The Wicked Prince: A Little Mermaid Retelling by Rachel Rowlands

Author:Rachel Rowlands [Rowlands, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rachel Rowlands
Published: 2023-05-23T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Kyra wanted to scream – instead she clamped her hands together behind her back. An ideal chance to kill the prince, ruined.

“Who?” Rhydian asked. “Who died?”

“One of the servants,” said Nicholas, glancing at Kyra, whose heart dropped like a stone. Did he suspect her?

“I’m going to fetch Catarina and take her to her chambers—” Rhydian began. Before he could finish, Catarina returned from the balcony, her heels clicking against the wooden floor. A rush of air flowed in as the door closed behind her.

“Nicholas?” she said. “What are you doing here?”

“Someone else has died—”

“Nicholas,” Rhydian said in warning.

“What?” said Catarina. “Who?”

“A servant,” Nicholas explained. “It seems to be in the same manner as your aunt—”

“I told you!” Catarina cried, and she stomped across to Rhydian, glaring at him. “I told you it was suspicious and you didn’t believe me, even though you knew about Ruth’s face being mangled!”

Kyra’s lip twisted. Catarina wasn’t stupid, despite being spoilt.

“Nicholas, please.” Rhydian pressed a hand to the bridge of his nose. “Catarina has been hysterical enough about—”

“I’m standing right here!” Catarina shouted. “Address me as such! Hysterical? It seems I’ve been rather rational, actually, in light of this! The Officers of Light should be called to investigate this at once.”

“They’ve been informed already,” Nicholas told them. “One of the other servants found the body and I was close by, so they fetched me first. I spoke to Rhydian’s uncle, and he sent word to the officers via bluebird messenger, as a matter of urgency. They’ll be investigating.”

“They shouldn’t have acted without my say-so!” Spittle flew from Rhydian’s mouth, and his cheeks blossomed with crimson.

“They acted sensibly! The officers can investigate this properly, as they do with other unexplained possible crimes! Whatever is the matter with you?” Catarina demanded. “People are dying! This is no mere illness! It’s something more sinister. Why can’t you see that?”

“Cat, there’s no point adding senseless panic to the situation, especially if there’s been some kind of sickness spreading,” Rhydian snapped, and he stalked from the room.

Catarina looked horrified. She hitched up her dress and followed him, her shoulders drawn back, tears gleaming in her eyes. “You can retire for the night,” she told Kyra, as she left.

Silence fell as she was left alone with Nicholas.

“Do you think she’ll be alright?” Kyra found herself asking. Catarina was caught up in Rhydian’s toxicity, and she wondered if Rhydian truly loved her, or if he was marrying her to appease his family. Maybe he only thought he should marry her because he’d known her since childhood, and because of her bloodline. Did that mean he’d really loved Pearl? The conflicting thoughts made her head hurt.

“I’m sure she’ll be fine,” said Nicholas. He smirked. “Have you become friends with Catarina?”

“I wouldn’t say that.”

“Why don’t you come to my room?” said Nicholas, glancing to the door. “I think we should have that talk now. And maybe some alcohol.” He scraped his hair back from his forehead.

Kyra had been here long enough to know humans tended to gravitate towards “alcohol” when they needed to relax, or destress.

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