A Dove's Tale

Chapter 5

“Thank you, Prince Leon,” I said, making a point of using his title as I followed him across the library to the hallway. I didn’t know where Prince Chevalier’s office was, so I was glad for Prince Leon’s offer to take me there, but I was still cautious. All the princes were trouble so far.

“Ivetta, right? You’ve got quite a reputation already.”

That was news to me.

“I can’t imagine why, your highness,” I said, trying to hide my surprise.

“I can. You looked scared to death of me, but you were cool as a cucumber with Chevalier. You know you’ve got that backwards, right?” he asked, smiling down at me with warm, genuine amber eyes.

“Well, I do now, but I didn’t know who you were then, your highness,” I replied, finding myself returning the smile in spite of my caution around princes. Was he truly being kind and considerate, or was there some ulterior motive? The other princes had left a bad taste in my mouth. I would have liked to trust him, but it was far too soon for that.

He laughed, genuinely, and without a trace of mockery. “I guess so. How long have you worked here now?”

“This is my fourth day, your highness.”

“Four days working for Chevalier? That’s got to be a record. And I don’t think he’s ever let a servant in his office unsupervised, let alone given out his key.” He laughed again, that good-natured, genuine laugh, and I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t doubt what he said, but it was odd to me that a man who was angry enough to engage in a physical altercation with Prince Chevalier just a few minutes ago could laugh in such a carefree manner now.

“He treating you okay? You can tell me the truth.”

I looked up at his friendly smile, wanting to believe it was real, but I still hesitated. “Prince Chevalier has exacting standards, but I seem to be managing so far, your highness,” I said carefully, looking away to avoid his gaze, searching for something else to focus on. A flash of gold in my peripheral vision caught my attention. His boots. They were black, like the rest of his outfit, with gold toes.

“That’s not what I asked,” he said. “Look, Chevalier’s a pretty intimidating guy, but I can handle him. If he ever gives you any trouble, don’t be afraid to let me know, okay? I’ll straighten him out for you.”

I looked back up into his warm amber eyes. Either he was actually concerned, or he was the best liar I’d ever met.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you, Prince Leon,” I said, smiling.

“No problem. This is Chevalier’s office. Mine is down the hall on the right. Don’t be a stranger,” he said, walking away with a casual wave.

He was about as different from Prince Chevalier as night was from day, I thought, biting my lip nervously as I inserted the key into the door. I knew Prince Chevalier wasn’t in his office, but it was his, and Prince Leon said he never gave his key out. Telling myself to relax wasn’t working. I just had to deliver the letter, and then I could leave. That was it.

A letter about a purge.

The door was already unlocked, and my heart started to pound. Either Prince Chevalier had left it unlocked, or, more likely, somebody else was already here. Who was in his faction? Prince Clavis, I knew, but there were two other princes, too.

I swallowed hard and let myself in.

The office was neat and tidy, like Prince Chevalier’s bedroom. A large white desk with gold trim was the centerpiece of the room, in front of a backdrop of two large windows separated by another built-in bookcase. Intricate gold designs adorned the wall above each window, and above it all was a chandelier from which hung tear-drop-shaped crystals that shone like diamonds. But it was hard to appreciate the beauty when Prince Clavis, who was leaning over the desk, reading something, looked up at me with those glittering golden eyes. He flashed me a grin. It didn’t ease my tension.

“I’d heard you were still alive. Where’s Chev?”

“Prince Chevalier is in his library, your highness,” I said, setting the letter down on the desk. “He asked me to deliver this.”

“You have his key,” Prince Clavis said, his golden eyes widening with surprise as he stared at the key in my hand.

“Oh, yes,” I said, dropping the key in my apron pocket. “He didn’t know you’d be here to let me in, your highness.”

Prince Clavis’ eyes narrowed back to their normal size, and he tilted his head slightly to the side as he studied me. “Chev doesn’t give anybody his key. How’d you get it from him?”

