Chapter 633
“Your Highness, please, go ahead.”
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Ignacio inclined his head. “My princess consort has been unwell for many days. The royal physicians cannot determine what it is. Though it seems like nothing serious, I would still ask Aurelius to move to the palace and examine her personally. For my wife’s sake.”
Ignacio’s tone was humble, courteous, almost deferential–impossible to refuse.
Aurelius turned his eyes toward Sebastian and Caitlin. Caitlin spoke first. “Aurelius, please go and look in on the Princess Consort. It won’t delay us long.”
Aurelius nodded. “Very well. If you ask it of me, I will not decline.”
With that settled, Ignacio gestured, and his trusted men led them toward the royal palace.
Graystone Castle.
On the high wall, Zora gazed down the road. By her reckoning, the convoy should already have arrived. As soon as they entered the castle, she intended to trade Xero for a hostage–whether Caitlin or Sebastian, it didn’t matter. One of them in her grip would be enough to satisfy her hatred.
But before long, news reached the castle: General Harvey and Prince Ignacio were on their way together to Graystone.
Zorro’s brows furrowed. “Both of them?”
“Yes, my lord. They have already arrived at the checkpoint. Should we grant passage?”
“Of course! Let them through at once.”
Relations between Graystone and the crown had only just been repaired. Zorro could not afford to give offense now.
The order was carried, and Zora, having overheard, entered the hall. “Father, the crown has sent men?”
“Yes. General Harvey, and Prince Ignacio.”
“They must be coming for Xero,” she said bitterly. “If they take him, how am I to trade for a hostage?”
“The trade is finished.” Zorro’s voice was flat. “Sebastian and Caitlin are not fools. They will have seen the trap. By now, they will have already passed Graystone and be far away.”
Zora’s teeth ground together. “Too easy for them.”
“Patience,” Zorro murmured, eyes narrowed. “Endure the small slights, or you ruin the greater plan.”
16:15 Thu, Sep 11
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The drawbridge fell. Harvey and Ignacio stood outside with their men. Zorro came with attendants to greet them, all smiles.
“Prince Ignacio, General Harvey–an honor. Please, come into the castle.”
Ignacio said nothing. Harvey’s expression was iron. “Earl Zorro, yesterday Prince Ignacio himself ordered my brother to Santa Aurelia to summon Aurelius. Why then is my brother detained here in Graystone?”
Zorro replied calmly, “Detained? Not at all. We held a banquet last night. My daughter invited Xero as a guest. He sent his companions on ahead to Santa Aurelia. Nothing improper.”
“The banquet is over. He should be released.”
“Xero is with my daughter in the gardens. They enjoy each other’s company. Surely a little delay is no harm?”
Harvey’s lip curled. “At the royal banquet, he rejected your daughter openly. Do you mean to force him into marriage?”
“Not at all.”
“Then release him. Now. He will accompany me into the palace.”
Ignacio’s voice joined, quiet but sharp. “Earl, bring him out. There is no need to strain relations.”
The warning was clear. Zorro had no choice. He gave the let out a long breath of relief, his brother safe.
der, and soon Xero appeared, unharmed. Harvey
“Earl, we’ll be taking him,” Harvey said, and with Ignacio’s convoy they departed in force.
Zorro stood at the gate, watching their retreat, fury burning beneath his calm mask. One day, when his designs were fulfilled, the crown would bow.
Ignacio’s palace.
The group was ushered through gilded halls into a reception chamber, seated with tea while word was sent inside. Before long, the chamberlain returned and announced Aurelius was to enter the Princess Consort’s
quarters.
Aurelius rose. Alicia tugged Caitlin to follow, while Sebastian and the others remained behind.
The moment they entered the inner chamber, a faint fragrance drifted in the air.
Alicia sniffed, curious. “What incense is this? It’s so fragrant.”
“Ambergris,” Caitlin murmured. Her sense of scent was sharp as ever.
“Yes, but… there’s something different about it,” Alicia said quietly.
They followed the trail to the ornate bed. Reclining against silk cushions lay Nevaeh, the Princess Consort-
:
Xero’s aunt. Her noble face was pale, her body frail, her breath weak.
“Your Grace, Aurelius is here,” the chamberlain announced.
Nevaeh turned her head, voice soft. “Aurelius. Please, sit.”
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The old man lowered himself onto a stool. “Your Grace, tell me every symptom. Leave nothing unsaid.”
She sighed. “Each day I feel heavy, drowsy. I cannot eat. What I do eat, I vomit. My body is weak, numb, without strength…”
Aurelius listened, then beckoned Alicia to hand him his instruments. He examined carefully, and as he worked, a grim certainty formed. Her condition bore the marks of poisoning.
He performed a toxin test. The result chilled him.
He asked at once, “Your Grace, what incense burns here?”
“Ambergris,” she answered faintly.
Aurelius went to the brazier. Alicia and Caitlin joined him.
“Master, is the incense tainted?” Alicia whispered.
His brow furrowed deep. “Yes. It is the incense. The Princess Consort has been poisoned.”
“What poison?”
“Scentbane.”
The name froze the women. Caitlin and Alicia exchanged a look, both startled. The same poison as James.
Aurelius tested the ashes, and the truth was undeniable–the incense carried toxins.