Adam tapped his cheek in thought. “Let me think…” But just when it seemed like he might come up with something, he sneered at Gilbert. “I’ll look into it as soon as I return. However, each leg of the trip lasts a full month, so it will take a little time.”
There it is. Once I heard that, I thanked him again for his cooperation.
We walked Adam back to his room, but he asked for a new one, claiming the guest traveling with him had dirtied his current accommodations.
“Thanks for the help,” he said, then shut the door behind him.
Our business done, Gilbert and I left the guest palace. Shortly thereafter, we entered a carriage bound for the royal residence, and silence settled between us.
It took a while before I could actually relax. I wiped my hand on Gilbert’s pants, trying to remove the sensation of having touched that revolting prince. Gilbert merely offered a sad smile, grasping my intentions. Slumping a little, he clapped his palms together as if they were dirty too.
“You did a good job staying composed back there,” he said.
I looked away when he praised me, leaning my elbow on the windowsill and resting my head in my hand. “It was nothing. I’m doing this for her.”
As we traveled, my disgust and anger toward Adam welled up anew. I scratched at my chin as heat built inside me. I gritted my teeth until my jaw ached and glared out the windows—when I felt a simmering rage besides my own. Turning, I found Gilbert staring in the opposite direction, cracking his knuckles. His lips twitched with each snap, light-blue eyes burning with rage.
“He acted as though he knew something, didn’t he?” Gilbert said. “He seemed to think Princess Pride wouldn’t awaken for more than a month. Perhaps that was the purpose of his words.”
I hadn’t heard such deep hatred in Gilbert’s voice in a long time. His burning fury was palpable, and I tensed up. He was convinced that man had done something to Pride.
“I’ll look into it as soon as I return. However, each leg of the trip lasts a full month, so it will take a little time.”
Adam made it sound like he knew there would be a delay. Normally, he would have said something like “I just hope I make it in time” or “I’d like to look into it, but our countries are very distant.”
There was no doubt in my mind: He knew what happened to Pride. He’d probably hinted at it because he planned on using Pride’s life as a bargaining chip. Would they ask us to change our position on the slave trade, implement it ourselves, or sell off our own people to other nations?
What a sick joke. Had he really done something so unthinkable to Pride for such a stupid reason? And besides, a whole month?! He intends to leave her in that state for a month?!
I won’t forgive him, won’t forgive him, won’t forgive him, won’t forgive him, won’t forgive him, won’t forgive him for as long as I live!
My nails bit into my palm as I clenched my fist. We’d tricked him into revealing something, but we were still relying on very weak evidence. I just hoped that the more tiny bits of proof we stacked up, the closer we would get to the truth.
I set my jaw so tightly that my teeth clacked, not that I could stop myself. Pride is suffering because of that man! Her life is in danger at this very moment! Don’t you dare tell me it will take a full month when even three days is far too long!
No matter what it took, I was going to save Pride.
A terrifying sight snapped me out of my rage. My mouth fell open as I stared at Gilbert. He gave off the same aura of hatred as me, but every muscle in his face was pulled taut, twisting his expression into a horrid grin.
When he noticed my eyes on him, he blinked. “Is something wrong?”
Defeated, I replied, “I don’t know how you held out for those seven years.”
His eyes went wide, his face going stiff. I looked away, unable to bear how pathetic and powerless I felt.
Gilbert had watched his wife suffer from illness for seven years. Ever since I’d learned of Gilbert’s sins, I knew that if it had been Pride, I would’ve done the same things he did.
Maria recovered five years ago. After all this time, and with Pride sick, the very same thoughts Gilbert had contended with now plagued me. I still wouldn’t forgive Gilbert, of course… I simply thought that maybe I shouldn’t blame him so much for it.
“I didn’t hold out.”
When I raised my head, Gilbert was smiling sadly, as if he were confessing his sins. His long, almond-shaped eyes lingered on me even as they drooped.
“I couldn’t bear it. That’s why I fell from grace the way I did. I don’t deserve any appreciation.” His shoulders sank, and he shook his head. “Prince Stale, please don’t turn out like me.”
His warning—and the implication that I hadn’t turned out like him yet—provided a small but genuine salvation. Eventually, I had to tear my gaze away from his sorrowful expression. As much as I hated to admit it, he was far more mature than I was.
“Of course not,” I said, then reminded him that I still hadn’t forgiven him for his crimes.
“So you haven’t.” Even without looking, I could hear the smile in his voice.
The carriage slowed to a stop as we approached the royal residence. I had to report to Uncle Vest…but suddenly, I yearned to see Pride, an overwhelming tide of nostalgia washing over me.
Perhaps Arthur was still at her side. I’d spent the whole night assisting Uncle Vest, so I had yet to go back and visit her. Tiara was probably just as lifeless as she had been when I saw her last. All I wanted was for Pride to wake up, but Adam made it sound like there was little hope of that for now.
“Adam!”
I wouldn’t let him off easy if he was behind this. Gilbert was clever in getting Adam to stay for another three days. That was more than enough time to hunt down what I needed to put his back against the wall.
Uncle Vest was probably discussing the development with Mother and Father at that very moment. Maybe I wouldn’t deal the finishing blow myself, but Uncle Vest, Gilbert, and Prince Cedric were privy to everything. We all knew Pride could remain in her slumber for over a month, but at least her condition wouldn’t worsen. The idea of her never waking up was unthinkable.
I pictured King Lance, stuck in his bed due to madness, and Maria, clinging to the last dregs of her life, and shook my head violently. I would never allow Pride to end up like that.
Adam, crown prince of the Rajah Empire… You can bathe in your self-satisfaction for now, but it won’t last once you realize the rope is already around your neck. When they pull the lever and the floor drops out beneath you, I’ll be the one with my legs crossed, savoring it all from the front row!