Chapter 7 Real Threats
Arthur's Pov
I stormed back to my chambers, Silver's voice still echoing in my head.
"Find another accessory."
Like I was nothing. Like everything I'd said this morning had meant absolutely nothing.
And later, when I'd asked if she still loved me, she'd looked me in the eye and said no. Said she never had.
For Gaia's sake, I'd had two rejections. Two. Why—
"Arthur."
I stopped. Turned to the voice calling.
My mother stood in the corridor, every line of her posture composed.
"What is it?" The words came out sharper than I intended.
"I assume you were just coming from her room." Not a question.
"Nothing's wrong, Mother."
"I didn't ask if something was wrong." Her tone cooled. "But you should know, she has grounds to divorce you. If she chose to pursue it."
The word hit.
"Divorce—"
"Think about it, Arthur." Her eyes didn't soften. "I didn't train you to be this blind. Without the support of the five houses, how do you expect to rule?"
She moved past me before I could force out a reply.
I stood there for a long moment after she'd gone, her words settling like stones in my chest.
Silver wouldn't. She couldn't.
...Could she?
I shoved open my chamber door.
Cateline was on my bed, exactly where I'd left her an hour ago. Like she'd known I would come back.
She'd been coming to my chambers like this for months now. Ever since Silver's obsession had become unbearable, Cateline had been there—understanding, patient, everything Silver wasn't.
The servants knew to look away. Even Mother knew, though she'd said nothing until today.
"What happened?" Cateline asked quietly, sitting up.
I couldn't answer. The words lodged somewhere between my chest and my throat.
She rose and crossed to me, her hand resting over my heart. "She didn't even let you in, did she?" Her voice turned soft, sympathetic. "Someone's gotten to her, Arthur. I can feel it."
"Stop it." I stepped back.
"Why?" Her eyes shone with concern. "This is what she always wanted. To make you miserable. To punish you for not loving her the way she demanded."
"I said stop it."
The softness in her expression cooled, like a lake icing over. "Fine. Push me away too. Just like you're pushing away everyone who actually cares about you."
"That's not—"
"I can help you." She interrupted neatly, voice returning to calm reason. "If you'd let me."
I looked at her. Cateline had always been there. Understanding. Undemanding. Never clinging, never sobbing in corridors the way Silver had.
"How?" My voice came out low. "How can you possibly help?"
She moved closer, but didn't touch me this time. "What if we created a situation where Silver is trapped? Where she can only beg you for help?"
My chest tightened. "What do you mean?"
"We stop waiting for her to expose herself." Her eyes gleamed. "What if she's avoiding you because she's hiding something?" Her voice dropped. "Don't you want to know the truth?"
I did. Gaia help me, I did.
"What kind of... situation?" I asked carefully.
Cateline smiled. Small, knowing. "I already have a plan. You might not like it, but it's what she needs. What you need."
"You want to set her up." The words felt heavy in my mouth.
"I want to reveal who she really is." Her tone was patient. Reasonable. "Arthur, if you're right about her, don't you think everyone deserves to see it?"
I wanted to ask more. Wanted to know exactly what she was planning.
But part of me didn't want to know. If I didn't know, I couldn't be held responsible.
"Then what do you need from me?" I asked.
"Nothing." She reached up, smoothing an imaginary wrinkle from my collar. "Just play along when the time comes. Don't interfere. Let events unfold. I'll handle the rest."
Play along. Not act. Not lie. Just... not stop her.
"You'll... handle it?" I said.
"I'll handle everything." Her smile widened. Just a bit. "You just have to trust me. Can you do that?"
I should have said no. Should have asked questions. Stopped this before it started.
"Yes," I heard myself say.
She kissed my forehead lightly. "Good. Now go. You have council. I'll take care of the rest."
She slipped out through the servants' passage, leaving me alone in the silence of my chambers.
What had I just agreed to? I pushed the thought away.
I was just letting the truth come to light. That was all.
Nothing wrong with that.
\~~~
I was cutting through the passage near the east wing, trying not to think about Cateline's smile, when a familiar voice called out behind me.
"Your Highness."
I turned.
Vincent Noir stood in the corridor in black travelling leathers, sword at his hip, dust still on his boots.
