“I’ve met you before, haven’t I?”
She shook her head. Gustave looked down to hide his confusion and noticed that her feet were leaving drops of blood on the jagged rocks.
“Oh, forgive me. You’re injured.”
He pulled off his boots and offered them to her.
Her eyes crinkled in amusement again. Gustave looked from the shoes to the woman’s feet. Right. She was almost his height, but her feet were much smaller. Not to mention his boots were soaked from sea water.
“They will still be better than walking barefoot on the rocks.”
He didn’t mean to sound gruff as he said it, but his irritation only seemed to amuse the woman further. She nodded to the ground, and Gustave set the boots down. She slipped her feet into them and continued to walk towards the castle.
The boots clomped against the rocks as she walked. Rocks stabbed Gustave’s stockinged feet, but he ignored the discomfort. His thick socks gave him more protection than her bare skin had.
She stumbled again, and Gustave helped her stand upright. He took her hand to help her up the stairs to the garden and noticed she wore a pearl ring.
Was it some kind of clue to her identity?
Then she looked up at him with those enormous blue eyes, and he forgot about her jewelry.
He had seen those eyes before. He knew it.
“Some women will do anything to catch a man,” Lady Annabelle whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear.
The woman’s blue eyes sparked with fury. She pulled her arm away from Gustave and walked the rest of the way to the castle by herself.
19
Fiora’s feet stung as she climbed the hill towards the castle. Every so often, a stabbing pain shot through her skin, as if she had stepped on a knife. She hoped it was because the rocks had cut her feet and not a lingering effect of the enchantment.
Whatever the cause, there was nothing she could do about it now. A fresh wave of pain swept through her legs, but she gritted her teeth and kept going. King Gustave’s boots helped a little. At least she wasn’t stepping on stones and knives at the same time. Hopefully her body would adjust to the transformation enchantment soon.
She really should have grabbed the second shell and read more about how the enchantment worked. Without that information, she had no way of knowing if this pain was part of the magic or not.
Blast it all!
At least she was human and clothed now. It was better than being human and naked.
Except she had somehow ended up with the only humans in Montaigne who knew her as Princess Fiora. What would they do if they recognized her?
Should she try to break away from the group and find her own way now that she was somewhat covered? She could still steal clothes from a farm and look for work.
Fiora glanced back and groaned silently to herself. Everyone in the group was staring at her. There was no way she could escape them.
Not yet, anyway.
Not only had King Gustave ruined the Princess Test in Aeonia, he had effectively kidnapped her.
Maybe this was for the best. The castle was as good a place as any to hide from Leander and the other merfolk.
Unless someone recognized her.
Gustave had found her familiar but didn’t seem able to place her. That was fair. They had only spoken once before.
But what about Collette? Fiora had spent time with her at several Princess Tests. Of everyone in Montaigne, Collette seemed the most likely to see past Fiora’s disguise.
But she hadn’t yet, had she?
Fiora scowled. Collette had been less welcoming than Gustave, but surely she would have said something if she had recognized Fiora.
So unless someone had recognized her and was keeping it secret for now, Fiora was safe. But what exactly would happen if they realized who she was?
Most likely they would send her back to Kell. Fiora felt a small burst of hope at the idea of going home, then brushed it aside. Kell wasn’t home. Not anymore. Her father didn’t love her and had sent her away to give Elspeth a chance.
Fiora gripped the cloak tighter around herself. Humans were nothing but trouble. Mermaids weren’t much better, but at least Zoe had done what she could to help. The only help Elspeth had ever offered was flirting advice that inevitably backfired whenever Fiora tried it.
She just needed to lie low and spend as little time as possible with Gustave and Collette until she could escape the castle and find work.
The guards at the gate raised their eyebrows when they saw Fiora walking towards them. She glared until they looked away in embarrassment. Collette ran ahead, and the guards hurried to let her in.
“We found him!”
A small crowd had gathered in the hallway. Fiora recognized Marquis Corbeau from a few state functions she had attended. A woman with a stern expression stood beside him. Another council member? The older woman in the wheelchair must be Montaigne’s dowager queen. A young man stood by her side. Probably some sort of attendant. Maybe it was his job to push the wheelchair.
Two young women stood near the queen. Not servants, if their clothes and attitudes were any indication. Perhaps the lady who chased Gustave down the beach had some competition?
Whoever they were, everyone was so focused on Gustave that they didn’t notice Fiora. She edged towards the door. Seeing this many people made her rethink her strategy to hide in the castle. It would be far safer to hide in the woods or a small village.
Fiora’s stomach growled, and she hesitated. There was food in the castle. Human food cooked with fire and seasoned with spices. Who knew what she would find in the woods? If she found anything at all.
“Gustave, you must stop running off!” the dowager queen said.
Her voice boomed through the hallway. It was stronger than Fiora would have suspected from looking at her. The dowager queen’s body may be weak, but her voice was not.
“I needed to clear my head,” Gustave said.
He waved his hands while he said it. Was he signing? Fiora moved a little closer, trying to see. All mermaids learned sign language, but she had never known any humans who communicated that way.
