To Deceive a Kingdom: A Princess & the Pea Retelling (The Shattered Tales) by Kathryn Radaker

Author:Kathryn Radaker [Radaker, Kathryn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-06T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

Aieldir

Over the next few days, I avoided Princess Imp— no, Ceris. I avoided Ceris. She had a name now.

Anyway, I avoided Ceris, not because I wasn’t wildly curious about her (because I was), but because I was concerned about the questions she might ask me. There were too many things I wasn’t prepared to answer, not until I knew her better.

But the logical part of my brain argued with me. How could I get to know her better if I was avoiding her? In fact, I’d put myself in quite the dilemma. How could I get my own questions answered if I didn’t speak to Princess I— no, Ceris!

I decided to solve that by going to Evla.

Like both my parents’ suites and mine, Evla’s rooms were located in the family wing. We each had a ground-floor sitting room for entertaining guests with double doors opening up into the courtyard. Above was an upper-level loft bedroom and dressing room with a second door that opened directly into a private interior corridor that only our family and our personal servants had access to. Since we were family and it was more convenient, I usually knocked at her upper-level door. But since I was here to talk about Ceris, it seemed only fitting that I use the same door I’d seen Ceris use.

I pounded on the door, which was almost immediately answered by an Evla who appeared very startled and confused to see me at the non-family entrance. “Aieldir!” she exclaimed. “What do—”

“Good morning, Evla!” I sang with my most princely, debonair smile. Then I launched into a breathless frenzied chatter. “Breakfast will be served soon. I do hope there’s fresh wilderberries today since it’s the perfect season for them. And speaking of the season, have you noticed this weather?”

Evla tried to respond, but I pushed through with my rambling. “Just the slightest hint of a chill, letting us know that fall is approaching. I think we ought to take a nice stroll through the courtyard on the way to breakfast together. Don’t you think that sounds nice? We have a long day ahead of us with the princess’s second test happening today.”

“Aieldir, wha—”

“It’s a shame the carriages only fit four passengers or you could ride with us,” I sped on. “I do hope it stays pleasant all day since we’ll be outside so much. After all, this pre-autumn weather never lasts long enough. Mind telling me what bizarre scheme you and Ceris are running?”

Although Evla’s face had been puzzled since the moment she saw me at her door, at that last question, her face grew ashen. “What did she tell you?”

I hoped my voice sounded thunderous as I replied, “Nothing. I know the game, and I know the players, but not the motive. I haven’t said anything to the king and queen yet, but I need you to explain what’s going on.”

Evla’s eyes narrowed. She seemed to have recovered from her shock quickly. “If I didn’t even tell Ceris that, what makes you think I’d tell you?”

It was my turn to be shocked.

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