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THEO IS BACK. HE IS finally back!
Despite their awkward reunion, Rose felt a surge of relieved happiness inside of her as she stood beside her best friend.
Rose watched as her father straightened up in his chair, listening as Theo began telling him of his journey to the Rhone-Aragonian border. She saw that the king was tired, and, likely overwhelmed, considering he had just had dinner with Isra and Philip to go over their wedding details.
He was probably irritated, too, Rose thought, knowing he had been happy to hear of Theo’s absence when Rose had arrived back at Havilah. He had never liked Theo.
“Your Majesty, while I was there, a small mercenary army was also there. They were waiting for their leader to send for them, and then they were to march on Rhone’s capital.”
King Stefanos narrowed his eyes at Theo. “What proof do you offer?”
“I saw it,” Theo said. “I saw it when I went to go and retrieve my aunt.”
“Your aunt?” Stefanos’ suspicion transformed into outrage. “What are you doing, consorting with that witch?”
Rose stepped forward. “Majesty, you can trust Theo,” she said. “He has always been loyal to the crown.”
“Your crown more than mine,” the king retorted.
“So?” Rose blushed. “He wouldn’t lie about something like this.”
“I’m not lying,” Theo insisted. From his tone, Rose knew he was trying to hide his frustration. She could not blame him for being insulted.
“I was able to find out that the army in question is acting under the orders of the Duke of Aragon,” Theo said.
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Uncle Hebert is behind the mercenaries?”
“It seems so. He commissioned an order from Annalora, my aunt,” he said quietly. He turned back to the king. “You know of my family’s past, Your Majesty. You know that my own mother worked to save your life once. It should not surprise you that my aunt has a different opinion on the matter.”
Rose watched as he bowed his head down, waiting for the king to answer. He caught her eyes with his for just a second, and she felt the shock of his admission.
No wonder he never wanted to talk about his family that much, Rose thought.
“I didn’t know about my aunt’s involvement until we caught Ambassador Rolez of Einish,” Theo said. “but since then I am convinced of her treachery.” Rose saw his hands tighten as they gripped the Rose Ruby, and Rose stepped forward.
“If you want proof,” Rose said, “we have it.”
Theo glanced over at her. “We do?”
“Yes,” she said. She pointed to the ruby in his hand. “This is the Rose Ruby, isn’t it, Majesty?”
Rose watched as her father’s mouth dropped open, and she struggled not to laugh. There was nothing he would hate more, she thought, than to acknowledge he had been wrong about Theo.
As Theo handed the gem to the king, Rose smiled. “The queen told me that Hebert was the one who had taken the Rose Ruby when he had to leave for Aragon,” Rose said. “He had it in his possession for the past several years. The fact he gave it to Theo’s aunt to make a Magdust tapestry should be all the proof we need to show that he’s after the crown. We can finally order him from the castle.”
Stefanos stared. “You’re right that this is the Rose Ruby,” he said at last. “And you’re right about Hebert. But it’s not so simple, Aurora. Getting rid of him will still be troublesome.”
“We can’t afford to go into battle with his troops,” Rose insisted. “Not when we’re only two weeks away from going after Magdalina. You have to stand up to him.”
“He still has supporters here, Aurora.”
“Who would support him now, knowing that he’s a traitor to you?”
“Plenty, I would imagine,” Stefanos said.
“Is there nothing you can do to convince him to leave on his own?” Theo asked.
“He’s here to make sure Leea receives a fair trial,” Stefanos said. “But I can’t take her to trial.”
“Because you know she did it,” Rose said. “You don’t want to convict her.”
Stefanos frowned. “I didn’t know it was her,” he said. “But I had a feeling. She would do anything to protect you, Rose, even if it meant killing me.”
“I still don’t see why she thought she was protecting me,” Rose muttered. “It only caused more trouble in the end.”
“She meant well.”
“But she planned poorly,” Rose shot back. “And we have to worry about cleaning up her mess.”
“Does Hebert love the queen?” Theo asked.
Stefanos leaned forward and put his head in his hands. “He has always been in love with her,” he said. “But now, there’s more than just Leea to consider. There is the crown. With Aurora’s curse drawing close, and the kingdom anxious about her fate, he sees a chance to take everything away from me. He would do it, too. He never forgave me for taking the Rose Ruby from him in the first place.”
Rose gaped at her father. “Hebert was the one who found the ruby?”
“He and I both headed to the Orlo Empire when we located it,” Stefanos said. “On the way back to Rhone, he attacked me for the ruby. I only won the fight, Aurora. Don’t look at me like that.”
Rose shook her head. “I can’t believe it.”
“Maybe,” Theo spoke up, “maybe you could use his affection for Leea to get him to go.”
“She’ll want to stay with Aurora.”
“But he wants her safe, right?” Theo looked over at Rose. “Maybe you can offer him a deal. If he leaves, you can pardon the queen for her crime.”
“And if he refuses to leave?”
“Tell him you’ll have to sentence her.”
Stefanos scowled. “That’s foolish. He would just attack and try to save her.”
“But he would give you just cause to fight, then,” Theo pointed out. “And with the army’s arrival, at least a week’s ride from the border, it would be hard to believe that he just called on his people to fight for Queen Leea. You can easily show your people that he is a traitor.”
“That’s right,” Rose agreed. “And you know the queen will agree to it for my sake.”
Stefanos considered it, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “I suppose you might have a point,” he muttered disdainfully to Theo. “I cannot ignore your proof, and Aurora trusts you.”
Rose felt her heart twist painfully as she stepped back. She watched as her father, for the first time she could remember, looked at Theo as more than a source of disappointment and hatred.
“Aurora,” Stefanos said. “Go and fetch your mother from the dungeon. I think we can take care of this tonight, don’t you?”
Rose felt her heart soar. “Yes, Majesty,” she said. “I will go at once. Theo and I can also pick up Uncle Hebert, if you’d like.”
“I’ll send for him,” he said. “I’ll trust you to fill your mother in on the plan, and secure her cooperation.”
“That should be fine,” Rose said. “Theo and I—”
“Your friend will stay here with me,” Stefanos said. “Now, go.”
Rose glanced over at Theo, who ignored her. She looked back at her father. He gestured toward the door. “Go, Aurora.”
She curtly bowed her head and then walked off, wondering what her father could possibly say to Theo while she was gone.