“That is no excuse for insulting guests.”
The woman who had chased Gustave down the beach sniffed loudly. She must have been the one he insulted. Fiora couldn’t blame Gustave for that. If she had her voice, she would have insulted the woman several times by now.
Gustave bowed.
“On this point we agree. Lady Annabelle, Kara, Elaine, please accept my apology. I had not recovered from my injury, and it clouded my judgment. I am sorry if I caused offense.”
The two young women standing beside the queen nodded their heads in acceptance. Lady Annabelle sniffed.
“So you’re not in love with the girl who rescued you on the beach? And you’ll dance with me at your birthday gala?”
Fiora’s hands went slack with surprise. The cloak slipped off her shoulders, and she quickly adjusted it to cover herself again.
Gustave was in love with the woman who rescued him?
That was impossible.
She glanced at her ring, but the pearl was as gray as ever.
Then why would he claim to be in love with her?
She stepped closer so she could see the king’s face. Gustave looked embarrassed, but he didn’t deny the accusation. When he realized everyone was waiting for an answer, he bowed and said, “I would be honored to dance with you at my birthday gala, Lady Annabelle. With all of you.”
He bowed to Kara and Elaine in turn. They curtsied and looked gracious. Annabelle looked annoyed. Probably because he hadn’t answered the part about being in love with his rescuer.
The young man standing beside the dowager queen signed a translation of Gustave’s words for her. Fiora edged a little closer so she could see his hands.
Yes, it was sign language, and very similar to what the mermaids used. Perhaps mermaids had taught humans how to sign at some point?
“And who are you?” t
he dowager queen said.
If Bernadine was surprised to find a wet, mostly naked woman dripping on her marble floor, she showed it only with a small twitch of her eyebrow.
Fiora blinked. She had come too close and drawn attention to herself. Everyone gaped at her.
So much for escaping.
“What is that?” Marquis Corbeau said.
“I believe that is a woman, Marquis. We can see quite enough of her to feel confident in that assessment.”
The dowager queen fixed Fiora with a fierce stare as if she could pin her in place with her gaze alone.
Fiora considered answering in sign language, but what could she say? Besides, her hands were busy holding the cloak in place.
Perhaps it would be easier if they thought she had no way to communicate with them.
So rather than attempting to answer, Fiora glared at the marquis. It had only been a few hours, but she missed her voice. No matter how expressive your eyes were, they could only convey so much scorn.
“Where did you come from?” the dowager queen said. “What is your name?”
“She can’t speak,” Gustave said. “Miss, this is my grandmother, Dowager Queen Bernadine.”
He hurried to Fiora’s side, then stepped away so he stood a respectable distance apart from her. Fiora smirked in spite of everything. What was he so afraid of?
“You know this woman?” Marquis Corbeau asked.
“I found her in the water. She can’t speak. I believe she’s in some sort of trouble.”
King Gustave made signs with his hands as he spoke. The dowager queen watched him to read the signs, but they did not help her confusion.
“Or she was causing trouble,” Marquis Corbeau said. “Decent young women do not swim naked in the ocean.”
“They certainly do not!” Lady Annabelle added.
Fiora glared at her. Oh, how she wished she had her voice. She wanted to give that woman a piece of her mind.
“We’re going to help her,” Gustave said.
“Are we indeed?” Dowager Queen Bernadine said.
She looked from Gustave to Fiora with a curious expression. Fiora scowled at the dowager queen’s silent implication. She had failed to catch a man’s interest too many times to think this would be any different.
“Your Majesty cannot be responsible for the care of a loose woman,” Marquis Corbeau said.
Loose woman? Fiora stuck her tongue out at the marquis. With voice gone and her hands occupied holding the cloak, it was the only method of retaliation available to her.
The marquis and Lady Annabelle gasped. Gustave’s eyes grew wide with surprise.
The dowager queen chuckled.
“Perhaps Gustave is right. We should help those in need.”
She looked to Collette as if she expected some response to this. An answer to an unasked question.
But Collette remained silent. She was staring at Fiora with eyes that, while not quite hostile, were certainly not friendly.
“Out of the question,” the marquis said. “The hospitality budget-”
“This young lady will stay as my personal guest,” Dowager Queen Bernadine said. “I have been given free rein to invite friends to the gala, and I’m inviting her.”
Fiora wasn’t sure if she should be annoyed to be thrust back into the world of royal politics or amused at Marquis Corbeau’s face. He looked absolutely horrified.
And speechless, which left him unable to protest.
Fiora sneezed. It barely made any sound, but the motion was enough for everyone to notice. It was cooler in the castle than it had been in the sun, and she was still soaked.
“We’re not throwing her onto the street in this condition,” Gustave said.
“She might not be comfortable staying in the castle,” Collette said.
“Take this young lady to a guest bedroom and find her some appropriate clothing,” Dowager Queen Bernadine said.
She waved her hand, and a servant moved towards Fiora. Fiora blinked. This was all happening rather fast. If she officially became a guest, it would be even more difficult to escape.
