The Prince stepped gingerly until he stood about two feet from where Harry held me, but I refused to look at him. I watched his feet, however, as he shuffled them uncomfortably.
“I know what I did was wrong.”
“There seems to be a lot of that going on around here,” I croaked.
Lucinda frowned and backed out of the room and out of sight. The Prince cleared his throat.
“If you’ll allow me to explain—”
“You’re a murderer!” I shouted, pulling out of Harry’s grip. Harry stumbled from the abruptness.
I stormed over to stand directly in front of my brother and pointed my nose into his face. “There is no excuse for killing someone.”
Tears of his own trickled down the Prince’s cheeks. “I know.”
Suddenly, I felt a wave of exhaustion rush over me, and I moved to sit at the table, my back turned to my brother. Harry followed suit and grabbed my hands.
“Ellie,” he said. “You’re right— he did something terrible. I know that, you know that, and I think he even knows that.” Harry’s amber eyes, almost yellow against the dim candlelight, softened as he studied my face. “But I don’t think he would come here and apologize for nothing. Maybe you should hear him out.”
I felt a sickening sensation in my body, but the pleading in his eyes eased my tension. I turned my attention to Prince Gerald.
“Okay. I’ll listen to what you have to say.”
I stared up at the ceiling I had gazed upon so many other times before. The cracked plaster and precarious-looking holes in the roof were just as they were before I left. But it was also incredibly different. I turned over to my side, the cot underneath me creaking loudly as I did so.
I was alone in my old bedroom. Lucinda had respected my privacy and need for space and set up her own bed in the kitchen. Harry and the Prince took Jared’s empty room since he would still be visiting his fiancée’s family for another week. I wondered how that little arrangement was going…
I didn’t like that Prince Gerald was still here. If I had my way, he would have started his journey back to Newvein right after arriving, but I had to admit his explanation had been intriguing: a manipulative, old man convincing the Prince to take the action he did, and Prince Gerald suspecting more behind Clarence’s intentions than just helping his prince to the throne.
But when my twin moved on to his plan, that’s when I started feeling sick all over again. Prince Gerald wanted to return to Newvein, tell the people the truth, then have me crowned as Queen.
I had laughed at that suggestion, completely convinced that he was joking. I knew nothing about ruling a kingdom, not to mention I knew nothing of being a royal. It was a ridiculous plan.
After the insane plan was relayed, I merely shook my head and retreated to bed without another word.
My tears soaked the lumpy pillow as I buried my face into it so deep, I could barely hear the knock on my door.
“Come in,” I croaked.
The knob turned, and Harry’s blond head peeked into the room.
“Hey,” he said with a gentle smile.
I smiled back and sat up in my bed, gesturing for him to come sit with me.
“I see you finally retired the dress I bought you.”
I looked down at my old, cotton nightgown I’d left behind after running away and shrugged. “It was starting to get quite dirty. I see you also changed out of your fancy clothes.”
Harry chuckled and stretched out his arms to model his new outfit. He had on a white tunic from Jacob, way too long for him, and a pair of Jared’s trousers, much too large around the waist. After a few seconds of laughter, the playfulness dancing in his eyes quickly turned to worry.
“How are you doing? There has been a lot to handle and process tonight.”
I groaned. “You can say that again.”
“Ellie, I think you should do it.”
I eyed him, incredulous. “Face the people who think I’m an assassin, and then become their Queen?” I snorted. “Harry, it’s preposterous! There are so many things wrong with this plan!”
Harry angled his face away and closed his eyes. He stayed silent for what seemed to be forever, and I twiddled my thumbs impatiently.
“Look,” he finally said, “if the Prince is telling the truth, and this Clarence person is that corrupt, Greriveth needs as much help as it can get. What if there are more than just him planning to take over the monarchy?”
I scrunched up my face. I didn’t want to hear what Harry was going to say next. He continued anyway:
“Ellie, Prince Gerald also had a hand in your parents’ murders, and he shouldn’t rule, either! The best and only option is you.”
I brought my knees up to my chest and shoved my face into them. “I don’t know how to be a queen.”
Harry pulled my face out from my knees and smiled warmly. “But you are kind and loving. If anyone can learn, it’s you.”
I smiled back at Harry and relaxed my face against his gentle caress. We stared at one another for a long moment, and my mind went back to the night we had almost kissed. Harry moved his gaze to my lips, and I felt my breath catch as he leaned forward. His arm slid along my back to bring me in closer. I froze, waiting for the brush of his lips.
And then it came.
I clasped my hands around his neck. We were so close, I could feel the heat of his body warm mine. I shivered under his touch and smiled against his lips. He smiled, too, causing our mouths to separate for a split second.
“I think I can safely say that I will be with you every step of the way, no matter what happens.”
I threw my head back and sighed happily. “That actually makes me feel better.” I tightened my grip around his neck and pressed my forehead against his. “This makes me feel better.”
“Ellianne Brooker, Princess Adelaide, whoever you are…” He kissed me again. “I love you.”
I giggled, and my grin was so large it was starting to make my cheeks hurt. “I love you, too.”
