"I saw her with the crown prince. I am certain of it. I do not know her motive, but she was the last person with him. Ruby was with Aaron and I. She could not have done it."

"Ruby could have had help."

"And it could not be here either," Caroline countered.

Arielle fell silent, her eyes filled with doubt. But there was also an air of uncertainty, and Caroline felt it.

"I hope that you consider this information," she told Arielle. "I would hate to think that Belcourt will deliver a woman to her death when there are others who are walking around freely. For the months I spent here as your Belle, I have learned to appreciate Belcourt's laws."

Arielle slowly nodded and met her gaze. "I will consider your words, Caroline."

☙✾❧

Shortly after Caroline left, Arielle walked out of the drawing room, down the hall, and into the secret garden. Walking belowground, her steps echoed along the corridor. She knocked at the door and Venus opened it, her tawny face radiant. Looking behind the girl, she saw Leila sitting in front of a dollhouse. The two girls had been playing.

"Your Highness," she greeted as soon as she entered.

"What is the matter, Arielle?" asked Leila, her eyes on the doll in her hands. She was carefully braiding the black hair of the toy.

"A Belle came to me. She claims that Sasha was with Albert shortly before his death. They were playing chess inside a drawing room in the Common Court."

"You mean the Mistress of the Court of Flowers?"

"Yes."

Leila's hands paused. And then she continued. "What do you think?"

"Confused. She told me about Rothsker—Leo—being alive. Why would she do that?"

"Did your lover tell you about Leo?"

"No."

"Did you confront him?"

"Yes, of course."

Leila blinked. And finally, she gracefully turned her head to stare at Arielle. "Leo is alive."

"Apparently, he is."

"And the only people who could have possibly known about it are the members of the Royal Circus."

"Yes."

"Then it is possible she knows about Leo because she is a member of the Circus."

"But she is a woman. We know all Royals are men."

Leila smiled. "Our last High Priestess was a man. He became one because he was capable, and the High Priestess before him elected him to replace her because she believed his heart was with Belcourt. Our dear Albert saved Belcourt from his own father. Your father."

Arielle's jaw tightened. She knew how Albert fought for Belcourt against his own father. "I know how Albert fixed the incident. I need no reminder."

"Then I need not remind you it is not surprising either that the Royal Circus also admits women into their circle," Leila said, voice etched with impatience. "This alone should make you question why your lover never told you about Leo."

"He said that he was not aware. That not everyone in the Circus has knowledge of everything Blackwood plans."

"Then how could Sasha have discovered Leo being alive? It seemed quite easy, was it not? Did you believe her every word?"

"Yes, I did. I trust her. Trusted her." Arielle shook her head. "But why would she tell us? Why would she give us such important information?"

Leila smiled. "Perhaps like us, they are also looking for a rat."

The blood in her head drained down, and a shiver ran through her.

Leila's attention was back on her doll. "Did you go out and meet your lover after she told you about Leo?"

"Yes."

Leila's smile widened, but her eyes were piercing when she turned them to Arielle again. "Quite reckless, was it not?"

Arielle's head reeled. "She told me because she wanted to find out who their rat is."

Leila sighed and moved closer to her dollhouse, carrying her doll with her. "I could have you poisoned for five days because of this, Arielle. But you are my regent and I would not want rumors. Investigate the Mistress. And if she is proven guilty, send her to Sinhold. Now, leave us be. I want to play."

☙✾❧

Guards escorted the Duke of Remington, but they were stopped at Belcourt's first gate. He gained entrance after announcing his intentions. His guards, however, had to wait outside. The second gate was a little harder.

The Soldiers made him wait for nearly two hours before informing him that the Palace has given him permission to proceed to the Common Court. The Soldiers delivered him into one of the drawing rooms where Arielle was already waiting for him.

"Welcome to Belcourt, Your Grace," Arielle greeted with a smile. "We have talked before."

He just grunted.

"I hope you found Belcourt most welcoming."

He glared at the woman. "Of course, because you also welcome murderers here, as I have heard." He looked around before his gaze returned to Arielle. "I want to take my daughter home now."

She blinked. "But she is completely safe—"

"I do not care if you think she is safe under your protection. You also thought Belcourt is impenetrable, and yet a bloody crown prince was murdered here. I will provide my daughter the protection that she needs. If Belcourt can let the crown prince be murdered within their own walls, then I would not want my daughter here!"

