Love and Duty by Catherine Young

Author:Catherine Young [Young, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2022-09-01T17:42:21+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Roseli woke to the sound of the door opening and her mother’s worried voice. “Roseli, they said you were hurt.”

Still half-asleep, she called back, “Mother.”

Beside her, Lucia jerked awake, sending them both tumbling from the sleeping mat onto the icy floor. It took a second to untangle themselves from the blankets.

By the time Roseli sat up, her mother had turned her back. “You two didn’t waste any time, did you?” Her tone was an odd mix of aggravation and relief.

Roseli stood awkwardly, brushing at her rumpled clothes. “You can turn around. We are fully dressed.”

She turned and froze. “Your arm…”

“Just minor cuts,” Roseli promised.

They stared at each other. Roseli noticed she was wearing a rumpled dressing gown. She’d likely come straight from her panic room to Roseli’s. Her face was drawn thin with worry, and there were dark circles beneath her eyes. Seeing her like that unsettled Roseli. What had the guards told her mother about her injuries to cause her to rush through the palace in such a state?

“You’re all right, then?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

The moment stretched.

“Have you checked on Roxane?” asked Roseli.

“Not yet, but she’s safe. The guards said they had to lock her in with the youngest Harper boy. She had him in her room last night when the alarm sounded and wouldn’t go into the safe room without him. When did those two happen, anyway?”

Roseli had to fight down a laugh, “A while ago.”

Her mother rubbed at her temple. “I see.” When she looked up, she seemed to finally take note of Lucia. The shirt the Calliopean princess had borrowed from the cabinet was short-sleeved and didn’t cover the thick white bandages on her arm.

Her mother’s eyes narrowed. “You appear to be hurt worse than my daughter. The guards said you shielded her during the firefight.”

“I tried to, Your Majesty.”

She gave Lucia a respectful nod. “The guards also said you spotted the sniper before they did.”

“I come from a long line of incredibly paranoid women.”

“Considering your mother was a Varcian princess, that is not surprising. If you can continue to keep my daughter alive, I will find you to be an acceptable daughter-in-law.”

Lucia bowed. “I will do my best, Your Majesty.”

Her mother straightened, returning to business as usual. “Princess Lucia, you should go shower and see if you can’t make your hair look less like a startled hamster. You’re due in the Senate after lunch.”

“I thought the marriage contract had already been approved,” said Lucia.

“Yes, but you must still appear before the Senate to renounce all other loyalties and obligations, or they won’t grant you Delphian citizenship. This must be done before the marriage may proceed, another of their damn rules.”

“Is it safe for her to leave the palace?” asked Roseli.

“Obviously not, someone tried to shoot you both last night,” said her mother. “However, rumors of the assassination attempt have already leaked. At least one of you needs to appear publicly as soon as possible.”

“I’m going with her,” said Roseli. She would not let Lucia risk herself again, not without her.

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