Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

T hat evening after Gerta left, I leaned on my balcony’s railing, staring at the gardens below and the lake in the distance. It was too far to make out Curdy’s, Garrik’s and Odette’s forms; I could barely see bits of the shore between the weeping willows.

Korth hadn’t shown any sign of believing his grandmother’s accusations about my untrustworthiness, and Odette was being kept in line. Even if she did say something, I felt sure that I’d done enough to call into question her credibility that she wouldn’t be believed. But a drop of doubt lingered. There were too many variables. If the real King Raquel sent a missive before Father sent the falsified one, or if an additional ship was sent, or if Odette did manage to give Curdy the slip and her story was believed… There was too much uncertainty, and I hated the waiting game.

Shouts of laughter came up from the courtyard directly below my balcony, and my gaze was drawn down. Korth was chasing Tess around the fountain, periodically splashing her with water so that she shrieked and tried to dodge the droplets. Tess had hiked her skirts up above her knees and was sprinting back and forth trying to avoid Korth.

I tilted my head to the side, cheek resting on my hand. So Korth did occasionally have fun after all. Or at least valued Tess having fun enough to forget a portion of his dignity. No servants were around; perhaps their absence was what gave him the courage to let his guard down. Was Tess the only one who ever saw this side of Korth? What would it take for me to extract the same from him? Our relationship would never develop into anything deep and meaningful for him if we only ever spoke of superficial things.

Tess’s foot skidded on some loose gravel and she fell. Immediately, Korth leapt to her side and eased her up as Tess searched her pocket and then scanned the ground. After a quick word, Korth helped her search for whatever had vacated her pocket during the fall. The last bits of sunset’s light cast a hazy glow over the gardens as Korth picked up a tiny object, too small for me to determine what it was, and handed it back to Tess, who flung her arms around her brother.

Still unaware that I’d been watching them, the two went back inside as Tess tucked whatever she was holding back into the safety of her pocket. Korth’s question from his cheat sheet on my first day came back to me. He had asked about how many children I wanted. Korth would be an excellent father, just from the little bit I’d observed of him.

I shook my head. There was no sense in thinking about having children with Korth when I knew what my future was once I was found out.

The next morning, Korth took me to see his grandmother again. Fresh resolve flooding me, I walked confidently with Korth toward his Nona’s room. I simply hadn’t been confident enough the first time, that was all.

“Good morning, Nona!” I exclaimed brightly the moment the door was opened. “How are you today?”

Nona’s thin eyebrows furrowed so that her face became even more lined and wrinkled than before. “Do I know you?”

“I’m Odette. I’m marrying your grandson, Korth.” I sat on the stool at her side and placed my hand over her bony one, just as if she had been my own grandmother.

Nona’s eyes narrowed once more. Before she could express her disapproval of me once more, I asked quickly, “Can you tell me about your son, Orion? Korth has told me such wonderful things.”

On the opposite side of the bed, Korth gave me an encouraging nod.

Nona’s glare didn’t soften. “I don’t trust you,” she said flatly. “Why are you asking about my son?”

“Be—because I care,” I stammered, unsure what I had done to give any indication that I was untrustworthy—besides the fact that I was. I shot a glance at Korth, who looked appalled at his grandmother’s reaction.

“Odette is wonderful, Nona,” Korth said, coming forward and placing a hand on my shoulder. “If you get to know her?—”

“I don’t want to get to know her,” Nona grumped, becoming increasingly angry by the second. “I’m going to tell Orion about this. Where is he? Tell him to come here this instant. I want an investigation.” Her voice rose in volume and aggression by the moment.

I pulled back from her bedside as Godfrey bowed to Nona and poked his head out of the door to call for a page boy. My panic grew and I looked to Korth for help.

“Nona,” he began in a placating tone.

“Don’t Nona me! Get this woman out of my room, now!”

Godfrey stepped toward me, but Korth blocked him. “We were already leaving.”

Nona’s shrieks continued as I left, fighting down the shaky feeling that was taking over my entire body. How could she know? Was it simply the ravings of an old woman, or would she be believed? What would the royal family say when the page boy brought word that the king’s own mother didn’t trust me?

“I’m so sorry,” Korth apologized, looking incredibly embarrassed. “She really is lovely most of the time. I hoped this time would be different.”

“Perhaps…” Godfrey spoke for the first time, and even his voice made me think of an old hound dog’s yowl. “Perhaps we should give some thought as to why His Majesty’s mother feels the way she does if this is a unique situation.”

“I suggest you don’t question my fiancée’s integrity.” Korth spoke quietly, but there was no mistaking the warning in his voice, and one look from him silenced his manservant. My breath came in short bursts as I scrambled to think of something to say. How could I defend myself and still ensure Korth’s trust in me? The urgency of needing Korth to fall in love with me became all the more pressing. A drop of guilt mingled with my panic. It was a shame, really, that I had to convince an honest man to believe me instead of his own grandmother when she was right.

