The Everlasting Rose (The Belles, #2)(66)
I open and close my mouth a few times, trying to find the words to tell her what happened to Valerie. But nothing comes out.
Lady Pelletier approaches. “Camille.”
I look up from Padma.
“It’s time for our nightly meeting. You both must come with me. We’re going to put our plan into action.”
The war room is like a decayed honeycomb. Faded paintings of the great battles in Orléansian history bleed along the walls. Weapons hold rust and cobwebs. Guards are stationed around the room beside every door and window.
The Iron Ladies, Auguste, and Lady Pelletier gaze at a map of Orléans spread across a wooden table along with small replicas of the kingdom’s fleet. Newspapers sit in mounds. House emblems are organized under labels—SOPHIA SUPPORTERS or SOPHIA OPPOSERS. A variety of merchant and high houses straddle the line between the two categories.
“More and more pledge support every day.” Lady Arane stands, pointing at the royal emblems. “We have two days to get Charlotte to the palace. I say we arrive at the Royal Square and make a spectacle. Our regent queen loves a show above all else.”
“We could lure her out of the palace,” adds Surielle.
Violetta claps in agreement with this statement.
“We cannot march into the Royal Square with an army,” Lady Pelletier replies. “She will just take Charlotte.”
“We have the numbers,” Surielle says. “We can make a huge and impressive showing. Hundreds alone in Trianon await our call. We can move others in from the isles and cities.”
“I agree with Lady Pelletier that this isn’t the way,” Auguste replies. “She’s got her trap set. She’s told the world that Charlotte is dead. She plans to present a body and she will. Not many have seen Charlotte since she fell into her unfortunate slumber. They will buy into her lies. They already are. She’s used the news and the newsies to her advantage. The Orléansian Times ran a poll yesterday and many love her. They will believe that whatever body she trots out is Charlotte.”
“But the moment Charlotte shows her face and allows inspection of her identification marker, the world will know the truth,” Surielle says.
The table grows quiet.
“What is the truth in Orléans?” Lady Arane says, then turns to me. “You and your sisters spent your entire existence altering appearances, shifting reality, catering to the most shallow whims. This world was born out of a rotten, poisonous seed—and now, the framework is laced with it. Everyone spends all their time trying to look like something else. The masses will believe what is presented to them, as long as it’s compelling and beautiful. Thanks to you, they no longer have any idea what’s real—what’s true.”
Her words sting and rattle me, the truth of them pressing beneath my skin as I begin to understand exactly what she thinks of us. Padma squirms at my side. I attempt to get the conversation back on track.
“Sophia will expect us to make a big show,” I state calmly. “She will have planned for it. She is most likely counting on it. I think we should be like a whisper.” I use the Fashion Minister’s words, the image of his smile cascading through my mind.
“I agree,” Lady Pelletier replies, leaning across the table and pulling out the map of the palace grounds. “I’ve known this child my whole life. She craves spectacle and assumes everyone else thinks the same way she does.”
“I’ve been told there’s only one way into the palace now,” I say, boldly repeating Arabella’s warning about the main entrance.
“You’ve heard...” Lady Arane replies with suspicion.
“I have my own supply of information.” I sit up a little straighter.
“Camille is right,” Auguste says. “It’s not known to the public, but the northern entrance to the palace serves as the checkpoint in and out. The other three gates have been closed citing ‘repair’ and are being closely monitored. She has plans to have them shut permanently once the construction on the Everlasting Rose is complete.”
The mention of the prison sends a shudder through me. The images of the Fashion Minister and the Beauty Minister are ever present in my mind. I can’t close my eyes without seeing the anguish in their eyes and the pain in their faces. So many people are suffering, and it’s up to us to end it.
Lady Pelletier taps her finger on the table. “We should go in through the queen’s tunnels and bypass the single checkpoint.” She turns to me. “That is how Arabella smuggled you and Amber out after you woke Charlotte.”
Lady Arane purses her lips and considers. “The element of surprise....Hmmm...”
“Sophia has discovered those passageways,” Auguste interjects, sucking all the hope out of the room like air in a pierced post-balloon, sending it plummeting to the ground. “As Regent Queen, she was briefed on the tunnels, as is protocol.”
“We don’t have time to send someone to find the right way in and report back. Once the coronation happens, Orléansian law is clear. We will have to topple the entire cabinet,” Lady Arane says.
“Maybe it needs to be erased and remade!” someone else shouts.
The group explodes with opinions. Their voices agitate the teacup dragons in my waist-sash. The various ideas swirl around me, none of them settling or feeling like the right thing to do.