Chapter 97 - Pacing (1/2)
There was an awkward standoff when my husband and my one-time suitor both arrived at my side at the same time. I accepted Duke Orla's water reluctantly, unwilling to actually drink it in case he put something weird in there.
”Thank you for your assistance but I believe my husband can take it from here,” I informed him as politely as I could.
He gave me a stiff bow. ”It is a gentleman's duty to see to a lady's needs. Please excuse me, Your Highnesses.”
Duke Orla turned and stalked away in the other direction. I heaved a sigh of relief as he went, dumping the water out into a floral arrangement next to me. I had gotten rid of him for now but my sense of unease about our conversation remained.
Was I being paranoid? Even if I was…paranoia was how people stayed alive in this world. Franz had already proven that because Mariela and the baby were safe and sound despite Sigmund's best efforts to breach the fortress their quarters had become.
Al raised an eyebrow at me and I realized I had a bit of explaining to do. I had put on quite a bit of a show back there.
”Thanks for saving me. I think Duke Orla has been spying on us,” I whispered anxiously.
”What did he say to you?”
”I might be paranoid but I get this feeling…”
I explained my thoughts based on his earlier wording and Al looked troubled. I hadn't been wrong about this sort of thing before. We might in be some seriously deep water. My only hope was that we didn't drown.
It was difficult making it through the rest of the party after that. The atmosphere was so tense I thought I might scream. But I didn't, because princesses weren't allowed to react like that.
Over the next two days I repeatedly told myself that everything was going to be fine and we were going to make it out of here. Helping Franz in place of Marcy had been the only thing I had (at least so far) successfully managed to keep on track.
As long as he won the vote, the king died on time, and the people revolted we would be good to go. So long as we didn't caught up in the violence. Then Al and I would be home free.
”It's going to be fine,” Al reassured me as I helped him with the ridiculous amount of buttons on his most formal coat. ”The proposition is going to pass. Then things will progress the way they're supposed to, right?”
He knew that the only part of the novel I still cared about keeping on track was ensuring Franz became king. Especially now that he had promised to help us restore Al's homeland. I wanted our future to be set more than anything.
”I certainly hope so,” I muttered. ”You have to tell me how everything goes the second they release you for the day.”