Page 154 of Wicked Prince of Frost

“It was only ever meant to be a temporary solution to buy us a few days. We are pushing it.” Mingi shakes his head. “Infighting will begin unless they see someone on the throne. Arum needs an active ruler, and soon.”

“But who?” Iseul asks. “There is no protocol for a situation like this. Not just anyone can take up that mantle.”

“I know,” Mingi bites out, though it’s clear his frustration is not aimed at her.

Blinking, I sit straighter in my saddle. Their conversation finally succeeds in pulling me from my dejection.

The night Joon and I had dinner, I wanted to share something I’d found during my research. Except we were interrupted, but I never got the chance. It had completely slipped my mind after everything came to a head. And ever since, I have been singularly focused on finding him.

“I know what to do,” I blurt, cutting them off.

Both turn to me with matching expressions of bewilderment.

My heart races in a way that makes me feel alive without the pain that used to bring the fear of death with it.

If I’m right—and I know I am—then this will give us all the time in the world to search for Joon without the pressure or demands of politics.

I urge my horse into a run, racing toward the palace.

Within seconds, the thunder of hooves follows.

Once we are inside, I will explain everything at once.

Soon, we are bearing down on the palace gate. The guardsscramble to allow us entry when they realize we’re not slowing.

At the stables, the young groom who always seems to know when he’s needed ahead of time already has the reins in hand before I dismount. He nods to signal that he will take care of Star Runner, leaving me free to run as fast as my legs will carry me through the grounds and toward the Northern Court.

Wisps of hair cling to my face, damp with sweat. Scholars murmur at the commotion I cause, quickly moving out of my way as I completely disregard library decorum.

While Mingi and Iseul catch up, I gather what I need, grabbing the royal family’s most recent record on my way to the book that holds the key to everything. It’s in the exact spot I found it, leaning at the same angle as it was the day I found it. The fine layer of dust that settled on the exposed front cover is undisturbed, as if I’d never touched it.

“What is this all about?” Iseul asks between gasps.

At the same time as Mingi asks, “What are we doing here?”

I shove the first book into his hands, opening it and flipping to where the torn edges run down the center crease.

“Look.” I run my finger down the fold. “A page is ripped out.”

Mingi stares at me with a straight face. “You should have given it to one of the scholars?—”

“Why would someone need to remove a page?” I ask pointedly as I flip back one page to Joon’s name. “To hide something. And look here, it says, ‘first son,’ not just ‘son.’”

“I’m not sure what you’re getting at,” Iseul says softly with a hint of guilt.

I lean in. “They had asecondson,” I whisper, then straighten, waiting for them to understand.

“Violet,” Iseul says my name slowly. She wrings her handsand exchanges a look with her brother. “He died the night of the curse with the rest of the royal family.”

Turning, I grab the book behind me. “Something else is going on here. I first picked this up thinking it was something else.”

I open the cover and quickly flip to the story. But before I can show them, the words rise in a puff of glittering smoke as they begin to fade from the parchment. Then the pages themselves. On and on until my open palms are empty.

By the end of it, my hands are shaking, holding nothing but air.

“What did it say?” Iseul whispers.

I tell them what I remember of the story, comparing it to the nearly identical way the Traitor King spoke of Joon’s parents, the monster attack, and how the prince sent his brother away.