Aveline spent most of the night arguing with herself.
It was not a particularly productive argument.
One part of her wanted to forget everything that had happened and go back to worrying about ordinary things. Bread. Rent. Whether Mara had enough firewood. Whether the neighbor's goat was going to eat her washing again.
The other part kept replaying the stranger's voice.
Your parents died protecting a secret.
She turned over.
Then turned back.
"Ridiculous."
She pulled the blanket up to her chin.
Five minutes later, she sat up again.
The room was dark except for the small candle on the table.
Her locket was hanging from the nail beside the bed.
Aveline stared at it.
"You're the problem."
The locket, unsurprisingly, offered no defense.
She reached for it.
Her mother had given it to her when she was little.
Or at least that was what Mara had always said.
Aveline rubbed her thumb over the strange symbol on its back.
She had seen that symbol before.
She just couldn't remember where.
That bothered her more than the stranger.
She slipped the chain around her neck and lay down again.
This time, she lasted almost twenty minutes.
Then she sat up.
"Fine."
She grabbed her dress from the chair.
"I'm finding out."
The market was already crowded when Aveline arrived.
Someone was shouting about fish.
Someone else was shouting about the price of fish.
A child ran between two stalls with a loaf of bread tucked under his shirt while a woman chased after him, threatening to remove his ears.
Aveline slowed down.
Normally, she would've stopped to watch.
Today she had other problems.
She spotted Mistress Nessa near the herb stall.
Nessa was old enough to have known Aveline's mother, and unlike most people in the village, she had never been very good at pretending she didn't know things.
Aveline walked over.
"Morning."
Nessa looked up.
"You're early."
"I couldn't sleep."
"Neither could I."
Aveline glanced at her.
"Why?"
"Too much noise."
"There's no noise."
"Exactly. That's what makes it suspicious."
Aveline smiled despite herself.
Then she remembered why she'd come.
"You knew my mother."
Nessa's hands stopped moving.
She looked at Aveline for a moment.
"Who told you that?"
"No one."
"Aveline."
"Please."
Nessa looked around the market.
Then she lowered her voice.
"Your mother wore that necklace."
Aveline touched the locket.
"You knew her?"
"Yes."
"How well?"
"Well enough."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the answer you're getting."
Aveline folded her arms.
"Nessa."
The old woman sighed.
"You've always been stubborn."
"People keep saying that like it's a bad thing."
"Sometimes it is."
Aveline waited.
Nessa finally sat down on the little wooden stool behind her stall.
"Your mother came here with you."
Aveline's expression changed.
"Here?"
"To the village."
"With me?"
"Yes."
"Why don't I remember?"
"You were very small."
"What happened?"
Nessa looked at her hands.
"She was frightened."
"Of what?"
"I don't know."
"You knew her."
"Knowing someone doesn't mean they tell you everything."
Aveline crouched in front of her.
"Nessa, please."
Nessa looked away.
"Your mother told Mara to keep you hidden."
"From who?"
"She didn't say."
"She must have said something."
"She said people were looking for you."
Aveline sat back on her heels.
"People?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"You really don't?"
"No."
Aveline studied her face.
There was no obvious lie.
Just an old woman who looked tired.
"Did she say anything about my father?"
Nessa was silent.
That was answer enough.
Aveline leaned closer.
"His name."
Nessa's eyes flicked toward her.
"Cassian."
Aveline stopped.
She knew that name.
She had seen it in the records.
Lord Cassian Valemont.
Her father's name.
For a moment, the market noise seemed very far away.
Then a goat knocked over a basket beside them.
Nessa jumped.
Aveline nearly laughed.
The goat stared at them.
"Don't," Aveline muttered.
The goat walked away.
Nessa shook her head.
"Go home."
"I have more questions."
"I know."
"Then answer them."
"I've told you what I can."
Aveline stood.
"That's not enough."
"I know."
She walked away.
After three steps, Nessa called after her.
"Aveline."
She turned.
Nessa was looking at the locket.
"Your mother said one thing."
"What?"
"She said if anyone ever asked about the necklace…"
Aveline waited.
Nessa shook her head.
"Never mind."
"Nessa!"
But the old woman had already turned back to her herbs.
Aveline stared at her for a moment.
"You're all impossible."
Alaric was in the library.
Again.
Geoffrey found him sitting on the floor with a book open across his legs.
There were papers everywhere.
"Why are you on the floor?"
Alaric didn't look up.
"Because the chair is uncomfortable."
Geoffrey looked at the perfectly normal chair beside him.
"That chair?"
"Yes."
"You've been sitting in it for twenty years."
"Exactly. I'm tired of it."
Geoffrey stared at him.
"You're becoming difficult."
"I've always been difficult."
"That's true."
Alaric turned a page.
"Have you heard of the Valemonts?"
Geoffrey's expression changed.
He noticed.
Alaric noticed him noticing.
"Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"That face."
"I don't have a face."
"You have several."
Geoffrey sighed and sat down.
"Yes. I've heard of them."
"What happened?"
"Why are you asking?"
"Because every time I ask my father, he tells me to stay away from the subject."
"That sounds like a very good reason to stay away."
Alaric looked at him.
Geoffrey shrugged.
"I thought you'd appreciate the advice."
"No."
"Naturally."
Alaric turned the book toward him.
"Look."
Geoffrey read the page.
"Valemont."
"Yes."
"That's the crest."
"I know."
"And?"
"There's a daughter."
Geoffrey leaned closer.
"Aurelia."
"Exactly."
"What about her?"
"She disappeared."
"When?"
"Twenty years ago."
Geoffrey looked at him.
Alaric looked back.
Neither spoke.
Then Geoffrey said, "No."
Alaric frowned.
"I haven't said anything."
"You were about to."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
Alaric shut the book.
"Suppose she survived."
Geoffrey sighed.
"Then she'd be alive."
"Thank you, Geoffrey."
"Happy to help."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
Alaric stood.
"If Aurelia survived, she'd be about the same age as Aveline."
Geoffrey didn't answer.
That was worse than answering.
Alaric looked toward the door.
"I need to find her."
Aveline reached the palace just before noon.
She had no idea why she was there.
Actually, she did.
She just didn't have a sensible reason.
She found Alaric in the library.
He looked up when she entered.
"You came."
"I need to talk to you."
"That sounds serious."
"It is."
He closed the book.
"What happened?"
"I found someone who knew my mother."
Alaric stood.
"Who?"
"Mistress Nessa."
His expression sharpened.
"What did she say?"
"She said my mother brought me to the village."
Alaric stared.
"Your mother brought you?"
"Yes."
"And your father?"
"Cassian."
Alaric nodded slowly.
"That's what the records say."
Aveline noticed the book in his hand.
"You found something."
He hesitated.
"Maybe."
"Show me."
He opened it.
She read the page.
Then stopped.
"Valemont."
"Yes."
"That's the symbol on my locket."
"I know."
Aveline looked at him.
"You knew?"
"I suspected."
"How long?"
"Not long."
"Alaric."
"I didn't want to tell you until I was sure."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't want to frighten you."
She stared at him.
"You've noticed I'm already frightened, right?"
"Yes."
"Good."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I've been handling this badly."
"That's one way of putting it."
"I know."
She sat down.
He remained standing for a moment before taking the chair opposite her.
"What else did Nessa tell you?"
"She said my father was alive when we left."
Alaric's eyebrows lifted.
"Alive?"
"Yes."
"Did she know where he went?"
"No."
Aveline looked down at her hands.
"I always thought he was dead."
Alaric didn't say anything.
She appreciated that.
People had a habit of trying to comfort her whenever she talked about her parents.
It was usually unbearable.
Everything happens for a reason.
They're watching over you.
You'll see them again one day.
Aveline hated all of it.
Alaric simply sat there.
After a while, she said, "I don't know if I want him to be alive."
Alaric looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because then he left."
She gave a small shrug.
"If he's dead, that's sad. If he's alive…"
She didn't finish.
Alaric nodded.
"Yeah."
That was all.
And somehow that was enough.
They went to the portrait together.
It hung in a quiet corridor where hardly anyone passed.
Aveline had seen it before.
She'd never stopped.
Now she did.
The woman in the painting wore a dark green dress.
Her hair was pulled back.
There was a tiny scar near her eyebrow.
Aveline touched her own eyebrow.
Alaric noticed.
"Same place."
She nodded.
"I think that's her."
"You don't remember?"
"No."
She stared at the painting.
"I remember a red scarf."
Alaric looked at her.
"What?"
"My mother had one."
"Are you sure?"
"No."
Aveline laughed softly.
"That's the annoying part. I don't know what's a memory and what's something I've been told so many times that I think I remember it."
Alaric leaned against the wall.
"That happens."
"You sound like you know."
"My childhood was mostly tutors yelling at me."
She smiled.
"Poor you."
"Thank you."
"I wasn't being serious."
"I know."
She looked back at the portrait.
"I wish I could remember her voice."
Alaric didn't answer.
He simply stayed there.
After a while, Aveline noticed something strange.
A small piece of paper was sticking out behind the frame.
She reached for it.
"What is that?"
She pulled it free.
The paper was old and yellow.
There were four words written on it.
The child must survive.
Aveline stared.
Alaric took the paper.
"Where did you find this?"
"Behind the painting."
He read it again.
"Who put it there?"
"I don't know."
He looked toward the corridor.
"Keep this."
"Why?"
"Because I don't think we're supposed to have it."
"That's obvious."
"Right."
She folded it and slipped it into her dress.
Then someone spoke behind them.
"You're interested in the portrait."
Aveline turned.
