The Stolen Jewel

by Lisa Dawn

  As I tucked the rune back in the drawer, Krystal pounced on me in a bear hug that practically knocked me off my feet.

  “This is perfect,” she shrieked. “I knew you wouldn’t let me down! You’re so resourceful. Klingland is lucky to have you as their future queen.”

  “Thanks. Please don’t breathe a word of this to your mother.”

  “You’re not planning to use that thing on us, are you?”

  Had she figured out that I already did? Maybe it didn’t count if it was an accident. Besides, this was about the future of Klingland, not my ladies-in-waiting. I would never intentionally use it for something so petty.

  “You’re my closest friends,” I said. “I would never force either of you to tell me anything.”

  “Then my lips are sealed. Love you, cousin.”

  She gave me a gentler hug this time. Lily looked pleased to see us getting along again.

  “This is so exciting!” Lily squealed. “I didn’t even know you had access to the runes.”

  “I know everything about this castle,” I said.

  “How long have you known?” asked Krystal.

  “A few years.”

  “I thought Mother kept them in a secure place.”

  “She did. You might say the runes found me.”

  “That’s so romantic!” exclaimed Lily. “It’s just like this story I read about a peasant girl who found a transformation rune that made her look like a princess and attend a royal ball!”

  “That reminds you of me?”

  I squinted. I wasn’t sure how a rags to riches story about true love related to me at all. Even though there were some things I could complain about, my life was actually quite wonderful. I wouldn’t have traded it for anything.

  “You know, because she used magic to win the heart of the prince?”

  Krystal and I both scoffed at Lily.

  “This is not about winning the prince’s heart!” I exclaimed.

  “He already wishes to be with me!” said Krystal.

  “All right, all right. Calm down. It’s just one of my favorite stories. That’s all. I guess it doesn’t quite apply here. Maybe you can make your own story, Charlotte.”

  “I don’t think a crown princess ascending the throne makes for much of an interesting story.”

  “Maybe not, but using forbidden magic to trick foreign visitors into uncovering a royal scandal might.”

  When she put it that way, it sounded truly reprehensible. Was I really making the right decision?

  Chapter 6

  The rest of the morning was a flurry of seamstresses and hairdressers. I was fitted in a satin gown with a yellow and green brocaded bodice, lace bell sleeves, and a shiny brown skirt that shimmered gold in the light. Most of my hair was pinned to my head, but a few chestnut curls hung loose on the side. One of the seamstresses offered me a topaz necklace studded with tiny emeralds to accent the dress. I turned it down in favor of a simple gold. As soon as I had a moment to myself, I ran to my chambers and threaded the chain around the carvings in the rune. It hung just low enough to hide under my bodice. The time had come to learn what this thing could really do.

  I marched into the hallway like a soldier entering the battlefield. I needed to learn to control this rune, and quickly. The first person I encountered was Henry, still dressed in his fencing uniform. He must have been returning from his lesson with Frederick. I knew he and Lily were very close, but I trusted her not to spill the beans about something so important to me.

  “Good afternoon, Henry,” I greeted him.

  He had his guard up, but I couldn’t blame him after the way I acted the last time he saw me when Denise had dropped the news of my engagement. It was not my best moment.

  “Hey, Char. How are you holding up?”

  “The best I can.”

  “Everyone is very excited about this alliance. I hope Mother knows what she’s doing.”

  “Me too.”

  “Well, I’ve got to go get ready.”

  “Wait. There’s something I wanted to ask you.”

  “You know you can ask me anything,” he said confidently.

  I felt a little guilty using magic on him, but if I wanted things to go well at the ball, I needed to be prepared for anything.

  “Do you really think that Klingland would be better off in a partnership with Dorraine?

  I felt the familiar tingle from the rune. Henry’s eyes flashed yellow as he answered.

  “I don’t think this the right time for us to be making an agreement with anyone. Mother has been doing her best, but we need to establish a better system for how to distribute the runes. Sealing off the mines was only a temporary solution. Getting rid of the ones we have in storage isn’t going to solve anything either.”

