After the ambush, the Navíste knights interrogated the captured mercenaries and found out that they were from the Company of the Hook and had been hired by Count Jovan Galamez, the Lord of Salancia. Their intent had been to kill the Royal Family. The king was in a grave condition, and instead of going all the way to Navitium, they decided to head to Lux Aestius, the summer home of the Royal Family and territory of the Crown Prince. The palace was only a days march away.

Angelica's participation in the battle against the Company of the Hook seemed to have sprung up gossip around her. Her sister told her that the knights were calling her the Thorn of Florjes. It wasn't too bad. After the battle, when Angelica reentered her carriage, she had mused, "Prince Jacquez fought fiercely to defend the king and queen."

Myeria snorted. "More like just the queen."

Angelica glanced at her in surprise. "Why so?"

Myeria sighed in frustration. "You seem to know nothing, Angelica! The queen had an affair with Prince Jacquez before she married King Gallo."

Angelica was in shock. "Is it true?" she asked her mother.

The duchess gave a wan smile. "The queen did indeed court both the king and Prince Jacquez before her betrothal was made final. She was quite. . . active when she was younger. I remember her when I visited Navitium before the kingdom fractured. She was willful and free, going through relationships like King Gallo through his drinks." Myeria and Angelica's mirthful laughter filled the carriage. Their mother continued: "Anyhow, the notion that Prince Jacquez and the queen got intimate is not considered at all. For a short time, it was investigated by the Lord Constable, Basile Laurent before the Royal Family shut down the investigation."

Angelica considered this information. "Do you think it's possible the queen is having an affair with Prince Jacquez right now?"

Lilliana snorted. "Why it's almost certain that they are."

When they reached the palace, Angelica was stunned. The palace dwarfed la'Manse delle Simia. The palace was a beautiful marble white accented with gold. Seven pillars lined the front, each dedicated to one of the Angels of the Holy Virtues. The two-story palace stretched out to both sides, perfectly symmetrical. A central spire shot up from the palace and heralded a statue of the Angel King. The procession stopped and they all left their carriages and passed through the gates of Lux Aestius. The courtyard was massive and lined with frangipani trees. The stones were arranged, shaded, and shaped in such ways that they depicted the crowning of the First King of Sersalvon.

"Welcome," Crown Prince Francisco announced, "to my home! Just a step up from Benedict's little place, I would presume?" His jape only provoked a small amount of nervous laughter. The mood was too grim for jests and japes. The king was not in a stable condition and his chances of survival were looking slimmer and slimmer. The thought of Francisco ascending to the throne was not a comforting one.

As soon as the highborns settled in their rooms, a message was sent to the Lord Contable to make for Lux Aestius. Francisco had also called for Arch-Cardinal Stellas to make for the palace. The Crown Prince seemed to have assumed his father would not survive and was preparing for a quick coronation. It seemed most of the highborns had accepted that Gallo would die as well, for they began deferring to the Crown Prince with even more respect than before.

With little else to do, Angelica decided to accompany her sister to the lounge hall where gossip was the currency. She had decided that she would simply listen and not speak besides asking a question here and there.

Twenty minutes in and she was very much regretting her position.

Everyone was talking about the Crown Prince. Francisco this; Francisco that; Francisco once did this; Francisco once did that; Francisco fought very bravely against the Company of the Hook.

Angelica snorted at that.

The highborn young women all silenced and looked at her. Myeria had a small smirk on her face and said sweetly, "You have something to say, little sister?"

Angelica licked her lips which had gone dry. "Well. . . uh. . . Prince Jacquez fought fiercely as well! Just as much as the Crown Prince."

One of the girls raised a gloved hand to her face. "Oh my! You know, I heard something once about Prince Jacquez."

Like a fifteen little birds, the girls all began chirping, "What? What did you hear? Oh I want to know!"

The girl was grinning and began shush everyone. Once all of the ladies had quieted, she whispered, "My father, Basile Laurent, the Lord Constable, did an investigation on the relationship between Prince Jacquez and Queen Cecila." Suddenly, a sense of dread seemed to blanket the little group. It soon gave way to what felt like sinful curiosity. Everyone here knew the risks that were presented whilst talking about this subject, but no one left. The Laurent girl continued, "When his investigation was shut down, he was in the middle of questioning the midwife who delivered the Crown Prince. Immediately after, the midwife was dismissed from the Royal Household and her entire family was soon virtually enslaved. She has scarce been heard of after. . ." Angelica zoned out after. The daughter of the Lord Constable immediately began to speak of other, unimportant matters.

Angelica decided to retire to her rooms. As she rounded a corner on her way to her rooms, she bumped into Benedict. Literally.

The prince caught her and began to apologize immediately. "I'm sorry, my lady! Forgive me, my lady! I didn't me―"

"Oh shut up for Zachariah's sake!" Angelica snapped.