Lady Seraphina stood a few steps away.
Aveline had seen her around the palace.
Always perfectly dressed.
Always smiling.
Never quite looking as friendly as the smile suggested.
"Yes," Aveline said.
Seraphina looked at the painting.
"Lady Elara was very beautiful."
"You knew her?"
"Everyone knew her."
Aveline watched her.
"You sound like you knew her."
Seraphina's smile weakened.
"We weren't friends."
"Did you like her?"
"She was difficult."
Aveline raised an eyebrow.
"So am I."
Seraphina gave a small laugh.
"Yes. I've noticed."
Then her gaze fell to Aveline's locket.
For the first time, the smile disappeared completely.
"Where did you get that?"
"My mother."
Seraphina looked at her for another second.
Then she smiled again.
"Of course."
She walked away.
Aveline watched her go.
"She knows something."
Alaric nodded.
"Probably."
"That's not very helpful."
"No."
Alaric was called to the king's study shortly afterward.
His father was waiting.
"You've been looking into the Valemonts."
Alaric didn't bother pretending.
"Yes."
"I told you not to."
"And I ignored you."
"I noticed."
Alaric remained standing.
"What happened to them?"
The king stared at him.
"You don't let things go."
"No."
"I remember."
"So tell me."
The king sighed.
"Cassian Valemont was accused of treason."
"I know."
"The evidence was convincing."
"But false."
"Yes."
"How do you know?"
"Because I knew the man."
Alaric waited.
His father looked older than he had that morning.
"Cassian was loyal to me."
"Then who framed him?"
"I don't know."
"Someone must."
"Someone did."
"Who?"
The king shook his head.
"We never found out."
Alaric stepped closer.
"And Elara?"
"She came here the night before Cassian disappeared."
"With the child?"
The king looked at him.
"Yes."
Alaric's pulse quickened.
"With Aveline?"
"I believe so."
"What happened?"
"The palace was attacked."
Alaric stared.
"By whom?"
"We never knew."
"And the child?"
"Elara escaped with her."
"Where?"
"I don't know."
Alaric was quiet.
Then:
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't want you involved."
"Too late."
The king looked at him.
"Alaric."
"Father."
"The people who did this may still be alive."
"So?"
"So if they realize the girl is alive, they'll come for her."
Alaric thought of the stranger.
The warning.
The locket.
He turned toward the door.
"Where are you going?"
"To find Aveline."
His father caught his arm.
"Be careful."
Alaric looked down at his father's hand.
Then at him.
"I will."
Aveline was waiting in the corridor when Alaric returned.
"What did he say?"
"He knows about you."
She stared.
"What?"
"He believes you're the Valemont girl."
Aveline sat down on the bench.
For a while, she said nothing.
Then she laughed.
It wasn't really laughter.
More like her brain had run out of sensible reactions.
"So I'm noble."
"Apparently."
"That's unfortunate."
Alaric smiled.
"You don't have to change."
"What if I become unbearable?"
"You already are."
She looked at him.
"You really are getting brave."
"I've been spending too much time with you."
"Clearly."
He sat beside her.
Their shoulders touched.
Neither moved.
Aveline looked at him.
"What happens now?"
"We find out the truth."
"And if it's ugly?"
"Then it's ugly."
She looked at him.
"That's your plan?"
"Yes."
"Terrible plan."
"I know."
She smiled.
Then, quieter:
"I'm scared."
Alaric nodded.
"I know."
He reached for her hand.
He did it slowly enough that she could pull away.
She didn't.
His fingers closed around hers.
They sat there for a while.
No speeches.
No promises.
Just the quiet of the corridor.
Then Aveline said, "If I turn out to be some horrible princess, will you still talk to me?"
Alaric looked at her.
"Probably."
"Probably?"
"I'll need to see how horrible."
She laughed.
"Idiot."
"That's fair."
She squeezed his hand.
Then—
"YOUR HIGHNESS!"
They both looked up.
A guard came running down the corridor.
Alaric stood.
"What happened?"
"The king."
Aveline stood too.
"What about him?"
"He was attacked."
Alaric's face tightened.
"Again?"
The guard nodded.
"He's alive, but…"
"But what?"
The guard looked at Aveline.
"They left a message."
"What message?"
The guard hesitated.
Then said:
"The lost Valemont has returned."
Nobody spoke.
Aveline's hand went instinctively to the locket.
Alaric looked toward the palace doors.
Outside, bells began ringing.
Once.
Twice.
Then again.
Guards started running through the corridors.
Doors slammed.
Voices rose.
The palace was being locked down.
Aveline looked at Alaric.
"So they know."
He nodded.
"Yes."
"About me."
"Yes."
She stared at the locket.
For years, she'd thought it was the only thing she had left from her parents.
Now it seemed to be the reason somebody wanted her dead.
And somewhere beyond those palace walls, someone already knew exactly where she was.