“He’shers,” I finish, almost vibrating with excitement. I seize Emeric’s wrists. “Becauseonlyadrogation goes both ways! So now the contract’s signed, if she dies before she turns seventeen—”
Emeric’s hands close around mine, his face blazing. “Thenheinherits the von Falbirg title ofprinz-wahlwithout giving up Bóern—”
“And becomes eligible to be elected Blessed Emperor—”
“With the backing from the families allied with the von Hirschings!” Emeric spins me around. “That’s it, Vanja, that’sexactlyit!”
The carol-band outside picks up, and before I know it we’re whirling across the floor in time with the music, giddy with triumph. We fall too easily into a Bóernische two-step, his hand suddenly warm and solid across the middle of my back. Ragne grabs Umayya’s hands and swings her into a dance, too, as the older woman laughs.
“Solved it, we solved it,” I sing (badly), “the margrave can eat my—”
“Those definitely aren’t the right lyrics,” Gisele observes from the doorway. Umayya trades Ragne to her, catching her breath. Gisele spins by in Ragne’s arms. “Why are we celebrating?”
“We finally cracked it!” Emeric twirls me around, grinning ear to ear. “We know why von Reigenbach’s trying to kill you!”
“I’m not sure I should be dancing to that!”
“Isthatwhat you call it?” Joniza weaves around us to pick up her parchment and collect herkolifrom a shelf beyond the children’s reach. “Don’t mind me, just enjoying the sound of job security. You have three minutes to explain this murder plot to me. I’m onstage at the Küpperplat in an hour and it’s a long way to Südbígn.”
“Yes, I would also like to know what my betrothed gets from my demise,” Gisele says dryly over Ragne’s shoulder as she reels past.
Ragne has a much looser grasp of the steps, but Gisele certainly seems to be enjoying herself.
The carol is winding down anyway, though, and we have work to do. We slow to halt. For a brief second it almost seems like Emeric and I might stay this way, hands clasped, half holding each other— then I realize perhaps I shouldn’t be quite so obvious around a boy who started solving murders at age eight. I pull away.
Once we’re done explaining, Gisele taps a finger to her lips, thinking.
“My parents also mentioned the Imperial Citizenship papers,” she says. “For nobles, those papers have to go all the way to the Chief Imperial Registrar’s office in the capital. You’re allowed to send them up to four months before your seventeenth birthday, so they’ll be processed by the actual birthday. Mine can be sent off December twenty-third. Even if I died before my birthday, the paperwork could still have been filed, and he’d have an ugly legal fight over whether the title reverted to House Falbirg or not. Sothat’swhy he’s rushing all this now, that’s why he wants to hold on to the papers.”
“So that’s it, right?” Joniza asks as she ties on her cloak. “You know that he poisoned Vanja when he thought she was Gisele, you overheard him and the little von Hirsching toad talking about killing her, you know what he gets out of it, and you’ve all been attacked bynachtmärenthat he probably controls. Is that enough for the Godly Court?”
Emeric runs a hand through his hair. “I’m not sure. He can claim ignorance on the poison, and the incriminating statements came mostly from von Hirsching. The skull in his study could be enough to tie him to themahrattacks, but he’ll likely know if we remove it, so we should wait until right before the trial. We’ll only have one shot, so the case has to be airtight.”
“Then make it airtight.” Joniza gives a two-fingered wave. “I’m off. You know where I’ll be.”
“Knock ’em dead,” I call as she slips out the door.
Gisele adds, “Especially if thebakeris there!”
“You know, Adalbrecht specifically ordered Gisele to attend the wedding hunt tomorrow,” I point out. “In writing. If there’s an attempt on her life . . .”
Emeric’s face darkens. “Thereabsolutelywill be. Tell me Miss Ragne’s going with you, Princess Gisele.”
“Both of us are,” I say.
He glances from me to Gisele, brows raised. Then he looks away. “I doubt von Reigenbach will be extending me an invitation, so . . . please be careful.”
“I will keep them safe.” Ragne’s hand tightens in Gisele’s. “I can come get you tomorrow morning, before sunrise, and sneak you into the castle.”
“Then we should let you get some rest,” Emeric says, and goes to erase his diagram. “We’re still missing a few pieces, but I don’t think we’ll find them tonight.”
I pull on my cloak and scarf, only to realize Ragne isn’t doing the same. “If you’re going to fly back to the castle, I can take your clothes with me.”
I think this is the first time I’ve seen Ragne blush. “I will be coming back later,” she says, inching a little closer to Gisele.
It takes a second for me to get it, and then I knot my scarf very fast. “Oh. Uh. Right. Just remember to getsomesleep.”
Now Gisele is definitely blushing. “Thank you, very helpful, now good night—”
