2

Ian

"I applaud you for touring all of the police stations personally, Ian," Colin said as I looked over something in the carriage. "I do. Truly. Your dedication to seeing things through and never sluffing off is one of your greatest qualities."

"But?" I drawled, knowing the compliment wasn't the end of it. Not when it came to Colin.

"But the rest of us on this trip are mere mortals, so this is the last year I allow you to make it all at one time in this marathon of inspections," he said firmly. "I am too old for this. I was always too old for this. I know you think this my normal whining, but it's not, and this time has pushed me to threaten to quit."

I froze in my reading and blinked at the page before slowly looking up at Colin. I studied him and only then did I see how pale he was, more so than normal, and his skin looked a bit jaundiced almost. He looked haggard and his eyes sunken.

I'd kept assuming he was being a baby from not sleeping in his own bed or indulging at the inns so he could sleep. He kept looking hungover to me, but that wasn't like him, and I thought it his own fault for behaving that way.

"I am sorry, my friend," I said quietly. "You have not been drinking to sleep or blow off steam, have you?"

His eyes flashed shock. "No, you dolt. This is important business. I have had wine with dinner only a handful of nights and my normal one glass. You—you have to make less assumptions in life, Ian. You are on point so often, but when you are not, it's almost dangerous. Because you are correct mostly, you do not second-guess when you need to."

"You are right," I accepted after a moment. I glanced out the window at the knights riding with us. "What of the others? Are you the only one suffering?"

"No, but I am the worst," he admitted. "I do not travel well." He rubbed his stomach before thumping his chest. "I tell you so much of the bad news you hear and end up having to nag you as a wife would if you had one that you have begun to tune me out. We need a way for you to understand when you cannot do that."

"You could stop nagging me?" I offered.

He ran his tongue over his teeth and gave me a fed up look way above the normal level. "I swear I will take the duke in the east up on his offer to work for him. It might be a pay cut, but the man has a well-established territory that I would be managing instead of these—"

"I will be better," I promised. I could not survive without Colin, and this was the first time he'd ever threatened to quit. Not through all of the hardships we'd faced since I'd taken over for my father. I let out a slow breath and nodded. "We have done this enough years now, so going forward I will leave it to you how to organize and handle these inspections efficiently."

Relief filled his eyes. "Well, first, I would make them more of a surprise. I understand why the king wanted you to let the schedule be known and boast you were truly handling your role, but going forward you can boast how well things went after. Once we are in the area, word will get out, but some of the inspections this year have been downright patronizing."

"Agreed, and I did plan to discuss that with my cousin. We are of the same opinion on that."

"I would set up six groupings. It would be about two weeks for each inspection. It's more efficient to do that than this three-month crazy in one stretch. We kill ourselves before and after and—"

"No more lectures," I cut in. "You win. I am truly sorry that I didn't grasp the situation. And you are right because there are a few I wish we could have spent more time at, but we had to stay on the bloody schedule. If we broke up areas and focused only on them, we could have those allowances."

"Yes, thank you," he sighed. "Thank you, Ian."

"I am sorry this has been so rough for you." I studied him again. "And maybe you should skip them going forward." It was his turn to blink in shock. "We have a good process now. I needed you to mediate and facilitate with the captains at each location but now—we have not had any real resistance."

"It would be better for the duchy if I stayed," he muttered. "It's a good idea, or maybe just for the ones we did not have good feelings about or could be issues. Any that have changing leadership and I can head right back."

"Agreed." It was smart, but I would have told him whatever he wanted to keep him working for me. I needed him that much.

And he was worth it. Colin was smart, driven, and one of the most loyal people I'd ever met. I truly felt bad about not realizing this was such an issue for him sooner.

There was simply too much to do and needed to be handled. It wasn't an excuse and I wouldn't make any; it was simply the reason and life was never easy.

We discussed the changes and ideas, Colin excited since this was our last stop and we could head back to the duchy… While I was very, very sure that my cousin was going to have a message waiting for me to head to the capital to speak with him in person.

He was a selfish one like that. Plus, our relationship wasn't the best. I was at my wits' end on how to change it, but I did not know how. I wanted to mend the mistrust and issues that weren't ours, but if he didn't start trying to meet me halfway, issues and mistrust would truly start.

And I didn't want that.

The road changed from rural dirt to smoother cobblestone to let us know we were close to our destination. Relief filled Colin's eyes, and after a few minutes he looked better.

I really was a dolt for not having noticed what was going on.

There was a carriage that pulled up at the police station right before us, and as was procedure, the officer outside did his job as he should.

