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“Are you actually going to let her threaten us like that?” Serilda’s whispered but vehement tone pulled Percy’s gaze from the spot where Maura’s wolf scriva had vanished just a moment ago. “Over a slave!?”

“Let her?” Percy echoed with a dry chuckle. The Earl looked down at the ink stains on his fingers and rubbed them together thoughtfully. ‘I’ve never seen Maura this enraged before.’ He didn’t even have to close his eyes to relive the exhilarating moment when the Duchess had broken his desk with a single touch. ‘I suppose I always knew ice magic was destructive, but for Maura to have gained this level of control so quickly.’ Percy pressed his fingers against his vest, where his pounding heart raced madly with a feeling he could not quite define.

‘It’s not fear nor anger. Even if Maura raised her voice to me—I could tell that anger was directed at herself.’ The Earl shivered at the memory of the Duchess’s cold ice-blue eyes. ‘She was so close I could reach out and touch her. How long has it been since I caught more than a glimpse of her?’ Even now, the air remained electrified with the flickering traces of her cold magic. ‘It feels as if Maura is transforming before my eyes—into something dangerous and beautiful.’

Percy blinked, suddenly aware of the curiously conflicted look Serilda was giving him.

‘No. Not Maura, her name is Kirsi now,’ Percy reflected as he lowered his hand and then waved it towards the mess of papers, spilled ink, and splintered wood. “The Duchess has always been—prickly when it comes to the wellbeing of those she considers her friends.”

“And yet our new Duchess couldn’t spare so much as a moment to ask about your health?” Serilda snapped. She stormed off to flop down into a nearby chair and watched as Percy organized what documents he could salvage. “After all the Hawthorne family has done for that half-blood—”

The Earl’s winter-gray eyes turned upon the Marchioness, who flinched and held her tongue beneath his warning gaze.

“Remember that Kirsi is the descendent of the Isbrand Queen. Whatever her mortal mother’s lineage, Kirsi is of royal bloodline as has been recognized by Viktor himself.”

“Hump!” Serilda crossed her arms defiantly but continued to avoid his gaze. “So what if she’s from some powerful, immortal bloodline? The ice covens are all but extinct now. Those that remain are little better than ghouls clinging to their immortality with what lingering strength they possess.”

“You’re referring to the Dowager,” Percy mused as he settled the piles of documents against the wall behind him.

Serilda snorted. “It would be foolish to assume that Octavia and the Duchess are the only ice witches living.”

“Yes, I’m well aware.” The Earl then crossed his arms behind his back, then focused his attention on his sulking cousin. “Even so, now that Kirsi has become Duchess of Bastiallano, she has even more influence to lend to our cause. We must be patient and persistent in winning her over to our side.”

“Winning or wooing? Didn’t Kirsi turn down your offer to be Queen?” Serilda replied skeptically. “Isn’t she opposed to our little rebellion because it will lead to bloodshed?”

“Not bloodshed in and of itself,” Percy countered with a faint smile. ‘After all, Kirsi has proven she can take a life when necessary.’ “The Duchess would prefer to avoid excessive casualties that would come with a civil war. In her eyes, the mortal citizens of Lafeara are by and large innocent. If I can find a solution that allows us to take control of Lafeara without pointless and needless loss of life, then it should be easy enough to convince Kirsi to join our cause.”

‘Even Maura couldn’t turn a blind eye to the torture and slaughter that Ripper and his hounds put those witches through.’

“And what about Kirsi’s objections to the extermination of the Havardur line?” Serilda pressed with a worried frown. “What good does it do to take the palace without bloodshed if Nicholas lives? As long as the nobles have a Havardur heir to throw their forces behind, our civil war will only drag on, increasing the number of lives, witch and mortal, that will be lost in a pointless conflict. Not to mention the likely interference of foreign powers.”

“That is easily remedied,” the Earl replied confidently as he moved past the Marchioness towards the study door. “But for now, we need to focus on weakening the Royal Faction’s grip of power.”

“Yes, yes. We need to win the Duchess to our side, at least politically, before we make our next move.” Serilda scoffed. “But how do you propose we do that when she is all but hostile towards us?”

Percy closed the study door and held the door handle for a moment before turning to face the Marchioness. “Kirsi is behaving this way because—I made a mistake.” ‘A grievous miscalculation on my part that cost me her trust.’ “I’ve compounded on that by sending away Gus, one of the few people Kirsi had to rely upon while she lived among those wretched mortals.”