“We still have time before my next meeting,” Korth said as we reached the ground level. “Allow me to make up for my grandmother’s behavior. Would you like to accompany me on a stroll along the beach?”

“I’d welcome it.” Anything to get as far away from his Nona as possible, even if we had to have Godfrey with us. I resisted the impulse to shoot him a dirty look. The last thing I needed was someone else who suspected me. Instead, I slipped my hand into Korth’s, who tensed for a fraction of a second before he hesitantly entwined his fingers around mine. I gave him an encouraging squeeze and swung our hands so Godfrey would be sure to notice.

The beach wasn’t far from the castle, and despite the fear that usually bubbled in my gut along with the somewhat fishy smell lingering in the air, I couldn’t help the feelings of security that swept through me as we strolled up the coast, hand in hand. Korth walked with his ankles and calves in the water, pants rolled up to his knees, as the surf rolled in and covered our feet periodically before retreating in earnest again.

Bits of seaweed occasionally washed up to catch on our toes or wrap around our ankles as we walked through the shallowest water. We stayed silent for a long time, simply soaking in the peace of the seashore. Seagulls screamed overhead, lamenting that we hadn’t brought them anything to eat, and sandpipers scurried over the sand, their miniscule claws leaving the tiniest of scratches as they dashed in to gobble up tiny insects as the tide ebbed. As each new wave rushed forward, the sandpipers would dash away again, eager to avoid getting wet. Occasional gravel-like pebbles dug painfully into my feet, but for the majority of the time, I only felt soft silt beneath my toes. It had a rippled, convoluted pattern that matched the curves of my feet and was compacted enough that it was easy to walk in.

I paused in our walk, letting the waves roll over my ankles, and Korth stared out at the horizon, far beyond the docks where his navy ships were moored. I followed his gaze, hungrily staring at the ships that could be the salvation of my people. “How are things in Ebora?” Korth asked.

“We—” The rest of the sentence died before being voiced. Had my thoughts been written on my face? “We are doing as well as can be expected.”

We lapsed into silence again. A pelican soared overhead and dove into the water, rising moments later with a fish clasped in its large beak.

Korth sighed heavily. “My attempts at romance are falling woefully short.”

“What woeful wooing, you mean?” I teased. “How alliteratively delightful. What would you wish to discuss that would make you feel successful in wooing me?” I gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

“I just don’t know much about your values and opinions on things yet.”

“Then ask me. Without the paper,” I added with a slight wink.

We turned to head back to the castle as Korth pondered, and this time instead of splashing our way through the shallow surf, we strolled through the granulated sand that rose and fell in small mounds, soft enough that with each footstep, we sank into the sand and left a trail everywhere we went. The sound of the wind whispering through the palm fronds on trees lining the beach was overpowered by the incessant rolling waves that chased each other toward land.

I watched the waves, mesmerized by how the crest of each wave boasted a foaming white cap that rolled along the peak of each swell before it eventually lost height and faded from view as it slowed and returned to the ocean. Some of the white foam lasted much longer than others, propelled by the ocean’s ebbing and flowing, yet all eventually lost momentum and disappeared.

Were lies like that? Some lasted longer than others, depending on the circumstances and individuals involved. How long would my lies manage to stay afloat before the truth came out?

“How about I start,” I suggested after Korth remained silent. “If you were scared to do something, but doing it would benefit your people, would you still do it?”

Korth considered my question for several long moments before nodding, bobbing his head up and down in a way that reminded me of the fishing lures sailors used. “Of course. Bravery doesn’t mean a lack of fear. It means facing your fear even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard,” he amended thoughtfully. “If my people needed to be protected, that is motivation strong enough to eclipse any fear.”

“I agree completely. Duty to their people should always come first for a ruler. See? We’re already agreeing on so much more than bridges and dumbwaiters.” Sand kicked up behind me, often sticking to my calves as I kept pace with Korth. My thoughts returned to Ebora’s corrupt government and I began chewing on my tongue. “What should become of a leader who doesn’t share such values?”

“They shouldn’t be the ruler if they don’t have the kingdom’s best interests at heart.”

“Who would be in charge of removing them?” The relentless wind tugged at my hair, blowing it in all directions at once. Gerta would have a job untangling it once we got back, and I didn’t look forward to the painful unsnarling process.

“If they recognize that they are no longer the best person for the job, they should step down, and ruling would default to the next in line for the throne.”

“What if they refused to step down? A ruler who doesn’t have the kingdom’s best interests at heart wouldn’t be eager to relinquish power so readily. Who would be in charge of dethroning them?”