  Like Krystal, Henry’s answer surprised me, but for a different reason. He spent so much time goofing off around the castle and flirting with Lily that I had no idea he thought so much about the affairs of state.

  “I had no idea you felt that way. I quite agree,” I said.

  His eye widened in realization as he regained control of his words.

  “I have no idea where that came from. Of course I support all of mother’s decisions.”

  “Of course.”

  Henry strolled off before I could say another word to him. The next thing I knew I was being dragged away by a gentle but firm grip. Elsie had found me. She wasn’t pleased to see me making casual conversation instead of preparing for the ball.

  “There you are, Princess Charlotte. I’ve been looking everywhere for you. The regent wants you to wear a tiara that matches the necklace she picked out.”

  She noticed the gold chain tucked into my bodice.

  “Oh dear, that’s all wrong. I’ve got to get you back to the fitting room. Those seamstresses just can’t do anything right.”

  “It’s not their fault, Elsie. I picked this to wear instead. Surely we have a simpler tiara to match.”

  “This is your engagement ball! It is not the time for simplicity.”

  I looked Elsie in the eyes.

  “Do you really believe that this is the right path for me?”

  I felt energy surge from the jewel hidden under my bodice. Elsie’s eyes flashed yellow just as Krystal’s did when I had used it on her by mistake.

  “I believe that you will become a great queen on your own terms. It isn’t right of the regent to force this on you,” she said.

  I smiled. There were no surprises this time. Good old Elsie. She only cared about my happiness, just as I knew all along. I had the best handmaiden any princess could ask for. Elsie was horrified by her admission. She sank to her knees.

  “Forgive me, Your Highness. I should not have spoken against the regent. I will request to have my meals revoked for a week as punishment for my outburst.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. No one else heard you. I’m glad you feel that way. This will be our secret.”

  “Oh bless you, child.”

  Elsie pulled me in for a hug, which I gladly returned. We continued on our way to the treasury when I noticed one of the younger guards attempting to sneak away from his post. Ordinarily, I would have been outraged by such irresponsible behavior, but this time I was pleased. I finally had an opportunity to use the rune without the lingering sense of guilt for manipulating people I cared about.

  “Pablo, was it?” I asked.

  He nearly jumped out of his trousers.

  “Princess! I was just going to fetch you. Er, Peter has requested you in the treasury to prepare your tiara for tonight.”

  “Thank you, Pablo, but Elsie has already informed me. It is one of her duties as my handmaiden, just as yours is to remain at your post.”

  “Y-yes, Princess,” he said, bowing awkwardly.

  “Were you truly coming to fetch me?”

  The rune’s magic overtook him instantly. I felt a hint of fatigue as the magic coursed through me again, but I ignored it. My corset needed to be extra tight for the
ball, so I must have strained myself in it.

  “No. I was sneaking off to see Audrey, the kitchen maid. She told me I could be the first to sample her sweet desserts for the ball tonight.”

  Something about his tone told me he was hoping for more than just samples. The poor man seemed horrified by what he told me. His breathing grew shallow as the color drained from his cheeks.

  “I mean—That is—Your Highness—”

  I raised my hand to stop. It wouldn’t be right to enact a harsh punishment after I had manipulated him with magic against his will.

  “That will be enough, Pablo. I appreciate that you’ve told me that, but you must understand that you are not to leave your post until the end of your shift. Is that clear?”

  He bowed so low I was afraid he might bruise his forehead on the floor.

  “Yes, Princess. Of course.”

  “That will be all.”

  Elsie, who was normally quite stoic, looked as if she was about double over laughing from the encounter. She maintained her composure as Pablo unlocked the treasury and let us in. An attendant named Peter greeted us. He held up a stunning topaz and emerald tiara that perfectly matched the necklace I had turned down earlier. It was bigger than my own head. There was no way I could wear something like that to the ball tonight. I was nervous enough without balancing something the approximate size and weight of a small child on my head.

