Page 13 of Decoy

With every step closer, I focused on keeping my breaths slow and even in hopes of staving off my rising anxiety. All too soon we arrived at the ballroom where the court waited. The doors swung open and I stepped into an image of marble and golden elegance illuminated by the glittering light cast by the diamond chandeliers. A sea of faces awaited me, all bearing expressions of curiosity, one of which masked a murderous heart.

I lifted my chin and did my best to walk properly as I’d just been taught. The crowd parted like a curtain to open up my path towards the dais, where the king and queen stood donned in elegance. It took considerable effort to push through my aversion to return their tight smile that didn’t quite meet their eyes. Rather than seek the escape I desperately yearned for, I lifted my skirts daintily and ascended the steps where they awaited me.

“Our dear daughter.” The queen stiffly embraced me to provide the watching court with the show they expected. I stiffened but managed not to flinch. It would have seemed more believable and less awkward if we’d met previously rather than this being our first encounter, but perhaps Their Majesties had been as reluctant to meet their daughter’s temporary replacement as I’d been to meet those who’d signed my execution warrant.

The king rested his hand on my shoulder, but in spite of the fatherly demonstration I could feel his subtle shaking, the only sign of his distress created by the charade. It painted him in a more human light, but not enough to quench my searing hatred. Nothing could do that.

After their strained performance of parental affection for the attentive onlookers, the king’s arm came around me to pull me against his side as he faced the court. “Today is a grand day. After years of being hidden away for her protection, my daughter has finally returned.”

My cheeks burned at the resounding cheers that followed his declaration. He waited for them to die down before launching into a grand speech that I immediately tuned out; I had more pressing matters to focus on. My position on the dais granted me full view of those present, allowing me to plot my first course of action in finding the most effective means of staying alive.

The task had seemed simple enough on paper, but I hadn’t accounted for my lack of confidence in pretending to be someone not only so different from who I truly was but whom I loathed, all while playing the role of detective, which I’d never attempted before, one made more stressful with the deadly stakes.

I felt sheer overwhelm at the task. How was I to narrow dozens of strangers down to a single threat? It’d been years since my family’s fall from nobility. As a result, I didn’t recognize anyone, which put me at a distinct disadvantage.

At first glance no one seemed suspicious—all the noblemen appeared every part the gentlemen, the noblewomen the embodiment of a proper lady, and the royalty all distinguishably royal—but the image the strangers presented was merely a mask hiding the person within, one they wouldn’t relinquish without a fight.

I had no clues to point me in the best direction to begin my hunt amongst so many, while the assassin had already found me, making it all too easy for him to strike at his earliest convenience. I couldn’t discern a suspicious stare midst the curious attention riveted to me…though I feltsomethingwatching me with a measure of hostility. I glanced around, but midst such a vast sea of onlookers it was impossible to decipher where the heated look came from, leaving me no clue whom to seek out…or more importantly, whom to avoid.

After some consideration, I realized that the best course of action would be to use myself as bait. Even if my position allowed me to interrogate the court without harming the relations between those I questioned and the Estorian royal family, it wasn’t as if the conversation would yield new information beyond what anyone else could obtain.

I could talk to a member from each prominent family and casually mention different places and times that would be convenient ones to be attacked. Time would tell whether or not any would take the bait and meet me there, but if they did…my trap would spring, and I’d have the mastermind ensnared.

I could only hope it went as well as my optimistic plans.

The clapping following the king’s speech alerted me it was over. I blinked hastily before forcing my lips upwards in a strained smile. The king awkwardly patted my shoulder before releasing me, allowing the queen to approach for another embrace, which she used as a cover to whisper into my ear. “Please, I’m begging you, find the one who wants to murder my precious daughter.”

I couldn’t care less if someone murdered the Estorian heir to the throne, but I forced myself to nod. “I will find them, Your Majesty.” After all, my life depended on it.

They stepped back, allowing me to slowly descend the stairs to begin my difficult search in uncovering the secrets and intrigue surrounding me. Unfortunately, despite my tentative plan, I still had no idea where to begin. Most members of the court kept their distance, staring without venturing any closer, as if uncertain I’d allow the proximity. I was grateful for the small reprieve that allowed me time to plot my first move.

Sir Rupert had only offered me a single clue: that a member of the court was my intended target, which wasn’t particularly helpful; one would think a prophecy about the princess would have been more specific. Finding a way to enter the royal archives where prophecies and other important records were traditionally kept in order to listen to it myself would be yet another goal for my list of seemingly impossible tasks. Until then, I had no reason to dismiss this information outright.

The court held dozens of suspects, so for now narrowing this vast array down to a much smaller pool of the few royals present would make my investigation much more manageable. Royalty had ample motive—Estoria was a small nation. With the death of the sole heir it would be easy to annex in order to steal the precious magic filling the land. Though the attempt would surely create conflict with the other kingdoms, with Estoria’s magic within the conquerer’s control and if their army was large enough, resistance would be relatively easy to subdue.

This motive befitting a royal didn’t immediately dismiss the rest of the court, for all who bore a title were somehow connected to the royal family—those possessing the highest titles even had royalty in their blood from being descended from previous monarchs.

A visit to the royal archives would allow me to discern who had the closest ties to the royal family, as well as grant me the opportunity to research enchanted locks to discover how to break not only the one guarding the royal armory but the royal treasury as well, my ultimate destination.

I would need to find an opportunity to slip away from my constant supervision given under the guise of royal protection. My best bet would be to wait for the cover of night…which only increased the odds of meetinghimagain.

My silent schemes were interrupted when a brave soul finally approached me—a serious but handsome dark-haired man accompanied by a woman with flowing brown hair pulled free from the confine of pins that traditionally trapped the elegant styles of the court.

He bowed low. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Princess Evelyn. I’m Crown Prince Elton of Eldenwood, and this is my younger sister, Princess Collette.”

She offered a slightly imbalanced curtsy accompanied by a mischievous smile before breaking away from her brother’s arm to loop hers through mine instead. I stiffened, unaccustomed to being touched; like with Their Majesties, I had to force myself to remain still rather than recoil.

“It’s wonderful to meet you, though admittedly our pleasure is mingled with confusion. We were shocked to receive word that the original Evelyn was a decoy. Though unconventional, she was a sweet girl and I enjoyed her company. To think I’ll likely never see her again…” Her expression became sad before she forced another smile. “I have no doubt I’ll come to enjoy yours as well.”

I tried to return her bright smile but the task proved difficult through the suspicion casting a cloud over their polite interactions. Was it coincidence that this prince and princess had been the first to seek me out, or were their warm words merely rehearsed to draw close enough to me to eventually strike?

Eldenwood bordered Estoria and, to my knowledge, possessed an army large enough to invade in hopes of acquiring this land’s magic. But just because they had opportunity didn’t mean they possessed the lust for power and expansion necessary to seize it. My first order of business would be to visit the library and immerse myself in its vast knowledge to see if this motive or any other reason actually existed.

“Are you well, Princess Evelyn?” Princess Collette’s look of concernappearedgenuine, but one could never be entirely sure.

I forced another smile. “I’m merely overwhelmed. There are so many people to acquaint myself with. Are nobility from all the surrounding kingdoms present?”

My suspicion of these two royals lingered when Prince Elton didn’t even hesitate to offer me information, a willingness to talk about other kingdoms that could possibly serve as a means of deflecting any attention away from himself.

---