“If you’ll come with me, miss?” the servant said.
As if she could refuse now. Fiora looked at the crowd of people. How had she gotten into such a mess? She had only been human for a few hours, and she was already in a difficult situation.
Gustave mistook her hesitation for nervousness.
“It will be alright, miss. We only want to help.”
He smiled at her, and Fiora couldn’t help smiling back. In spite of everything, there was something reassuring about King Gustave.
When he wasn’t ruining your life, that was.
“The rest of you report to the Council Chamber,” the dowager queen said. “Those of you that are on the council, that is. We have things to discuss.”
“Like the hospitality budget,” Marquis Corbeau said.
Gustave made a face, then flushed with embarrassment when he realized Fiora had seen. She winked at him and turned to follow the servant.
And realized she was still wearing Gustave’s boots, while he was barefoot. She stepped out of the shoes and nudged them towards the king with her foot.
She wanted to make a comment about how they were ruined from seawater, and he might not want them back after all.
But she had to settle for a small shrug. Gustave smiled as if he understood and was saying it was all right.
Of course it was all right. He was a king. He had other boots.
Still, Fiora couldn’t help giving him a small smile in return. He had given them to her as if it were the obvious thing to do. Even though his feet were likely now scraped from walking barefoot up the rocky path.
Neither of her families had ever treated her with such kindness.
“Come along, Gustave.”
The dowager queen nodded to her attendant, who pushed her wheelchair down the hall.
She gave Fiora a shrewd glance before turning her attention back to her grandson. Fiora swallowed. Perhaps Princess Collette wasn’t the person she needed to worry about most after all.
20
“Well, let’s hear it,” Dowager Queen Bernadine said. “How exactly did you come to be in the company of a naked woman on the beach?”
She sat at the head of the council chamber. Technically, there wasn’t a head place. The chamber was a round room with chairs around the wall, designed to encourage the idea that everyone’s input was equal and welcome. But Bernadine still managed to look like she was sitting at the head of the room.
Gustave swallowed. Skipping breakfast after surviving a kraken attack was making it hard to focus. Not to mention he hadn’t had time to change. He was still barefoot, and his clothes were soaked with seawater. The last thing he wanted was to do battle with his grandmother.
“There’s not much to tell. I walked to the beach to clear my head and found the young woman in the water. She clearly needed help, so I offered it to her.”
He was so agitated that he forgot to sign. Thomas quickly translated his words for the dowager queen.
“It is an outrage!” Marquis Corbeau said. “We arranged for lovely eligible ladies to travel to the castle so you could meet them before the gala, and you insulted them by ranting about how you’re in love with some mystery girl you met on the beach. Then you further insult them by bringing a naked woman home. Your Majesty, this behavior cannot continue.”
“Not to mention you nearly drowned in a kraken attack yesterday,” Marchioness Rouge said. “You have faced death far more times than any king should. Let alone one without an heir.
The rest of the council murmured their agreement.
“I was looking for my father! I certainly didn’t plan on being attacked by a kraken!”
Gustave looked to his grandmother for help. She had promised to support his search. She nodded at him.
“Gustave discussed the expedition with me beforehand and could not have predicted the kraken attack. We thought the mermaids had
them under control, but apparently they don’t. We will have to be more careful.”
“Which is exactly why we should not welcome a mysterious young woman of questionable morals into the castle. Especially when she comes from the sea,” Marquis Corbeau said.
“You think she has something to do with the mermaids?” Collette said.
Her calm voice dissolved the tension in the room. She looked to Gustave for an answer.
“You have the most experience with mermaids. Do you think it’s a possibility?”
“She looks nothing like a mermaid, but I don’t understand enough about them to say anything for sure. If she is somehow connected to the mermaids, that would be useful.”
“She can be useful elsewhere,” Marquis Corbeau said. “We’re already housing a suite full of misfortunates, some of whom are taking long-term advantage of our hospitality. That merchant is still here.”
“Dale received word that one of his ships may have survived the attack,” Collette said. “I told him he could stay until he learned its whereabouts. And you can’t ask him to cross the sea when kraken are attacking again.”
“But we could ask him to get his own room in the city,” Marquis Corbeau said.
“He doesn’t have any money.”
“Enough,” Dowager Queen Bernadine said. “We have too much to do to waste time arguing about this. The sea girl will stay as my personal guest until further notice. As for the merchant, I trust we are not being bankrupted by Princess Collette’s generosity?”
This question was directed to the royal treasurer, who shook her head.
“No, Your Highness. It costs nothing for someone to sleep in a bed that would have otherwise been empty, and we always have extra food at meals. The hospitality expenses are minimal. Especially when compared to the cost of the birthday gala, which has once again exceeded its budget.”
Collette shot a triumphant look at Marquis Corbeau, then smiled at Gustave. Gustave nodded in an absentminded way. He was trying to pay attention, but he was also thinking about the woman. How had she ended up naked on the beach? There had been no sign of a shipwreck. If she was simply a local village girl who had gone for a swim, she could have told them that somehow. She could have agreed to be escorted home.
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