  “Princess, I’ve been expecting you. Your ladies have already seen me, and they were thrilled with their choices. The regent picked this tiara to compliment your… Where is the necklace?”

  “Really, Peter, must everyone be so obsessed with what I’m wearing around my neck? Blinding guests with oversized jewels is only necessary for those who need to compensate for their lack of social graces. I have more than enough charisma to account for whatever I may or may not be wearing. Furthermore, I will not be wearing that tiara. This is my engagement ball, and I will wear what I choose.”

  Peter gaped at me in horror. I realized I had asked him a question, but the rune didn’t respond. Perhaps the magic was able to tell when a question was rhetorical. I made a mental note of this to myself for tonight.

  “But Princess, how will you show your royal stature?”

  I selected a small gold tiara that matched my necklace with a swirling curlicue design.

  “I’ll wear this one.”

  “That is something that a duchess would wear, not the future queen!” Peter protested.

  “Then it’s perfect,” I said. “Maybe Prince Braydon won’t even notice me.”

  “Do you wish to sabotage your own marriage?”

  “Do you want Klingland to become allies with Dorraine?” I shot back.

  Peter’s eyes lit up. This time, I could no longer ignore the feeling of lightheadedness as the magic drained the rest of my strength from my body. I struggled to remain present in the moment.

  “It couldn’t be any worse than the current state of Klingland’s government,” he said. “We have a crippled regent who’s scared of magic and a crown princess who’s never left the castle.”

  “Peter, how could you insult the princess and the regent like that?” Elsie asked, horrified.

  I wanted to join her in berating him, but I felt myself sink to the floor. I could no longer fight the intensity of the rune’s power. Elsie was at my side in an instant. She placed her arm around my shoulders to help me keep my balance and waved her hand over me like a fan. I took a few deep breaths.

  “Look what you’ve done!” Elsie scolded him. “Are you all right, Princess Charlotte? I will report his horrible actions to the regent at once!”

  “No, please,” I panted, “Everyone is behaving out of sorts because of the last-minute rush to prepare for the ball. I’ll be all right.”

  I felt my strength return as the magic drained from my body. This was another thing I would need to keep in mind for tonight. It seemed that overuse of the rune resulted in severe fatigue. I would have to choose my questions carefully.

  Elsie walked me to the sitting room, where I found Krystal and Lily in their full splendor for the ball. Lily wore a purple beaded dress that complimented her dark skin tone, and Krystal wore the red dress she had tried on the day before with the sapphire necklace I’d picked out.

  “I’ll tell the regent you needed to rest before the ball,” said Elsie.

  “Did she want to meet with me again?”

  “Just to go over foreign policy and royal greetings, but we both know you don’t need any help there.”

  Elsie winked at me. She knew me so well. I don’t know what I would have done without her.

  “Thank you, Elsie. You may retire for the afternoon.”

  Elsie curtsied and left.

  “Aren’t you excited?” asked Lily.

  “That’s one way of putting it,” I said.

  “That’s not the tiara Mother picked out for you, is it?” asked Krystal.

  “I’m not attending my engagement ball with a baby elephant on my head.”

  Lily giggled.

  “Well, you look nice enough anyway,” said Krystal “Do you have everything prepared?” she asked, with a glint in her eye.

  I pointed discreetly to my long gold necklace chain.

  “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

  Or so I thought.

  Chapter 7

  The ballroom was filled with noble guests from Klingland and Dorraine who arrived early to celebrate my prison sentence. I did my best to keep a low profile, but that was difficult when every Klinglish noble knew who I was. My aunt was at the head of the room making polite conversation with King Mercer. Just seeing him filled me with rage over what he did to my family and my homeland. I diverted my attention to our guests, who looked stunning in their formalwear.

  “Congratulations, Princess Charlotte,” said a tall countess as she curtsied politely.

