Page 18 of The Royal Throne
“And your goal is to upset the man?” he asked incredulously.
“No, that’s just a perk.”
The streets were crowded and many began to notice her. The people moved to the sides of the street, bowing, allowing her and her brother to pass through the center untouched.
“All right,” Otto mumbled, “you’ve got their attention. Now what?”
“We shop.”
The two of them entered the blacksmith store on the right. Sabine introduced herself to the owner and asked about the swords and weapons he forged. A small dagger with a handle made for a woman caught her eye, so she bought it. The next store she went to sold jewelry. She perused through the necklaces and bracelets before buying a couple of items. Next, she went to a leather store where she bought a belt for Otto.
The two of them continued shopping, buying something from each store they entered. By the time they reached the end of the main street, her guards had their arms full with food, wine, clothes, bags, and other various items.
Word spread quickly that the queen was out buying goods. Many came to catch a glimpse of her while children began bringing her bundles of stonecrop. The beautiful pink flower was one of her favorite colors.
Seeing the citizens of the kingdom she ruled over made her realize she needed to make a point of shopping here at least once a week and employing some of these people in the palace. Since this town was so close to the crown, she wondered if all towns were as well off as this one, or if this was the exception. Once she figured out how to stop the upcoming war, she’d find a way to visit the other towns in Lynk. It was time she got to know all her people.
Back in her room, which was now filled with flowers thanks to the children from the town, Sabine plopped onto her bed, exhausted. Harta jumped up and lay beside her, licking her face. Sabine laughed.
Someone knocked on her door. She groaned, too tired to get up to answer it. “Who’s there?” she called out.
Markis stepped inside. “Your Majesty, Prince Anton is here to see you.”
She waved him closer. “Do you know what it’s about?” she whispered.
“No. But everyone in the palace is talking about what you and Prince Otto did today. My guess is it has something to do with that.”
If that was the case, then she could speak with Anton. “While we were out, were you able to do what I asked?”
“I’ll discuss that with you later.”
“Okay, let Anton in.” She sat up but remained on her bed. It was probably better to use the royal rooms for receiving guests, but this was just Anton and those rooms felt like Rainer’s, not hers.
Markis opened the door, admitting Anton.
“Queen Sabine, may I have a word in private?” Anton asked, eyeing Markis.
She nodded and Markis left the room, closing the door behind him. It surprised her that her guard would leave her alone with Anton but not Axel.
“Is everything okay?” she asked, petting Harta.
“There’s not much that goes on in this kingdom that I’m not aware of,” he said, coming farther into the room, his posture relaxed.
As the king’s spymaster, Sabine assumed Anton knew a great deal about the goings on in the kingdom.
“Commander Felix dispatched two highly confidential letters today,” he said.
Her hand froze on Harta. She blinked several times, not sure how to handle this situation. Not once had she considered Anton learning about her conversation with Felix.
“Obviously, I had my spies read the letters.”
Closing her eyes, she wished she could go back in time and insist Felix send a single messenger to deliver her instructions verbally. Only, that would have meant even more people being aware of the changes she’d issued. The less who knew, the better.
“Rainer is going to kill you when he finds out what you did,” he said, his voice low.
“If,” she murmured, “if Rainer finds out.” She kept her focus on Harta, refusing to look at Anton and read the judgement that was sure to be on his face.
“How are you going to keep this from him?”