"Caroline feels utterly safe here in Belcourt."

"Caroline is safe where I deem her to be safe. She is my daughter and I practically own her life," the duke said, intoning every word clearly.

Arielle let out a dramatic sigh. "She will not like this. She does not even remember you, Your Grace."

"I care not. Her life is more important."

"Why? Because she is to marry into the Durhams?"

"No, because she is my daughter and she has been through enough!" He jumped to his feet.

"Yet you say you own her."

"I said I practically own her, which I do not. But by law, I do have full authority. I will also demand my future son-in-law to give up his status as Belcourt's gentleman. I have nothing much to say. I only came here for this because Belcourt seems to have forgotten how to read. None of my letters were answered." He walked to the door, then paused. "While I appreciate the help you gave my daughter, I hope you understand when I say that I only wish for my family to leave in peace. I do not want anyone in my family associated with Belcourt. It is nothing personal, of course. It is simply my preference and that of my wife."

"Your wife?"

"The duchess, who else?"

"Are you saying that she also wants this? That she would rather have her child with her than put her in danger?"

The duke's eyes narrowed. "I suggest you do not speak about my wife with such condemnation, child. My wife would die protecting her children. And yes, she would rather protect Caroline herself than prolong her stay here. She is not even here, is she? You placed her in a villa, out in the open."

"She is with three Belcourt ladies trained to protect her. And she is in constant contact with our Soldiers."

"I do not care. I can give much more protection. After what happened with the prince, I do not want Caroline here." He looked around again. The muffled sounds of children's laughter seeped through the walls. "I like what you are doing here. You protect the children who do not have anyone like my wife and I." He looked at Arielle. "What I do not appreciate is the game of politics you play with the kingdom. And I truly hope to God it is not in the expense of these children. Have a good day, young lady. I will send Trent for Caroline."

☙✾❧

Caroline was with Jade and the other Belles in the former's villa, discussing Ruby's tragic fate. She did not want to come, but she had to.

"I visited her only once because I could not take the sight of her in that situation," said Summer, wiping tears from her eyes. "I wish it is not true. Ruby would never do it."

Caroline nodded, eyeing Jade. "I believe the same," she said.

"You do not know Ruby all that well, Carol, for you to judge," said Jade, her voice soft. "She may have secrets we were never privy to. We all do, do we not? Mayhap it just happens that Ruby's is a little darker."

"But she may have been manipulated," said another Belle. "By that Royal Circus they talk about. You know how Ruby is very friendly to many. She has a lot of friends not associated with Belcourt! Anyone of them could have muddled her judgement."

Jade sighed. "We have to wait, ladies," she said.

"Excuse me, milady," Jade's maid interrupted at the doorway. "A Soldier is here."

They turned to look at each other. "A Soldier?"

"Yes, milady."

"Why?"

"She is here for Lady Carol."

Caroline blinked. Her heart raced inside her chest. "Me?"

"Yes, milady." The maid looked over her shoulder and just as she did, a woman in a green cloak stepped inside the parlor. Gabrielle looked at Caroline, her face serious. "We have orders from the Palace, Caroline."

"What orders?" Caroline asked, her throat dry. The four Belles looked at her in various states of curiosity.

"You are to go home."

"To my villa?"

"No, my lady," said Gabrielle. "Home to your family. You are to prepare for your departure tonight. Pack everything you need."

She blinked. She did not expect it to be this soon. "But I was not—"

She heard Summer gasp. "They found her family?"

"Your family has given their final orders. You cannot contest it. They want you back now." Gabrielle stepped back. "I will escort you to your villa. I understand you are confused, but I will explain more on the way." To the other Belles, she said, "Please keep this matter a secret, ladies. Your Mistress will call for you soon."

As Caroline slowly stood, her eyes landed on Jade. The woman looked horribly pale.

Good Lord, may she have the strength to kill this woman first if she ever attempted to kill her again.

☙✾❧

Sasha descended from her carriage, the hood of her black cloak pulled up, hiding her face.

She walked up to the front doors of the villa and knocked.

When no answer came, she knocked again and waited patiently.

