I circled the sofa a few more times, everything jumbling in my brain, then flopped down on the cushions and stared at the fireplace. A large family portrait hung above the mantle. My father, in his human form, my mother smiling sweetly by his side. A small dark-haired boy bounced on my father’s knee. The perfect royal family. Now a perfect disaster.
The last thing I needed was to be under Edwin's watch. I'd nearly learned to control the strange power I found, but with someone who knew about magic in the castle, I'd probably be found out quick. I could, of course, ask him about the magic. Maybe he could teach me what it meant and how I could use it. But something deep inside grew darker the longer we were in the same room. I let out a deep breath and concentrated on the rise and fall of my chest. I needed to get over this mistrust of him. Just because he wasn’t my favorite person didn’t mean he deserved to be treated like lesser than, especially after all he’d done for my family. With no gain for himself.
My mother's gentle face appeared in my mind. She always worried far too much. If letting him stay would bring her peace, I guess I could stand a few days. However, my trip up the mountain to see Veda was out, for today at least. Maybe if Edwin kept his word and stayed out of the way I could try the tavern again tonight. Except, this time I wouldn't mess it up.
I dragged myself from the sofa and down the hall into the grand foyer.
I approached the two guards at the door. “Have either of you seen Griswold?”
"No, sir. He stormed through about an hour ago mumbling something about unwanted pests, but we haven't seen him since. Maybe the kitchen has a rat problem?"
"Maybe. Thank you, gentlemen." Or maybe the rat had made himself at home in the east wing.
3
5th June
The glorious morning spilled through my bedroom window. I rolled over and stretched, the bed sheets tangled around me in knots. From the brief flashes of wakefulness I remembered, the tossing and turning made sense as my brain tried to fight the negative thought monsters raining havoc in my mind.
Edwin said he'd be nothing more than a ghost, and he'd held to his word. Except instead of disappearing into the shadows of the castle, he lurked and loomed over my shoulder like my own personal poltergeist. I didn't even get the chance to go to the tavern and see if Veda had come to the city again. Edwin met me in the foyer and thwarted my plans with talk of my obligation to the kingdom and how proper kings should behave. And, of course, I fell for it, hoping he wouldn’t report back to my mother that I’d made a mess of things. If only I'd be able to show Edwin I didn't need him, maybe he would run back to the temple before I lost my mind.
I scrambled from my bed and dressed quickly, then headed into the casual dining room for breakfast. My stomach growled as the delicious smells of fresh-cut fruit mixed with spicy notes of cinnamon spilled out the doorway. One of the servants typically woke me to eat, but either I'd awoken early or possibly slept right through their knock of warning. I grabbed my forehead and tried to shake out the remaining fog that cloaked my tired brain, but it didn’t help.
"Good morning, Your Majesty." Edwin folded the newspaper closed and slid it onto the table, his breakfast already half-eaten and mine waiting on the table across from him. I stifled a groan and slid into my seat. The old meal had already grown cold and my hunger suddenly flitted away.
"Did you have a restful sleep?” I asked, wondering if he'd battled his own demons as I had.
"Absolutely. The east wing is so quiet at night. It's amazing how peaceful it can be."
One of the kitchen staff entered the room with a steaming pot. He refilled Edwin's cup of coffee, the rich smell taking over the room. Edwin placed his hand on the servant’s shoulder and stared at him in the eyes. "Thank you. Now please bring me more of the cook’s delicious jam."
The servant bowed. “Yes, sir. Whatever you’d like, sir."
I watched the servant march from the room, his feet nearly dragging on the floor as he lumbered off to do Edwin’s bidding.
"I see you've already made acquaintances with the staff."
"It's best to make sure they know their place and yours." He winked then spooned some sugar into his cup and blew across the top before taking a small sip. "Besides, I'm a bit of an early riser and wanted to get a head start."
Good. The faster he found what he was looking for, the faster he could send my parents home and get out of my space.
"Have you already found my father’s study? My mother has a library as well, but the study is where I would start. I can show you after breakfast if you would like."
