Page 71 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
“You can release the bridge troll; she’s innocent.” Grand Duchess Calisto also walked up to join us. She looked like she’d been through all seven hells and back again, and was using Their Royal Highness as a crutch. Visha held Alice nearby.
Behind her, all that remained was the wedding party. Sir Tully and Pram stood by the exits. Hana and Wendy were picking up the scattered remnants of the brides’ bouquets that littered the floor. Chloe was seated, with Julia supporting her wife by handing her mana potion after mana potion.
“Ha,innocent?” Alice barked a laugh that drew everyone’s attention. Her face twisted in some secret, malicious smile before her eyes met mine, and she said, “You have all been deceived. That’s not Gerda the Bridge Troll—that’s Madame Potts.”
CHAPTER 40
The Elusive, Beautiful, Charming, and Brilliant Madame Potts
Julian
Julian turned and faced the troll, who stared wide-eyed at Guild Mistress Alice.
“Wait, really?!” Queen Henrietta’s frown turned into a wide smile as she immediately accepted the word as fact and literally clapped with joy. “You’re Madame Potts?”
Julian considered the revelation. It would certainly explain how she’d known where his locket was, and how she’d caught an arrow midflight. And how she’d known about the kazil poison frogs in advance.
And how she’d helped them capture Alice.
The bridge troll tried to wave off the accusation. “Me?”
“Yes, you!” Guild Mistress Alice shot back. “It’s so obvious now. You mentioned me in a Cast after I destroyed your bridge escaping the Emerald Palace. All this time, I thought you lived in the part I burned down!”
Their Royal Highness whispered softly to Julian’s mother, “Afteryouare done with Alice, it’smyturn.”
Calisto nodded her agreement.
Alice continued. “It explains how you found my traps. And why some random bridge troll found Julia before everyone else!”
“Yousaved Julia?” Julian asked, interrupting.
“Ah. Well …” Gerda shot Julian a look he couldn’t read before addressing the room. “That is pretty incriminating evidence … but so what?”
“Wait!” Sir Tully exclaimed at the same time. “Youwon the trap prize? Not fair if Madame Potts was competing!”
“Evenifit were true”—the troll looked down on Alice—“Madame Potts has saved every person in this hall,except you.”
“Or me,” Julian added.
“Technically,” she stressed the word, “you might have eaten that poison lunch if I weren’t there.”
He didn’t point out they were supposed to be talking about a time whenMadame Pottshad saved him.
“Mypoint”—Gerda was already turning back to Alice—“is whether I’m the elusive, beautiful, charming, and brilliant Madame Potts or just somerandom bridge troll, it doesn’t matter, does it?I still beat you.”
“You cheated!” Alice yelled. “I wouldn’t even have tobehere if I weren’t cleaning upyour mess!You say you saved people, but you’ve ruinedeverything!Look at what you did to the Heroine of Justice!”
Gerda shot back. “Fate is not predetermined—Madame Pottsproved that. And Henrietta has every right to be with whomever she wants.”
“The Dark Lord isnotone of her fated mates!” Alice declared.
“Don’t listen.” King Keith reached out and covered his wife’s ears, knowing it wouldn’t do much.
“It’s alright.” Queen Henrietta reached up with one hand and placed it on his. She looked up at him with a reassuring gaze. “I’m very happy with my choice.”
“You married a demon!” Alice spat. “He’s a monster! With horns!”
“A demi,” Keith corrected. “I’m not even half demon. And you’re one to talk,celestial.”
