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“Why is that?”

“You have too much money to go around. It draws suspicion. People want information soon, or they’ll order your death. No one likes a wild card around here. Especially since you seem to be turning up at guild events.”

Magda gulped. What would Dagmara say in this situation? She was only a few mistakes away from revealing her identity completely. The only way to keep up this charade was to keep everyone guessing.

“Let them wonder,” Magda retorted.

Ishani turned her body toward Magda. “I looked you up in the royal records. Dagmara Zosia. Royal Assassin for the late Azuremi King, Bogdan Krol. Mother was a spy in the wars, former assassin, and was tortured to death. Sound familiar?”

Magda bit her tongue. “You’re lying,” she finally responded. “You don’t have access to Queen Sanyal’s royal records.”

“You don’t know the first thing about me,” said Ishani.

Magda sighed, turning towards Ishani. “Because you’ve never told me. We’re not even friends. Why do you care what happens to me?”

Then Ishani grabbed Magda’s hand, pulling her close to her until she could easily whisper in her ear. Her breath sent a chill down Magda’s spine, “Because I know a guardian when I see one.”

CHAPTER 32

Dagmara

Before Dagmara knew it, the night of the engagement ball arrived. Supposedly, there would be nobles attending from all over the kingdom. Dagmara didn’t know if they were there to judge her, or merely show their support to the king. Regardless, it was nerve-wracking. She tried to remain calm. Tonight, she had to play off that she and the Mad King were engaged—in front of the entire kingdom.

Madame Annette had given her clear instructions about the ball. The newly engaged couple would open with a dance, and then there would be a processional line as everyone paid their respects. Afterward, they would serve desserts and drinks while performers would take the floor. People wouldn’t leave until it was well into the evening.

Dagmara wasn’t a dancer herself. She knew the Azuremi Waltz which was performed often at weddings and King Bogdan’s holiday balls. It was a romantic dance, one Dagmara had learned when she was a small child because she admired it so much.

Now, in Ilusauri, she was supposed to perform the Ilusaurian Lullaby and only had a few days to learn it. She and Urszula practiced for hours. Endlessly. Especially since Dagmara had to take plenty of breaks to account for her compromised stamina.

Urszula helped her prepare for the ball. She added fabric to one of Magda’s dresses, creating a gorgeous ice-blue gown with a translucent cape that rolled off her shoulders and clasped around her neck. Her hair, dyed silver once more, was pulled half back and braided into a silver tiara. Long, crystal earrings dangled to her shoulders.

Finally, the hour of the engagement ball arrived. Martine and Dagmara walked side by side, past the whirling maze of mirrors. As they walked, Dagmara remained silent, her mind preoccupied.

“He’s waiting at the second floor entrance,” Martine said. “All the guests should already be in the ballroom. You two will make your entrance together and descend the stairs into the center of the dance floor.”

Perfect. Starting the night like a show.

“Thank you,” Dagmara replied. She had more to thank Martine for, ever since she had saved her life during the hound attack in Nouchenne. The monster didn’t stir in Dagmara’s presence, even though it only awoke when it detected magic, and Martine hadn’t made a comment yet.

“I’ll be here all night if you need anything,” Martine added.

“Did learning the truth about Nouchenne change your opinion of the king?” Dagmara blurted out.

Martine inclined her head. “What do you mean?”

“Well, I forced you to come, and nearly killed you. But at least you found out why your family was cleared, right?”

“You didn’t force me to come,” Martine replied, “you’re right, I did want to learn why His Majesty was clearing towns. If anything, it made me trust His Majesty more. I thought he was clearing them maliciously, but he was protecting civilians from the hounds.”

“I suppose,” Dagmara muttered. “Can I tell you a secret, Martine?”

Martine nodded, her eyes widening slightly.

Dagmara hoped Martine was trustworthy. Martine had already kept it a secret that the mystical hounds didn’t awake in Dagmara’s presence. Now, Dagmara wanted to trust her.

“My father and brother were killed by men wearing masks with the symbol of the First Prince. In the cave…someone wrote ‘the First Prince will rise.’ There has to be a connection between all of this.”

“Maybe it wasn’t written by someone, but something.”