Page 95 of The Rebel's Prize

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Imogene set a quick pace through the palace, and it took Chloe a minute or two to get her bearings, the route they were taking unfamiliar. But she eventually realized where they were headed. "Why are we going to the East Wing?"

"That's where Sophie and Cameron are," Imogene said, not breaking her stride.

"Doesn't visiting royalty usually stay in other parts of the palace?"

"Yes, but between Lady Margaretta's delegation and the Andalyssians, there is enough going on in the guest wings. Besides, the East Wing is the most heavily guarded part of the palace, particularly now."

True. Though if someone was still minded to make another attempt on the emperor, perhaps housing his allies farther away might be wise. Then again, Sophie was also a target.

As though to prove Imogene's point, as they turned a corner, a stern-faced, dark-haired Imperial guard stepped into their path, coming to full attention and neatly blocking their access to the door behind him.

"The Duquesse of Saint Pierre and the Marquesse of Castaigne to see Her Royal Majesty Queen Sophia," Imogene said, seemingly unfazed by the fact that the man was bristling with weapons.

Far too many weapons. The guards protecting the royal family were always armed, though generally in a less obvious manner. Chloe donned her best demur and unthreatening expression.

The guard bowed his head. "Yes, Your Grace. We were told to expect you. Please proceed through the door and wait. Someone will come to escort you beyond that point. There are additional security protocols in place at the moment."

"Thank you. We are aware," Imogene said dryly.

The guard just nodded, not even attempting a full bow before opening the door. Imogene waltzed through and Chloe followed, thanking the guard just before he shut the door firmly behind them, wards humming to life as he did so.

Imogene came to a halt, impatience darkening her face. But apparently, she wasn't going to disobey the guard's orders because she stayed where she was, tapping the fingers of her right hand against her skirts.

There was no sign of their escort. Chloe, as impatient as Imogene appeared, tried to distract herself with the art on the walls. Most of the paintings she'd seen in other parts of the East Wing were landscapes and still lifes, possibly to compensate for the fact that the public parts of the palace had an abundance of portraits of the emperor, the empress, and their children. Not to mention a whole gallery devoted to the various generations who had formed the de Lucien dynasty.

But to break the pattern, on the nearest wall, flanked by two smaller pictures of the palace, hung a large portrait of the family. They were clothed more informally than some of their portraits but still wearing Imperial gold and silver. The emperor shone like the sun in the center of the portrait, Empress Liane in gold and silver to his right, and Alain, dressed entirely in silver, to his left, with the four younger children—Madeleine, Alyce, Cecilie, and Tomas—standing on either side of their mother or brother. They wore mostly white with touches of gold or silver, clearly delineating them from their brother, the heir. Around their feet lay three long-haired white hunting hounds, and Princess Alyce held a white cat with golden eyes.

Chloe grimaced a little, looking at Alain's haughty expression. Imogene came to join her.

"Alain always was full of himself, even at that age," she said.

"How old do you think he is here?" The crown prince looked young, his face rounder.

"I think he was twenty-two or three. The emperor had this commissioned for one of Liane's birthdays, but she never liked the picture, apparently. Too formal to be a cozy family portrait but too relaxed for the gallery."

"Hardly relaxed," Chloe said. "Just think of the poor servants who had to fetch all those crowns from the vaults and polish them." The crowns in the portrait weren't the heavy formal ones worn at official functions but were still elaborate. Aristides's was gold, studded with yellow diamonds and sun motifs. Alain's was a smaller version in silver with white diamonds, matching rings on the hand he held at his waist. The younger children wore simpler circlets.

"Not to mention the artist. I wonder if they posed together. That would be a nightmare."

"I'd rather have them all there than deal with Alain alone," Chloe muttered, glancing around to make sure they weren't overheard.

"True," Imogene agreed. "I can't imagine him being patient or pleasant. Sitting for a portrait is dull at times, but there's no reason to take it out on the artist.”

Before Chloe could answer, a dark-haired woman in Imperial livery came bustling out of a side passage. Chloe turned and, for a moment, had a strange sensation that Alain was watching her from the portrait. She shook off the fancy as the servant curtsied and spoke. "My apologies for the delay, Your Grace, Lady Castaigne. I will take you to see Queen Sophia."

* * *

Sophie waited until the servants had left them alone before she threw her arms around Chloe and hugged her hard. The familiar scent of gillyflowers, popular with the Anglion court ladies, wafted around her, and Chloe was taken straight back to Kingswell and her store.

"It's so good to see you!" Sophie said when she finally released Chloe and turned to hug Imogene in turn. "Both of you."

Behind her, Cameron, tall and dark-haired, stood smiling, blue eyes watching his wife, as usual.

Chloe nodded, trying to catch her breath. "And you, Your Majesty. You made good time."

Sophie's expression turned more serious, her tea-colored eyes intent on Chloe. "Let's not bother with 'Your Majesty.' Sophie is faster. I want to get to the bottom of this as much as anyone. If this magic was used in the attack on my palace, then Anglion deserves to know. King Stefan and all the others deserve justice. Eloisa deserves justice." She glanced over her shoulder at Cameron, who nodded.

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