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“I…” I shook my head, at a total loss for words. “I’m not spying on her,” was all I could think to say. Then I fumbled a few more seconds before blurting, “I was just curious about the East Salon. My sister said it had a majestic view, so I went to check it out, only to realize someone else was already in the room when I arrived. I didn’t want to bother her, so...so...”
Nicolette squinted. “So… You decided to hide behind a curtain instead of just telling her that same story you told me?”
“Uh…” Damn. The kid was too smart for her own good. But I’d already started the lie, so I’d see it through to the end, no matter how lame it sounded. Scowling, I muttered, “Yes.”
She blinked at me and then shrugged. “Oh. Okay.”
My shoulders slumped with relief, only for her to start in again, totally changing the subject.
“You didn’t teach me how to play chess last night after supper like you promised you would.” Setting her hands on her hips, she lifted her eyebrows and waited for an apology, or possibly even an explanation.
“Shit,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. “I forgot all about that. Sorry.”
“I figured,” she answered dryly before throwing me for a loop with another drastic change in conversation. “She’s married, you know.”
I frowned, not able to follow her this time. “What?”
“Vienne,” she explained. “She’s married. To my cousin, Soren.”
With a scowl, I muttered, “I’m aware. And to be perfectly clear, I wasn’t spying on her.”
“You just met her too,” Nicolette went on conversationally. “Like two days ago.”
“This I also know,” I said, drawing out the words suspiciously slow because it suddenly felt as if the young princess was adding up pieces to a puzzle she shouldn’t be assembling.
She watched me closely. “I thought you were super handsome when you first arrived. I still do, of course. And for a minute, I even fancied us getting married one day. But then I saw the way you looked at her, and I knew I wasn’t the one for you.” She shrugged. “But it’s okay. You’re probably too old for me, anyway. Plus, you treat me like a kid sister, which takes the romance out of it.”
I opened my mouth, not sure what to say to that, but it turned out I didn’t need to say anything. Nicolette was far from finished.
“Soren wouldn’t like this.” She offered me a sympathetic wince and sighed. “If he found out, he’d fight to get you kicked out of the castle if not outright executed. And Caulder often listens to his advice. It wouldn’t do you any good if anyone found out who your one true love was, so I’ll keep my suspicions to myself… If you agree to truly teach me how to play chess, and actually keep your promise this time.”
I gazed at her, my mouth hanging open. Then I shook my head, simply amazed. “You plan to blackmail me for your silence.”
Flashing me a megawatt smile, she bobbed her head enthusiastically. “Of course.”
Unable to help myself, I laughed. “Goddamn, you’re certainly a manipulative little shit, aren’t you?”
Affecting a prim and proper mien, the princess simply batted her eyelashes. “A manipulative little shit who’s still waiting for her answer.”
Running a hand through my hair, I sighed. “Well, then I suppose I find myself at your service, Princess. I will most certainly teach you the fine art of chess, though I have a feeling you’re already a natural.” She knew how to cage a fellow in quite neatly.
“Good.” Skipping away, she called, “We start tonight. For real, this time.” And then she was gone, disappearing around a corner and humming contentedly to herself as she went.
I stared at the spot she’d just been and realized how close I’d come to exposing everything and probably getting both me and Allera into some very deep trouble.
&nbs
p; That clenched it for me. From here on out, I needed to stay as far away from my one true love as I could get. It didn’t seem as if it would do anyone any good to reveal the truth now.
Chapter 12
Urban
Madness claimed my uncle, Aturro, when he was a mere forty years of age. Father said it was a broken heart that sent him crazy. I never understood how that could possibly affect someone so severely.
Until now.
The need to see her was like a constant itch in my brain. After getting caught following her by the blackmailing princess, I resisted going anywhere near Vienne for a solid week, but my resistance began to run thin.
