Page 40 of Grave Flowers
Suddenly, the door flung open. Aeric strode in, several actors from the play following in his wake. I stared, shocked as I realized Aeric not only wore a crown but a king’s coronation robe.
“Your Highness,” one of the actors said, coming to walk alongside Aeric, “I fear I do not understand my motivation enough. Perhaps we might develop my backstory. Something to indicate I’m the chosen one. Oh, I’ve thought of just the thing! My parents are dead—ah, yes, that’s it.”
“Prince Aeric!” The head monasticte surged to his feet. “What do you wear upon your head? During your period as ruler prevailing, you may not wear a crown. It defies the holiness of the crowning rite and anointment …”
Aeric grandly removed the crown and tapped its side. Tin. It was fake, a costume. The robe was as well. I thought he’d set the crown aside and sit, but to my shock, Aeric returned the crown to his head, tilting it rakishly to the side. Catching my eye, he held his arms out to the sides, inviting me to admire him. I nearly turned away in indignation but stared, filled with mesmerized horror.
“Oh, what a glorious day it is!” another actor cried, still in character. “Though I wonder at the whispers of betrayal winding through the wind—wait, air … hmm, was it wind or air?”
“Perhaps we should dismiss the troupe, Prince Aeric? We have many things to discuss today,” the full general said.
Prince Lambert, Queen Gertrude, and the lord high treasurer sat back, simpering, pleased to watch Aeric make a fool of himself. I noticed the monasticte did as well. Had they already gotten to him too?
“Very well.” Aeric motioned for the actors to leave. He threw himself down into the throne in the way one does a comfortable settee. No longer did he smell of the court party. For once, only the freshness of soap struck my nose, combined with newly mown grasses. He turned to me. The bruise from the Oscura had settled into a deep purple and added a curious jaggedness to his face, especially when combined with the tilted crown. I felt as though I could stare at him for a long time and never become bored.
“Princess,” he said in greeting. He didn’t saymyas I’d requested. Strangely, though I’d deprived him of its use, the possessive proceeded my every thought about him—my betrothed—when it couldn’t be further from the truth. He wasn’t mine. He was Radix’s target and as such, he would be dead soon.
“Prince,” I returned. “You look … theatrical.”
“They needed an extra body for costume fittings,” Aeric said, as though it were standard for a monarch to be used as a mannequin. “Though perhaps you think the costume doesn’t suit me?”
“I …” Aeric’s lethargic smile was in place, yet the question was unmistakably pointed. “You wear the crown very well.” What was I saying? I wasn’t supposed to be empowering Aeric, especially not in front of my allies. Anxiously, I cast a glance at Prince Lambert and Queen Gertrude.
Prince Lambert was distracted, but Queen Gertrude’s eyes caught mine with the heat of a blue flame. While she hadn’t deigned to give me her attention before, she certainly did now. I raised my chin. I couldn’tback down. If they questioned me about it later, I’d say I was only establishing goodwill with Aeric—and part of me was glad to rankle Queen Gertrude.
“But it’s crooked.” Rising, I turned to him. I reached down with both hands to adjust the crown. It put his face mere inches from mine, so close that I might brush his bruise with my lips again if I wished. He stared back at me but remained at ease between my hands, not a single muscle tensing or flexing. Flirtation filled his eyes, draining them of any substance. I released the crown and returned to my throne.
“Well, then.” Prince Lambert smiled. “We can begin. General Duren has some proposals, though I was thinking perhaps he might recount them to me first, and I could summarize them for you later, Nephew.”
My breath caught. Prince Lambert was inserting himself between Aeric and the full general. I glanced at Aeric, wondering if he’d allow it.
“The play,” Aeric interrupted.
“I beg your pardon?” Prince Lambert’s smile was still in place, but he blinked in confusion.
“I wish to speak about the play.”
“Whatever for?” Queen Gertrude asked. “How does it concern your council?”
“Well, for one thing, I wish to use funding for it. Make it truly remarkable and invite everyone, both the court and the commoners.” I tried to keep from wincing. Kings often enjoyed dazzling their kingdoms with spectacular displays but not during royal mourning. It would offend more than it would ingratiate, especially since King Claudius had been a beloved king. “I was thinking ten thousand coins, perhaps?”
A collective gasp sprang through the chamber.
“Ten thousand coins?” The lord high treasurer gaped. “Prince Aeric, please remember we still have the coronation and wedding ceremonies to fund.”
“You can’t possibly be serious—” Prince Lambert began.
“Oh, but I am.” It was a preposterous statement. Aeric leaned back in his throne, swathed in his costume robe, the tin crown still slightly askew on his head. I couldn’t have imagined a more unserious figure if I’d tried. I reached over and took Aeric’s hand. An opportunity had just presented itself, one for me to benefit Radix and perhaps preserve some of Aeric’s dignity before I killed him. He startled at my touch, and for a moment, I thought he might pull his hand away. I was surprised. This whole time, he’d been so flippant, yet he jerked within the throne at my contact, as though distressed by it. His scars were textured under my fingers.
“Perhaps we might say the play is a wedding gift to me,” I said. The blue flare of Queen Gertrude’s eyes intensified. “Whatever funds were allocated for the wedding gift may be used for the play.”
“But—” Aeric began, and I gripped his hand, trying to shut him up.
“Using the play as a wedding gift would prevent the need for actual wealth to be transferred to Radix,” I said, staring evenly back at Queen Gertrude. Wedding gifts were traditional, given before the wedding to the bride’s family or, in my case, kingdom. Full sets of jewelry, custom-made furniture, or commissioned paintings were common. If we received a large wedding gift on top of the funds Queen Gertrude was secretly allocating to us once I assassinated her son, they might demand it back after I was sent home. I could already see Father refusing to return it or immediately selling it so we didn’t have to. It would be important to sever every obligation between us and Acus so we could interact without indebtedness. “We are a proud kingdom, and I speak for all Radixans when I say we would prefer it.”
“Surely King Sinet would rather a gift than a play,” Queen Gertrude said. Usually, she stroked her necklace, but now she gripped it, fingers reddening with the effort.
I tensed. Perhaps she and Prince Lambert wished to have more sway over us than they’d disclosed. “A play would be best, I should think,” I said firmly. “Allow Prince Aeric to run it however he sees fit. Though perhaps it should be performed after royal mourning and the weddingso everyone may settle.” I’d been holding Aeric’s hand tightly, trying to keep him quiet. His fingers had been limp, but at that, he suddenly interlaced his hand with mine.
