A Princess in Theory (Reluctant Royals #1)(99)

“Naledi?”

The voice from inside the library made her stiffen. The queen had been nicer to her since she’d gotten sick, but she was still unsure about the woman. Despite that, she followed the sound of her voice into the room. She found Queen Ramatla staring up at that picture of Ledi and Thabiso at their betrothal ceremony. Her eyes weren’t on the toddlers in the picture, but on herself and Ledi’s mom in the background.

“Have the royal taste testers been doing their job?” the queen asked.

“Yes,” Ledi replied. “Though I think the threat has passed. I do appreciate it, Your Highness.”

“I would like to offer a formal apology,” the queen said suddenly, drawing herself up. “I was wrong to be so cold to you, but—” She closed her eyes for a moment and inhaled deeply, and when she opened them and looked at Ledi, there was a depth of emotion Ledi hadn’t seen there before. “You resemble her so much. And she hurt me so badly. Every time I looked at you, or heard your voice, I felt that pain anew. I think . . . I know that I took my anger out on you. And that was unfair, and beneath both of us. I hope we can start over. Or rather, I would like to get to know you instead of trying to punish you for something you didn’t do.”

Ledi was still wary, but she glanced at the photo, at her mother and the queen laughing that special kind of friend laughter, and then back to the barely repressed pain on the queen’s face.

“It’s hard losing a friend,” Ledi said quietly. “If it’s your significant other, you’re allowed to grieve. But people act like best friends are a dime a dozen, and if you lose one you can just replace them with another.”

The queen nodded, her mouth pulling into a tight line. “I have never replaced Libi. After we lost Nya’s mother, she was my sole support. I thought we were each other’s support. And when I found out she’d left”—the queen shook her head—“I’d never felt such pain. When Thabiso told me that you had been found, for a moment I was so relieved. And then he told me the rest of the news . . .”

The queen looked away suddenly, but Ledi caught the tremble of her mouth and the way she sucked in a breath on a sob. Ledi had begun to mourn her parents anew, but she hadn’t known her mother as the queen had known her. She tried to imagine what she would do if anything happened to Portia, and the hypothetical alone made her tear up.

She reached a hand out, tentatively, and placed it on the queen’s shoulder.

“I’m so sorry. I wish you could have seen her again.”

The queen nodded and cleared her throat. “Well. I will serve her memory better in my behavior toward you. And even if I did not get to meet her again . . . Ingoka makes no mistakes, Naledi Ajoua. I am glad you have returned, and Libi would be so proud of what you have become.”

It was Ledi’s turn to fight emotion then. Many people had said the same, but they hadn’t known her mother as the queen had. And though the queen had apologized, she wasn’t the type to lie to make someone feel better.

When she looked at the queen again, the emotion was gone from her eyes and her expression was smooth, regal. “Before you leave, we will have a memorial ceremony for them in the temple.”

“Thank you.” Ledi didn’t know what else to say so she took a deep breath and headed back to her room. She was sure she wouldn’t always see eye to eye with the queen, but she felt as if something had been mended between them. She hoped something had been mended within the queen as well.

When she got to her suite, the door was cracked. She pushed it open and found Thabiso stretched out on her bed, fast asleep. She quietly shut the door and approached him, smiling at the contrast between his ungainly sprawl and the sleek suit he wore.

She climbed onto the bed beside him and into the space created by his outhrown arm.

“Now I know what the baby bear felt like when it found Goldilocks in its bed,” she said.

He smiled and his eyes slowly opened. “I thought you didn’t like fairy tales.”

“I don’t. Goldilocks was a brazen home invasion artist.” Ledi snuggled closer. “But I guess since you’re the prince and all, I’ll make an exception.”

“I don’t mind being an exception, as long as I get to wake up to this,” Thabiso replied, hugging her close. “I did come here for a reason, though. Something was found in your uncle’s papers. For a man with his fingers in so many nasty pies, he was something of a hoarder.”

He sat up and Ledi mimicked his movement, staying on the bed while he walked over to the desk and brought over a ragged edged piece of paper enclosed in a plastic pouch. It was old, but not ancient, and the messy handwriting on it was scarily similar to her own.

“This was found between the pages of a book in his library,” Thabiso said, settling beside her.

We will do as you say. I wish my own brother was not my enemy, but I cannot promise what you ask. I cannot risk my child’s life for something so fleeting as money or power. I will pray for your soul, and for ours.

Ledi wasn’t exactly sure what the note meant.

“Was he going to kill me?” she asked.

“It appears he had some mad plan that your parents refused to take part in. Something that made them feel it was safer to flee with you than to stay. He refuses to tell us, but I thought you should know this.”