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He shifts onto his back and looks up at me.

“You do?” His voice is soft, as though he is afraid to believe me. I nod and clasp his hand, a bittersweet smile on my lips.

“I do. But first, you will rest.”

“But I—”

“Rest,” I repeat. “When you awaken, we will finally loosen the grip that bastard has had on us all.”

???

Theo sleeps until the late afternoon when the air begins to cool and the sun starts its descent. We have not been disturbed all day except for a servant who brings us a tray full of food.

“From Vanya and Inez,” she tells us in a small voice, eyes darting nervously to a sleeping Theo. “And the rest of us in the kitchens.”

“Thank you,” I tell her from the floor, Theo’s head still resting in my lap. She hesitates, lingering in the doorway.

“You might not remember, miss,” she says, fidgeting. “But you prayed with me on Saint’s Day. I had dropped the plate of biscuits and, well…it is a small thing, really, but you were very kind about it and helped me clean up.”

I remember her now, a young girl nervous in the presence of the prince. My cheeks curve in a smile, remembering that day.

“If you need anything from us…the servants and the kitchen staff, I mean,” she continues. “Well, you need only ask. Anything at all.”

Her eyes widen and she leaves briskly, as though afraid to have said too much. But I am grateful—it will make our next task even easier.

Not long after, Theo rouses from his deep slumber. His face grimaces as he rubs his eyes sleepily.

“Shivani?” he says, voice thick.

“I am here,” I tell him, running my handalong his chest reassuringly. “Are you rested?”

Blearily, he nods and hauls himself up to a sitting position. He groans, stretching his arms high above him. I take the opportunity to draw my legs back up, easing the cramp in my calves.

Theo sighs heavily, looking around his chambers as though seeing it for the first time.

“So.” He looks at me. “What is the plan?”

I give a small, determined smile.

“Let me show you.” I get to my feet and stick out a hand for Theo. He accepts it, grasping me firmly and standing. His eyes glint.

“Lead the way.”

We slip into the secret passageway leading to the servants’ quarters—the same one Honora used to try and find her friends. When we emerge from the other side, we find two guards lingering in the hall. Their heads whip towards us as we clamber out from behind the landscape painting.

“H-how—” one of them stammers as they both stare at us.

“Move!” I bark, and they instantly scatter, running in the opposite direction from us down the halls. Theo grins at me with a thoughtful look in his eyes. “What?”

“Nothing,” he says unconvincingly, but we do not have time for me to argue, so I continue on, marching us to the servants’ quarters.

It is mostly empty when we arrive, with only a young boy I recognise as a kitchen porter.He jumps at our presence, eyes glued to Theo.

“He will not hurt you,” I reassure him, wondering how quickly news of Theo’s attack against the guards spread. “You have my word.”

The boy glances at me, relaxing slightly, but there is a tremble in his limbs. Theo steps forward and kneels.

“What is your name?” he asks, voice soft.