Benedict stepped back as if he had been struck. "I'm―"

"If you say 'I'm sorry,' or anything like it one more time I'm going to smack you."

Multiple times Benedict opened his mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out. "Okay," was what he eventually said.

The two stood there for some time, not saying anything and looking at anything besides each other's faces. Benedict broke first. "So. . . were you coming from the lounge hall?"

"Yes."

Benedict waited.

Angelica said nothing.

One look at his face told Angelica that Benedict was uncomfortable beyond what she thought was possible. The prince broke the silence once more: "I suppose I should be. . ."

Then, an idea popped into Angelica's head. "Wait!" she yelped. "Can I ask a favor of you?"

Benedict considered for a moment before answering, "Yes."

A small smile spread across Angelica's face. "If you can, ask some of Queen Cecila's servants about the midwife who delivered Prince Francisco. I know that she was dismissed but. . . the reasons seem murky."

Benedict immediately became suspicious. "Why do you want to know this?"

Angelica remained calm and put on a sweet smile. "Well, I need some sort of gossip if I want to move up the unofficial ranks of the highborn young women hierarchy."

Benedict narrowed his eyes. "Don't try to play me for a fool."

Angelica expressed her frustration inwardly. Then, she played a risky card: "Benedict, I may be on to something, something that can taint your brother's reputation."

"And why should I help you do that?"

Angelica's smile turned sinister. "Benedict dear, the king is bound to die soon and who will ascend to the Serpent Throne and wear the Serpent Crown? Francisco. Sersalvon has broken under King Gallo, but imagine what would happen under the reign of King Francisco Navíste, the Second of His Name. Would you want that for this kingdom, Benedict? Your kingdom?"

Benedict grimaced as if she had put salt on an open wound. "Yeah. . . Francisco's going to become king. . . Alright, Angelica. I'll do it." And he walked away without saying another word.

***

Duke Terossi sent for Gerard, Captain Tomas, and Salvador in the morning after they had arrived in Bethebleu. When Gerard saw Salvador he noticed the cold, almost dead look in the young man's eyes. He sucked in a deep breath; Salvador wore that face every time he killed a lot of people. The first time Gerard saw that face had been four years ago at the Siege of Aurviero, a castle in west Sersalvon, specifically the County of Alenajo. They had been in Aurviero, under siege when Salvador and Gerard had decided to sally out to the enemy camp in an attempt to sow discord. The two had ended up getting separated and by the time Gerard had found Salvador, the fourteen-year-old boy had been surrounded by a pile of dead bodies that included a dozen knights and the enemy commander and count. It was not the last time Gerard would see that expression.

And now, four years later, he was seeing it again. "What's wrong?" he whispered to Salvador.

The Peasant jerked in surprise before realizing that it was Gerard who had spoken. "Nothing. . . I'm fine."

"Don't play coy with me, Salvador," Gerard responded. "I've known you for eight years."

The boy rolled his eyes. "It's nothing. But I'll tell you this: I think my plan worked."

The screeching of the herald (it was announcing, but Gerard couldn't tell the difference) interrupted their conversation. The mood in the hall was grim and of mourning. It was completely different than from what if felt like yesterday. The trio walked to the center of the hall and waited for the Duke of Benevo to speak. They were alone in the ducal throne hall.

The duke stared at them for a long time, not saying anything and seemingly analyzing them. When he spoke, his voice was low. "Yesterday, an assassin infiltrated the barracks and killed over a dozen fine soldiers. Amongst the dead was Lord Martim, Sir Rodrigo, Dame Matilda, and Count Horado of Seseblanc."

It took all of Gerard's strength to not jerk his head toward Salvador.

"Who," the boy asked. The nerve.

Duke Terossi narrowed his eyes at Salvador. "My best commander. He oversaw the defense of Seseblanc City against you Sersalvonians when he was but a boy.

"When the assassin fled, he left his handbow which was made of Evrúopean design―" One of the servants held up what Gerard recognized to be Captain Tomas's handbow. "―and what we have identified as a Réaltimarine badge."

Another spy in Bethebleu? A Réaltimarine assassin? And Gerard knew who the culprit was. Tomas's face remained blank although it was quite clearly his handbow that was in the duke's possession.

The duke held his hand up for silence. "It is obvious that the Réaltimarines are seeking to cripple our military intellect. This is a direct attack on the Kingdom of Barbaruda and I have sent the queen a letter descripting the events that just took place. In the meantime. . . my advisors and I have concocted a way to retaliate against the Réaltimarines."

The duke fell silent and seemed to be waiting for something. Gerard shifted his weight from leg to leg in discomfort.

Salvador, ever the brave and the bold, said, "Are you going to tell us or not?"

The duke glared at Salvador but he said, "Yes. We have decided that the two of you shall be sent to Grenaserrat City; you shall foment rebellion amongst the slaves."