Chapter 23
Prince Gerald had brought his giant, royal horse, but there was no room for three riders, and Lucinda only had a single mule— a very old, very sick mule.
Harry, the Prince, and I stood at the post behind the cabin that Prince Gerald had tied his horse to. It was dawn, and the sun had barely begun to peek over the line of trees in front of us. I closed my eyes and welcomed the few warm rays that reached me. I wanted to enjoy the pleasant, cool weather of the morning before the afternoon became sweltering hot. All three of us had our arms crossed and stared off into the distance, waiting for someone to speak.
“Prince Gerald,” I said, finally breaking the silence.
“Please, Ellianne. You can call me Gerald.”
His offer to use his first name gave me relief. Using titles made speaking longer than I really desired it to be.
“Gerald, maybe you should ride on without us, and we’ll walk. It’s only a day to Newvein on foot.”
I didn’t say it, but I almost preferred journeying without my brother. I still didn’t trust him, and I had no reason to.
Gerald shook his head. “No, you need to be there with me when I arrive. If not, you might be arrested on sight. You can ride with me.”
“Oh, no!” Harry interjected. “She and I are not separating.”
I smiled at Harry’s need to protect me, and I honestly didn’t want to be separated from him, either.
“Then we’ll all walk,” the Prince said with a frown. “I’ll just leave my horse here.”
His black horse whinnied loudly as if he understood Gerald’s words and was offended. I moved to stroke his soft nose and whispered calmly to the animal.
“What’s his name?”
“Barley.”
“Hello, Barley.” The horse clopped his hooves excitedly as I said his name. I giggled and pressed my nose into his soft coat.
“We need to get going,” Gerald said.
Harry and I nodded, both shouldering
two brown satchels that Lucinda and I had packed up with provisions the night before. The Prince patted his own bag at his side and headed onward. With a heavy sigh, I trudged along after him with Harry at my side.
My heart started pounding at the thought that we were actually doing it— I was going to face the people, the court… I was going to petition to become their Queen. Harry swept his hand into mine and squeezed it. I felt my body relax and focused on taking one step at a time.
We arrived in Newvein by nightfall, and getting through the crowded streets was the hard part. My usual shyness and anxiety increased tenfold by my fear of being yelled at or even arrested. I held on tightly to Harry’s arm as Gerald led us through the masses. The people parted for the Prince, and no one seemed to recognize me. It might have had to do with a simple, brown frock in place of an elegant, blue ballgown, but most people were too enamored by the Prince to give Harry and me a second glance.
I stared once again up at the looming towers of the building, wondering what it would have been like if Lucinda had never kidnapped me, and I had actually been raised as the princess I was. How much would things be different? Would the King and Queen still be alive? But I also may have never met Harry…
I moved my gaze to the Prince, who had seemed to have lost all the color in his face.
“Are you really going to confess?” I asked him.
He nodded. “It’s the right thing to do.”
Harry and I exchanged glances, and I let out a long breath of air.
“Well, let’s do this,” Harry said.
Dozens of soldiers saw me with anger evident on their faces, many resting their hands on the swords at their hips. I expected them to let us pass with the Prince leading us, but that was not the case.
“Sorry, Your Highness.” A smaller guard with long-ish, red hair blocked the entrance with his broadsword. “We’ve been instructed to take you in were you to return.”
There was a rush of movement, and before I knew it, a burly man with a ripe, odorous smell pinned my arms behind my back. Upon looking around, I could see both Harry and Gerald struggling against their own captors.
“What is the meaning of this?” the Prince snapped.
I could see grimaces forming on the other soldiers not currently detaining us. The red-headed one from before shifted uncomfortably and didn’t make eye contact with Gerald.
“It was the Chief Advisor’s orders, Sire.”
“Clarence,” Gerald hissed through gritted teeth. “Take us to him right now.”
Clarence? I thought. The old man who accused me of murder?
I clenched my fists, starting to realize what might be happening.
The red-headed soldier frowned but nodded. He gestured for the soldiers restraining us to follow him through the entrance. I whimpered slightly as my own captor pushed me roughly forward. They led us through the same corridor Harry and I had run down at the ball. I looked around myself, getting a better look than before at the wallpaper on either side of me. Flowered details painted onto the papering, and there were large paintings with sparkling golden frames adorning every inch of the walls. It was incredibly extravagant and, well, admittedly too much.
We reached a pair of tall doors that stretched from ceiling to floor. They were varnished with a deep maroon color and sanded down to an incredible smoothness.
Two guards on either side sneered at us and pointed their spears in my direction. Prince Gerald held up a hand.
“Stand down. Princess Adelaide and I wish to address the court.”
The two men stiffened.
“We’re not supposed to be taking orders from you,” one said gruffly.
The soldier leading our group took his turn to hold up a hand. “It’s alright. I said they could have an audience.”
The soldiers guarding the doors hesitated, giving each other worried looks, but soon retracted their weapons. I gulped loudly and had to stop myself from cowering beneath my captor’s grip. Gerald craned his neck around his guard to look at both Harry and me. I could tell he was trying to hide how much his body was shaking.
