CHAPTER 34 #2
Abandoning the candles, he faced her. “Fine. I’m here, and you know why. What do you want in exchange?”
“I want you to sing.” Lotti folded her arms, snagging her cloak enough to reveal a lock of hair.
In the flickering candlelight, it looked reddish-brown.
“You will persuade the theater director to produce a special opera that I have written.” Her hand flicked toward the table.
“You will sing the lead role as yourself, not as Gunther, so that the whole kingdom will know the truth of who you are.”
He didn’t mind as long as Father agreed. But— “I have less than two months, Lotti. And the theater’s next production opens soon. I can’t wait until they finish!”
“Did I say that I expected you to?”
He gaped at her. “You want me to derail their schedule? How can I—”
“How badly do you want the name?”
Beside him, Father shifted his weight. “All he must do is perform, and you will give him the name? And he will be safe, both from the theater ghost and from Fabian?”
It did seem a little too easy. Why would Axel’s performance make Fabian willing to relinquish his claim on a child that could one day control the fire dragon? Was he hoping it would destabilize their government? Damage people’s faith in their next ruler when they learned of his artistic passions?
“As I have said before, I have no wish to harm him. If he performs, the ghost will stay quiet. But there is one more thing.” Her voice was smooth, almost emotionless.
“His theater girl must perform as well. And you will not desecrate my theater by bringing your armed guards onto the stage or into cast areas.”
Something about the situation felt off, but Axel couldn’t put his finger on what. Perhaps it was simply Fabian’s involvement...and Father’s lack of protest.
“What if Katy does not wish to be on stage?” Axel argued. “She’s not a trained singer, and she is heavy with child. She will be even more so by the time the show can be produced.”
“This is my offer.” She waved a careless hand. “What I want for what you want, yes? This is what I want. I allowed your father to accompany you, but I will not budge on this.”
Axel took a half step forward. “What does Fabian have on you, Lotti?” he asked, deciding to give her the benefit of the doubt. “Why is he involving you like this? We can help you if you let us. I’ll even sing in your show, but please give me the name, and don’t make Katy participate.”
“You think you could protect me from him?” she laughed, the melodic sound bouncing off the narrow walls. “You are a fool if you truly believe that, and I would be a fool to believe you. No. If you want the name, you will follow my instructions.”
“I will allow it.” Father’s bass voice was loud in the small space. “I will not force either you or Katrin to do it, son. But I will allow it.”
He should have brought Katy along. She would pinpoint the dissonant note in this situation. But Axel believed Lotti when she said she wouldn’t budge. If he wanted to keep their child out of Fabian’s reach, he would have to agree.
And really, what was so bad about them both performing?
“If I agree, when will you give me the name? Now, with my word that we will perform as you’ve requested? Or after the show?”
He couldn’t see her face, but he could feel her eyes as they examined him. “First you sing. Then we’ll talk.”
~
It wasn’t easy to persuade the director to halt their rehearsals and begin work on a new production, especially since eager patrons had already snatched up many of the tickets.
Even pointing out that it would appease the note-writer and stop the accidents was not enough; he wanted to bring Axel in on rehearsals for the current show and recast as necessary.
In the end, it was Father who did the convincing, and that was only because he was the king and it was more like ordering.
Now, to tell Katy.
With no time to waste on a sham hunt, Axel whispered a few words to Helena and Tobias while mounting up.
A mile from the theater, he turned his horse back toward the castle, and not a single onlooker doubted that the prince had fully intended to go hunting.
Thanks to a masterful performance, it was obvious to all that his friend and sister had frustrated him to the point of calling it off.
The only downside was that he had less time to compose his explanation.
“Three weeks?” Katy exclaimed, gaping at him. “You not only want me to sing in a show, but you also expect me to learn it in only three weeks?”
Enfolding her hands in his, he gently tugged her down onto a settee next to him.
“I know it’s not ideal. But Lotti will only give us the name if we sing in her opera, and the director insisted on scheduling it for the same dates as the original show.
That way, he won’t have to refund and resell all the tickets.
” He rested his forehead against hers. “Besides, we only have until the baby is born. The sooner we get the name, the better.”
Katy squeezed his hand. “I understand that. But three weeks doesn’t seem like enough time to put together a full opera.”
“We and the rest of the cast will be practically living at the theater,” he admitted.
He had a feeling Katy would not be the only incredulous participant over the next few days.
“Father has acknowledged the importance of this. He’s arranging a ‘vacation’ from our normal duties until the show opens. ”
“Three weeks,” she said again in a quiet, disbelieving tone.
“We start today. However, the choreographer needs time to study the score, and the production director needs to assign the rest of the roles. We’ll start learning the music here instead of returning to the theater immediately.
But if we want to ensure we perform well enough to earn that name, we should hurry and begin. ”
“Yes, of course,” she agreed in a dazed tone, letting him pull her back to her feet. “And guards? You said she won’t let us have any?”
Glancing around the hall, he leaned in closer. “She said no armed guards. I know that I’ve asked a lot of him in the last few months, but do you think that Otto would be willing to audition? Surely she could not complain if he is in the show.”
Katy made a face. “I’m sure he would be willing to help, but not as a member of the cast. Could he join the stage crew?”
“But he has done an excellent job playing alternate roles the last few months,” Axel replied, his brow furrowing. “Do you fear he would be concerned that his part would distract him from his duty?”
“I’m sure he would do fine. But he can’t sing.”
“You are not trained, either, yet you acquit yourself decently well,” Axel pointed out.
“No, Axel, he can’t sing,” she stressed. “If you insist, he’ll try, but he won’t be happy about it. His voice isn’t bad, but he can’t carry a tune in a bucket. A caterwauling cat is more melodic than he is.”
“Oh. I see.” Axel’s lips twitched, but he restrained his amusement at her characterization. “Then if he is willing, I will see if the director can use another stagehand.”