"The driver was not going to bring me and only agreed when I lied about my reason for coming," a woman said as one of my knights opened the door to my carriage.

Colin and I shared a shocked look before I rushed out of the carriage to involve myself in the situation. The officer responded as he should and handled the driver, but there was chaos, and the woman must have been hurt because when another officer tried to pull her out of the way, she let out a noise of pain and fainted.

Luckily, he caught her in time, but his shock was obvious, looking at one of the officers in particular. "I swear I didn't pull her hard, sir."

The man studied the woman and nodded. "She didn't ask to be brought here because she had a good day. Tend to her with a witness until she wakes and we can ask her what has happened."

"Yes, sir," the officer said.

"I know her," I muttered as I caught a glimpse of the woman, rage filling me when I saw a fresh bruise on her face but also clear signs of healing ones as well. I went right for the driver but stopped myself from grabbing him when he was in custody. "Who is she?"

The man glanced between me and the woman being carried off and then back at the carriage.

"Before you get yourself into more trouble, this is Grand Duke Ian Brooker, the Minister of Justice," the officer in charge said, bowing to me. "Thank you for coming, Your Grace. I apologize this is the situation you arrived to see."

"On the contrary, Captain, I saw with my own eyes how well your officers upheld their duty and followed procedure," I praised before looking back at the driver.

"She's the daughter of Count Sunde," the driver blurted. "He hurt her."

Rage filled the captain's eyes, but he seemed to swallow it down. "And yet you called her ‘miss?' That fresh bruise might be from him, but you are not the count's driver, and Countess Matthias would have a driver from her estate."

The man was smart and well informed because the driver was clearly busted from the look in his eyes and the way he shrank back from the officer.

I glanced around and cleared my throat. "Now is the time to start thinking about yourself and the hot water you are already in if you are smart. But let's take this inside where we can have privacy. We're already drawing a crowd."

"Of course, forgive me, Your Grace," the captain said, dipping his head. "Lock him up."

The moment we were inside the station, I halted the officer in charge of the driver, giving the man a withering look. "Think before you answer and risk lying to someone of the royal family again." I waited until he nodded. "Were you on your way to the Sunde estate or did you already visit it?"

He swallowed loudly. "It was clear she wasn't welcome there. We weren't there long, and someone there did hit her. I did notmake that bruise on her cheek. Any of them. No one greeted her, and they made me park the carriage at the gate, not by the door. The butler said I could pick up the trash there after the master tossed it back out. The others laughed that it was her."

Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting… But clearly, this man would be useful. I had asked him a simple question that should have had an easy answer and he rambled on now that he was scared. I shared a look with the captain and saw that he was of the same opinion and a lot of information could be gathered if we were careful.

Good man.

Colin was already handling the inspection, and I checked a few things before someone informed me the countess was awake. I excused myself to check on her, Colin shooting me a knowing look and not even trying to nag me to leave it alone.

The moment I laid eyes on the woman I'd seen I was reminded of my sister even if they looked nothing alike. I saw a woman abused and like always, I saw the sister I couldn't save and my father never cared to protect.

And she'd died because of it.

I'd been too young to save my older sister, but by the goddess, I would never ignore a woman in danger when I could protect them.

Nothing surprised me more than finding Countess Matthias apologizing to the officer for startling him and fainting on him. And from the look on the other officers' faces, I wasn't the only one with that reaction.

"I apologize for interjecting, but the countess must be in pain," I said, letting them know I was there. "You have a healer on shift, yes? If not, several of my knights are."

"Yes, we have healers, Your Grace," the officer assured me.

The countess glanced over at me but did a double take, instantly recognizing me. Her gorgeous light green eyes stabbed me through the heart and went bug wide. She jumped to her feet and dipped into a perfect curtsey even with her injuries. "I apologize for my manners, Grand Duke. Countess Mabel Matthias greets—"

"Please, sit, you have to be in pain," I interrupted as I hurried over to her and helped her back into her seat. I studied her face and saw signs of her pain. "We have met before, yes, Countess?"

She gave a slight nod. "My husband tripped me so I fell into you at a ball and he had an excuse to speak with you. I apologize again for the shirt that was ruined from that wine."

I slowly blinked at her, instantly remembering what happened. But this woman was completely different than the timid, shivering lamb who never even met my gaze. I would have remembered her eyes. All I remembered from that interaction was the top of a head of dark curls pinned up and a soft voice begging my forgiveness.

And an obnoxious man chastising her and trying to butter me up. I'd met Count Matthias several times since and hated every second I'd spent in his presence.

