The kingdom of Sutherland mourned the death of Prince Albert Louis Davercher in the most traditional way. Everyone wore black. Estates and shops all over the kingdom covered their windows with the darkest curtains they could find, and the entire Cloveshire palace was closed to everyone for an entire month.

But while everyone was wondering who could have killed the prince, formulating their own opinions and theories, everyone involved in the game was making their own moves.

Remington told the Royal Circus that the king would soon investigate the ladies of Belcourt.

"Whoever did this should have known that Louis will not rest until the guilty is hanged," said Remington. To Trent, he said, "The duchess is about to go crazy. She wants her daughter out of Belcourt as soon as possible."

Trent nodded. "It has only been two weeks. Caroline has not left her villa and Belcourt is not permitting anyone into its gates, even the gentlemen."

"No word from Darcy?"

"None."

"Bloody tarnation," cursed Remington. "No Royal Master and no Darcy."

"Rider gives the orders for now, but he does not wish to impose. And I agree that we have to wait. There is nothing we can do at this point. Rothsker is safe where he is, and that is enough for now. I worry about Blackwood and Greene the most." At the look his future father-in-law gave him, he added, "Caroline is a constant worry, Your Grace. That is a given. And she is always a priority."

Remington sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I shouldn't have agreed to this. I shouldn't have given into her whims."

"She is your daughter, and she appreciates the freedom you give her."

"I am too lenient, am I not?"

Trent smiled. "She appreciates it."

"A good way to indirectly convey your agreement, son. Bloody hell, I need another brandy."

☙✾❧

When two weeks came and passed without word from anyone in Belcourt, Caroline took it upon herself to go there. She was certain Ruby did not commit any murder that night.

She was with the woman when she returned to the Great Hall, and it had only been mere minutes after she saw Albert still alive.

Entrance into Belcourt took longer than usual. The Soldiers were more meticulous, checking every inch of her carriage and patting her gown and cloak up and down. She was also asked to take off her shoes.

By the time she walked into Sasha's study, the woman was not behind her desk. Rather, she was in one of the winged chairs near the window, reading a book.

"Take a seat, Caroline," she said in her gentle yet firm voice.

Caroline took the chair opposite the Mistress and waited for the woman to look up from her book. Sasha was taking her time and Caroline was growing impatient. But she took that moment to study the woman.

She had heard stories about her and how she had been the quiet and gullible kind when she first came to the Flower Garden. But there was no trace of that now. If there was anything left of that woman, Sasha was great at hiding it. For one moment Caroline wanted to know how the woman got to Belcourt. She wanted to know her story and how she came to be here now—Mistress of the Court of Flowers.

Finally, Sasha closed her book and gracefully placed it on the table that separated them. "Are you here because of Ruby?" asked the Mistress.

Caroline nodded. "Yes."

"I understand that you have become friends with her."

"Somehow, yes," Caroline replied, "but friend or not, I believe I have something to say."

Sasha's brows rose. "And what is that?"

"Ruby was in the Great Hall when the prince was murdered. In fact, she was there before me. I do not understand why she is now accused for the murder."

Caroline shifted in her seat when Sasha merely looked at her, face unreadable as it eternally was. Whatever the woman was thinking, Caroline prayed she was not considering Caroline as another suspect.

"Ruby has long been under Belcourt's suspicion. As you may already know and as Arielle have told you, someone within Belcourt is a traitor. Jade's assignment is Ruby. She is the one who reported Ruby."

Caroline blinked rapidly. "Jade?"

"Yes."

The bloody wench!

"But Jade was in the Great Hall. How could she have known what Ruby was up to? And she was with us on the time the murder supposedly occurred!"

Sasha's eyes narrowed at her, almost with amusement in fact. "Caroline, one does not have to be physically present to commit an act."

Caroline stiffened. "Are you saying someone killed the prince for Ruby?"

Sasha shrugged. "Ruby has been meeting someone who is not her flower, Caroline. The Palace also believes, after Jade's accounts, that Ruby may have also been responsible for your attack. She was aware of Jade's mission, after all. She knew where Jade was going." Caroline slowly shook her head in disbelief, but Sasha continued, "She deliberately made friends with you for reasons that may not be friendly at all."

"I do not understand. Ruby has a lot of friends outside Belcourt. She has callers all the time."

"Yes, but one or two of them is someone we cannot trust."