‘Speaking of which, I’ve yet to deal with the Turnbell girl—No, best to let Kirsi handle that herself.’

Serilda let out a frustrated breath but remained silent, apparently conceding to his point, as she studied the frost already fading from the carpet and floor. “So, what do we do in the meantime?”

“We continue as planned, albeit with a few minor adjustments,” Percy answered with a dismissive shrug as he pulled the bell-rope by the door. “I have the Crow and Nocturnem Coven’s tied up at the moment, keeping an eye on Lafeara’s four borders.”

‘There’s been a lot of unusual activity in the past few days. It seems even Strugna, as well as Zarus, has taken an interest in our new Duchess.’

Percy glanced back at the pile of paperwork by the wall, some of which contained secret messages carried by merchants in and out of Lafeara. “It would be helpful, Seri, if you could assign a few trustworthy trackers to locate Gus’s whereabouts and retrieve him.”

“I can assign as many as you like, but what about Jade?”

Percy’s chest tightened instinctively as the restraints of Arachne’s magic prickled against the back of his throat in warning. ‘I need to find a way to reveal what I know to Kirsi before it\'s too late, but this level of black magic is no joke.’

“And with the Royal Hunt just around the corner, shouldn’t we focus our resources on the next stage of our plan?” Serilda continued with a note of impatience.

“Four witches should be enough to track down one crippled slave and some foreign mother and child,” Percy commented as neutrally as possible. “As for the Royal Hunt, we won’t be using this opportunity to eliminate Nicholas.”

“What! Why not?!”

‘And here I thought you retained fond feelings towards the Crown Prince.’ Percy laughed cynically as he listened to the butler’s footsteps climbing the manor stairs. “Because the Duchess of Bastiallano has been assigned the task of protecting his Majesty.”

“Kirsi!?” Serilda half-rose from her seat, then sank down to pinch her brows with a defeated sigh. “If she were an ally and not a hindrance, things would be a lot easier.”

“It’s too soon to knock over the Crown Prince anyway,” Percy replied with a shrug. “We need time to weaken the Royal Faction first. That will also allow the Duchess to gain control of Bastiallano’s knights while the covens strengthen our numbers.”

“Alright, I get it,” Serilda lamented and then rose to her feet gracefully. “And here I was looking forward to a bit of blood sport in the forest.”

“Oh, I’m certain that this year’s hunt will provide plenty of entertainment.” The Earl pressed a hand against the door as Russell arrived on the other side, sealing it with magic so that their conversation would not be overheard. “It would seem that the Crown Prince has finally made a move against Marquess Borghese.”

“Oh? How interesting,” Serilda pursed her lips as she studied his expression curiously. “Well, if Nicholas succeeds in getting rid of Borghese, that will be a bonus for us. However, if Borghese were to retaliate—" The Marchioness’s moss-agate green eyes sparkled mischievously “—then the Crown Prince’s death would blowback on the Royal Party instead.”

“Either outcome would be beneficial, so for now, let us simply observe.” Percy smiled and turned as Russell knocked on the other side of the study door. “In the meantime, we should find someone trustworthy to place beside Nicholas so that we remain better informed of his movements.”

“Well, you need not look far.” The Marchioness smiled confidently as she placed both hands against her waist and offered the Earl a seductive pose. “After all, there’s not a mortal man alive who can resist my charms.”

“It would be better if it were someone less high profile,” Percy grumbled with a disapproving frown.

“I disagree,” Serilda countered with a cynical brow. “Nicholas will have his guard up against any new faces. The more a woman looks like she wants to bed him, the higher his suspicions will rise. Whereas with me—” the Marchioness gracefully brushed back the curls of her auburn-chestnut hair, “—there is already a relationship of trust.”

“And you think that Nicholas will spill his secrets to you just because you were his father’s mistress?”

“Sweet Percy,” Serilda purred as she approached him with measured steps. “Nothing sets a man’s heart burning quite like the thought of obtaining something forbidden. And while his mind is distracted with lustful thoughts, his tongue easily loosens.”

‘She looks like a huntress about to devour her prey,’ Percy reflected as he ignored Russell’s polite knock on the office door. “Just don’t cross the line, Seri.”

