everything in me, Your Highness. I’m as much her servant as I am yours.” He departed, and I swore there was a skip in his step.
“You just dropped the big L, cousin. How does it feel?” Marco clamped down on both of my shoulders.
I laughed, brushing off his childish prodding. “Have too much fun with this, Marco, and I’ll convince your council to find you a spouse from a competition.”
He released a contemplative sound. “Mine would have to be much more entertaining. Feats of strength, intellectual competitions. Hm. Watching a host of men and women parade around, aiming to impress me… You might be onto something.”
What started as a joke of punishment for his relentless teasing backfired, turning into his newest fascination. “Well, I’ll be there to push my favorites onto the dance floor, too, then.” I leaned to the side, cocking an eyebrow at him.
“If you catch me and my match acting as oblivious as the two of you, I welcome it.”