Chapter 196
Kit was pleased to hear her grandmother thought she may be able to persuade the council to extend her Choosing indefinitely, but she knew Junno was right. Taking the crown would be far more dangerous.
Her mind had wandered away to how that might transpire when Junno said, “You know, she wasn’t always like this.”
Kit’s head swiveled around. “What do you mean?”
“Your mother. There was a time, when she was younger, when her disposition was sweet. Much closer to yours or mine than the monster we see before us now.”
Cocking her head to the side, Kit asked, “What happened? Why did she change?”
Junno pulled in a deep breath. “It didn’t happen overnight, but I believe it was the appearance of a woman claiming to be an illegitimate daughter of my older sister’s that caused her to become consumed with gaining the crown. She showed up one day, returned from a neighboring realm, and demanded to be made queen. I assured Rona that her claim was pure rubbish, but she panicked and insisted I do whatever I could to make the woman go away. So I did.”
Kit’s eyes widened. “You didn’t....”
“Heavens no!” Junno laughed. “Unlike other queens, I am not one for taking the lives of innocents, Katrinetta. You know that.” Kit felt silly for reaching that conclusion. “No, I paid her off, that’s all. And she went back to her own realm. After that, Rona became infatuated with gaining the throne so much that I eventually abdicated to her, not because of some ridiculous illness but because I was hopeful that having what she’d always longed for would return her to the sweet girl I’d once known.”
“But it didn’t.”
A solemn expression overtook Junno’s face. “No, she grew exponentially worse. Now, I’m afraid she cannot be saved, and the only way I can rectify the harm I’ve bestowed upon the realm is to strip her of her power.”
Kit patted her grandmother on the shoulder. “I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine what it’s been like to watch your daughter become something so heinous.”
“You are the last one who should be apologizing, darling. I can’t imagine what it’s like to know your mother would do anything within her power to hold onto the throne, including harming the one person she should love above all others, including herself. But, Katrinetta, dear, make no mistake. If it comes down to deciding between what is best for the queen or anyone else, Rona will choose herself every single time.”
Junno stood, patting Kit on the shoulder, and then made her way off of the dais. Kit didn’t even respond when her grandmother said she’d see her at the archery contest because she’d been so lost in thought. It took Cassius standing in front of her waving his hand to get Kit to snap out of the disposition her grandmother’s words had left her in. Not that any of it was a surprise, but it still hurt to hear someone she respected so much tell her what she already knew about the person who should’ve loved her most of all.
“Are you well, Princess?” Cassius asked.
“Fine. Thank you. Only thinking.”
He gave her a small smile that let her know he’d also been informed about her discovery. “Perhaps the archery contest will take your mind off of other, more serious matters for a time.”
“Perhaps. If you do as well this time as you did the last, I shall at least be amused.”
“Well, it’s nice to hear recent activities haven’t taken away your sense of humor, my Lady.” He grinned at her, and Kit felt a bit of the weight she’d been carrying on her shoulders dissolve for a moment. “Are you going straight to the field, or do you need to return to your chambers first?”
Kit couldn’t think of any reason why she’d need to go back to her room. “I’ll be proceeding straight to the field.”
“May I escort you?” He offered his arm despite the fact that the table was still between them.
“Yes, of course.” Kit took another sip of her water and then made her way around the table, meeting him at the end, and slid her hand around his massive bicep. Her ladies followed but at a distance. Many of the other Representatives had already vacated the room or were finishing up. A few paused to watch them, but no one came over, not even Eli who was obviously aware of the pair passing through the doorway even without turning his head.
Cassius was quiet as the guards dropped in behind her ladies, also giving them space. He didn’t say anything until they were through the heavy wooden doors that led outside. Even then, he waited a bit before he spoke. When he did, his voice was low. “I was sorry to hear of your discovery last night.”
“Not as sorry as I was,” Kit muttered, trying to keep the conversation nonchalant so that she didn’t well up with emotion again. The cool breeze brushing against her face helped her hold back her tears.
“I can’t say I’m shocked to hear of it, only surprised that you were able to see it firsthand.”
Bile rose in her throat again as she pushed the images in her mind aside. “I only wish I knew what to do about it.”
“Eli hopes you will do nothing—for now.”
Kit turned and looked at Cassius but didn’t speak. She had a feeling he wasn’t finished.
He wasn’t. “I’m not sure I agree. But... it will have consequences.”
“You knew what I was up to, and yet you didn’t tell him. Why?”
Cassius shrugged. “Who am I to determine what of your business is passed along to the other Representatives? If I had thought you were in any danger, I would’ve stopped you myself.”
His answer was much more acceptable than the response Eli had given her the night before. “Do you think I shall be in danger if I do address the situation?”
Cassius was reflective for a moment, his forehead crinkling from the weight of the inquiry. “Possibly, but we won’t let anything happen to you, Princess. It isn’t you I’m concerned about at this point.”
“What do you mean?” They were almost to the field where several of the other Representatives were readying bows, discussing angles, and checking out the targets, so Kit stopped walking. Those following behind also came to a halt.
“I believe your mother will be more apt to harm those you love before she aims at you specifically, Princess. If that’s the case, I’m concerned she may bring her wrath down on your father, Junno, or....”
“Eli.”
Cassius nodded. “I’m certain he can take care of himself under most circumstances, but we should all be leery of an increase in force over the last time she lashed out at him. If she sends in her entire guard to arrest him, like she did the time we foiled her plan, he will not be able to escape her without our help.”
Kit considered his words carefully. “We will have to be vigilant from now on.”
“Indeed.”
“What of my father?” She didn’t believe Rona would lash out at the Queen Mother, not yet, because she was fairly certain her mother was of the opinion that Junno supported her. But Remont was a different story altogether.
“In my opinion, it is time for him to leave this place, until peace is re-established. I have mentioned it a few times, but others are concerned it will be a signal to your mother that something is amiss. So we’ve waited.”
“Is it even possible? My mother’s guard follows him wherever he goes.”
“It is possible. Wrenbrook has secrets beyond what you are aware of.”
Kit raised an eyebrow, assuming he meant there was a passage her father could take, an interesting idea to her. She couldn’t imagine her mother would put him in a room he could escape from, but then, there was the possibility even she was unaware of all of the secrets the castle held. “Where would he go?”
“A safe haven. One has been established. I fear telling you more as I wouldn’t want to put either of you at risk should questions arise.”
The princess nodded. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a familiar form strolling down the steps leading from the castle and turned her head to take him in. Pierce, a jovial grin on his face, sauntering toward them as if everything in the world was amicable. It made the bitter taste in her mouth rise again.
“Make preparations,” Kit said, turning her face back to Cassius. “If it’s possible for him to be spirited away at a moment’s notice, I want everything ready.”
“Yes, of course, Princess. It’s just....”
“What is it?” She could see there was something more he was struggling to tell her.
Cassius let out a deep breath. “He may not listen to me, even if I say the order has come from you. He is the one who disagrees with my assessment.”
Kit’s forehead crinkled. “Whatever do you mean? Whomever it is spearheading this operation—and I assume I know who that is—simply needs to convey to my father that the princess has given a direct order.”
“It isn’t that simple, Kit.”
“Why ever not?”
“Because... Remont is the one spearheading this operation.”
