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THEO HEARD THE DOOR shut behind him as Rose walked out of the room, followed by one of the valets sent to fetch Hebert.
Theo felt Rose leave, rather than saw her; he knew Rose well enough to know she was unsure of leaving him with her father, but he also knew she wanted to take care of her problem with her uncle.
I’ll bet anything she’ll be back here in record time with the queen. Theo could not fully suppress a smile at the thought. He kept his eyes off the king and hoped His Majesty would not mistake his amusement for mockery.
Moments passed before Stefanos sighed. “I think it’s about time you and I had a talk,” he finally said.
“What is it, Your Majesty?” Theo asked, keeping his tone flat.
“You brought me the Rose Ruby back,” he said. “Just as I brought it back to Leea’s father, decades ago.”
Theo nodded, still keeping his eyes on the ground. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Tell me how you came to find it. In detail. I know of your family’s history, and I know your aunt, with your grandmother’s instruction, would have been a formidable opponent.”
Theo obliged the king, telling him of his grandfather’s wish to meet with Annalora, to ask her to stop making the tapestries, after discovering she was responsible for the one Queen Juliette had in her palace. He did not tell the king about Everon, or about how Everon was responsible for the death of so many of his family members. He told him how he found the ruby inside a box, and how he had been protected long enough by the barrier that his aunt’s magic and the Magdust had been unable to affect him.
“Before I left for Havilah, I made sure to take care of my aunt’s cottage.” There was no need to tell him he had Bachas and Elva place a protective spell on it while it burned to the ground. “Since her tapestry was not finished, the mercenaries are likely still waiting on her.”
As he finished his account, Theo glanced up at the king, watching as Stefanos toyed with the Rose Ruby. When the king said nothing, Theo added, “I thought Rose would be able to use the power of the ruby to save herself from Magdalina’s curse.”
At his remark, Stefanos looked up at him. “I hope you’re right,” he said. “The kingdom would absolutely rejoice.”
“I know she is beloved by her people.”
“And you?”
Theo felt the heat rise in his cheeks as he nodded. “She will make a fine ruler,” he said calmly.
His answer seemed to satisfy the king, who sat back in his chair. “I suppose after all of this,” he said slowly, “I owe you an apology.”
“What?” Theo blinked in surprise. “Uh, I mean ... excuse me, Your Majesty?”
Stefanos sighed. “After your family saved me from Magdalina,” he explained, “I was warned that the relief would be temporary. Over the years, I have noticed that ... I have begun to wonder if Magdalina’s power was once more taking hold of me. As such, I worried that your family would try to capitalize on my fate.”
“You were worried we would take advantage of you?”
Stefanos nodded. “You can’t blame me, can you? Especially after you revealed to my daughter the truth of her curse, and then you became nearly inseparable.”
Theo decided to say nothing to that. Instead, he changed the subject. “You thought I was trying to get to you through Rose, weren’t you? I told her about her curse by mistake, and we became friends. You were worried.”
“It was unwarranted, as I see now,” Stefanos said. “And for that, I apologize.”
Theo clenched his fist and bowed his head in silence. He did not want the king’s remorse.
Stefanos did not seem to notice. “As you have brought me the Rose Ruby,” he said, “I do believe that I should reward you.”
“I don’t want a reward,” Theo murmured, before he could stop himself. He saw Stefanos look at him, surprised. “Rose’s friendship means a lot to me.”
Stefanos rubbed his chin again thoughtfully. “You have been by her side all these years. I think it is time to make it official.”
Theo felt his breath catch. “You mean—”
“I think it is time you were properly knighted,” Stefanos told him. “You have returned the Rose Ruby to me, after all. It is no reward, either, before you object. You have earned the title.”
Theo exhaled slowly. “I would be most grateful, Your Majesty, to serve as my father and uncle have served Rhone.”
“Excellent. We will need more men like you, with the attack on Darkwood coming up,” Stefanos said. “And ... I think my daughter will approve.”
Theo smiled as he nodded. “Yes,” he said. “She will.”
“It’s settled then,” Stefanos said. He turned to his other valet at the far corner of the room. “Bring me my sword, if you please.”
Theo watched as the king came around the table and took his sword from the valet. “I have a request, Your Majesty,” Theo said. “I would like to wait for Rose to return.”
“Alright, I will grant your wish. While we’re waiting, you should take this back.” He handed Theo the Rose Ruby. “You seem to have good fortune when it comes to roses.”
“If you’re certain.”
Stefanos nodded. “I am. You will need it more than I do, if you are going to fight against Magdalina at Darkwood.”
“But what about your condition?” Theo asked.
“I am going mad because of my own choices as well as magic,” Stefanos said. “No matter what I do, I will not be able to fight off my fate forever. You might as well keep it, and use it to protect my daughter.”
Theo nodded, and before he could ask the king if the ruby would be able to save Rose from Magdalina’s curse, the door opened up, and Rose, breathless from dragging her mother behind her, stepped inside the room once more.
“I’m back,” Rose said, stepping up beside Theo. She took one look at her father and asked, “What are you doing?”
“Before Hebert gets here,” Stefanos said, “I’m going to knight this young man. You are going to be a witness, Aurora, so please take a step back. Once we’re done with this, we can get down to our other business.”
Theo knelt down before the king, barely listening as Stefanos made a speech about a knight’s duty to his kingdom and his reward. He met Rose’s gaze as he promised to protect and defend what was his, and swore his fealty to the kingdom unto death.
He felt the blade touch his shoulder, and then the other, and it was over.
“There you are,” the king murmured. “Sir Theo the Faithful, of Rhone.”
Theo rose to his feet, and he thought it was an odd moment to feel like his life was beginning all over again. He looked over at Rose and smiled.
Her eyes were glassy with pride, but he noticed when he came to stand beside her, she took a small step away from him.
“What’s wrong?” he asked her softly, as the king walked back to the other side of the table.
“Nothing,” she said. “I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you.”
She turned away from him for a moment. He thought he saw her rub her eyes before she looked back at him. “See? I told you that you were ready to be knighted.”
“All I need now is the promotion to your council,” Theo teased.
Rose went still.
“Sorry,” Theo murmured, realizing her discomfort.
Before Rose could respond, the door behind them opened once more.
Hebert had arrived.