Page 78 of The Beauty and the Griffin

“The capitol and other government buildings now stand on the property in Bludenz where the palace once stood.” Prince Briar said. “I toured them as a kid.”

“I don’t remember that tour,” his twin sister remarked.

“It was after the griffin stole you,” he informed Ellie, then turned to me and humbly said, “Please pardon my interruption, ma’am.”

I nodded, impressed by his unassuming manner. That young man had what it took.

But his twin was still curious. “What does the Gamekeeper look like?” she asked. “He always looks justshadowyto me.”

Ouch. I’d hoped no one would ask. “Well, he’s sort of a shifty lion-bear-man-thing.”

A startled silence followed.

“I was rather short-tempered that day,” I muttered.

Prince Briar deadpanned, “You don’t say?”

I suppose I had that coming.

Ignoring the jab, I resumed my confession. “In the years after the palace vanished, Adelboden became the republic we know now, but the people still invent legends about what happened to their young sovereign and his palace. The courtiers inside the palace at the time of the curse found themselves standing on a suddenly empty hillside covered in its native flora and fauna, but the loyal servants remain even now in the palace with their King, waiting with him for the curse to be broken.” I paused for a moment, thinking back. “I honestly don’t know how Pukai arranged it, but I believe their lives are somehow tied to his.”

“And what exactly does that mean?” Prince Omar inquired, as intently curious as the other three. “How can the curse be broken? How can these lives be recovered?”

I hesitated before attempting to articulate the convoluted situation in the least shocking way possible. “If the Beast reveals his true identity to anyone, he will die. So, his beloved must love him enough to accept his marriage proposal without knowing he is the king in beastly form. If she does agree to marry him, he will return to his human shape and resume aging at a normal rate for his natural lifespan. If she does not accept his marriage proposal before the one-hundred-year deadline ends, then he will die, along with all of the enchanted servants.”

Heavy silence ruled while they considered this revelation. Bitter shame flowed over me, and tears burned my eyes.

“Whendothe one hundred years end?” Rosa asked in a tone of deepest concern.

I grimaced. “I don’t remember the exact date or time, but it could be any day now. Pukai might know.”

Jaws dropped, and murmurs of dismay filled the room.

Prince Briar recovered first, and his intensely blue gaze bored into me. “In case everyone hasn’t entirely grasped the situation, I want to hear the truth directly from you, Lady Arabella. Please tell us: Are King Siegfried III and the Gamekeeper of Faraway Castle and the Trollkarl, as in, the mysterioussahirmage who with his wisdom and unmatched magic has maintained the balance of power throughout our world for many decades . . . Are they all the same person?”

“Yes.” My voice squeaked.

A fraught silence followed.

Briar cleared his throat and continued, “So, if and when the Gamekeeper dies, his magic that currently protects not only Faraway Castle but ourworldfrom invasion, war, and all manner of catastrophes will vanish?”

“Yes.” I could produce only a hoarse whisper.

“Why haven’t we been warned? We might have been preparing for this looming disaster for decades!” Anger laced Prince Omar’s usually mellow voice.

At that propitious moment, a new voice spoke into the tension-fraught room. “It’s my fault. I didn’t want anyone to know. A foolish choice, I know.”

“Pukai!” I leaped to my feet, flooded with relief. “You’re here!”

“Obviously. More to the point, I’ve brought along an army, and reinforcements from around the world are arriving.”

25

BEATRICE

My heart stopped, thenpounded into overdrive. “Dies?Dies!What do you mean?” I swung my bare feet to the floor.

“Beeetrice knows what it means.” Chicky tilted her head and ruffled her neck feathers. “The Gamekeeper is dying.”

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