The Princess Trials (The Princess Trials #1)(116)

The woman turns to the man and buries her head in his shoulder, but the man’s stare hardens. Panic spikes through my chest. He knows I’m lying. I snatch my gaze away and meet the Minister of Justice’s dark eyes.

The woman raises her brows. “Where was Miss Ridgeback when you awoke?”

I shake my head.

“Miss Calico?” she asks.

“She wasn’t there.” My rasping voice echoes across the vast chamber, making me cringe. “Last night, I heard her tumble after me down the mountain… I don’t know what happened after that, Minister.”

On my left, the screen switches to Prince Kevon, who stands with his hand raised, and chatter spreads across the tiers of spectators.

The Minister of Justice turns to the source of the sound and leans forward. “Your Highness, do you have something to add?”

“As soon as I discovered that the ballroom attack was part of the Princess Trials, I rushed to the Barrens to the girls’ aid. I found Miss Calico severely injured in a ditch, but there was no sign of Miss Ridgeback.”

My throat spasms. Prince Kevon just lied to protect me.

“I commend your act of chivalry, Your Highness.” The minister claps her hands together. “Very well. Now that we have heard from all parties and uncovered what happened to Rafaela van Eyck, it is time to finalize who will join Prince Kevon in the palace.”

My lips part to let out a surprised breath. That’s it? My gaze darts to Prunella Broadleaf, who slumps on the bench. What’s going to happen to her?

Wasn’t the vote at the ball the decider for the palace round of the Trials? These people keep changing the rules to suit themselves.

The assistant returns to my sides and pulls a lever that makes the door click open. Without waiting to be dismissed, I step down from the interrogation device and walk across the floor, through the gate, and back up the stairs with Prince Kevon.

“Ambassador Pascal has already chosen which six of his young ladies will join the palace,” says the minister. “We would like to speed things along by paring down the number from our side to twelve. On your tablets are the names and faces of each eligible girl.”

I reach the top and slide into the seat next to Prince Kevon, who holds my hand. Even though I can guess with certainty that I’ve been removed from the list of candidates, but I no longer care. My mission is complete, and every fiber of self-preservation tells me that if I stay a single day longer in the Oasis, I will be the next to die.

Prince Kevon gives me a warm, optimistic smile that crushes my heart. If I don’t make the final twelve, he’ll want me to stay in the guesthouse. But the more information I gather on palace security, the heavier the obligation becomes to share that information with Carolina.

A lump forms in my throat. If Prince Kevon becomes the ruler of Phangloria, I no longer want a revolution.

“The votes are in,” says the Minister of Justice. “Montana, will you do the honors?”

Montana rises from his seat and walks to the middle of the floor. “The twelve Phanglorians to progress to the palace round are Ingrid Strab, Constance Spryte, Darby Abraham, Villosa Belmont, Virginia Moyesii, Jaqueline Bellini, Petra Lombard, Paris Kanone, Minnie Werfer, Tulip Ironside, Emmera Hull, and Vitelotte Pyrus.”

Applause echoes across the chambers and reaches my ears in a roar of sound. I lean back and stare at the faces projected on the screen. Five Nobles, three Guardians, two Artisans, two Harvesters, and neither of them are me.

I’m going home.

Prince Kevon squeezes my hand so hard that it hurts. He doesn’t want to let go, and I stare ahead, not knowing how to explain that we have no future. Prince Kevon might have filled my heart to the point where there’s little room for my one-sided infatuation with Ryce Wintergreen, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to risk my life to be with a prince.

Another assistant rushes in and hands the Minister of Justice a computer tablet. She frowns and taps the side of her throat.

“We have located Berta Ridgeback.” Her voice projects over the applause.

A tight fist of alarm squeezes my insides, and my adrenaline spikes. If they’ve found Berta, it means that they know whoever killed her entered the underground river. Despair washes through my veins like acid. If one drop of my blood spilled in that cavern…

The chamber falls silent, and the assistant points out where Berta’s parents sit. The Minister of Justice turns to them and says, “I’m afraid she drowned.”

Berta’s parents fill the screen. Her mother claps her hand over her mouth and sobs, but her father twists around in his seat and turns. I glance down at the front row to find that he’s staring in our direction. Our gazes meet for a moment, but the look in his eyes says he will discover what happened to his daughter even at the cost of my life.

The double doors open, and everybody stands.

Queen Damascena walks into the floor, holding the same kind of tablet as the Minister of Justice.

My throat dries, and I squeeze Prince Kevon’s hand. “Does she visit the Chamber of Ministers often?”

His features slacken, and his olive skin turns ashen. “Never.”

The queen stops at Montana and passes him the tablet. He reads the contents and rears back with his brows raised. I draw in a deep breath. Did something happen to King Arias?

She turns to the public gallery and spreads her arms wide. “I am saddened to hear of the passing of such a brave, young woman.” Her voice fills the room. “Brigadier and Dr. Ridgeback, you have my deepest sympathies.”