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You only have one shot,was her mind’s quiet reminder. So, she threw herself into it.
“Finally. I’m so glad I got you alone.”
The relief in her voice was overly dramatic, but she supposed that was how she would have sounded if getting the queen alone was her life’s mission. Helena assessed her sharply, scanning every inch and wrinkling her nose, every bit the royalty who looked down on her subject.
“Am I to assume that there is no valuable information?”
This was the part where she would probably die a quick death. Winter braced herself and bowed at the queen, apologetic and embarrassed.
“I wish I had information, your majesty. Unfortunately, even my alert mind couldn’t make something up on the go. But I’m just so relieved that it worked.”
“What worked?”
“Getting you alone.”
“You still haven’t told me why you wanted me alone. Did you think you could overpower me?”
Helena frowned, trying to figure her out. Impatience brimmed in the woman’s vibe, but so did amusement, as if the very idea of being overpowered by Winter was laughable. Winter worked with that, shaking her head vigorously and waving her hands up to show that she had no weapon on her.
“No, of course not.”
“I see. Then you wanted to buy some time for Nate. That’s why you are wasting mine here.”
The regal figure blurred. A second later, a hand wrapped around Winter’s neck, holding her in place and ready to lift her off the ground.
“Your majesty, you are mistaken,” Winter blurted out. “I’m on your side!”
She waited for the tight squeeze, but it didn’t come.
“You are?”
“Yes,” she said quickly, refusing to back down now. Winter mustered as much sympathy as she could in her expression. “It must be so hard being under your son’s careful watch. What a monster he is.”
“Which son are you referring to?”
“The one who manipulated this whole situation. The crown prince. It was too shocking at first, and I couldn’t figure it out. He had everyone fooled, but it took me a lot of reflection to finally figure things out.”
Silence. The hand loosened, then disappeared, as Helena stared.
“What are you talking about?”
“He orchestrated everything.”
“Everything?”
When the woman didn’t come for her neck again, Winter was free to move around, pacing the room as if she couldn’t quite contain her energy. She gestured wildly, half-crazed, and let it all gush out.
“Everything,” she confirmed. “Let’s both not kid ourselves since it’s just us here. You can search the room yourself if you want.”
“Don’t order me around, you fool. I know we are alone. And speak faster if you don’t want to lose your life.”
“I know he killed the king, not Nathaniel. I know he shifted the blame on us by eliminating all witnesses. But instead of taking the crown, he gave it to you, because he understands how the kingdom works and knows more houses will side with you. When he found out we were close to discovering the truth, he put his plan into motion faster and let you take all the credit.”
A stunned flash seized Helena’s vibe before she schooled it into coolness.
“Oh?”
“You must have been so smothered from all that he has been forcing you to do and needed a moment of reprieve. It must be so hard to take one son’s side while your other son suffers, but there’s nothing you can do because there’s no more proof.”
