CHAPTER 16
Katy
N
othing but a dull glow lit the western horizon. Above them, the sky was a medium blue, heading quickly for full dark. In the castle courtyard and the streets beyond, the gas lamps had already been lit, and still Axel had not returned.
“Wearing a path in the courtyard won’t bring him home any sooner,” Otto commented. His blonde hair reflected the lamp light as he watched Katy pace. “And aren’t you supposed to be resting?”
The urge to send him away rose in her chest, but remembering Axel’s concern about the attack kept the words inside. She fingered the dagger under her cloak; while the courtyard was surely safe, she didn’t have the skill to protect herself yet.
“You don’t make Britta rest constantly,” she grumbled instead.
“Britta hasn’t had trouble with bearing children,” he replied simply.
Finally, a carriage rolled through the gate, accompanied by nine men on horseback. One of them waved to her before dismounting and opening the door of the carriage.
Katy grabbed a handful of her skirt and hurried over.
A young woman with chestnut hair and a tight, out-of-fashion dress poked her head out, her green eyes widening as she took in the castle.
A footman materialized and pulled out the steps.
She hopped down them, ignoring the hand that Axel offered her.
“It’s so much bigger than Reineggburg,” she murmured. Then she caught sight of Katy. Her brow furrowed in confusion for a moment before she grinned. “Katy from Flussendorf, right? What are you doing in Himmelsburg? Don’t tell me you gave up on the mill and moved to town!”
Katy opened her mouth to reply, but Helena plowed ahead as her eyes focused over Katy’s shoulder. “And the guard who refused to let me out the side gate! It’s like a reunion.”
“I’m surprised you remember me,” Katy began, but Helena cut her off.
“How could I forget you? Two weeks before I pricked my finger, my brother tried to kiss you.”
Fighting a blush at the reminder of that afternoon, Katy said, “For the record, the Felsig is very cold, even from a bucket.”
Helena giggled at the memory. “You deserved it. Three years of watching the two of you was equal parts amusing and disgusting.” Glancing over her shoulder, she grinned at Axel before covering her mouth. “Oh! I forgot that he’s married now! Is that incredibly awkward for you?”
Axel crossed to Katy and draped an arm across her shoulders. The corners of his mouth twitched. “It is more awkward for our fine nobles. Many of them have yet to adjust to the idea that Katy from Flussendorf is their crown princess.”
“Good one, Axel,” his sister laughed, her eyes dancing the same way his did. She poked his shoulder. “But your wife might not appreciate your humor, and you shouldn’t tease the staff.”
“Staff?” Katy echoed. “You think I’m a member of the staff?”
Helena’s forehead wrinkled. “Aren’t you? Or are you married to that stern guard behind you?”
While Katy sighed, Axel chuckled. “You’re not the first to make that mistake, but they’re cousins, so no. But Helena, which member of our staff do you think dresses like this?” He slipped his hand to Katy’s waist and tugged her cloak aside to reveal her red silk dress.
“Axel, what are—No. You’re not serious?” Helena’s green eyes shot to his face, her eyebrows drawing together as her jaw dropped. “Michael mentioned her name, but I never thought—You got to marry Katy?”
Bringing his other hand up to cup her cheek, Axel turned Katy to face him with a soft smile. “Luckiest man alive, I know.” Then he bent down and kissed her, a sweet, lingering kiss that brought her hand to his chest and relaxed her against the arm wrapped around her waist.
Behind them, Otto muttered under his breath. It sounded something like, “Can’t watch your surroundings with your lips,” but Katy didn’t care; they had plenty of guards watching their backs.
The scuff of boots against the cobblestones reached Katy’s ears, but her eyes were closed, enjoying her husband’s embrace. “It’s not fair!” Helena fumed. Her muttering voice receded as she stormed away.
“I suppose I should ensure she knows where she’s going; she hasn’t been here since she was a baby,” Axel sighed, pulling away.
“Why did that upset her so much?”
