Madam Lucille’s speech was much shorter in comparison, but I still did not have the patience to listen to her rave about the talents and graces of this Season’s young ladies. Eventually, she too raised her goblet and drank. It was fifteen minutes till eleven when it was the duchess’s turn to speak.
“It has been an enchanting experience mentoring this year’s debutantes....”
The rest of the duchess’s words faded as I focused on her goblet. Time seemed to slow. I didn’t know how long I stared before she tilted her head back and let her lips touch the rim of the goblet. She swallowed.
Then, a voice shouted from the crowd, “Who poisoned the queen?” To my utter amazement, it was Olivia’s.
Tori jumped onto a stool on the far side of the ballroom. “Who poisoned the queen?”
“Who poisoned the queen?” Genevieve said from beside her.
All at once, everyone began to speak.
“What is this?” King Maximus said, rising from his throne.
“Why, I have never heard such disrespect!” Lady Hortensia exclaimed.
“Young ladies, you ought to be ashamed!” Madam Lucille said.
The duchess said nothing. Her eyes were wide open and her lips were pressed tightly closed. I gritted my teeth. The truth potion made one tell the truth, but only if one spoke. She would never confess her crimes if she weren’t forced to speak.
The clock read one minute till eleven. “Duchess Wilhelmina, will you not answer?” I shouted. “Who poisoned the queen?”
“How dare you wreak havoc during this celebration?” King Maximus said. His voice boomed through the ballroom and I ducked behind a tiered stand stacked with sandwiches. The guests around me were giving me scandalized looks, so hiding was futile. “All of you will face punishment for your brash mouths. Guards!”
“Father, wait!” Ash’s shout cut through the noise as members of the Royal Guard streamed in. “Duchess Wilhelmina has not answered.”
The king glared at him. “Do not tell me you are a part of this scheme, boy.”
“The duchess has no reason not to clear her name, Father,” Ash said coolly.
King Maximus’s face pinched in annoyance, but he turned to the duchess. “Wilhelmina, put an end to this foolishness.”
Her face turned an unflattering shade of puce. She was biting so hard on her lip I thought she would draw blood. The grandfather clock chimed. The deep, melodic peals reverberated through the quieting murmurs. When it reached the eleventh, she spoke.
“I poisoned the queen.”
Dead silence ensued. The remaining chime resounded, louder than the ones before. The king stared. Queen Cordelia clutched the arms of her throne, her face drained of color.
“Is this true?” the queen said.
Duchess Wilhelmina pressed her hand to her mouth, then shakily removed it. Something in her mien changed, like a snake shedding its skin. Suddenly she stood straighter, her eyes shone with defiance, her lips twisted into a depraved grin. “It is, Cordelia,” she said. “I want you dead.”
Gasps and shrieks went through the crowd. Lady Hortensia fainted right there on the steps, but nobody came to help her. Madame Lucille stumbled back. The king was still frozen in shock.
Crown Prince Bennett’s face was a picture of rage. “What is the meaning of this?” he said. “How dare you do this to my mother?”
She smirked. “I wanted you dead too, boy. Both you and your mother would’ve be gone in a week if my plans weren’t spoiled.”
Ash stood slowly, his gaze never leaving the duchess’s, as if she were a wild animal. There was no saying whether she would flee or attack. “You confess to framing Captain Greenwood and Amarante for your crimes?”
“Yes.” Duchess Wilhelmina gritted her jaw and narrowed her eyes. “She’s here, isn’t she? That witch girl is here. How did she escape? How?”
A shard of fear stabbed my gut. I ducked lower, but the movement caught her attention. Her eyes met mine.
“You!” she screeched, pointing straight at me. “You have spoiled my plans you wretched girl. Guards, seize that witch!”
I backed away, but the guards did not move. They were eying both the duchess and me, seemingly torn between which one of us was more dangerous. She snarled in frustration. Then she charged for me.
The rest happened in a blur. A yowl and a streak of black slammed her to the ground. The duchess screamed.
“Get off, you cursed cat!”
Misty clawed her face and yanked off the locket. Before the duchess could raise a hand against her, she bounded to me, a golden chain dangling from her teeth. I had never been happier to see the feline when she dropped the locket into my hands. I gave Misty’s head a pat. “Good girl.”
Without a second glance, I fled for the staircase to the orchestra balcony. I abandoned my mask behind me—there was no sense in wearing it when my identity was known—and reached for the flask in my pocket.
Screams exploded in the ballroom. I didn’t go back to check. There was only one task on my mind—to finish the manbane antidote. I remembered Lana’s instructions clearly. One drop of manbane was enough for the antidote. It must be stirred counterclockwise for two minutes to truly incorporate.
I burst to the balcony. The musicians had taken cover beneath their music stands. A violin player started at my entrance.
“Mind if I borrow this?” I said, plucking the bow out of his hands. He answered with a squeak.
There was a vase of marigolds on a pedestal. I tossed the flowers and emptied the water. The opening was narrower than I would’ve liked, but it would have to do. I squeezed the antidote into the vase and pried the locket open with shaking fingers. A tiny vial of scarlet liquid rested inside, nearly empty.
As I hovered the vial over the opening, the duchess’s burly accomplices swarmed in and attacked the wall of guards that encircled the dais. Queen Cordelia