The Marchioness appeared pleased, if not amused, by his concern. “Have no fear, my King.” Serilda stepped back and offered the Earl a humble curtsy. “Nicholas will be but a puppet on my strings before the week is over.”

❆❆❆❆❆

The size of Bastiallano’s fortress walls took Ivy’s breath away. Although the Duchy’s well-fortified castle could not compare to the size of the Royal Palace, the knowledge that all this now belonged to her Lady Maura was too daunting to even comprehend. And if the physical, structural representation of Lady Kirsi’s power weren’t already impressive enough, the sight and number of knights that welcomed the Duchess home were equally dumbfounding.

‘Maura—has an army?’

Ivy held back a laugh as her feet stumbled humbly down the carriage steps. For a moment, she wished the entire Turnbell family were still alive if only to witness their reaction to the half-blood’s rise in power.

The maid rubbed her chest as if that would calm the pounding heart within. She followed behind the Duchess, who led the way towards the open castle door where a man—either a steward or butler—stepped forward to greet them.

“Welcome back, your Grace. I see you have brought a guest,” the man observed with a polite head bow in Ivy’s direction. She blinked, suddenly noticing the folded sleeve of his left arm, which ended at the elbow.

‘A war injury?’

“Lord Periwinkle, this is a dear friend of mine, Lady Ivy, who will be staying with us for a while,” Kirsi explained as she turned to take Ivy’s arm and led the hesitant maid forward.

Once again, the Duchess’s touch sent cold ripples of pain radiating through Ivy’s skin as the marks on her back clenched and burned in agony.

‘Hold it in. Don’t react.’

Her efforts appeared to be in vain as Kirsi released her arm with a troubled, heartbroken look. The Duchess turned back to Lord Periwinkle and cleared her throat before speaking.

“Would you ask the maids to freshen up the east guestroom for Ivy? And have the cook prepare and something nutritious for supper.”

“Of course, your Grace,” Periwinkle replied with a humble nod. “And forgive me, but I was told to deliver this letter to you as soon as you returned. It appears to be urgent.”

Ivy watched in numb silence as the Duchess quickly accepted and opened the letter. Try as Ivy might to ignore the many curious eyes upon her, she shivered beneath the gaze of the watchful knights and steward. Even the Viscountess gentle smile could not ease the panic Ivy felt whenever Hana’s gaze wandered towards Ivy’s back—as if the foreigner could see the mark Ivy was so desperate to hide.

She had heard plenty of rumors about Maura’s new friend. At first, Ivy had been relieved that her mistress had found someone to rely on inside the palace. But this “blonde Zarian seductress,” as Percy called her, had somehow almost thrown Maura into prison.

‘They’ve only known each other a short while, and yet it\'s clear that Maura cares about Hana. She even went so far as to take Hana away from the Crown Princess and make her a Viscountess.’

As if sensing Ivy’s gaze, Hana turned her turquoise-blue eyes towards the maid and offered a reassuring smile.

‘Just because you act nice doesn’t mean I’ll trust you.’ Ivy glanced away and hugged her cloak tighter. ‘If you can abandon the Crown Princess, your lover of several years, so easily, how long will it take you to betray Maura, who you’ve known for less than a month.’

A prickle of discomfort ran through Ivy’s chest as Hana’s attentive gaze returned to the Duchess, who folded the letter with a pensive look, having finished it.

‘Maura always said she had to enter the palace in order to protect someone, but I always assumed she meant the princess since Eleanora is the Countess’s niece.’ Ivy blinked back a sudden blur of tears as Kirsi beckoned to Hana, and the pair moved off to a distance for a brief whispered conversation. ‘Somehow—it feels as if I’ve been replaced.’ A suffocating feeling of loss pressed against her chest as Ivy hurriedly brushed a sleeve against her eyes. ‘Perhaps it is all for the best.’

“Ivy.”

Ivy flinched and looked up as the Duchess approached with an expression of frustration.

“I’m afraid I have to leave again. Lady Hana will show you to your rooms and see that you have everything you require. Nothing is too great or small, so please speak your mind freely. I shall do my best to return quickly, but if I’m late for dinner, you both should go ahead and eat without me.”

Ivy flinched back as Kirsi reached towards her hand. The Duchess stiffened and quickly withdrew before she turned to one of the twenty knights that sparkled around them.