  “I’m so glad you could make it,” I said, curtsying back.

  I chose my words carefully to keep the mood light. It was my burden to bear, not theirs. I remembered from my diplomacy studies that Klinglish citizens greeted each other differently than people from Dorraine. We gave a simple bow or curtsy, while people from Dorraine were more comfortable with physical contact and greeted each other by extending a hand to each other with a short curtsy or bow. A Dorranese man greeting a woman would often place a light kiss on the tips of her fingers. I shuddered at the thought of having my hand touched by the man responsible for all of my troubles.

  “So, you’re the woman who finally turned Prince Braydon’s head,” chuckled an elderly Dorranese duke.

  I extended my hand gracefully and allowed him to touch his lips to my fingers.

  “Doesn’t Prince Braydon have plenty of ladies seeking his hand already?” I asked, thinking of Krystal.

  My necklace grew warm under my corset. I’d been careless and asked a question. Curses! I made a silent promise to myself not to ask any more questions until I encountered Braydon or Mercer. Fortunately, the duke didn’t seem to suspect anything was amiss.

  “He is completely oblivious to any lady caller. We were beginning to suspect that he might prefer the company of men.”

  Well, that was more information than I needed to know. I worried for a moment about how Krystal would take the news if it were true, considering how sensitive she is. Believing all the gossip that spreads among nobles leads to nothing but chaos and confusion, so there was no use mulling over it.

  “There you are!”

  Speak of the devil. Krystal tapped me on the shoulder and pointed to a handsome young man by the drinks trying to stay out of the limelight. I suspected that he was a member of the nouveau riche and therefore not used to the attention of the higher class. He had a rugged demeanor with slightly overgrown brown hair and big sincere eyes.

  “That’s him! Isn’t he handsome?” asked Krystal.

  “That’s Prince Braydon?”

  I didn’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t
this. Braydon looked nothing like his father. They shared similar features, but King Mercer held his head high, while Braydon slouched his shoulders and cast his gaze toward the floor. Perhaps he was just as uncomfortable with this arrangement as I was.

  “Isn’t he handsome?” asked Krystal with delight.

  I refrained from responding.

  “What’s going on over here?”

  Lily had found us. She hated being left out.

  “Just enjoying the view,” Krystal smirked.

  Lily followed Krystal’s gaze.

  “Is that him? I hope he asks me for a dance!”

  “I do hope you were referring to me,” Henry intervened.

  Wherever Lily went, Henry was never far away. Krystal and I beamed at our favorite couple. We took a step back to give them some space.

  “Only if you’re offering,” Lily responded.

  Henry extended his hand to Lily. She giggled gleefully as he swept her away onto the dance floor. The romantic stories that Lily enjoyed applied much better to her than they did to me. The love she shared with Henry was every bit as magical as the runes.

  Once Henry and Lily disappeared into the crowd together, Krystal placed her hand on my shoulder. I felt her fingers press on the gold chain behind my neck.

  “So tell me, Charlotte, what do you think of Prince Braydon now?”

  A surge of energy passed through the chain into the rune hidden under my bodice. My eyes filled with a warm pressure, forcing out my innermost thoughts before I could stop them.

  “He is a lot more attractive than I was expecting. This might be harder than I thought.”

  Had I just expressed interest in Krystal’s crush? Granted, I was engaged to him, but that wasn’t by my own doing. Krystal would never want to talk to me again after this. Did she activate the rune? Was she even aware that she had done it? My mind was flooded with questions until I noticed that Krystal looked oddly at peace with herself. Still, I didn’t want to risk provoking her wrath.

  “Excuse me.”

  I lifted the hem of my gown and high-tailed it to the veranda as swiftly as I could to avoid more obligatory greetings. Miraculously, I reached it without incident. Pablo was guarding the glass door. I gave him a respectful nod, but the poor man was terrified of me now. His hands shook as he opened the door. I stepped out into the cool night air.