Page 6 of The Royal Throne
“I’d like to make a change,” Markis said. “Everyone, remove your masks. I need to see your faces.” The men did as he said. “Good. Queen Sabine, please take a look at these men. These are the only men who I entrust your safety to. No one else.”
She looked each one in the eyes, trying to memorize their faces.
“When you are on duty, you will no longer wear a mask,” Markis instructed. “Queen Sabine, please address any concerns you have regarding your safety.”
She took a deep breath, then began. She told her guards everything, starting with her perspective of the assassination attempt in the seamstress’s room, then how she married Rainer at the castle to gain protection, followed by what she overheard between Lottie and the assassin during the masquerade. She explained that she’d left the palace that night out of fear—fear that Rainer knew the truth and hadn’t confronted Lottie. When she was away, an assassin had hunted her, but he was dead now. Once Sabine had received word that the missing children from Bakley had been found and were in Lynk, she returned with her brother to ensure the children made it home safely.
“So while we don’t know if there are any active assassination threats against the queen,” Markis said, folding his arms and pacing near the table, “Lottie is an issue. She wants the throne and isn’t afraid to hurt the queen to get it.”
“We didn’t know Princess Lottie was involved before,” one of the guards said. “Now that we do, we can be better prepared.”
“And no one who isn’t vetted will be allowed near you, Your Majesty,” another said.
She nodded, still standing near the window. “I suppose that’s all we can do for now.”
“Maybe the king wishes to perform an investigation first,” someone suggested. “Just to make sure it’s his sister who’s behind this before he arrests her.”
“Regardless,” Markis said, “laws are laws. The princess can’t be given endless chances to kill our queen. She’s already struck once with Princess Alina. We can’t allow her to succeed a second time.”
Sabine shivered despite it being warm.
“Tell me, Drew,” she said, “does the queen of Lynk traditionally have no say here in this kingdom?”
He shifted his weight as if uncomfortable. “We haven’t had a queen in over fifteen years,” he said. “But traditionally, our queens are more often considered an art piece, looked at rather than heard,” he replied. “I’m sorry.”
“I asked for the truth.” She took a seat at the table, drumming her fingers on it.
“However,” Drew continued, “we have laws. Laws that must be obeyed by everyone—royals included.”
And that was what Sabine had been counting on.
“We’ll do whatever we can to keep you safe,” Drew added. “But if I’m being honest, I’d like to do a little reconnaissance. I want to ask around and see what I can discover about the situation.”
“I think that’s wise,” she answered. “Then it won’t just be my word you have to go by.”
She glanced at Markis who nodded his approval. Everything seemed to be going according to plan. That should have been her first clue that things were about to get messy.
Rainer burst into Sabine’s bedchamber without knocking or being announced. “We need to get a few things straight,” he said, not bothering with pleasantries.
Sabine remained sitting on her bed, petting Harta, waiting for Rainer to get to the point of this conversation. Or rather visit since she doubted there would be much conversing going on.
“I want to make one thing perfectly clear. You do not have any authority whatsoever over my family.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re saying that in Lynk, the princes and the princess have power over their queen?” That was ludicrous.
“No, that’s not what I’m saying.” He folded his hands behind his back. “You are the queen, but Anton, Axel, and Lottie are my siblings. I will take care of them—not you.”
She continued to stroke Harta’s head. “And what about once we have a child? Will I have no say in how that child is disciplined?”
He mumbled something under his breath as he came farther into the room, heading to one of the archways leading to the balcony, his back to her. He stood there, unmoving. “Speaking of my heir,” he said, his words clipped. “We will not be sharing a bed until I am certain you are not pregnant.”
“In case you forgot, we haven’t consummated our marriage.” There was no way she could be carrying a child.
He peered over his shoulder at her. “Exactly.”
Shock rolled through her at his implication. “I didn’t know it was possible for a virgin to suddenly become pregnant. How does that happen?”
Rainer turned to face her. “I have it on good authority that you’ve spent time with another man.”
