The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 17

PRINCE CASSIAN

The palace had always buzzed with secrets, most of them harmless, some dangerous. But this one, if it spread any further, could burn down everything.

I made my way toward the eastern hall where most of the cleaning staff passed through. I didn’t rush. Running would look suspicious. And the last thing I needed was to give the gossip more legs.

Two younger servants bowed hastily as I approached.

“Your Highness,” one mumbled, eyes dropping to the floor.

I stopped them with a lift of my hand. “Relax. I just want to talk to you.”

They hesitated. I could practically feel their fear.

I lowered my voice. “I need to know what you’ve heard. Be honest. Tell me about the rumors that have been going around in here."

They glanced at each other, then back at me. The taller one swallowed hard. “Only whispers, Your Highness. That a lady, one of the girls, a Lady Cassandra was seen leaving your chambers. That she was in your chambers for a very long time.”

“And who started this whisper?” I asked tightly.

The shorter one spoke this time. “One of the laundry girls said she recognised her robe. Cream silk with lace. Not many of the ladies have robes like that, too sheer.”

Of course, they noticed. It was hard to miss when the robe left nothing to the imagination.

I reached into my coat and pulled out a pouch of coin, far more than their monthly wages for a whole year. I handed it to them quietly.

“You didn’t see anything. You didn’t hear anything. In fact, you must have been mistaken because nobody was seen entering the Prince's chambers. Spread the word. You understand?"

Their eyes widened, but they nodded, gripping the pouches like it held their lives. “Yes, Your Highness. We understand.”

I moved on.

Down two halls, past the kitchen, I found the other two, the guards stationed near my wing last night. They tried to act like they hadn’t been waiting for me to show up.

I gave them the same look I’d given a hundreds of soldiers before. Cold. Unflinching. The look that said you’re either on my side, or you’re nothing to me.

“Did you see anyone near my door last night?”

One of them hesitated. “Your Highness..."

“I’m not asking for a report,” I cut in. “I’m offering you both something more valuable than honesty, protection. And coin. If you breathe a word of what you saw to anyone, especially anyone connected to the Dragon Queen, you’ll regret it. Understood?”

They both nodded quickly.

Another pouch. Another bribe. Another crack in the wall that held my mother at bay.

But it wouldn’t hold forever. But I would keep trying.

......................................

By the time I reached the corridor near the old observatory, night had fully fallen. I had sent word to Cassandra through one of the kitchen girls I trusted. We needed to talk.

I found her pacing near the tall arched window, her arms crossed, eyes wild. When she saw me, she practically launched toward me.

“Cassian, we’re in trouble, real trouble,” she hissed. “I heard the other girls talking. They know. The Queen knows. Do you know what they’ll do if they find out it was me?”

I caught her by the arms, grounding her. “Cassandra. Breathe. I need you to relax."

“I am breathing,” she snapped, clearly not. “I knew this would happen. I told myself not to go to you. And then I did, and now..."

“Stop,” I said firmly. “Look at me.”

She did, reluctantly, her eyes glassy with panic.

“I’ve already started dealing with the rumours. The servants who saw you have been... reminded to stay quiet. Give it time, a day or two and everything will die down."

“And the Queen?” she whispered.

“She’s sniffing around. Which is why I need to know if there’s anything else she could find if she suspects that it's you. Anything that could make her point her claws straight at you. Tell me whatever it is now, so I can deal with it. Because if she finds out, she'll use it against you."

Cassandra stilled.

I saw it, the flicker of fear just behind her eyes. I waited.

Then she spoke, barely above a whisper. “There is something.”

I didn’t blink.

She glanced around like the shadows might overhear. “I wasn’t supposed to be in the Selection. My family, Cassian, we... we lied. I'm not a virgin. My husband died after our marriage was consummated, not before."

Her words hit me, but I didn’t flinch.

I already suspected that, but I didn't think too much about it, mostly because I didn't care. My mother on the other hand, she cared greatly about that sort of thing."

“They hired a physician to fake the examination results. Paid him well to give me a clean report. They wanted me here so that I could increase my chances of finding another husband. If that gets out…”

She trailed off, her voice cracking.

I exhaled slowly. “Anyone else know?”

“No. Just my father, my mother, and the physician.”

I nodded. “Then we make sure it stays that way. As long as that secret doesn’t surface, no one, not even my mother, will have proof. Let her dig. Let her question robes and rumours. If she doesn’t find anything solid, she’ll move on.”

“But if she finds the physician.....”

“She won’t,” I said, with steel in my voice. “Because I’ll make sure he disappears, quietly. And if your father values your position in this palace, he’ll keep his mouth shut too. I'll find the physician for you and make sure he stays quiet. Let's hope my mother doesn't get to him first."

She stared at me. “Why are you helping me? This could ruin you, too.”

I brushed a strand of hair from her face, my thumb pausing on her cheek. “Because it'll ruin you even more; if the rumours leave the palace walls, you would be ruined forever. And I brought you into this mess; I shouldn't have invited you to my chambers."

She looked like she might cry.

But instead, she nodded.

And for the first time that day, I felt the chaos slow, just a little.