Granted, they often pretended not to know who had sent assassins or who was planning an invasion (as Lucien’s experience with Arcainia had proven), but they always knew who was involved.
That no one could flush up a scent told Lucien something: it was not a matter of battle tactics or excellent agents. Severin would have found them out by now if it were so.
Which means it is not a matter of war, but of global power. And obviously no one can pinpoint the source. This meant Lucien’s best hope—as little as he liked it—was to search the continent’s history.
History, as Scholar Pierre had said, endlessly repeated itself.
Which meant there had to be a clue somewhere in the past that would give Lucien a new starting point. He very much doubted history would tell him exactly who was responsible—if it did, in fact, it was not a good sign—but if it could give him a different angle to search from, Severin might be able to find something new.
Lucien already had several calculated guesses about their foe he had planned to discuss with Severin after the Summit, but Ariane didn’t need to know that. He just had to see if he could find anything to prove his conjectures.
He blew into Severin’s study without hesitation, instantly pouncing on Severin’s bookshelves. It was filled mostly with military information, but he had some excellent history books. Lucien plucked several from the shelves, then set them down on his desk directly next to the journal of the ancient Verglas King with the funny name—Steinar.
Lucien glanced at it for a moment, then pushed it aside so he could open the first book. He rolled up the sleeves of his fancy linen shirt and popped the top two buttons open. If I’m going to be stuck researching like a library trainee, I may as well be comfortable. Because I’m not giving up—no matter how many weeks or months this takes.
Ariane had asked for the unifying factor behind whatever darkness was crawling across the country, and Lucien was going to find it for her.
After her conversation with Lucien, Ariane was at a loss as to what she should do. So, she returned to what she did best: cleaning.
Although more and more of the representatives left, the Summit was still considered in process. Ariane thought she was being very discreet when she reported back to Heloise and asked for new duties. The housekeeper refused. It took a full day of Ariane pleading her case until Heloise gave in and assigned her several salons to see to—most likely to shut Ariane up than for any real purpose. But she wouldn’t give her back her maid’s uniforms, so she had to work in the day dresses provided by Elle.
Ariane’s preferred salon was filled with musical instruments—the giant harp and arrangement of lap harps being her favorite. She didn’t dare touch the instruments—though she wanted to, for they needed a good cleaning—but she enjoyed the sight of them all the same.
She was rolling up a rug to drag outside the music-themed salon when Elle descended on her four days after she and Lucien had talked.
“You don’t have to clean anymore, you know.” Elle appeared rather suddenly in the doorway, making Ariane’s heart stop.
She quickly dropped into a curtsey. “Am I no longer allowed to?” Ariane asked when her heart returned to its normal pace. She had wondered how Severin and Elle would react to Lucien’s news—for he surely wouldn’t keep it a secret from them. They are too honorable to shun me, which is why I thought they might forbid me from cleaning and begin to try to draw me into their company. Very lovely of them, but also very dangerous if Lucien decides he cannot stand the pressure.
Elle laughed and flopped down in the settee, then muffled a big yawn. “Good heavens, no. Are you joking? I, more than anyone, know that old habits die hard, and sometimes it’s very comforting to return to what you know. Do whatever you like! I only wanted to be sure you understood we weren’t expecting you to work as a maid anymore.”
Ariane twisted the rag she had been using to buff spots off portrait frames. “What else can I do, if I am not a maid?”
“You mean what is your role now?” Elle asked.
Ariane nodded.
“I imagine you will not accept future-princess as a suggestion?”
Ariane sighed. “He told you?”
Elle laughed. “He had to. Severin was worried something had gone wrong with his transformation back into a human when he entered his study and found Lucien surrounded by towers of books. You should be proud, Ariane. You have managed to do the one thing no one else in Loire could and induced that pig-headed sop into working.”
Ariane shrugged.
“It’s been very eye-opening,” Elle said after a few moments of silence. “I always knew Lucien was smart—he couldn’t run the Rangers so well otherwise. But the questions he has come up with and the way he searches through books…he is much more intelligent than I gave him credit for.”
“I think he counts on that,” Ariane said. “He is afraid of disappointing people, of being considered a failure.”
Though Elle’s gaze was on Ariane, her eyes seemed to go right through her. “It’s sad. The fear of failure seems to be a vice that cripples many. What they don’t realize is that failure is inevitable, but it is not a horrible thing. It may be painful and hurtful, but if you are unwilling to risk, you will never experience the glory of what you could be.”
Ariane shifted uncomfortably, realizing the thought applied to both herself and Lucien. Fear of failure hadn’t been something that had previously bothered Ariane, but now she had something to lose: Lucien. It was why she had requested Lucien’s test, why she was afraid he would one day regret loving her. It was awful and frightening, and it was partially why Ariane was back to cleaning, for she didn’t want to think about the possible outcomes of the future.
And Lucien has lived with this sort of weight all of his life. Incredible.
“You’ve done a great thing, Ariane,” Elle said. “And I believe it means more than you know.”
Ariane forced a smile to her face as she picked up an empty bucket she had used to water the potted plants. “You mean I have proven Lucien has what it takes to be king?”
“No. I mean it proves you are a worthy partner for him.”
Ariane dropped her bucket. “I beg your pardon?”
Elle arose with a smile. “Knowing that you love him and seeing your reaction, I can deduce that this is not an attempt to push him away, but a calculated test. You showed solid, sound judgement.”
Ariane hesitated. “Do you really think so?”
“Yes.” Elle moved to the door but lingered in the frame. “You may not think yourself a good candidate, and perhaps you aren’t. But neither is Lucien. Marriage is about the whole—not the two pieces that make it up. If you grow sick of cleaning, feel free to join Emele in the gardens—though it can be awkward to watch her flirt with her husband, Marc. Otherwise, you could always join us in the few remaining meetings…or watch Lucien.” She winked and was out the door.