“It seems the military is split in two. Since both sides wear the same uniform, it’s impossible to tell them apart. We’ve been protecting Her Highness while assessing the situation.”
Someone had likely panicked after failing to kill Princess Delphine, especially after Elly, their chosen assassin, had also disappeared. Desperate to save themselves, they were now attempting a last-ditch effort to frame Princess Delphine.
In all probability, the man pulling the strings behind this operation was Bryan Wilkes, the deputy minister of military affairs.
“How this will all turn out depends on the number of people in the military who have defected. What of His Majesty and the crown prince?”
“Our operatives are guarding them in a separate location.”
Just then, I heard distant shouts and the sound of footsteps approaching. The men around me grew visibly alert. My role was now clear—I was to act as Princess Delphine.
I lowered my veil and crouched down slightly behind the man in front of me, using his back as cover.
The door burst open, and armed soldiers flooded into the room. Tension hung in the air, both side’s weapons at the ready.
“Princess Delphine, you’re here!” the leader of the soldiers said with visible relief. But the men around me bristled with hostility, their blades drawn.
“What do you want with Her Highness?” the leader of the operatives demanded.
“We’re here to protect her. Who are you? Judging by your appearance, I assume you’re with the special forces?”
“And if we are?”
“We’d like you to join us.”
“What proof do you have to offer that you’re not part of the rebellion?”
“This.”
The soldier standing in front produced a document from his pocket and held it up. It had a short message on it and an official royal seal.
One of the operatives scoffed. “Anybody who knows what they’re doing could have forged that.”
“Ugh, you people are insufferable! That’s why no one likes you. You don’t trust anyone outside your own group, do you? What a pain.”
“Who would trust someone from the military when they’ve just launched a rebellion?”
“What did you just say?!”
That was my cue.
I took a step forward. “That’s enough. Very well, then. We shall join forces with you. If we stay hidden here, someone will find us eventually anyway. The more allies we have, the better.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
My voice and demeanor, along with how I spoke to the special forces, seemed to have convinced the soldiers I was the princess.
At this stage, I was uncertain of the authenticity of the soldiers’ document and whether they were friend or foe. But at least for now, I’d managed to avoid having my veil torn off.
I could only hope this gave Princess Delphine sufficient time to escape.
I forced myself to push thoughts of Nonna from my mind. Thinking about her would only make it impossible for me to act calmly. Besides, worrying about her now would do me no good.
I moved ahead, surrounded by the Third Order, with soldiers guarding us at the front and rear. The leader of the operatives was directly in front of me.
A soldier walking behind him called out in a frustrated tone, “Where are we going?”
“The royal army is nearby, according to the message from our courier. We’re heading to a place where we can rendezvous with them,” responded the operative.
“Has the rear guard already returned from the western forest?”
“They have.”
“The special forces always hoard valuable information for themselves.”
“Do you think we’d hand over critical information to the army when they’ve demonstrated their capacity for rebellion?”
“What did you just say?”
“Enough! I told you to stop that!” My words came out harsher than I intended. Princess Delphine wouldn’t speak in such a tone.
Our group entered a small room that could barely fit thirty people. The leader of the operatives turned to face the soldiers.
“The prime minister instructed us to bring Princess Delphine here in the event we moved.”
“He told you about this place? So he’s finally started trusting that the special forces aren’t siding with the rebels,” said a soldier.
“Ha. Look who’s talking.”
Apparently, the army and the Third Order didn’t get along well under normal circumstances.
The leader of the operatives approached the edge of the far wall and ran his fingers along it, as if searching for something. He found whatever he was looking for and plunged his knife into the wall, then began cutting through the wallpaper. He sliced out a rectangular section and then kicked it hard with his foot. A door without a knob swung open inward, revealing a dark passage beyond.
“Princess Delphine, this corridor is the last resort.”
“I understand. I am prepared.”
Once everyone entered the narrow passageway, the door was shut behind us, and we were plunged into darkness.
Everyone moved quickly, keeping one hand on the wall to help guide us forward. I lifted the hem of my dress with my left hand while I used my right hand to feel the surface of the wall as I walked through the pitch-black hallway.
Judging by the location, this seemed to be the space between the castle’s outer wall and interior rooms, likely an escape route built during the castle’s construction. The air was thick with dust. We moved briskly through the passage until the leader of the operatives came to a halt.
“There’s a steep staircase going down ahead. Please be careful, Your Highness.”
“Very well,” I replied.
We descended, turning sharply again and again. The air grew damp as we traveled deeper, and I could feel we were nearing ground level.
The leader of the operatives stopped at a slightly wider landing and began doing something, but it was too dark for me to see what. There came a series of rustling noises, followed by the repeated sound of something being kicked. That went on for a while, and then the space suddenly was illuminated with a flash of light.
I was momentarily blinded by the abrupt brightness after having grown accustomed to the darkness.
Beyond the now illuminated exit was a greenhouse built snugly against the castle’s walls.
The bright greenhouse was built with expensive glass panels and housed an array of potted plants.