Soon, a butler swung the door open, and she rushed inside without warning. "Bring your master to the parlor," she ordered the old man.

The butler bowed and hurried upstairs.

Sasha took a long breath once inside the parlor. She pulled at the strings of her cloak and lay it on the sofa.

When Tanner sashayed inside the parlor, he found her standing in the middle of the room, looking at him with piercing blue-gray eyes. He must have recognized the fury because he stepped back.

"Why?" she demanded.

Tanner blinked, light brown eyes filled with panic, now filled with understanding. "I never told them who you are, Sasha."

Her nose flared. The slow blink she did was a stark contrast to the raging fury beneath the lids. "Why?"

He swallowed. "I wanted to save her."

She looked him straight in the eyes. "When?"

"Sasha, let me explain—"

"When, Tanner!" she demanded.

He wiped his face with his hands before running his fingers through his hair. "Not long after you became Darcy." He took a lungful of air, expanding his chest. "I didn't know who she was. I didn't know what to do after I found out."

"How much did you tell her, Tanner?"

"Not much. I am not that stupid."

"Were you trying to play with her? Manipulate her?"

He blinked. "No. I wanted to... I knew she wanted to be saved from Belcourt."

"Then she manipulated you."

"What? No, it is not—"

"You told her about Everleigh!"

His eyes closed. "I didn't mean to. I didn't—"

"And you told her about West going to the south."

"No, I did not! I tried to stop them, I did, but—"

Sasha walked toward him and slapped him across the face. "The Royals are waiting outside to take you to Keene. You shall remain there until the Royal Master figures out what to do with you."

He froze. "Royal Master?"

"They are on their way."

"They? Bloody hell, Sasha, what are you talking about? Is West coming back? He is alive?" He sounded hopeful, and if it was a different day, Sasha may have clung on to that hopeful tone—that mayhap Tanner could be innocent.

She did not answer. Walking past him, she exited the villa where Rider and five other Royals were already waiting.

"Take him," she ordered, and climbed into her carriage.

☙✾❧

"What are you doing here, Jade?" Trent asked as he climbed down the stairs of his villa. His carriage was already waiting, ready to take him to Caroline.

He would have felt terrible for Jade if he did not know what the woman did to Caroline. She looked pitiful with tears streaming down her face, her red hair tied in a simple knot behind her nape, her dress not appropriate for the evening. Her eyes were filled with fear and uncertainty.

"Are you going to her?"

"Yes."

"She may not welcome you."

"She has no choice. Her father has already decided."

She blocked her path. "But do you want her?"

"Jade, she is my fiancée. Of course, I want her."

"Because her father wants you to want her, yes? Because your parents agreed on it, yes?"

Trent sighed. "Jade, not tonight."

"She may not want you. She said so earlier. She didn't want to leave Belcourt. A Soldier had to escort her out of my villa because she refused to go!"

"She will eventually have to accept her fate." He walked around her and entered his carriage.

"You cannot leave me."

Her tone sounded like a threat.

"Go home, Jade. I will come to you soon," he said, giving her an act he wished would be the last. "Please."

☙✾❧

Sasha closed her fists over the top layer of her skirt. She could feel the veins on her neck engorging, but she could not bring herself to scream. The tears were there, but unlike before, they rarely came out.

She swallowed and tried to calm herself.

He had to be alive.

He had to be.

A shiver ran through her as the distant voice of her father whispered, "Be a good girl..."

It had been months since she last heard him. Now was a sign that things were about to get worse.

But she would be more than a good girl this time, she thought, relaxing her hands. Then she swallowed hard again.

She closed her eyes and told herself she was doing well.

She should be. For him. For the Circus. For Belcourt.

One hour later, Sasha stepped out of her carriage and walked along the front gardens of the Court of Flowers, remembering the days she spent here with West, those moments when she was utterly innocent of everything, of him and everyone else.

A few Belles greeted her goodnight as she passed them in the main hallway.

She climbed the stairs and went straight to her study.

Opening the door, she found Arielle and the three other Mistresses standing in the middle of the room, waiting for her. The three Soldiers standing nearby did not move.

"Sasha, you are stripped of your title as Mistress of the Court of Flowers," Arielle said, face impassive, eyes filled with fury. "After enough evidence of your treachery, the High Court shall immediately commence your trial."