When he came to be, Prince Mel was lying ft on his back in the hallway on the second floor.

  “Are you okay?” Dara asked, squatting next to the prince. “You fainted.”

  “What?” He croaked, eyes a bit blurry.

  After Prince Mel swung the twins’ door open, seeing what he shouldn’t have seen, he immediately fainted. Luckily for him, Dara was fast enough to catch him before he hit the ground.

  As the younger sister tended to him, the prince attempted to raise up on his elbows.

  His heart quickly began to hammer.

  “Take it easy.” She said softly, face etched with concern. “You just fainted, remember?”

  When he looked up at Dara, he could have sworn he saw a dark shadow surrounding her.

  “Your ff-face.” He stuttered, blinking rapidly. “Your eyes were….”

  Ora, who was still standing in their bedroom, began walking towards them. “What about them?”

  Mel’s eyes bounced between the two. “They were falling out of your face.”

  Ora bursted into ughter.

  Prince Mel frowned. “What? I know what I saw.”

  Ora’s eyes darted to her sister before she shrugged her shoulders.

  Prince Mel tried to get his breathing under control. “…or thought I did.”

  Prince Mel slowly came to a standing position with Dara’s assistance, whose satin dress was no longer wrinkle-free.

  The two brushed arms as they stood side by side.

  “If I may ask, what brings you to our floor?” Ora asked, voice firm.

  Prince Mel smoothed his shirt out. As he did, he could hear Lady Cara gathering the dies downstairs. “I have news.”

  ***

  In a small, empty meeting room on the first floor, the Ladies and Princesses were seated before Prince Mel and Lady Cara. The room was rather warm. A sign the king was nowhere near.

  “The king will be away until further notice.” Lady Cara announced loudly, standing next to Prince Mel.

  Ora and Dara fidgeted in their seats. “Why? Is this about Shioban?”

  Prince Mel cleared his throat. “Speaking of Shioban….forget everything you saw.”

  Lady Violet and Princess Paloma gnced at each other.

  “Its best if we all pretend she was not here.” Cara added, twisting the rings on her left hand.

  “What does this mean for the Courting?” Princess Lyn asked loudly.

  “Am I allowed to leave?” Corrine asked after her, tapping her knee furiously.

  “Where is the King?” Princess Paloma asked, suddenly standing. “I was ripped away from my home for the king.”

  Paloma’s anger was palpable.

  Cara raised her hands. “Calm down.”

  “The King has matters to deal with.” Prince Mel spoke again. “He—“

  “What matters?” Corrine asked, voice strained. “Is he visiting my sisters? I can assure the king that Shioban was not a Conjuring.”

  Corrine was suddenly worried for her sisters as she could feel her pulse pounding on both sides of her head.

  Suddenly, Cara reached down where a brown bag was sitting near her feet.

  Prince Mel’s body stiffened.

  “My father said it was only for emergency use.” The prince said, jaw clenched.

  Cara reached her hand into the small sack and pulled out a bck tiara with red gems. The Tiara of Death.

  The dies’ loudly gasped.

  The st woman to wear the tiara was King Stefan’s great descendant Princess Remy. Princess Remy was the first daughter to become the Incarnate of Death….after she sughtered her twin brother.

  Cara dropped the bag, still holding on the crown. “Do you see this, dies and princesses?”

  The women’s eyes were glued to the tiara.

  “The king gave me this.” She continued, voice ringing with pride. “While he’s away, I assume his duties.”

  Prince Mel cleared his throat loudly.

  “I share these duties with Prince Mel, of course.” Cara crified, followed by a quick bow. “Since Lord Flip is away, I’m next in line on the counsel.”

  Princess Lyn frowned. “Lord Flip was just in the pace, though.”

  Cara and Mel quickly looked at each other before turning back to Lyn. “What are you talking about?”

  “Lord Flip was just here….” Lyn answered slowly. “before you both returned. Did you not see him?”

  “Maybe we just missed him.” Cara responded, before turning to Mel. “We should probably find him and fill him in.”

  Mel nodded.

  “What about Princess Ely?” Dara asked loudly, interrupting the two. “Technically, Princess Ely is the highest crown residing in the pace. She is the heir of Prophexia and has lived under the king all of her life.”

  Prince Mel and Lady Cara’s throats both tightened.

  “If Queen Rosar was still alive, I have no doubts she would assume the responsibilities of the king.” Ora added. “So, where is the Princess?”

  Cara began flexing her free hand. “Princess Ely is away.”

  “Princess Ely is taking time to grieve.” Mel added softly. Not entirely the truth.

  “What about the celebration for the queen?” Corrine asked. “It’s in three days…”

  The king was supposed to lead the procession.

  “The king says he will make an appearance. Lady Myl will take over with preparations and you are all still expected to participate.” Cara answered, before turning her attention back to the crown.

  It wasn’t heavy. To her surprise, it was very light. She rubbed each inch of it, pressing a finger against each gem before pcing it on her head. This was what she always wanted. Power.

  “Until the king says so, you must obey me.” She said slowly, cold as ice. “The Courting begins tomorrow.”