The Queen's Assassin (The Queen's Secret #1)(90)

As Cal follows the vizier down the ancient tower stairs, he peeks again at the growing excitement outside. There are bunches of flowers, green and white or purple and white for each kingdom’s colors, being placed along the sides of the stands with the banners. Montrice spares no expense for their tournaments.

Rather than going back into the dungeons, the vizier takes him through a separate door, down a long corridor, and through yet another door into the great hall. Cal’s heart pounds with the anticipation of seeing Shadow again. He crosses his fingers at his side, hoping that she’s in good care and that he won’t be expected to fight for her life or something equally heinous—he’s heard of such things in far-flung kingdoms, and at this point he isn’t ruling anything out. A Grand Duke of Montrice died at his hand. The only thing that could be worse is if Cal had been caught assassinating the king himself.

The great hall is packed wall to wall with people, dressed only slightly less formally than they were for the ball. They’re all smiling, laughing, chatting, prepared for a party. Not a solemn event—at least, not for them.

King Hansen sits in his throne on the dais as he did the day Cal first met him, but instead of looking bored, today he has a weak smile on his face.

The vizier stops short of the dais and puts his hand up to indicate that Cal should stop as well. Cal scans the crowd for Shadow’s familiar face, but he doesn’t see her anywhere. His stomach turns; this all feels off somehow. Like some kind of sick game.

Trumpeters step forward; their instruments begin blaring. The noise startles Cal again. He is really on edge. Not good; he has to regain control over himself. This is exactly what gets novice assassins killed—he has to try to stay above his physical feelings, his emotional responses.

There’s a hush across the room.

All faces turn toward the grand doors as they glide open, pulled by white-gloved guards in brand-new green-and-purple attire. Cal almost expects lions to emerge, and though he’s wrong about that, it’s not a terrible guess.

A procession of Renovian aristocrats marches through the open doorway, led by the most important of them all, the Duke of Devan, who walks in with the ambassador and his husband. As they enter, they form two rows, one on each side of the door, creating a kind of path. One by one, Cal recognizes all the nobles arriving from Renovia. Are they here for the show? That’s right—last he knew, he was a traitor to them.

Finally, they are all inside. There’s a pause. The trumpets blast again. King Hansen stands up.

Queen Lilianna emerges from the door, head to toe in vibrant purple, the first time she’s been out of mourning garb since King Esban’s death. As she passes through, the Renovians bow to her. Cal does the same. She walks, head high, shoulders back, straight up the steps to stand on the dais next to her young Montrician rival. She hasn’t even glanced in Cal’s direction.

The vizier stands at the bottom step and bellows through the hall: “Queen Lilianna of Renovia!”

Those gathered bow or curtsy respectfully, even if she is not their sovereign. Queen Lilianna steps forward and speaks. “From this day until my last day, I am no longer the Queen Regent of Renovia.”

There is an audible gasp, including from Cal. Regime change. Did the Aphrasians take control of the kingdom even though he killed the duke?

“I choose to step aside and pass the crown to my daughter, heir to the crown and only child of King Esban the Second of House Dellafiore. She will henceforth be joined in marriage to King Hansen the Third of House Opel. Our two kingdoms will no longer be rivals, but allies, one joint kingdom, vast and prosperous.”

The crowd applauds.

Princess Lilac? Why this? Why now?

The queen sweeps the room with her serene glance. “Your Majesty, my lords, ladies, and gentlemen. This marriage is our thanks to the Kingdom of Montrice for uncovering a terrible conspiracy against my kingdom, and for keeping my daughter safe.”

Cal is stunned. The queen is thanking Montrice for keeping the princess safe? And marrying her off to the enemy?

The grand doors open again. Queen Lilianna’s daughter steps into the great hall, veiled and wearing a dazzling lavender gown with a long train. She walks toward the dais as her mother did, and those around her bow. Like her mother, she also keeps her chin up, determined, exuding confidence she may or may not actually be feeling.

But where is Shadow? Cal strains to search the crowd, but finds her nowhere. And then a thought dawns on him, and he wonders why he did not see it before. Why did he not question it all sooner—the Argonian emeralds, her perfect manners and knowledge of court life? He had buried his suspicions because he did not want them to be true. There was an assassination plot against Princess Lilac, and he had been tasked to keep her safe. And he did. He cannot bear to look at the princess. He knows. He knows.

For when the princess reaches the queen, Queen Lilianna takes her by the shoulders and turns her to face the crowd. “I present Princess Lilac, soon to be Queen Lilac of Renovia-Montrice.” She steps in front of the princess and pinches the edges of the veil between her fingers, then lifts it, draping it behind her head. Finally, Queen Lilianna steps away, revealing her daughter to the crowd.

Cal’s heart stops, even if he already knew in his heart what he is now seeing before him.

It is Shadow. Shadow is Queen Lilianna’s daughter, Princess Lilac. Shadow is heir to the Renovian throne.

And she is betrothed to King Hansen.