The queen purses her lips. “I will prove to you that Zea-Mays Calico is the most dangerous young woman in Phangloria. When you’ve finished listening to my evidence, you will not only agree with my conclusion but demand her execution.”
All sounds of mirth fade, and silence spreads across the room. My stomach clenches, and a band of tension forms around my lungs. Which of my secrets has she uncovered? I force myself to breathe deeply, to work through the drug coursing through my veins, but I can’t muster the motor skills.
“Your Majesty.” Ingrid’s father places his hands on the armrest and leans forward in the front seat. “We’re all aware of Miss Calico’s subversive influence over the prince. However, nothing in the Princess Trials regulations says she cannot use seduction.”
Heat rushes to my cheeks. I glance at Montana for him to admit that his employees created that naked video, but the man just stares ahead at the queen.
Queen Damascena paces between my chair and the one positioned opposite. “She’s guilty of two crimes that warrant a death penalty. And I have witnesses and evidence to prove her treasonous acts.”
A door creaks open, and my gaze rises to the wall behind the other chair, where General Ridgeback steps into the room, holding a metallic leash. Behind him is Ryce.
My heart jumps into my throat, and all the blood drains from my face. If Ryce knows I accepted Prince Kevon’s proposal of marriage, he will strike out with the truth.
The queen steps in the space between our chairs as the general secures Ryce to the seat. “This is the fugitive Vitelotte Solar implicated in her confession, Ryce Wintergreen.”
Chatter spreads across the room, and a smirk of triumph spreads across the queen’s face.
I gulp. What’s Berta’s father doing here? I thought he worked in the aerodrome.
As Queen Damascena tells the ministers that we became childhood sweethearts when I witnessed a guard killing Ryce’s father, footage of my nine-year-old self plays on the wall screen on our right. It’s from the day after the murder when Dad took me to Fort Meeman-Shelby to give my witness statement.
A lump forms in my throat, and shallow breaths slip in and out of my lungs. I can’t believe I used to be so small and thin. My skin looks pallid in contrast to my mahogany pigtails, and dark circles ring my eyes.
Ryce stares at the screen, his eyes glossy with unshed tears. They must have starved him, too, because his cheekbones protrude more than usual, and the neck of his yellowing Harvester shirt hangs at an awkward angle.
My heart aches for Mr. Wintergreen, who lost his life for protecting an innocent young woman, for the nine-year-old girl who saw too much at a tender age, for the younger version of Ryce, who lost his father, but I feel nothing for the man Ryce has become.
“Together, they formed a group called the Red Runners.” Queen Damascena turns to Ryce. “Isn’t that correct?”
“Yes,” he says through clenched teeth.
“What is the purpose of this group?” she asks.
Ryce’s jaw tenses, and his chest rises and falls with rapid breaths. Beads of sweat form on his brow. He’s fighting something internal, but the general punches the back of his head and the answer spills from Ryce’s lips.
“To destroy the Echelon system,” he says with a groan. “To overthrow the Nobles and share Phangloria’s resources equally among its citizens.”
Queen Damascena cups a hand behind her ear. “Does that sound familiar?”
Our spectators nod and mutter their agreement. They’re probably thinking about how Prince Kevon abandoned his hanging gardens project to increase Harvester water rations.
“Your Majesty.” The Minister of Justice leans forward and steeples her fingers. “Are you suggesting that Miss Calico joined the Princess Trials to corrupt Prince Kevon?”
The queen pulls her shoulders back and stands taller. They’re finally taking her seriously. “Why don’t you ask Mr. Wintergreen why Miss Calico joined the Princess Trials?”
Boulders of dread grind through my belly like stones. I plead for Ryce to lie, to agree with the Minister of Justice and tell everyone that I came to influence the prince because the truth will be disastrous for both of us.
When the Minister of Justice poses the question to Ryce, he answers, “Zea was supposed to infiltrate the palace and find hidden entrances.”
“To what end?” asks the minister.
“So Red Runners could storm the palace and kill the Royals.”
Disgruntled mutters spread across the room, and my heart plummets. I glance around the rows of seats, trying to force my mouth to open to scream a denial, but I still can’t move. Finding the entrances might have been my original intention, but then I fell in love with Prince Kevon.
The ministers fire question after question about the Red Runners. They want to know their names, numbers, strength, allies. They speak over each other, overwhelming Ryce until he squeezes his eyes shut and screams.
Nausea ripples through my insides. They’ve done something to him, but what?
Queen Damascena doesn’t give Ryce the opportunity to reply. She stands in front of him and holds up her palms in a motion to stop. I’m guessing she doesn’t want to distract the ministers from condemning me.
“Mr. Wintergreen’s truth serum won’t last much longer,” she shouts. “We’ve already dosed him with enough to rupture his aorta. General Ridgeback was generous enough to record his earlier interrogations, which we will make available to you after you have found Miss Calico guilty.”
My gaze slides back to Ryce, whose eyes seem to plead for understanding. I glance away. Nobody could blame him for blurting the truth under the influence of multiple doses of serum.
It rankles that he and his mother sent me on a dangerous mission on a whim, but I despise him for being no better than the guards who harass Harvester girls. How much further would he have gone at the farmer’s market without the fear of getting caught?
Queen Damascena turns to Ryce. “Describe Miss Calico’s feelings toward you.”
I glare at her
