Chapter 149

Avinia and Isla arrived at Kit’s door just as she was about to head to the throne room. Her other seven escorts were there as well, and two of her guardsmen followed the group down the hall to the other side of the castle. Along the way, Kit whispered to Avinia, “Where is Seph?”

“Your mother wanted to see her right away.” Her cousin’s words were measured, and Kit felt her stomach twist inside. The queen was up to something.

There wasn’t much conversation as they walked along. It was is if they all knew this would be more than a celebration after the maze run, which was intended to be lighthearted and fun. Perhaps the queen had caught on to the fact that Kit had help in foiling her mother’s plan to mark Pierce as the winner. Perhaps there was something more.

When they arrived at the formal throne room, the doors were open, and several others were already inside. The queen was standing in front of her throne, the others lining either side of the red carpet that led up to the dais. Everyone had changed out of their wet clothing, though some of them looked as if they’d rushed, their hair or footwear giving them away.

The queen was as polished as ever. She gave her usual stiff smile as Kit and the rest of her party bowed and repeated the words they were required to say. Rona nodded, and they all moved to the side as a few others came in and did the same.

Kit’s eyes roamed the crowd looking for Seph’s familiar face, but she didn’t see the girl anywhere. It wasn’t until the room was crowded and Kit thought everyone who had attended the maze was present that Seph hurried in by herself, a member of Kit’s guard leaving her at the door. She bowed before the queen, rushed through the greeting so quickly she fumbled a few words, but finished and then slid into place on the other side of Landon. Kit tried to catch her eye, but Seph’s attention was still focused on the ground. She noticed Landon’s hand on the girl’s back to steady her and was thankful that Jate had his arm around her own waist.

“Princess Katrinetta, will you join me, please?” Rona inquired.

Walking away from the safe haven of her men wasn’t easy, but Kit’s feet moved forward of their own accord. She kept her head back and her shoulders squared, hoping her expression showed more confidence than she was presently feeling.

“Ladies and men, we are so glad all of you were able to join us for the maze run today. Unfortunately, the event was cut short by the rain, and alas, there was no winner.” Rona shook her head as if saddened by her own words.

Kit knew better. Biting back her fear, she infused her voice with pleasantness, “Good news, my Mother the Queen!” she said, plastering a smile on her face. “There was a winner! I suppose you didn’t hear the trumpeters announcement what with all of the thunder. But... just before the rain began to come down so hard, Eliason of Eastbury caught up to me. He has the ribbon to prove it.” She gestured in the commander’s direction, and while he looked as if he wanted to melt into the marble floor, Cassius raised up Eli’s arm to display the winner.

Silence filled the room for a long moment while everyone watched the queen to see how she would react. Rona was still staring at Kit wide-eyed, likely wondering how her daughter came up with the gumption to say such a thing when it was evident the queen was wanting to overlook Eli’s victory when Junno shouted, “Three cheers for Eliason!” She commenced with shouting “Huzzah!” before Rona could quiet her mother, and though the queen did not move to intercede, she was powerless to do anything without looking ridiculous in front of the entire crowd. Kit smiled past her mother to where her grandmother stood with a twinkle in her eye, all of her ribbons clearly missing from her arms.

“Very well,” the queen said, making no motion to have Eli join them on the dais. “Before I call all of the other Representatives who have collected ribbons forward to have them claim their prizes from the princess, I believe my daughter has another announcement to make.” The queen narrowed her eyes, daring Kit to do anything other than what was expected.

There was no need for it. Kit was more than happy to say to the crowd, “Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to announce I have selected another Representative for Rooming.” Everyone was quiet now as they waited to hear whose name she would say. “It has been an honor to get to know this Representative, who is not only kind and thoughtful but generous to everyone he meets. I am proud to announce as my third rooming, the Representative from Rockdale, Jaterius!”

Jate’s cheeks were red as he stepped forward and bowed to the princess and the queen before waving to the crowd. He started to step back into his previous position when the queen gestured for him to join them on the dais.

“And... since a Rooming trumps any event, I’m afraid Eliason will have to wait to receive his prize until tomorrow night as Princess Katrinetta will be sharing her chambers with Jaterius this evening.” The queen’s smile was wicked, and it was clear from her tone she would not accept any sort of argument from the princess.

Kit’s eyes flickered to Eli and then to Cassius, and it was clear both of them thought this was not a battle worth fighting right now. Kit bit her bottom lip and plastered a smile on her face. She could tell that there were others in the crowd who thought her mother was being unfair, but no one dared argue with her, and when someone started a slow clap in the background, everyone was quick to join in, even Eli, though Jate stared at Kit wide eyed with his hands to his side.

“You may reclaim your place now,” the queen instructed Jate before she turned back to the rest of the group. “Now, any Representative who has ribbons from the noblewomen and would like to trade them in for kisses from the princess, please get in line.”

Cassius made a huge show of throwing elbows to make his way to the front of the line, which made Kit laugh until her mother pulled her over by the sleeve, sharply, “You are lucky I did not declare him a cheater and have him tossed out on his ear.”

Kit’s tone matched her mother’s harsh whisper as she retorted, “What good would that have done? You’ve already taken away his prize.”

“Yes, in order to protect you,” the queen shot back. “The last thing you need is to take that impossible relationship into the bedroom.”

Despite the warning looks she’d received earlier from those who knew the situation better, Kit couldn’t help but reply, “Too late.” Her eyes were narrowed, and she watched her mother’s look of shock and horror as she processed Kit’s comment.

The queen needed a moment to catch her breath, which allowed Kit to turn back to the line that had formed in front of her. It was long, and many a wrist was adorned with several ribbons, like Cassius’s. She turned her attention to him, ignoring her mother still gasping to her right, and invited the Representative from Warchester Keep to the top step where she rewarded his work in the maze with a passionate kiss.

Once he’d stepped aside and the next Representative was readying himself, the queen whispered in her ear, “You will wish that never happened.”

Kit didn’t even turn her head to take in her mother’s expression, only focused on Gavin who was in the process of pulling one of Isla’s pink ribbons from his wrist. If the queen wanted to see how far Kit was willing to go to protect those she cared about, then she had better ready herself for a fight to the death.