Axel tucked Katy into his side. “Do you remember Michael’s visits to Flussendorf?” She nodded. “And how Helena teased me a lot less when he was there because she was busy making eyes at him?”
“You spent more time with the two of them than I did,” Katy pointed out. “But I do remember her name making him sad when we were first married.”
“Mm-hmm. Guess who else Helena wasn’t expecting to be married when she woke up?” He raised an eyebrow, and Katy tilted her head for a moment before understanding washed over her.
“Oh. I imagine that was a shock.”
Clasping her hand, he started walking toward the front steps. “She’s not handling it well, but it’s a big adjustment, missing twelve years. Or so I would think. We’ll help her through it.” His brow furrowed, though.
When they entered the castle, they found Helena enveloped in the queen’s arms. Queen Carina’s fingers dug lines in Helena’s traveling cloak with their pressure.
Helena’s arms were wrapped around her mother’s neck, her head buried in her shoulder.
Behind them, King Steffan stood a step away, his red-rimmed eyes watching the embrace longingly.
The entry hall was filled with the quiet buzz of whispers. The gathered servants had their heads together as they watched their monarchs and the unexpected newcomer. What tales would they tell their friends and family tonight?
King Steffan’s eyes shifted to Axel and Katy as they approached. He gave a slight nod to Axel, which Axel returned with a wide grin. “One previously cursed daughter as ordered, Father,” he cheekily said.
“Thank you, Axel,” the queen half sobbed, turning her watery eyes upon him.
“All I did was bring her home.” His smile became a little forced. “Michael was the one who broke the curse.”
The queen’s eyes widened at that. “Prince Michael? But the curse—” She broke off, finally pulling back from her daughter. Her eyes darted around the room. “Helena, dear, you must be exhausted after your travels,” she said, her tone a bit unnatural. “Come, let’s show you to your rooms.”
Confused, Katy started to ask Axel for an explanation. “Later,” he whispered, squeezing her hand. Then he tugged her after his parents and sister.
A few minutes later, they strode through the door of Katy’s old suite. Otto remained in the hallway, standing guard outside the room.
As soon as the door was closed behind them, the king wrapped Helena in his arms. “My little girl,” he murmured brokenly. “I thought I had lost you.”
One of Helena’s hands patted his back. “Papa, you’ll break my ribs,” she wheezed.
Axel chuckled as he led Katy to one of the sofas. “Father and I aren’t so different after all.”
Primly sitting on the edge of an armchair, Queen Carina patted her braided crown before folding her hands in her lap. “Helena, what did your brother mean when he said that Prince Michael woke you?”
Helena trotted over to another armchair and dropped into it. Leaning back, she draped her arms over the armrests. “Just what it sounded like. Michael found me in the back tower room, and he woke me with a kiss, just like you said.”
Katy choked. “A kiss?” she exclaimed.
“On the back of her hand,” Axel assured her, but his voice was grim.
The queen shifted uncomfortably; Helena snuggled into her chair with a triumphant expression. “Yes, but clearly it met the requirements. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be sitting here now.”
“But Helena...” Queen Carina began uneasily.
“Prince Michael is married, Helena, so the curse is irrelevant,” the king cut in with a stern look at his daughter. “I am grateful to Phillip’s son for returning you, but you will not strain our relationship with Daraigh by pursuing this matter. We have enough trouble at home.”
Helena opened her mouth, but Axel jumped in first. “Speaking of that, how did the council meeting go?”
“Not as well as we’d hoped,” the king sighed. He ran a hand through his strawberry-blonde hair. “The council agreed to postpone the names, but only for a week. At that time, they will reconvene to assess my ‘new information.’”
Katy noted that Helena looked bored, leaning her head against the seat so that her loose chestnut waves spilled over it.
Axel squeezed Katy’s hand and frowned. “But what about Katy? Lord Ulrich’s entire case was built around our lack of children.
Shouldn’t she have stopped him in his tracks?
” He glanced at her, his eyebrows pulling down over his brown eyes.
“Or did the physician not confirm the pregnancy?”