"Yes, I remember, and the shirt was nothing," I told her easily. "Please, let the healer attend to—"

"I need my injuries to be reported," she argued. She clenched her hands together and focused on them as she took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. "I want to file a police report about my abuse from my husband. It will help me divorce him on my terms, not the ones he ordered me to sign."

Good on you.Then I flinched. "Ordered you?"

She gave a slight nod. "He told me to sign the papers without even reading them and gave me this beating when I refused, saying I had to speak with my father first." She cleared her throat and looked to the captain there.

I took the hint and could read the room, understanding she was uncomfortable stating more with another noble in the room, a higher ranking one probably. "I'll leave you to it, Captain, but the countess will need to travel to the capital to file for her divorce. I will escort her since I am traveling there as your station was the last inspection and I have to report to the king."

"No, please, I cannot inconvenience you and—" she tried to argue.

"It would be of help to me," I fibbed. "Colin has to return to the duchy and another passenger would even out the carriage." I was shocked when anger filled her eyes.

"I would ask you not assume me an idiot, Your Grace. I do not know what women you are used to, but more weight in the carriage is always distressing the wheels. You aren't leaning off the side where you need me to counterbalance your weight."

One of the officers in the room coughed to cover up a chuckle and I felt about the same.

"I apologize, My Lady. I thought it a white lie of no harm. I did not mean to insult your intelligence," I promised. "The truth is I am also the Minister of Justice, and if there's a problem with your getting to your destination after the incident here before you appear at the courts in the capital, it will be a headache for me. So allow me as a noble to assist you."

She studied me carefully. "If you are truly already headed there?"

I glanced at the captain with a smirk. "Tell her the bad news."

He snickered and nodded. "The king sent a messenger and made it clear we tell you to report to the capital to report your findings directly to him instead of heading back to your duchy." He handed me a purple envelope with a gold seal that only the royal family could use. "You know your cousin well, Your Grace."

Unfortunately, at times.

I excused myself and finished with the inspection, filling Colin in. He sighed and looked ready to utter something he never should in the presence of others but stopped himself.

"I apologize, Countess, but we do not have any female officers or knights in the area," the captain told her when I came back to them.

She snorted. "Of course not. My father thinks women are all idiots and…" She shook her head. "I have been subjected to much worse than a man seeing my naked body so my wounds and scars can be witnessed properly."

I saw red at the idea of someone seeing her naked and flinched at my aggressive reaction. She was pretty but… So what? Since when was I the jealous type?

And over a married woman?

Clearly, I'd lost my mind from months of travel.

"There has to be a doctor you can call here, right?" she pushed. "There would be no impropriety then even if he's a male. I have had male doctors treat me. One checked my purity and ability to have children before my wedding. Call—well, please do not call him. I prefer not to be treated as a mare again and watch him write that my left breast is larger than the right."

The captain looked as disturbed as I felt. "No, I won't call him, but I do want his name so I can give him the beating he deserves and make sure he retires, My Lady." He shook his head when she tried to argue. "If I didn't and my wife found out, I would be sleeping with the horses the rest of my life. Rightfully so. And I never want that man near my damn daughter."

"Oh, yes, I did not think of that." She told him the name and it meant nothing to me, but it did him and he looked like he was swallowing something rotten.

Wonderful.

I winced but then knocked and interjected. "I apologize for overhearing, but I do have two female knights. They could handle what you want or at least one could stay with you during the doctor's exam so you feel more comfortable?"

"If they do not mind, but it's rather unsightly," she hedged, glancing back at the captain. "But I would think the doctor would be a better witness than a knight?"

He took a moment to consider that. "Normally, I would agree with you, but you are in your father's territory and while—" He cleared his throat which confirmed that there was more with her family than a slap today. "Others could use it being his territory as forcing the doctor against your husband. Plus, knights sworn to the grand duke are another level."

She nodded at his assessment before looking at me. "I would be in your debt if they agree, Your Grace."

"No debt at all. They would both be willing to help someone in your situation. Helping people is why they signed up for service. And they've seen much. I am not worried about the exam."

Apparently, I should have been. The knight I knew best, Whitney, looked rattled as she stepped back out of the room while the other stayed in with the countess.

I did a double take when I saw she was pale and a bit sweaty, glancing at the door. "What did you find?"

She moved closer and lowered her voice. "That woman has suffered more than the knights we recovered after the war that had been tortured for information, Your Grace. The amount of scars and healed wounds is…" She swallowed loudly. "You will help her make those monsters pay, yes?"

I nodded but then frowned. "Monsters?"

She nodded. "The count's mistress is a commoner woman and she caused a lot of the scars on her body."

I swallowed a sigh and asked her to make a copy of the report. The look she gave me that I didn't even need to ask was almost amusing in the midst of such a serious situation.