"No, not at all. I noticed some tasks around the castle that needed to be handled. Some small orders needed to be taken for the kitchen. I addressed the guards about their security posts. Oh, and I also arranged for a luncheon with the delegates from The Forge."
I choked on his words and coughed up my tea. Hot liquid spilled down my chin and puddled on the tabletop. Edwin passed me a napkin. I snatched it from his grip and wiped my mouth.
"I thought we discussed that you would be staying out of castle matters."
He stuck out his pink bottom lip. "We did, but I just feel so terrible for not helping after I promised your dear mother. I didn’t think it would be a problem if I lent an experienced hand. It's only the small things anyway, I'll leave the important stuff to you. Allow you to concentrate on the big things."
I collapsed back in my chair, no words to respond to his blatant overstep of my authority. Did he not realize that I was king now and no matter what his position had been with my father, it no longer stood?
"Actually, Griswold takes care of the small things for me.” I glanced around the open room and frowned. “We usually meet over breakfast to discuss the needs for the day. Have you seen him around this morning?”
Edwin shrugged and took another dainty sip of his coffee before placing it back down on the table. "Maybe it's time to reevaluate that position as well? He's been very loyal to your family, but he is getting on in years and might not be up to performing his tasks as he should."
"I'm afraid staffing decisions would fall under the category of big things the king should handle, and therefore up to me."
He stood and walked around the table then knelt beside my chair. He rested his palm on my shoulder and moved his head to meet my gaze. "Very well. But maybe it would be easier if I just handled those matters?"
I shirked my shoulder out of his grip, and his eyes widened. "And maybe it would be easier if you obeyed the wishes of your king?"
The chair legs screeched across the floor as I pushed against the table and stood up, then stormed from the room.
How dare he go back on his word? I understood that he might have been trying to help, but he needed to follow proper protocol with this. And where was Griswold?
I returned to my room, the only place in the castle I assumed even Edwin would have the courtesy not to breach. I propped my arms on the dresser and stared into the mirror. All of his touchy wise man theatrics, what was that about? I rolled my left shoulder back, still feeling his heavy hand on my skin. If he wanted to irritate me, it worked. Maybe next time I should give him a demonstration of what I could do. I stared down at my hands and whispered
"Make me the —"
"Your Majesty."
I jumped and knocked the dresser with my knee. Several rings and a hairbrush fell to the floor. Behind me, Griswold stood wringing his hands as he hid between my wardrobe and my armchair.
"Griswold. Don't scare me like that." I leaned back against the dresser and laid a hand over my pounding heart. Just two more seconds and I would've exposed myself and my power. Was nowhere in the castle safe anymore?
"I'm extremely sorry, sir. I know I have no right to be in your chambers without your permission, but I feel that this is an urgent matter and I fully accept any form of punishment I may receive for it."
I extended my arm and motioned for Griswold to sit, then sat down on the bed across from him. "There is no need for your apolo
gies, Griswold. I know you'd never betrayed mine or my family’s trust without cause.”
His trembling hands seemed to still as he settled into the plush of the armchair, his posture still stick straight as always.
"Now, tell me what has you so upset?"
He glanced at the closed door, then leaned forward and lowered his voice. "I need to warn you about your guest, Edwin Macario. I was working here in the castle before he was banished. There are a lot of things that you don't know about that time. Things were very dark, and I'm afraid many of them were because of Edwin."
"If you mean the magic, I already know."
Griswold's jaw fell open. "How did you?"
"He showed me. He told me a lot about the things that happened. About his banishment and my father's curse. He told me they fought about my mother and then my father banished him. Is that correct?”
Griswold nodded as his head hung to his chest.
"I understand your concern, he irritates me as well. However, he is also working to help bring back my father back from this new curse."
Griswold perked up and slid to the edge of the seat, leaning closer. "They've found your father, sir?”
"Yes. However, it is a secret. Only Edwin, myself, and my mother know where he is hiding and we want to keep it that way. To keep him safe.”
"I will not breathe a word. You know how much your family and its safety means to me."
I cuffed my hand on his shoulder and squeezed. "Absolutely. And your safety means the world to us as well."