“The court usually is addressed by the royal family on the fifth of the month, and that is today.” He glanced over his shoulder nervously to the two guards listening intently, then looked to me. “Let me do the talking, alright?” He directed his attention to the leader. “May we be released?”
The small man scowled and studied each of us in turn, then slowly nodded.
Immediately after the soldier behind me released his grip, I rushed to Harry and grabbed his hand in mine. Gerald’s knees started to buckle together, but he straightened his back and nodded, informing the guards he was ready for the doors to be opened. For the first time since discovering my brother’s crimes, I felt a bit of respect for his bravery.
The doors opened with a whoosh, and a lot of air from what I could only assume was the throne room rushed towards me and blew my long hair out of place. I tucked an unruly lock back behind my ear about a dozen times, then followed the Prince through the doors.
Gasps and shouts of surprise sounded all around me as I entered. There were maybe a hundred lords, ladies, counts, countesses, and all courtiers alike lining the long walls and sitting upon tiered benches that climbed nearly to the top of the ceiling. The noises of so many people echoed loudly and harshly, and it set my teeth on edge.
All eyes were on me, and many fingers pointed accusingly in my direction.
“That’s her!” many shouted.
“Murderer!” I heard from others.
The people on the streets couldn’t recognize me with a Prince there to admire, but the people of the court seemed more than keen on their surroundings.
My stomach clenched, and I grabbed onto Harry as I would a lifeline. At the front of the long room was a wide dais holding two empty thrones. They were simple chairs, but the white cushioning on the seats was expensively draped with embroidered lace. In front of the vacant thrones was a line of five chairs, all occupied by older men with saggy skin and deep scowls on their faces. Sitting in the very middle of the group was my accuser: Clarence.
“You dare return?” Clarence bellowed. The entire room quieted as he spoke. “After what you both have done?”
I couldn’t see Gerald’s face, but I could see his limbs stiffen. “What exactly have I done, Clarence? I was just retrieving my sister.”
Clarence raised an eyebrow. “Whatever for? To expose her for what she really is? A killer?” He slowly stood and addressed the entire room with his arms spread out wide. “To expose both of you as killers?”
The crowd erupted in lively chatter once again, and I felt myself cower even smaller than I had been earlier.
Prince Gerald approached the group of men, climbed up onto the dais they sat upon, then faced his people. A hush fell over the room once again.
“Princess Adelaide is innocent!” he cried.
“Bah!” Clarence spat, rising from his seat. “Are you calling me a liar? I saw her poison their drinks! And you were working with her! You ran off after stealing an item from the treasury, and you didn’t tell anyone where you were headed.”
Clarence’s face remained impassive, but I thought I could see the twitch of a smile on his lips. I tightened my fingers around Harry’s hand, and he yelped in pain.
“Ellie,” he whispered to me. “Your nails are digging into my flesh.”
I relaxed my hand with a gasp. “Sorry.”
Gerald opened and closed his mouth to continue, wringing his hands nervously. Though I stood many feet away, I could see the beads of sweat dripping onto his forehead.
“Yes, I was in on my parents’ deaths.”
The entire room imploded with shocked conversation. Gerald moved his gaze to me and gave me a small smile.
“But the Princess is innocent,” he continued. “It was Clarence and me who plotted their deaths.”
A simultaneous gasp from each courtier made it feel like the room tremored. The shock evident in each per
son’s face explained the lack of angry outbursts.
The other men beside Clarence rose from their own chairs and circled around the two of them.
“Is this true?” the tallest one demanded.
“I—I—” Clarence stammered.
“Yes,” Gerald interrupted. “And I am willing to take whatever punishment I deserve.” His eyes moved to me. “But, I trust that my sister will rule the kingdom of Greriveth well.” He turned back to the men. “With the help of the advisors, of course.”
I sighed in relief. So, that’s who these men were. I felt more than grateful to know I would have a team of advisors to aid me if I indeed were to be crowned Queen.
“No!” Clarence shouted, bursting from the circle of advisors. “It’s all lies! The Princess!” He pointed a long finger at me, his lips twitching angrily. I took two steps backward as he slowly began to charge me. “I saw her poison them! How do we know the Prince wasn’t working with her?”
With one swift motion, the old man pulled a long dagger with a jeweled hilt from his boot. The silver blade gleamed, as if eager to escape from captivity. I became paralyzed to the spot as the man took one step after another towards me as if in slow motion. Harry jumped in front of me protectively and pushed me further away from him.
“Clarence!” Prince Gerald jumped from the dais. “Don’t you dare touch her!”
Chapter 24
Clarence’s gaze lingered on me for a moment before a crazed look began to gleam in his brown, almost black, eyes. He whipped around more nimbly than a man of his age should have been able to, but he must have been fueled by adrenaline. He snarled at the Prince and tossed the dagger from one hand to the other.
Once the man’s attention was turned away from me, Harry grabbed my face, then pulled me tight into his chest.
“Fine!” Clarence cried to the entire room. “The Prince is right. I am guilty. I poisoned your dear monarchs with aconite.”
I was used to the shocked cries of the courtiers, so the noise didn’t bother me as it had the first few times.
Pumpkins and Princesses (The Tales and Princesses Series Book 3) Page 13