Page 103 of Songs and Spun Gold
As if she didn’t know it. The rank to which she would officially ascend tomorrow was mind-boggling, to say the least. “You’ve disapproved of me since I arrived in the castle. But you don’t seem to now. Why the change?”
The queen stared at her for a moment before covering her mouth with a dainty hand and releasing a delicate giggle. “Oh, my, as direct and blunt as ever, aren’t you?” Katy cringed slightly. “Truth be told, I was quite upset when my husband picked Axel’s bride for him. Especially when Axel revealed that his Heidi was a simple village girl as well. And then you seemed to be trying your hardest to prove your disdain for us and our way of life.”
“I was being rather deliberate about it,” Katy admitted with a small smile.
Queen Carina smiled back. “I noticed that it changed. But I also noticed that whatever my son once felt for Heidi paled in comparison to what he feels for you. And whereas she only wanted his title, you clearly want my son. He loves you with all his heart, and I believe you feel the same for him. And that’s enough for me.”
Touched by the queen’s words, Katy found she could only nod in reply.
“Now, I think that’s enough of that. If the seamstress is satisfied with the fit,” the queen paused to check for the seamstress’s nod, “it’s time to get you out of her masterful creation and check on the decorations in the throne room.”
The decorations in the throne room were progressing quite nicely. Katy had no opinion on the process other than “It’s beautiful” and “But isn’t it too much?” Unfortunately, Axel was busy with his own pre-wedding tasks, so Katy couldn’t escape the queen with the excuse that she wanted to spend the time with him.
She and the queen were walking past King Steffan’s study when raised voices caught her attention.
“I don’t care what the director claims, Axel, I am not changing my mind.”
“But the note-writer has threatened a disaster at the theater! How can you ignore that?”
Slowing her steps, Katy drifted toward the closed door, leaning closer to hear better. There had been another note?
“I will not bow to coercion. One of your ardent fans from the ball may be willing to risk punishment if discovered, but I am not willing to put you into danger.”
“This isn’t a new development, Father! These notes have been appearing for months. And what if the disaster occurs during the performance? Keeping Katy and myself out of it might be the very thing that puts us in danger, not to mention everyone else!”
The queen stepped up behind Katy. “Eavesdropping, my dear?”
Katy grimaced, holding up a finger to request a moment as she turned back to the door, blocking out both the queen and the guards standing outside.
“So it’s a rabid theater fan. That doesn’t change anything,” the king said calmly.
“This person threatened to seriously harm the lead actor the last time, Father,” Axel ground out. “Over nothing more than the actor Gunther performing the second night instead of opening night.”
“And did it happen?”
There was a pause before Axel replied more quietly, “No. I was able to contact the young man in time, and he performed on opening night.”
The king’s sigh was loud enough to hear through the door. “This is the problem with your soft actor’s heart, son. You gave in to the threat, so now this fool believes he can get away with anything. You must learn to call his bluff.”
“But what if it isn’t a bluff, Father?” Axel pled. “What if he’s serious and something terrible happens? All the accidents—”
“The accidents are either unfortunate or caused by a force beyond our control. A human perpetrator would have been visible at the accidents, but a ghost cannot write notes. Therefore,whatever may be happening at your precious theater, the notes and the accidents are unrelated.”
“But—”
The king’s voice was stern and unyielding. “If you are that convinced of danger, Axel, I can simply forbid you from attending at all.”
Once again, it was silent. As it stretched out, Katy began to surrender to the queen’s impatient look. Then, just as she turned away, Axel broke it. His voice was perfectly calm and even, but it was the type that accompanied his best masks. “Very well, Father. Since you desire it, I shall cease worrying about this. Katy and I shall attend as planned, and let us all hope that your greater wisdom as king has led you to the correct response.”
A moment later, the door opened swiftly, but under perfect control. Axel stepped out wearing a pleasant mask with slightly lowered eyelids that betrayed his frustration. His expression lifted when he caught sight of her. “Katy. Mother. I take it you heard that?”
“Yes, your sensitive bride insisted on listening in,” his mother replied with a lift to one of her perfect eyebrows.
Taking a step closer to him, Katy said softly, “I don’t know if I caught it all. But I think I caught enough.”
Axel met her eyes, allowing some of his true feelings to leak through. “Mother, do you require Katy at this exact moment? Or may I steal her away from you for a short time?”
“Be my guest. I think she was ready for a break from me, anyway.” There was a smile in her voice. “Heaven knows, you’ll be busy enough later that you should steal a few moments where you may. Go on, then.”
