The Everlasting Rose (The Belles, #2)(38)
She doesn’t resurface for so long I begin to worry, then suddenly she comes up sputtering.
“Are you all right?”
Her skin is blush pink like a teacup pig, and water dribbles out of her mouth. “I will be once we leave here.”
“We’re getting closer.” I grab her hand and squeeze it. “We will succeed. I know we will.”
We soak until our skin prunes. Soft nightgowns hang from nearby hooks, awaiting our tired bodies. A side door leads into a small bedroom complete with a large four-post bed. A single night-lantern scrapes its head beneath the bed’s canopy, and two carts sit at the foot—one with foods rich with arcana-resetting properties like salmon puffs, beef skewers, bacon-wrapped shrimp, and chocolate squares, and the other with jars of sangsues.
Edel stuffs her mouth with three salmon puffs. “I’m so tired I can barely chew,” she grumbles, then climbs into bed and pushes the night-lantern out before pulling the curtains shut.
While Edel’s light snores fill the room, I cover my arm with leeches and take out Arabella’s Belle-book. Under the soft glow of a single night-lantern, I read through more entries.
Date: Day 3,510 at court
Sophia’s beauty addiction has reached new heights. She changed her look for each of her morning activities—brunch with her ladies-of-honor, walking in the winter gardens, meeting her cabinet—and then, again, in the evening for her nightly card games and parties. Before one can join her, she’s developed a vigorous beauty test for them. They must stand on a platform to be analyzed and scored. If found to be more beautiful, they are given two options—see me to immediately change themselves, or receive a fine and leave the palace. Most submit to this new routine because they are desperate to be in her presence.
I’m afraid of what’s next for Sophia and her grandiose desires.
Date: Day 3,435 at court
Sophia brought in new cabinet members today during the assembly meeting. They filed into the Royal Law Room in the Imperial Library, all eager to be her puppets and do her bidding. I hid in the legal stacks while they met below.
Sophia revealed her imperial cameos—mirror-size and perfect for the walls or vanities—and the advertising campaign intended to sell them to the masses. She said the cameos will connect her to the people of her kingdom, when really they will connect everyone to her obsessive wall. The Royal Beauty Minister, Rose Bertain, challenged her in front of everyone, and the meeting ended early. Sadly, the minister will pay for that.
She’s trying to have eyes everywhere. Next, she’ll probably institute beauty checkpoints as she continues to turn the palace upside down. She receives a ledger of all visitors to her court now. The Minister of War has provided her with a thousand extra guards, pulling them from posts around the kingdom, despite his protests about the safety of the borders being at risk.
I take a deep breath, her words drumming up even more distress inside me.
A post-balloon putters into the room, sea blue and covered in silk threads. It knocks into the dying night-lantern over my head. I put Arabella’s Belle-book to the side and grab the balloon’s tail ribbons. It holds a rolled newspaper and a note marked with my name.
I open it:
My dearest owl,
I saw the night-lantern light in your room and figured you were still up. I wanted to tell you again how happy I am to see your face and have you with me. Here’s a little something to read. Pay particular attention to the Letter from the Editor column. We can discuss in the morning.
Sleep well,
Gustave
I unfurl the newspaper. My heart squeezes.
The Spider’s Web.
The white ink rises on the black parchment. A tiny ink spider trots along the border. Under the Night Edition header, headlines appear.
COURTSHIP OFF TO A ROCKY START: QUEEN’S FIANCé STAYING AT SPRING PALACE IN GLASS ISLES RATHER THAN THE IMPERIAL PALACE
MINISTER OF WAR’S FLEET MOVING THROUGH THE WARM SEA IN SEARCH OF FUGITIVE BELLES
DANGERS OF BEING GRIS—MINISTER OF NEWS CIRCULATES NEW PAMPHLETS DETAILING DANGERS AND WARNING
WILL THERE BE A WEDDING SOMETIME THIS YEAR? QUEEN’S FIANCé DERAILS ALL TALKS AND PLANS DURING PALACE MEETINGS
EYES EVERYWHERE! QUEEN’S NEW DRESS LINE FOUND TO BE ANOTHER WAY TO CONTROL AND MONITOR THE BEAUTY OF OTHERS
HOPE REMAINS AS THE FAVORITE BELLE AND HER SISTER EVADE CAPTURE!
A tiny jolt makes me sit upright.
I find the Letter from the Editor column.
Dear Spiders,
A mandate to all followers!
In the past days, there has been debate about whether or not we, the Iron Ladies, support the Belles.
Despite how we feel about their place in society and their gifts, we back their endeavors. Belles Camille Beauregard and her sister Edel Beauregard remain at large, eluding the queen’s efforts. As long as they successfully avoid capture, there’s hope we can depose this queen and change Orléans once and for all. With her ego bruised and her attention set on revenge, she’s vulnerable—distracted and unfocused on the pitter-patter of spiders’ feet. Our sources say the palace has been locked down, with one sole checkpoint allowing entry in and out. Trianon is an occupied city, guards as plentiful as lanterns.
The Belles need our help.
Allies to our cause, we implore all followers to aid them if they come across your path. Share your food, shelter, or money. We pledge to replace all things lost in this noble endeavor and assist in any consequences administered if caught. I will honor them myself.