Business.
Business.
Business.
That’s what Theseus had called this thing between himself and Halia. He didn’t kidnap her, nor did she trick him to get across the border. No, they’d been planning something together, some act of business.
But why was it kept so secret?
Unless, of course, it was never business at all, and-
“So, Thorne?” I turn to face Casimir, whose arms are crossed as he leans against the bookshelf. “This is good news, right?”
“Yeah. Of course.”
“Then why aren’t you excited?”
My fingers run along the surface of the letter. “This is real now, Aldridge. After this… there’s no going back, no pretending that some accident killed the kings.”
He lets out a heavy breath. “I know. But is that really what you wanted to believe? That all this was some accident?”
“My mother wants me to,” I admit, “Or, wants me to leave it to the Royal Guard, at least.”
“Wait a second,” concern twists his features, “Queen Quinn told you to back off the case?”
“Well… yeah.” I know he’s thinking the same things I am, but I decide to let him voice it.
“Isn’t that a little suspicious, Aily? I mean, I know it’s your mother and you might not want to believe that-”
“I know.” The words tumble from my mouth. “Logically, all the signs point to her. But I thought about it some more, and not everything lines up. She was there the entire night of the treaty, and couldn’t have arrived early to put the scarshade in the chalice. And… she was really mourning. I caught her off guard when I went to talk to her, and she was fully distraught.”
“Sometimes people are more distraught with a death when they feel guilty themselves,” Casimir whispers. It’s as if he’s pointing out something that I don’t quite see yet, but perhaps my brain is just too fried from the chaos of the last five days.
A moment of silence falls between us, and I heave the massive volume back onto the walnut-colored shelf, keeping the letter for myself.
“I can talk to my mother,” I say after a moment. “But lets also not ignore the clue that’s right in front of us.”
He nods slowly. “Yeah. Theseus and Halia had some sort of business that even the guards couldn’t know about, that could come as a shock to the kingdom.”
I let out a soft breath. “So, they were having an affair.”
“You know,” he drums his fingers on the shelf, “I never pegged you much for the scandalous type, Rose.”
“Even an idiot can read that letter and see it. ‘I do hope to see you in person soon, Madame Halia, for obvious reasons.’ What does that sound like to you?”
“It sounds like the first thing your mind goes to in any given situation is a scandalous romantic relationship.”
“What in Veridia, Aldridge? That’s… okay, you know what, what’s the first thing your mind went to.”
“I don’t know, maybe that this business is treasonous. If they were going to do something to give the monarchs more power, of course the kingdom would be shocked. Or…” his eyes meet mine. “Aily, what if they were trying to negotiate peace? The kingdoms would be shocked after being at war for so long. The border guards couldn’t know, because they’d be angry that they’re out of a well-paying royal job.”
“Yes, only we’re missing a crucial bit of the story here. If that’s really what this letter references, then how did Halia die? Why would King Lewis fight back if there hadn’t been anything romantic involved, or if Halia was in no danger?”
“But if they were romantically involved,” he counters, “The Briarwoodian story of Theseus killing Halia is likely untrue.”
“So we’re back where we started,” I sink into the chair behind me, “Where everything we’ve ever known is a lie, and yet we still can’t determine the truth.”
“Quite poetic for a girl pouting in an armchair, I must say.”
“Yes, of course. I’m wildly poetic, Sir Aldridge.”
“Sir, huh?” He reaches his hand out to help me out of the chair. “And here I thought you didn’t respect me.”
I bat away his hand, standing to leave on my own. “I don’t.”
“Then I assume you’ve learned your way back to your bedroom as well?”
“Yes.” He can clearly see the lie, but is curious to see how far I’ll go with this. I walk into the foyer that connects the two large libraries, and, remembering that I’d climbed down stairs to get to breakfast, go up the grand staircase. From there, I turn left in the hallway, when Casimir tuts softly. “Taking a detour, are we, Rose? Because this isn’t the way to your room.”
“A detour,” I agree, “I needed to… see something.”
“Well, my siblings and I are all on your same hallway, as is my cousin. And your mother is the hallway down from that, which also isn’t this way.”
“Something, Aldridge, not someone.”
I walk to the very end of this hallway, turning down the next which looks exactly the same. Thorne palace is cohesive, but definitely not as confusingly uniform as Aldridge Palace.
“Thorne.”He grabs my wrist. “You have no idea where you’re going.”
“Yes, and?”
“Can you swallow that stubborn pride of yours for a few minutes, or am I going to have to drag your ass back to your bedroom?”
“Neither is also an option,” I suggest.
He takes my hand in his arm. “This is the last time I’m doing this, Thorne.”
“I never asked you to walk me back.”
“And I never asked you to get lost in the palace.”
I laugh, “Like you’d care if I got lost.”
“Aw, but then who would be there to lecture me about historical romantic affairs?”
“Just shut up and walk me to my room, Aldridge.”
“With pleasure, Rose.”
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