“He gave it to me, your highness,” I said carefully, unsure what he was implying but certain I didn’t like it. “If you’ll excuse me-”

“Hold on just a minute,” Clavis interrupted, grabbing my arm as I tried to leave. “Chev gave you the key to his office, along with an open letter, and you’re not even going to read it?”

“It’s none of my business, your highness,” I insisted, trying unsuccessfully to break free from his grasp.

He frowned, looking down at me. “You’ve got no imagination. A whole office full of state secrets, and you’re too honest to read a single open letter?”

“It’s called integrity, Prince Clavis, and it’s probably why Prince Chevalier entrusted me with his key,” I answered irritably.

“Probably so,” he mused, grinning again. “But this is a golden opportunity to mess with Chev, and unlike you, I’m not hindered by such nonsense as integrity. Now, how to make the most of this?”

“Prince Clavis, I really need to get back to work,” I protested, trying to pull free again.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’re too serious, Ivetta.” His golden eyes lit up, and he linked his arm through mine and headed for the door. “I’ll walk with you. Wouldn’t want you getting lost or anything.”

This was less than ideal. I was getting a sense for each of the princes I had met so far, but Prince Clavis was definitely the most difficult one to figure out.

“That won’t be necessary, your highness.”

“So, tell me, have you been enjoying tending to Chev’s room in the morning?” he asked, ignoring my protest and giving me a sly grin.

It didn’t take much to realize what he was implying this time, and I blushed involuntarily. That was probably how he thought I got the key. I needed to correct his misperception, and to do that, I needed to remain calm and not let him get under my skin.

“Why, Prince Clavis, I hope you’re not suggesting there has been any impropriety on my part,” I said with feigned injury.

“No, I suppose not. Chev is an ice cube in that department. But Jin - now he’s a different matter entirely.” He was clearly well-informed and enjoying this.

“I have met Prince Jin, and I’m sure you’ll be relieved to know that he has been nothing but a perfect gentleman to me,” I said sweetly. Although he wanted to misbehave.

“What a disappointment,” Prince Clavis said with a sigh. “But you still haven’t met Nokto, have you?”

That was another prince. If Prince Clavis wanted me to meet him, then I definitely didn’t. We had finally arrived at the library, but although he stopped at the door, Prince Clavis still wasn’t letting me go.

“Prince Clavis,” I began, but he put a finger on my lips to silence me.

“Better save your quick wit for Chev,” he said with a wink. He opened the door and led me across the library to the back room, bursting in with me still in tow. “Chev, I found this little dove fluttering around in your office and thought I should return her to you,” he said with glee.

I pulled away from him, trying not to show the irritation I felt. “Thank you for the escort, Prince Clavis.”

“You’ll be pleased to know that she didn’t read that letter, Chev. She’s honest to a fault.” His golden eyes sparkled as he grinned at me.

Prince Chevalier’s icy voice cut through the room like a knife. “If you don’t have anything of substance to say to me, leave.”

“Ah, don’t be like that, Chev,” Prince Clavis said, unperturbed by the threat in Prince Chevalier’s voice. “After I’ve been such a kind brother, returning your new little pet.”

I blushed again. A pet? Was that what he thought I was? Was that what the ‘little dove’ thing was all about?

“Prince Clavis-” I started, ready to launch into an angry retort, but Prince Chevalier cut me off.

“Get out.” He used the same irritated words and voice he’d used on me just a few days ago, but this time, he wasn’t directing them toward me. I looked over at him, startled. Was he coming to my defense, or just annoyed by Prince Clavis?

Prince Clavis sighed dramatically. “I guess we’ll have to continue our little chat later, Ivetta. You get off work at five o’clock, right?”

“Yes, but-”

“Then it’s a date!” He gave me a smirk and disappeared before I could protest further. I stared at the closed door, my mind spinning as I tried to get a handle on what had just happened.

“You seem to enjoy being tormented,” Prince Chevalier commented.

I frowned and looked back at his contemptuous blue eyes. “Not particularly, your highness,” I said, trying to regain my composure. I couldn’t afford to let my guard down around any of the princes, especially him. All I needed to do was return his key, and then, hopefully, I could escape to the main library. I reached into my apron pocket and pulled it out. “Prince Clavis was already in your office, so I didn’t need to use the key. Here.”

