Page 12 of The Queen's Crown
“I think preventing a war is motive enough, don’t you?”
He chuckled; the sound humorless. “You think you can hunt down the killer yourself?”
“Think about it.” She scooted to the edge of her seat, closer to Rolf. “If I marry King Rainer, not only will it prevent a war against Carlon, but it’ll get me into Lynk. Inside the king’s palace where I can investigate.”
“And what if you discover it’s someone from Lynk who murdered Alina? Then what?”
“If I’m married to the king and one of his subjects killed my sister, I will be able to seek justice.”
“You do understand this means you’ll bemarried.”
“If it means saving the lives of the rest of my family, if it means Alina’s death wasn’t in vain, then it’ll be worth it.” Truthfully, the idea of marriage terrified her. But he didn’t need to know that. She’d figure that part out later, after she discovered the killer.
He reached forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. “And what if the killer comes after you?”
She hadn’t considered that part. “Then I suppose you better prepare me to face such a situation.”
He nodded and stood.
“Does that mean you’ll let me do it?” Her heart pounded.
“No. It means I’ll mull it over and discuss it with Karl.”
“And what about Father?”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself.”
Sabine stood in the garden cutting lavender and placing it in the basket hanging from her arm. She thought being outside, in the warm sun, would calm her. However, her hands still shook. Watching her sister’s casket be buried yesterday had been harder than she thought it would be.
“I figured I’d find you out here,” the king said by way of greeting.
She looked up and spotted her father entering the garden from the west side.
“What are you doing out here all alone?” he asked when he reached her.
“This is Alina’s favorite flower.” She planned to make an arrangement for her sister’s grave.
“Rolf told me your proposal.” He gazed at the farmland in the distance.
It had been almost a week since she’d gone to Rolf and offered to take Alina’s place. No one had said a word to her about it, so she’d assumed it wasn’t being considered.
“I don’t want to lose another daughter. Hell, I don’t want to lose another child. But it seems to me,” he continued, “that I don’t have a lot of options. Do I risk your life to prevent a war? Or to get the troops necessary to go to war well-prepared? Do I risk your life for the betterment of my kingdom?” He shook his head. “If you die, too, it will all have been for nothing. I’ll lose not only you, but possibly my entire family and kingdom.”
Shock filled her. He hadn’t downright dismissed the idea—which meant he was considering it. “If you don’t send me, you’re guaranteed to lose it all.”
“You’re asking me to take a huge gamble with your life.”
“I’ll be better prepared than Alina.” And Rolf could help train her to get ready for the perils she’d face.
“True. But like I said, I don’t have many options. As king, I swore an oath and must do what’s best for my kingdom.”
She set her basket on the ground, wondering what he was getting at.
“I sent word with King Rainer’s squire stating that you will take Alina’s place. The contract will be fulfilled on our end. You leave in a fortnight.”
“You’re letting me go?” she asked, unable to believe it.
“I have little choice.”