"I'm sorry for having disturbed you." Griswold stood and straightened his uniform before heading toward the door. He paused as his hand hovered over the knob. "I'm glad you're guest is helping to save your father, but as someone who spent more time around him than most in the castle, please be careful of what you believe. He had a way of tempting your father into things and I would hate to see a young man with promise led down the same disastrous path."
I rubbed my palms down my thighs. I knew I didn't trust Edwin, but part of me expected that was because we had gotten off on the wrong foot and, of course, because he was Veda's father and wanted me far away from her. However, maybe my gut instincts weren't wrong?
"I know of someone who might be able to tell me if he's changed. However, it will take some time for me to reach her. Do you think you would be able to keep Edwin off my trail long enough for me to get some more information?"
"Of course, sir. But please hurry. If he is still the same as he was back then, then we all may be in danger the longer he stays under this roof."
Griswold poked his head out the door and looked both ways before hurrying out and closing the door behind him. If Edwin had really changed then I had nothing to worry about, but if he hadn't, who knew what he could do and how much stronger his magic had grown over the years. If my mother and father trusted him to help, Edwin was likely harmless and Griswold was just being his overly cautious self. But the bad vibes I felt around him at breakfast, or any time we talked, still slithered under my skin. Being on top of the mountain for years meant no one would really know the truth, except maybe one. The one person closest to him. The one girl I desperately needed to find.
I fastened the cloak around my neck and looked in the mirror. My borrowed stringy hair dangled in front of my eyes and I swept it to the side as I double checked my disguise. I could've chosen anyone else, but I kind of liked fake Amir. In a weird way, being him comforted me. His dark eyes an ocean to lose myself in and step out of my own world for a while. Besides, to pull off a deception like this in front of a legitimate wizard, I'd need all the confidence I could muster so sticking with the familiar was the safest bet.
In my shoulder bag, I placed some fruit and sausage that I'd stolen from the kitchen, then tossed it over my arm and took a deep breath.
I slipped out of my room and down the hall racing through the twists and turns until I hit the grand foyer. I nodded at the two guards on the inside of the door, and they didn't seem concerned. Unknown faces sneaking into the castle were a much bigger threat than those sneaking out. They opened the doors and sunlight streamed in. Inches from freedom.
"Thank you," I said as I nodded at the guards politely then headed out into the courtyard.
"Stop right there." Edwin's voice rattled around the foyer. I increased my pace and glanced over my shoulder. No mistake, his demand was directed at me.
"I'm not sure we’ve met," Edwin said as he huffed and puffed from racing through the castle. "Where are you going?"
I kept as much distance between us as possible, as if he could somehow sense the magic coming off of me and cast my eyes to the cobblestones.
"Out running a few errands, sir. I'm just a lowly castle servant. No cause for alarm."
His shadow loomed closer as his hands fell to his hips. "I thought I'd met all the servants this morning?"
"I only work in the afternoons, sir. I'm here early to assist the prince."
He crossed his arms. "And what exactly are you doing for the prince?”
I stared at his gloating face as he lorded over what he thought was yet another peasant. "He insisted that I go to the city and find some Florian wine."
Edwin’s smile burst brighter, his ego inflating even bigger. "Well, in that case, please run along."
"Thank you, sir." I rushed to go.
“Just one second,” he called.
I halted in my tracks and winced. “Yes, sir.”
Edwin scurried in front of me and stared into my eyes as he reached his hand toward my shoulder. I bowed quickly, his hand whisking over my head as I turned and ran for the castle gate. Even if Edwin couldn't see through my disguise, one touch would expose me immediately.
I breezed past the guards and over the golden bridge as I head through the streets and up the hill. People parted out of my way as I ran. A mad man on a mission. Edwin likely wouldn’t bother sending guards after me, but I refused to take the chance.
I pushed harder until I neared the end of the city and the glowing green edge of the forest ahead. As I raced down the main path, Mosa and the castle disappeared behind the curtain of foliage and I took a sharp left then collapsed among the leaves. That was too close. Hopefully, a flighty servant wasn’t enough to send him searching for the real prince, or maybe Griswold could keep him off my scent for a little while. I’d planned to have a few hours grace before Edwin started to become suspicious, but I’d lost that advantage now.
