Page 9 of Happily Ever After
“I… I’ll leave you to your rest, Your Highness,” she stammered, clearly thrown off by my lack of response. With another curtsy, she retreated, her maid scurrying after her.
As the door closed behind them, I waited a few moments. When I was sure they had left, I called out, “Agnes!”
My elderly maid shuffled into view, her face as impassive as ever. She was one of the only few people except for my parents with full access o my chambers. “Yes, Your Highness?”
“How did she get in here?” I growled, my patience wearing thin.
Agnes sniffed, her wrinkled face betraying no emotion. She was used to my temper tantrums as she had seen me grow up. “Lady Seraphina wished to see Lady Ilyana, claimed they were ‘close bosom friends.’” The idea of Ilyana having a friend was as foreign as Agnes actually listening to me properly that I almost chuckled. Almost. That viper wouldn’t bother with having friends, she’d have allies. “When I refused, as per your instructions, she asked to see you instead.” She paused, her rheumy eyes meeting mine. “You didn’t specifically say to bar everyone, Your Highness.”
I clenched my jaw, frustration bubbling up inside me. This woman! She only ever did exactly what I told her, no more, no less. It was usually an asset, but sometimes I wished she’d read between the damn lines.
“I’ll be going out. So, don’t let anyone anyone enter my chambers while I’m gone. Is that clear?”
Agnes grunted, “If there’s nothing else, Your Highness, I’ll show myself out,” Agnes said, already turning to leave.
“Wait,” I snapped. “Throw out that soup.”
Anderic
I drummed my fingers against the polished oak desk, studying the reports Lennox had brought. Eldoria’s northern border disputes were escalating again—nothing I couldn’t handle, but an annoyance nonetheless.
“These border lords need a reminder of who rules this kingdom,” I said, my voice measured despite the irritation churning beneath. “Perhaps a royal visit is overdue.”
Noah leaned against the window, arms crossed. “Do you think that could be related to this illegal gold case too?”
“It could be,” I replied with a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “The problem is that I can’t leave right now. I’m needed here. It could be a bait too since we’re getting a lot of clues right now. Maybe Lennox could go there and show them exactly who rules them.”
Lennox shifted uncomfortably beside me. My captain never did appreciate the finer points of intimidation. Too straightforward, that one.
“The troops could be ready within—”
A commotion erupted outside my office, voices raised in argument. I recognized the stern tone of my guards, but there was something else—a woman’s voice, desperate and pleading.
“Let me through! Please! I must see the prince—it’s urgent!”
Noah straightened, frowning. “Isn’t that—”
The door burst open. One of my guards stumbled in, looking thoroughly flustered. “Your Highness, forgive the interruption. There’s a serving girl insisting she must speak with you immediately. Lady Bellrose is with her.”
Blood turned to ice in my veins. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
“Send them in.”
The guard hesitated only a moment before stepping aside. Laurel—Ilyana’s handmaid—practically fell into the room, her face streaked with tears, clothes disheveled. Lady Bellrose followed, her usual composure strained.
“What happened?” The words scraped from my throat like broken glass.
Laurel dropped to her knees, sobbing. “Your Highness—Lady Ilyana—she’s been taken!”
The world narrowed to a pinpoint. Heat surged through my body, molten and vicious. My hands clenched into fists.
“Tell me everything. Now.”
“She went to Meadows Inn with the boy—Tommy,” Laurel gasped between sobs. “Looking for the Red Cross gang. She said she’d return by nightfall, but then Tommy came running back alone—beaten, terrified. He said they caught her. The Red Cross has her!”
The air in the room suddenly felt too thin. Noah’s face had gone pale. Lennox’s hand moved instinctively to his sword.
“Why would she go there?” Rosalind asked, her voice tight with concern. “The Red Cross are dangerous mercenaries.”