Relief washed through me. If anyone could look at Silver and tell me if I was losing my mind, it was her brother.
"Vincent. You're back sooner than expected."
"The King sent an urgent summons." He glanced down the hall toward the audience chambers.
Of course. Father only dragged his shadows into the light when something was serious.
Vincent's gaze flicked back to my face, his smile fading. "What's wrong with you? You look like you've been wrestling ghosts."
Despite myself, I almost smiled. "Please be serious."
"I am being serious. You look terrible." His tone shifted, sincere. "What is it?"
"Your sister," I said.
His brows rose. "Silver? Is she hurt? In trouble?"
"She's not in love with me anymore."
Vincent laughed. Actually laughed. "Really? That's what this is about?" He shook his head. "Arthur, she's obsessed with you. Have you seen her room at home? It's a mini shrine just for you."
"I don't mean that." I caught his arm. "She doesn't care anymore. At all. It's like she's become someone else entirely. I—" The words stuck. "I need to know if I'm imagining this."
The amusement faded from his face. His eyes sharpened. "I see."
He was silent for a moment, considering.
"That's between you and her," he said finally. "None of my business."
"Please." The word tasted like defeat. "If you talked to her, would you be able to tell if something changed?"
He watched me for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. Let me see her. But I'm meeting the King shortly."
"I'll have a servant bring her to the gardens," I said. "I want to see how she reacts to you."
Vincent's mouth quirked. "Using me as a test? I should charge you for this."
But he nodded. "The gardens, then. Don't take too long. Your father hates waiting."
\~~~
We waited by the fountain. The sun was warm on the stones, but my hands felt cold.
Vincent leaned against the rim, plucking at a rose, like he didn't have an urgent report for the King. Like he had all the time in the world.
"There," he said after a while, nodding past my shoulder.
I turned.
A servant approached, Silver a few steps behind her.
My heart stuttered.
She wore a deep blue gown embroidered with silver thread, the color setting off her dark hair and pale skin. She moved with a poise that hadn't been there when we first married. Self-contained. Untouchable.
My stomach tightened. When had I last seen her like this? I'd forgotten what she looked like when she wasn't crying. When she wasn't desperately seeking my approval.
This Silver looked like she could cut me down with a word and not lose a moment's sleep over it.
When she saw us together, something flickered in her eyes.
Then her expression smoothed to blank politeness.
"Vincent," she said, voice even. "How was the journey?"
"Good to see you're still alive," Vincent replied, straightening. "Mother's been worried sick. I told her you'd manage, of course. At least you know how not to embarrass the family in public."
I'd forgotten how they snapped at each other.
Silver's answer was sharper than I remembered.
"Well," she said sweetly, "I see Father is now sending babies to war."
Color flushed Vincent's face. "I'm not a—"
"Oh, is that a yes?" She tilted her head, eyes wide with mock concern. "Hard to tell with all that pouting."
I fought back a smile and lost. This was definitely not the tearful, clinging Silver from a month ago.
Vincent's eyes narrowed, then he forced a smirk. "Whatever. Arthur told me you're attending the summit together." He glanced at me. "Didn't realize you two had kissed and made up."
Silver's jaw tightened. Just barely.
Vincent's smirk widened. "Still the same obsessed little princess, I see. Can't even stand hearing his name without getting all tense."
Silver turned to look at me.
Her eyes were ice.
"You told him I was attending the summit?" Her voice was very quiet.
My chest tightened. "I may have mentioned the invitation—"
"You may have." She tilted her head, face twisted in mock confusion.
Vincent looked between us, the amusement slipping.
"I see," she said. She stepped closer, every inch of her controlled. "And what else has he been telling you about me?"
"Silver—"
"I'm not going to the summit." She turned to Vincent without waiting for my answer. "I need to see you after you're done with the King."
Then she walked away.
Just... left.
~ ~ ~
"Well?" I said finally, when she disappeared around the hedge. "Do you see it now?"
Vincent shrugged. "I see a sister who's finally biting back. That's all." He pushed off the fountain. "I have to see the King. Border trouble won't wait for your marriage drama, Arthur."
He left me there alone, the sunlight suddenly feeling too bright.
If even Vincent thought she was just being difficult, then maybe Cateline was right.
Maybe the only way to know the truth was to let her plan unfold.