Page 84 of Wicked Prince of Frost

This time, there is a litany of questions hidden within those two words, which I ignore until we are inside.

I glance through the open door of my bedchamber. Imugi is stretched out across the bed, tail swishing lethargically over the edge of the mattress. They lazily lift their pale, shimmery head, then let it flop back down.

I take a seat behind the low-legged table at the back of the main area. Mingi follows, shooting Imugi a sharp glare as he passes before sitting across from me.

“You should have let me know when you left this morning, Your Highness.” The way he uses my title shows his irritation over how difficult he finds me as of late.

Few would dare to show such feelings to any royal ornoble above them without expecting swift repercussions. It has been this way with both him and Iseul since I brought them into the palace.

An unspoken agreement between the three of us.

In private, they are friends. Confidants. They allow me the freedom to move about without reporting my movements, and I allow them to speak freely in my presence without fear of punishment, regardless of what they have to say.

“I left last night and am only now returning. I was with Violet all night. She was not well.” I send a side glance in the demon’s direction. “Imugi should have informed you.”

As a compromise for my constant secrecy, Imugi will inform Mingi of my general whereabouts.

“I will send for the head physician.”

I wave him off. “There is no need.” A sense of guilt, burdened with shame, fills me. “She had a fever from a build-up of the frost bloom in her blood.”

“It’s not like you to hold off for so long.” Mingi frowns.

There is no logical reason I can give him to make him understand. Delaying puts the entire kingdom in jeopardy. No single life should be put before the needs of Arum.

Siphoning wears on Violet in a way it never wore on the others. Not that I spent significant time with them, the way I do with her, so perhaps I am wrong.

“Did you happen to notice anything out of the ordinary yesterday?” I must first rule out those closest to me,

He blinks.

“By chance, did someone ask you to deliver anything to Violet yesterday?”

Mingi’s unimpressed expression quickly changes to mild confusion. “No. If I had, I would come to you first.”

“Are you aware of anyone who might want to meet with Violet in private?”

“Not off the top of my head. Did something happen?” He shifts and leans forward.

I nod. “Last night, Violet received a message asking to meet with them in the Garden of Stars. She said it wasn’t signed, but she went, thinking it was from me.”

“I may be able to identify the handwriting if I saw it.”

“Unfortunately, it was gone by the time she returned. There was also a complete lack of evidence of anyone having entered her room without notice.”

“She is certain it was real? Not a hallucination from the effects of the frost bloom?” he asks hesitantly.

“When I found her, she was outside and the door was locked behind her,” I say. “This was intentional. Someone lured her out by making her think I was waiting.”

“Odd. Nothing like this has happened with the others.”

I appreciate Mingi’s ability to focus on the important details.

“We both know I have many enemies within the palace walls. But beyond rumors, none have dared to act against me before now. I have a few suspicions, though nothing more than a gut feeling. I’d like for you to keep an ear out for any whisperings or anything out of the ordinary. For now, we should keep last night’s incident quiet.

“As for the why of it, I believe it was to endanger her life, if not outright kill her. The wards were down around the garden, and three wild, higher demons made it within the palace walls. Have Minister Yeona reinforce all the wards in the palace immediately.”

“Consider it done.” He dips his chin in acknowledgment of his orders, awaiting dismissal.