“Colonel Isaac, if you could prepare a small group of five men to accompany me, I will be heading into the slums.”

‘The slums?!’

The Colonel frowned and quickly cleared his throat. “Might I suggest at least double that number, your Grace.”

“I do not wish to draw more attention than is necessary,” Kirsi replied. “Have your men to dress down, something that will blend in better amongst the slums residence.”

“The men have an alternative uniform that should be adequate. They’ll still look like mercenaries, but that will be a useful deterrent in those parts.”

“Good enough, I’ll need to change as well.” The Duchess sent one last glance in Ivy’s direction before she and Periwinkle headed inside the Castle. “When I return, I will prepare sketches of two people I will need you to find, Lord Periwinkle.”

‘Not just a butler then?’ Ivy pondered curiously.

“They’re names are Gus and Jade. Both of them were last seen at the Hawthorne Manor less than a week ago. It is imperative that they be found and protected as soon as possible.”

The very mention of Jade’s name sent a shudder of fear through Ivy as the nightmare of the well crawled through her memories like a gruesome ghost.

“Certainly, your Grace,” Periwinkle replied with another humble bow of his head. “If the Colonel has no objections, I shall have Lieutenant Hadley prepare some scouts that have experience with tracking down missing persons. They will be prepared to depart at first light tomorrow to gather further intel and check the local slave markets.”

Colonel Isaac nodded his silent approval while Kirsi hesitated on the threshold with a worried look. Hana brushed past Ivy to catch up to the Duchess, who turned quickly towards her. “While I’m out, will you send a letter to Lord and Lady Everly and request that they come by tomorrow with our dresses for the Royal Hunt. Let Ursula know that we will need some other dresses fitted for Ivy as well.”

“I will. Promise me you’ll be careful, Kirsi.” Hana grasped the Duchess’s hand with a worried look. “Whatever this strange sickness is, you and the knights should be careful not to get too close.”

A cold sweat broke out across Ivy’s back as the mark prickled its way up her spine. ‘Sickness?’ Her thoughts immediately returned to the books on medicine Maura had obsessed over as a child, along with her persistent questions that always seemed to revolve around the topic of plagues.

“Of course, I’ll take every precaution. Have the maids draw a bath for Ivy before they set about preparing one for my return.” The Duchess turned back to the Colonel, who waited behind her. “Make sure you issue the men who will be accompanying us those herbal cloth masks I prepared.”

“In case the plague is airborne?” Isaac asked grimly.

Kirsi met the gaze of the Colonel and the knights behind him with an air of determination. “We do not know if it is the plague, but yes, better to be cautious than careless. The sooner we assess the situation, the quicker we can act to prevent any further spread. Lord Devin has already done his best to quarantine the affected patients at the hospital, but there may be others who have yet to seek medical attention.”

The Duchess turned promptly to enter the palace, clearly focused on whatever task lay before her.

Ivy jumped slightly as Hana placed a hand on her shoulder. The absence of pain from the Viscountess’s touch only added to Ivy’s frustration.

‘Why does Jade’s curse only flare up when Maura touches me?’

“Why don’t I show you to a suitable guest room so you can rest,” Hana suggested with a nod towards the large open door. “The castle is quite large, so I’ll assign a maid to you first thing tomorrow morning.”

Ivy clenched her jaw. ‘Who are you to assign a maid? It’s not your palace.’

“The Duchess will likely wish to give you a tour tomorrow, so for now, I’ll show you the way to the indoor bath and the dining room—”

“If you please, Viscountess,” Ivy interrupted hastily. The very thought of undressing where others might see Jade’s parting gift made her feel ill. “I’m rather tired. Some food, water, and a bed are all that I require.”

“Of course.”

Ivy quickly turned away from the look of pity in Hana’s glimmering blue eyes.

‘Why is she looking at me like that? There’s no way the Viscountess could know. Even Lord Percy and his cousin didn’t suspect anything after the knights returned me to Hawthorne Manor. Then again, I didn’t notice the mark either until the next morning.’

“Please, call me Hana,” the Viscountess murmured as she looped her arm around Ivy’s. “After all, we shall be seeing quite a lot of each other from here on, given our close relationship to Kirsi.”

‘What close relationship? I’ve known Maura a lot longer than you.’ Ivy gritted her teeth but quickly forced on a polite smile. “Of course—Lady Hana.”