Queen of Hearts: The Crown (Queen of Hearts Saga #1)(5)
“As I stood on the edge of the precipice, looking at the changing stars one last time, I swore that I heard a woman singing over the breeze. Something sang me into a deep and dreamless sleep. The next morning, when I rolled over, I was a different man. My will to live had returned. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had met this common and low-born woman for a purpose. I immediately returned to the village to find her, but she had disappeared. I looked everywhere, and would have kept looking if Mundoo and a small army of his riders hadn’t raided our camp that very afternoon. It was chaos. Arrows were flying everywhere, but the maiden was nowhere to be seen. We fought and won, though so many more Cards were lost. Thirteen long years have passed, and there hasn’t been a single day when I haven’t thought about that woman and wonder what became of her.”
The King stomped down the steps, passing Dinah without a single glance. “My loyal subjects, I tell you the truth: a fortnight ago, a mad, raving beggar came to the palace. He had come to sell something priceless and refused to leave until I spoke with him. It was late, and I was furious at being woken so late. I met him in this very hall, though it was empty and silent as a tomb. Imagine if you will, a king in his royal pajamas meeting a beggar carrying a very large sack. I commanded him to open the sack immediately or a Heart Card would be glad to take his head. Truly terrified, he unrolled the sack . . . and out came a tiny girl.”
Everyone gasped, including Dinah. Her heart felt like it would explode in her chest.
“She was starving, a pitifully lovely creature, but when she stood and faced me, I saw greatness. I saw—” He paused again for dramatic effect.
“My lost daughter, your new Duchess Vittiore.”
Chapter Two
The Great Hall erupted in a cacophony of sounds, though Dinah sat stunned and speechless. The King’s subjects were screaming and shouting, their tears and applause all dissolving into a wave of happy noise. The King stood still as the crowd rocked and swayed before him. After a few moments, he cleared his throat.
“There could be no mistake that this girl was mine. She had my golden hair, my blue eyes, and the gentle demeanor of her mother, who sadly met her untimely death at the hands of the Yurkei tribes. Since Vittiore has arrived at the palace, I have done nothing but watch and study her, to see if she is truly mine. And I can say, with full confidence, that this IS my lost daughter. Today I will declare it openly, and let no man say otherwise, for he would call the King false!”
The King of Hearts let his eyes linger on Dinah, kneeling before him, her body frozen in shock.
“Duchess Vittiore has been questioned, inspected, and interrogated. Though I believed it in my heart, I did not dare to hope it true—until I spoke with her, and saw my own reflection in her eyes. Make no mistake: this is my second daughter, who will join her half sister Princess Dinah, as the Duchess of Wonderland. I introduce to you Vittiore.”
From behind the throne, a small, luminous girl stepped forth. She was young but already radiant as the sun. Golden curls the color of honey cascaded to her waist, and her bright-blue eyes shimmered with happiness and curiosity, her face perfectly unblemished—a picture of innocence. On top of the nest of curls rested a low crown made of sapphire bluebirds, no doubt crafted recently by the palace jewelers. Her long white-and-blue dress brushed the floor, as if she was a maiden on her wedding day.
“Darling,” said the King gently. He reached down and picked her up, holding her above his chest so that the entire crowd could see her. The crowd gasped at her beauty, and one Heart Card fell to his knees with emotion. The King set her down before Dinah, who stared up at her with naked hatred. A jealous fury rose in her, black and strange. Her hands shook as she gripped the edge of the steps. Her father’s booming speech continued.
“Many of you have wondered what you are doing here today. There are no wars to fight, no great matters at hand. It is because I wanted MY kingdom to know that Wonderland has a NEW duchess, and the joyous ceremonies to celebrate her coming may begin!”
The hall erupted with a deafening cheer and the ground beneath them gave a shudder with the stomping of feet. The sound rose up like a wave, crashing over Dinah, drowning her. She tried to stand, but her body lurched forward so violently that she slipped down two of the marble stairs, her knees and chest hitting the hard stone with a loud CRACK. Her face flamed red as the entire kingdom watched her—the dark, clumsy princess—who now appeared as a stout donkey next to Vittiore’s shining mare. The King gave a chuckle, but there was maliciousness in his eyes as he grasped Dinah roughly by the arm, yanking her to her feet.
“Of course, she will join my two other children, Princess Dinah, my oldest, the future Queen of Hearts, and Charles, her younger brother, the pride of my heart.”
Lies, thought Dinah, willing the hot tears flooding her eyes to stay put. He speaks lies.
“It is my prayer and my command that this kingdom would embrace my daughter as their new Duchess of Wonderland. If I so much as hear any whispers of the word ‘bastard,’ that man or woman will lose their head to my Heartsword.”
With a labored breath, Dinah twisted her arm out of her father’s grasp. She could feel the eyes of the crowd on her, thousands of hungry eyes watching her every move. Her black eyes like simmering coals, she stared down at Vittiore. The tiny girl with the blond hair took a timid step toward Dinah. Dinah watched her warily, unsure what to do. She felt like screaming and hurling something at her, but didn’t dare. The King certainly would beat her if she did such things. The little girl reached out her petite hand.