He took it thoughtfully, twirling it between his fingers. I wasn’t sure what to expect from him next, but I had a sinking feeling that he wasn’t ready to dismiss me yet.

“It’s just as well. I shouldn’t have entrusted this to a simple maid,” he said mockingly. “Especially not one who frequents the red-light district.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks as my eyes widened with shock and embarrassment. How had he found out about that? And why was he suddenly accusing me of being untrustworthy? This was too much. The argument about the purge, Prince Clavis’ tricks, and now this. Calm. I needed to remain calm, to check my words, to think clearly. But my mind was reeling, the blood pounding in my ears, my hands trembling. And his cold blue eyes were seeing it all, watching impassively as I struggled to maintain some level of control.

“I pass through the red-light district regularly, yes, but I do not ‘frequent’ it in the sense you’re using, your highness,” I said firmly, somehow keeping a tremor out of my voice. “And if that means you don’t trust me, then that’s your own business, but I’ll ask you not to put me in situations where you can then call my character into question.”

His lips curved up into a condescending smirk. “You’re rather bold for a fragile little dove.”

I knew I shouldn’t say anything else, that I’d already said too much. But putting his comment together with Prince Clavis’ implication, I realized there must be rumors circulating about me, and I had a feeling that this whole thing with the key to his office had been a setup. A wave of anger washed over me, far outweighing any fear or trepidation I should be feeling.

“Maybe so, your highness, but I don’t appreciate false accusations. If you’re finished insulting me, I’d like to get back to work,” I snapped.

His cold blue eyes narrowed, as if he was sizing me up, deciding if I was worth eating or not. “You forget your place,” he said quietly, setting his book on the end table.

Now I’d gone and done it. Just because I was right didn’t mean I was right here, in this role, in this place. The warning bells in the back of my mind screamed at me to turn and run as I watched him stand up. I glanced at the clock. Too many princes in too short a time period, and far too much time left in my workday. I’d almost rather be trapped in the red-light district with-

No, no, I wouldn’t.

I should have just kept my mouth shut.

“It’s too early for you to escape,” he said, approaching me slowly. I took an involuntary step backwards from his icy blue eyes and the threat they posed, but I stopped myself from taking another step. There was no getting away from him, just as there had been no getting away from Princes Clavis or Leon, and there was no point in trying. He came to a stop in front of me, looking down at me with that mocking smirk.

“You may as well be shouting, with how clearly you show your thoughts on your face.” He poked me in the forehead, and I couldn’t help but flinch. “But at least you aren’t so foolish as to have lost your fear of me.”

My heart was pounding, but I suddenly realized this wasn’t a threat. He was teasing me again. If he wanted me dead, he would have killed me by now. His heartless comments about the purge had made that very clear. What did he want from me?

“You agree with Black,” he said, the smirk disappearing.

I swallowed hard, trying to compose my thoughts. His motivation didn’t matter. I just needed to say the right things and get out of there.

“I don’t know enough to say who I agree with, but I don’t like to think of people dying, Prince Chevalier.”

“No, you wouldn’t,” he said thoughtfully, his penetrating blue eyes even more unnerving than usual. He slid his finger under my chin and tilted it upward. “You’re far too naïve.”

My cheeks burned as I shoved his hand away. “I don’t care what Prince Clavis said. I’m not a pet, your highness.”

“No? What are you, then?”

He was irritating me on purpose. This was all a game to him, just like it was a game to Prince Clavis. A game that I had no way of winning. But I could at least try to lose gracefully.

“I’m a maid. That’s all. If you would care to use my name, do so, but otherwise, I would ask that you refer to me with something factual instead of an insulting nickname based on rumor or opinion.”

“I’m not interested in your name. Show me your worth.” The smirk vanished again as he looked down at me.

I met his icy blue gaze evenly. He may have just given me an exit. “I think I’m worth more to you when I’m working, Prince Chevalier.”

He chuckled. “You may be right. You’re dismissed.”