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“Are you stupid?” Milo laughed. “She’s going to kill her father and take the crown.”
“What?” I balked. “I can’t…no. I didn’t realize I was going to actually assist in a murder. You’re not serious.” I stare down at King Windre.
“Sometimes death is a necessity.” He didn’t smile when he said this, just stated it like a simple fact.
“No, if I’m caught in this my reputation as king is ruined. I can’t have anything to do with the murder of another king. Couldn’t she just do it when I’m not there?”
“No, she can’t put it off any longer. So that’s why you need to brush up on your acting.”
I blinked at him, waiting for him to tell me this was all a joke. Milo rolled his eyes.
“Escort Princess Maggie out of the room after she’s done what she needs to do. Then return to the room, create a commotion, scuff yourself up a little bit and pass out on the floor. Jesseline and the guards will break in to find you on the ground and an assassin’s blade in the king's chest. They won’t even bat an eye at you.”
“That’s the plan?” I deadpanned.
“That’s the plan.” King Windre clapped, eager and excited.
“Let me get this right…the plan is for me to play dead.”
“Like a dog.” Milo nodded happily. I shot him my worst glare.
“I believe that you can be a very good actor. You've spent most of your life lying, that’s all acting really is.”
I’m trying to be better, I wanted to shout. I wasn’t going to be known as the prince who lied and snuck around for the entirety of my life.
“Do you know how bad this is for my already bad reputation?” I hissed, spreading my fingers out on his map.
“I’m not sure what you mean. The people love you.” King Windre nodded with sincerity.
“Not all of them, and the ones who do love me, only love me because of my stance on the war. They love Ryker, the idea of her as queen. They don’t love me.”
It was a fragile balance, one that already seemed to be fraying at the ropes that held it. This one thing would only further upset it. How much further could I push? What would be the final straw before they didn’t want a drunk who would rather hang out with lowlifes on their throne? Now to be present at another king’s assassination…I just didn’t know.
“Look,” Milo sighed, “you want Maggie on your side. Otherwise, we will have a full blown war with the Obtune Court, and with the shambles of the Heathern Court. Ottack already has the Fae who fled the Heathern Court guard working in his army. Maggie…she could end it all. Think of the lives it would save.”
But would it end mine?
“How else did you think Maggie was going to get the crown?” Milo continued.
“Persuasion. Her father could pass the crown down to her like my parents had planned to do for me.”
“And I’m very sorry to hear of their passing.” King Windre placed his hand on top of mine. I stared down at his warm fingers, then looked back up to his small smile. I’m not sure he knew how uncomfortable that made me. “You know Princess Maggie; she isn’t very good at persuading anyone to do anything. She’s more of a take what she wants and ask for forgiveness later’ type of gal.”
“That she is.” I pulled my hand away, folding my hands in my lap.
“This sort of balances on you.” Milo’s scowl deepened.
“I know, I know. Just let me think for a minute,” I snapped.
This shouldn’t have been something I needed to think hard on, or even much at all. Me risking this one thing would save so many people. And it could doom me. It would give the people who already wished me dead more ammunition. Was I ready to face that?
I was not entirely sure I was ready to face being a king in general.
Make the choice, Dace. Save the innocent and risk yourself, or say no and fight the war. You’re too prissy to fight on the front lines.I argued with myself.You battled the guards, grappling was your forte, but that wasn’t the same as facing off against an army.
“Decided yet?” Milo raised his eyebrows.
“You are incredibly annoying, you know that?” I ran a hand through my hair.