The next problem actually was with Colin, which shocked me.

He pulled me off to the side and looked ready to pull out his hair, so I didn't object. "Ian, this is a moment you are reading the situation wrong and you need to listen to me."

"First, that is exactly how you need to tell me of these situations going forward because I am instantly worried and not distracted," I muttered, rubbing my hand over my chest as I stared at him. "Second, what am I missing?"

He sighed. "That you are royalty. She is not going to be comfortable riding in a carriage with you for days to the capital. Not when her husband is the son of the biggest threat to your cousin. Marquis Matthias is trying to take power from the king at every fucking turn. She's been through enough. Do not let her—let her ride with me and settle before the hurdles before her."

I slowly nodded. "As long as you make sure she knows that it's not because of something she did or I was not willing to—"

"I will make sure," he promised. "But we should get out of her father's territory before news spreads and there are more problems. Knowing you, you want a fine imposed on him for slapping his daughter and you have the witness to make it happen. How casually the men of this kingdom—especially the nobles—use violence against—"

"Yes, I am well aware," I bit out. "And yes, I want her to receive damages. The healers will treat her now that the report is done?"

"I will make sure of it," he confirmed.

I nodded and got in the carriage, leaving it all to Colin, even if it made me anxious. I was so worried about her during the days of travel, I didn't even have a chance to think about my cousin and my usual annoyances with his behavior. When we arrived at the capital, Colin actually talked her into staying at his townhouse with his sister as a guest.

That was much better than a hotel or other lodgings, but mine was safer. The look he gave me made it clear it had been a fight to achieve, so I let it go… And headed to the palace.

I was barely received and shown into their private dining room where they had started on the first course. I swallowed a sigh. They had to know exactly when I was arriving with the updates and news from his people. This was just petty and trying to put me in my place. He barely grunted at me, but I could smell how excited and curious he was for my updates.

The man was pushing me too far even if he was my cousin.

"I heard there was an issue with Matthias's wife that you stumbled upon. You will get close to her and use her to get me what I need to take down the marquis."

I ran my tongue over my teeth and set down my water glass before meeting his gaze. "I am at my limit, Gerald." I ignored his flinch at my using his first name and continued. "You have two choices—either you let that order stand and treat me again like I am your dog, and after this is done, I will make my land autonomous from the kingdom as Grandfather offered my father—"

"That was Grandfather, and I am king now," he blasted, slamming his fist to the table.

"Or you will stop with these games and the pettiness between us and hear me that we are not our fathers. I have offered you multiple times to wipe the slate clean of their resentment and be men of our own." I jumped to my feet when he did. "I am not your enemy, Cousin, but you are making me hate you!"

He lost some of his anger when my voice cracked, shock in his eyes.

I let out a slow breath and realized I had tears in my eyes, quickly wiping them. "Her situation is the same as Kylie's was, maybe worse." I felt better when he flinched. "And you order me, your family, to use her? You are better than this. That is not the man I looked up to when we were young."

"I agree, my love," Queen Louisa said quietly.

His anger came back. "You would side with him over me?"

She let out a slow breath and dabbed her mouth with her napkin to stall for time to think of what to say. "You cannot see clearly when it comes to him. Because your fathers were fools, I know him better than you do. Do you not trust me?"

He lost his anger some. "I trust you most. You are the only one I trust most days, Louisa. You know that."

She extended her hand to him, relief in her eyes when he took it. "Then listen to me now. Stop listening to the snakes in your ear and trust your wife and your cousin. Your only family left. He is not your enemy."

"He's not my ally," he argued. "He should be head of my faction then and—"

I was glad when I saw in Louisa's eyes that she agreed with me, but that meant disagreeing with her husband again. "Cousin, that's dangerous. Please, hear me that I do it for you. For both of us and our safety. Truly." I waited until he looked at me. "Listen to yourself and your senses. Let us finally have a frank conversation on this and hear me as only you can."

Understanding filled his eyes and after a moment. "Fine, I will give you this chance because you are my blood and Grandfather said you were a pure soul until the day he died." Power and warning were all over his face as I saw the king before me. "But if you hide anything from me now, it will be the last time you play the ‘family' card with me, and you lose your privileges as a royal."

I nodded, more than willing to accept that. I understood it better from his side. He thought I was playing both sides of the fence, getting the perks but not helping him enough. Mostly because of the snakes putting bad thoughts in his mind and whispering in his ear, but… Ruling was not easy.

Which was honestly, truly, and genuinely why I never, not ever wanted the damn job. Now I simply had to convince him of that.