After I forced my breathing to slow back to a normal pace, I conjured the tingling sensation to change my face back to normal, then whistled for Alizeh. Within minutes, she appeared on the horizon and landed at my feet.
"I missed you, girl," I said as I rested my head against her cheek, my arms around her neck.
She clucked and lowered to the ground as I mounted her back. "Alizeh, take me to Veda’s cottage.”
The sun turned a violent red as it started to dip down over the mountains. The tiny cottage appeared in the distance and my body shook. When I considered this a mission for the castle, I'd almost forgot the other reason I needed to come here. The breath before that almost kiss. The glassy tears as she said out loud the words I wanted to hear her say to me. The real me.
Alizeh landed and I tossed her the packet of sausage from my bag. She curled up on the ground and tucked her wings into her sides, her beak quickly demolishing the treat.
"Good girl." I scratched under her neck then swallowed hard as I stood at the end of the path leading to Veda’s front step. No roses this time. No chance to memorize some grand apology. Just me, as plain and honest as I could get. Hopefully, it was enough.
I knocked on the door and the booming sound echoed off the nearby mountains.
No answer.
I waited a few minutes and tried again, but still, Veda didn't answer the door. Without Alizeh, I doubted she'd just run into the city, but maybe she had another way to travel. Or maybe her meeting with Amir had sent her back into hiding and there would be no way for me to fin
d her now? I slunk down on the steps, my knees at my chest, and gripped my head in my hands. If I couldn't talk to Veda, how would I ever find out about Edwin? She'd known him her entire life, even if he'd spent most nights at the temple, she still knew him better than anyone. She'd also read his diaries several times, and probably knew more than people who worked at the castle back then.
The diaries.
I shot to my feet and tiptoed through her garden, careful not to trample her violets and daisies. I peered through the front window into the dark front room, squinting to see the floor-ceiling bookshelves on the far wall. On the top shelf, the collection of leather-bound diaries sat in their regular place. If Veda couldn't tell me what I needed to know, maybe Edwin had written it down for me already. From the volume I read, he didn't seem to hold anything back, likely not expecting anyone to ever find them. I'm sure Veda would understand. If she were here, she would likely let me borrow them. After all, she’d been the one who’d pushed me to find the truth.
I rushed to the door and searched through my bag to find anything that might pick the flimsy door lock. Nothing came from the search so I pulled the pin that clasped on my cloak. I pushed it into the lock and grabbed the doorknob. As I knelt to look closer the knob turned and the door flew open and I fell, sprawling onto her kitchen floor. Not locked. When you lived miles above everyone else, security must not be an issue.
I refastened my cloak, then rushed over to the shelf. I pulled volumes down one by one checking the dates on the first and last pages. Three journals seem to coincide with the time of the curse. I shoved them in my bag then spaced the remaining journals in the empty slot on the shelf, hopefully masking my theft until I could return them, or at least get an opportunity to explain.
As I rushed toward the door, I ground to a stop near the kitchen counter. Veda’s notebook sat open next to a half-filled cup of cold green tea. I glanced out the open door. No one but Alizeh lurked in the yard. Maybe Veda wouldn't want me to look, but before I could reason with my hands they'd already started flipping pages. Pages of lines of stories and thoughts. Entire sections scribbled out or crossed with slashes. But the ones I could read caught my heart in my throat. Elegant thoughts and images spelled out along the notebook in ways I never imagined. Veda wasn’t a writer, she was an artist who painted pictures with her words. I kept flipping, entranced by her polished script until I reached the last written page. In the margin sat two words. True beauty?!!? With three underlines. So what I said had affected her. But even if she had run away again, I doubted she would've left her notebook here. I hadn't seen her without it since we met, and with her competition drawing closer it seemed unreasonable for her to forget it. Unless she'd given up. I clenched my fists. If I hurt her enough to quit then I didn't deserve for her to hear my apology. But that conversation would need to wait.
Fallon: Son of Beauty and the Beast (Kingdom of Fairytales Boxset Book 6) Page 20