A soft thump accompanied Helena’s feet hitting the floor. “You two are having a baby?” Her green eyes narrowed at her brother. “Hours traveling home, and you couldn’t find the time to tell me that?”
He shrugged. “It’s hard to hold a conversation through a carriage window. Besides, I still lack certainty.” He turned back to Katy with his eyebrows raised in question.
“He confirmed it,” Katy said. “Unfortunately, he also confirmed for the council that I may have miscarried before. Naturally, Lord Ulrich is using that as an excuse to keep pushing.”
“It doesn’t matter.” King Steffan settled back in his chair, laying his arms on the armrests as if it were his throne. “Now that Helena has returned, I once again have two direct heirs. The council should refuse to proceed, as his reasons are no longer valid.”
“Wait, what? What do I have to do with this?” Helena was at the edge of her chair again, her eyes jumping between her brother and her father.
Axel gave her a quick summary of their trouble with Lord Ulrich. “But now that we have two heirs and another on the way, it shouldn’t be an issue henceforth.”
“But I haven’t been trained as a ruler!” Helena argued. Instead of panicked, Axel’s sister just sounded put out. “Am I really still in the line of succession?”
“Of course you are, dear,” Queen Carina interjected with a wounded expression. “You are still our daughter.”
“It’s never too late to learn,” Katy added with more cheer than she felt. She was trying to like the young woman for Axel’s sake, but the situation with Michael irritated her. “I had to do the same after marrying your brother.”
Folding her arms across her chest, Helena leaned back in her chair and scowled.
But Axel leaned forward, resting his free elbow on his knee.
His eyes sparkled with excitement. “Even if Lord Ulrich tries to argue, I believe I know how to finally be rid of him. Do you remember the night that I spent in the garden shortly after Katy came here?”
Helena arched an eyebrow, but the king and queen both nodded. Katy tilted her head toward him, wondering how that strange event could impact current events.
“While I was at Reineggburg, I ran into a magic-user. He discovered latent mind magic in me; it was the reason for my stubbornness regarding the nonexistence of magic.” He sent Katy an apologetic glance. “Now that he has removed it, I remember why I slept in the arboretum that night.”
“Another magic-user?” the king said harshly. His hazel eyes narrowed. “Who was it?”
Grinning confidently, Axel replied, “I promised not to reveal his identity, but I am persuaded that he is trustworthy. The important point is that I overheard Lord Ulrich discussing a compulsion that he had placed on you.”
Katy felt her jaw drop. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the king give a slight start. “A compulsion? To do what?”
Axel shook his head slowly. “Neither he nor his compatriot mentioned that. But Lord Ulrich seemed concerned that you would give Katy her freedom; his friend thought the compulsion would prevent it.”
He met Katy’s eyes, a somber look to his own now. This new information seemed to confirm that their marriage had been at the center of a conspiracy.
But to use compulsion magic on the king? Lord Ulrich and the red-haired stranger were bolder than she thought.
“When they found me, they decided to silence me with magic. They considered…something more permanent, but believed their original plan would be preferable.” Axel’s hand tightened on Katy’s to the point it was almost painful.
King Steffan covered his face with one hand.
He left it there for a few moments before pulling it away and huffing.
“I wish I’d known sooner. I don’t blame you for that,” he said, holding up a hand when Axel opened his mouth.
“But we have no proof of what happened. It’s been more than five years; Ulrich will accuse you of inventing a convenient story as retaliation for the trouble he’s caused.
We’ll keep an eye on him, but spreading your story will do more harm than good at this point. ”
“We can’t do anything?” Katy said, her free hand balling into a fist. This new piece of information made her more eager than ever to be rid of Lord Ulrich. But politics, it seemed, were going to stand in the way.
“Six months ago, perhaps we could have. But not now. Not without something more substantial.” The king looked as disgruntled as Katy felt, but his lips pinched together in almost a smile. “However, now that we know where to look, we’ll find something. Eventually.”
It wasn’t enough. But at least it was something.