“So many hypotheticals. Are you planning to dethrone me and my parents?” The corner of Korth’s mouth twitched upward.

“There have been rumors of an uprising in Ebora is all,” I said smoothly. “I’m merely concerned for my father in my absence.”

“You would only have need to fear if he was unjust.”

“Not everyone agrees with what is just. You do what is best for your people, but I’m sure you still receive complaints.”

“Every day,” he sighed.

“And yet, even though it may upset others, you still do what you think is right.”

“Of course. Real leaders dare to speak the truth. If I lived in constant fear of upsetting others, I wouldn’t have the strength to do what needs done.”

“What would you do if you found out that…that Berkway’s king was corrupt and he refused to step down?”

Korth shook his head. “It isn’t my business to get involved if it doesn’t affect my people.”

“So you would allow their people to suffer?”

“We would offer sanctuary to them.”

“How could they get here if they were oppressed and unable to leave?” Some of the frustration I felt seeped into my tone.

“All of this is theoretical,” Korth protested. “There’s no need to get worked up over something that isn’t happening.”

“Just because we aren’t aware doesn’t mean it isn’t happening,” I said quietly. “I don’t want to reach the end of my life and discover that I was so afraid to stand up for justice that I apathetically stood by and let evil take over.”

But I let the matter drop. Clearly, Korth would never willingly be on the rebellion’s side. If I wanted his help, it would have to be as Princess Odette.

“We have just enough time for me to show you the swans and the cygnets on the lake,” Korth said as we got back. “The geese are there too, but I haven’t seen any goslings yet.”

“Just so long as we keep our distance. I’m not overly fond of birds,” I told him, thinking privately that I didn’t want to give Odette any opportunity to call out to Korth.

Korth let out a soft chuckle. “From a distance is probably for the best. But don’t worry.” He patted my hand that was coiled around his elbow. “I’ll handle it.”

The tranquil lake lay nestled in the shadow of the castle, surface gleaming like a polished mirror and reflecting the azure sky. Vibrant foliage framed the water. A group of swans glided across the glassy surface, honking their distinctive calls to the air as a line of grey cygnets paddled after them, peeping along with the adults.

Across the lake, I spotted Curdy ordering Odette about. It was impossible to resist the smile that curved my lips upward as I watched her struggle to lug a heavy bucket of water over to the goose pen and slosh it over the rocks to clean it from the foul-smelling droppings. I squinted. Her tangled blonde hair was disheveled and tied back with a dull brown kerchief, and her servant’s dress was even more patched and frayed than when I’d given it to her.

As I watched, Odette’s distant profile leaned against the pen, panting for breath as her shoulders sagged. Her words from before floated back to me. “ Servants are the lucky ones ,” she had said. “ We keep all of you fed, clothed, and housed without charging a single copper for it. I don’t understand why anyone would not want to have that life. What a glorious opportunity, to be taken from life on the streets to being raised at a royal palace .”

Any guilt I may have entertained about my role in this charade vanished completely. This healthy dose of humility was just what Odette needed. How long had she stood by, applauding the injustices doled out to her people? She deserved everything she’d received. Curdy paused in shoveling out one of the pens and shaded his eyes from the sun, turning toward me and Korth.

“Isn’t it wonderful?” Korth asked, oblivious to the servants working at the other end of the lake. His gaze was fixed on the swans and geese. The sun warmed my back as the rhythmic ripples caressed the shoreline with a soothing melody.

I smiled and leaned my head against Korth’s shoulder, watching Odette slip and fall into the mud. The bucket she had been carrying flew into the air and landed upside-down on her head. Even from this distance, I could hear her whiny squeals in a perfect imitation of a squalling piglet. “It’s perfect.”

“Pardon me, Your Majesties,” Garrik grunted as he carried a sack of feed past us. As he crossed the path, his foot caught on a protruding root and he stumbled. The sack tumbled to the ground and split open, pouring the grain all over.

“I’m sorry, so sorry,” Garrik apologized over and over as he hastily gathered up the grain, scooping it back into the sack. “Please forgive me.”

Korth knelt to help him. “Don’t worry, friend. It could happen to anyone.”

“It was all my fault. I was up late last night and will be again tonight.”

“Lots of work?” I asked sympathetically, bending down to assist him as well.

“Just a moonlit stroll planned with some friends,” he said, throwing me a darkly significant look. Acting as though he was wiping sweat from his face, he touched first his ear, then his lips and finally his forehead. “Midnight is the quietest time.”

“That sounds wonderful,” I said, discreetly copying his action so that it appeared I was simply brushing hair out of my eyes.

“My friends and I always have a lot to talk about.” Garrik gathered the sack back into his arms. “My apologies once again for the interruption.”