“But dear Lucien, it would be for your safety,” Elle said with a practiced wide-eyed gaze of innocence.
Lucien thrust a finger in her direction. “Not a word from you,” he declared. “Severin is at least genuinely motivated by fear and affection. You just want to laugh at me!”
Elle nodded sincerely. “I do.”
“A transformation spell would take some preparation, but it could be done,” Lady Enchantress Angelique said.
Lucien swung to face her. “Even you have abandoned me, my Lady?”
“Would you research it, Angelique?” Severin asked.
Angelique’s smile was overly bright. “It would be my pleasure!”
It would seem Elle isn’t the only one eager to make a fool of me. Lucien folded his arms across his chest. “You three cannot be serious.”
“I hope it won’t come to such drastic measures, but I will do whatever is necessary to protect you, brother,” Severin said.
Lucien sighed and rubbed his eyes. “Bother the lot of you.”
Elle laughed.
“If you pardon the change of conversation, when do you expect other Summit attendees to arrive?” Angelique asked.
“Most are scheduled to arrive over the next few days.” Severin began to sift through a package of papers he had brought with him.
“Gemma and Craftmage Stil are greeting the Ringsted representatives. I estimate they will arrive in two days or so,” Elle said.
Lucien moodily scowled as he refilled his chalice and plopped down in a chair. Assassins, Summits, and transformation spells. Pah! I cannot wait for all of this to blow over.
Ariane pinned the tail of her hair braid into the bun at the base of her neck as she peered up at the chandelier that hung from the ceiling and wondered what poor footman she could corner into helping her lower it.
Chandeliers get incredibly dusty. Since this music parlor hasn't been used since last fall, I bet this one is filthy! She grinned as she tugged a soft cloth between her hands.
Ariane loved her job. She found supreme satisfaction in cleaning the filthy nooks and crannies of the royal palace, and she adored the organized, predictable patterns the maids lived in.
“We can lower that crystal monstrosity by this rope over here, if my memory serves me correctly.”
Ariane, not having heard anyone enter the salon, jumped and whirled around. When she saw it was Princess Elle who lounged against the doorframe, she dropped her cloth in surprise, then threw herself into a hurried curtsy. “Your Highness.”
Princess Elle raised an eyebrow. “You are Ariane, the palace maid who has loyally served the royal family for two years now.” She strolled into the room with her hands clasped behind her back. “And just this morning you rescued Prince Lucien himself from two rogue magic users.”
Ariane was not surprised the princess had already uncovered her background—she had once been a Ranger, after all. “I thank you for your kind words, Your Highness, but it was the prince who rescued himself.”
Elle snorted. “You brought a mage to his knees. That is not an easy feat.” The princess briefly rubbed the ridge of her long nose and studied Ariane.
Ariane kept a pleasant smile in place even though she wanted to fidget. What I did was unusual, yes, but is it really worthy of this scrutiny?
“Where did you learn how to debilitate him? The report said you nailed him at the back of the skull and then in the throat.”
“My father was a soldier in his younger days, and then an honor guard for Duke Villette.”
“Your father was not at the scene of the attempted assassination,” Elle wryly pointed out.
“No, but ever since I was young, he's given me some advice that I was to put into practice if my life should ever be in danger.”
“And the advice was…?”
“To fight dirty, break all rules of conduct, and attack my opponent when they were the least prepared. I was to inflict the most amount of damage I could manage before fleeing.” Ariane paused. That sounds rather ominous now that I say it out loud.
Surprisingly, the princess grinned. “I believe I would like your father. He sounds like a logical man. At the very least, his training effectively saved Lucien's life. On behalf of the royal family, please allow me to thank you for your act of bravery today,” Elle said, bowing her head a little.
Ariane’s cheeks started to ache from holding her smile. “I am glad I could be of service.”
Princess Elle flicked her black bangs out of her eyes. “The King wishes to reward you when he makes an official declaration. But in the meantime, I want to request your temporary services. As you have probably heard, Severin and I are holding a Summit at our home, Chanceux Chateau. With so many members of royalty and country representatives flooding the chateau, our staff will be unable to keep up. My father-in-law has graciously given me permission to temporarily recruit servants from the palace to ease the burden. I've already spoken to your superiors, but I would like for you to be one of the maids sent to Chanceux. Are you opposed to this?”
I wonder if their staff remember to clean under headboards… Ariane shook her head. “Not at all, Your Highness. It is an honor.”
Princess Elle snorted. “It's all a royal pain, that's what it is. But I appreciate your enthusiasm.” She smiled, her expression was far bigger and fun-loving than most nobles would approve of. “You'll receive official papers tonight, but tomorrow morning, you'll be escorted with the rest of the temporary staff to Chanceux. Both Severin and I thank you in advance for your help.”
“Of course, Your Highness.” Sensing the conversation was coming to an end, Ariane curtsied again.
Princess Elle nodded, then glided from the room as soundlessly as she had entered it. “Take care, Ariane. And thank you, once again, for your bravery.” When the princess closed the door behind her, Ariane waited two seconds before she released the breath she had been holding and shook her head in surprise.
“Well, I never thought I'd have a royal thanking me.” Ariane checked to make sure her hair was still pulled back into its smoothed bun, and that no tendrils had escaped. “And I certainly never thought I would ever serve during an important governmental gathering.”
Ariane had only vague ideas of what the Summit was for.
She knew over the last few years things had become progressively more dangerous—her grandfather and grandmother were forever telling her so whenever she stopped to visit them—and the Summit was supposed to address that.
But, having worked in the palace for two years, Ariane hadn’t ever witnessed any of the common rumors—increased goblin attacks, rogue mages running amok, and more.
Ariane reached for the cleaning cloth she had dropped and clenched it in her hands when she recalled the attack on Prince Lucien. I guess I can’t say that anymore. Perhaps the rumors are right, and darkness is stirring.
Chapter 2
The Arrogant Frog