She swallowed. She was afraid to ask. If Sasha meant Robert, then was it a sign that Robert was not the Circus Rat? But it could also mean that the Circus was behind Albert's murder.

"No," she said. "I do not believe these accusations at all. I've watched Ruby for months."

Sasha sighed. "Caroline, Ruby's hair pins adorned with red jewels were found near Albert's body."

Caroline's jaw tightened. "And it could have been planted there."

"Which is why we are doing investigations, Caroline. Albert's death is serious. The kingdom itself may harm Belcourt because of it."

"Forgive me for being blunt, my lady, but you refer to the prince as if he is familiar."

Sasha nodded. "He is. He was my secret flower."

"So you were lovers?"

"We were lovers of chess, yes."

Caroline felt her body go tight. She wanted to tell Sasha that it was Jade who tried to kill her. But how could she? She was supposed to have lost her memory.

"When will her trial be over?" she asked.

"The High Court expects a conclusion next week."

"And what will her sentence be if she is found guilty?"

"Sinhold."

☙✾❧

Sasha entered Sinclair in a black cloak. She passed through the usual passageways until she reached the Coffin, which was empty. She entered the door and climbed the stairs up to the Theater.

Inside, she found Trent, who was pacing the room restlessly.

"I have little time," she said, rushing toward him. "Rider and Tanner?"

"Out doing what they can," he said. "How is she?"

"She is well."

"I heard they have arrested Ruby."

"Yes."

"Tell me he is not who we're looking for."

"Do you mean Robert?" He just looked at her, giving her the answer. "No, he is not."

"Then tell me why you gave him Ruby as his mission. And please do not tell me it is to kill the bloody prince."

"When we captured Willoghby last year, the man gave us a lot of information about his Belle. Like many Belles, Ruby has secrets she does not want to be revealed."

"Yet she told him?"

"Willoghby did what he did best. He dug into her life all on his own through his connections."

Trent placed his hands on his hips. "So you used the information he gave you to control Ruby through Dior."

"Yes. Through Ruby, we learned more about Aaron Stanway and his father. She gave us the information about Stanway's involvement in the group that is actively looking for Reginald."

"Therefore Ruby is working with the Circus, albeit indirectly."

"She only has contact to Robert. He was supposed to be her hidden flower, but we figured it would be too obvious."

"It still did not work. She was still caught. And she is to be sentenced to Sinhold. I do not know about you, Sasha, but this is a bloody mess."

Sasha shook her head. "Ruby will not be sentenced to Sinhold. That's why I called for you."

He blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I will find a way."

Trent ran his fingers through his hair. "Bloody hell, Sasha, what are you planning?"

Sasha looked around the empty room. "The game has changed. The Library was called to scribe a report in the Palace weeks ago. It only means one thing—there is a new High Priestess. And rumor has it that Arielle is now High Priestess regent. It means two things: Albert was High Priestess and that the new one is not yet of age, thus can be easily manipulated."

"She did this? Arielle?"

"As a Maiden, she has no chance of being High Priestess. The High Priestess elects an Elected child to replace her. The Maidens each have their own Elected, but their principal purpose is to serve as mothers of these Elected children. She must have manipulated Albert into giving his Elected instructions to choose Arielle as regent should things go wrong."

"And how do you know all this?"

"What do you mean? I was from the Library. Did you think we only dusted books?" She checked the time. "Are you ready for my instructions?"

"You could have called for someone else."

"You have someone in Belcourt you want to take out. Desperation is a good motivation."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Send message to Herst. Dior is already there waiting for instructions." Her hand appeared from the opening of her cloak. "Have this delivered to him at once. Rothsker must be taken to a better hiding place. Once that is done, have your men say to him that 'the plan is on the way'."

"The plan?"

"Dior will know what to do." She looked behind her at the desk Blackwood owned. "Any news form the south?"

"No."

Her jaw tightened. Then she was quiet, her eyes looking at nowhere in particular, as if she was lost in her own thoughts. Then she blinked and her blue-grey globes were suddenly clear and determined. "Give me a week. Then you can take Caroline out of Belcourt." She held his gaze and added, "I hate to do this, but I think I know how we can catch the Circus rat."

"How?"

"It comes with a price."

"What price?"

"Not what. Who."

☙✾❧

The day after her meeting with Trent, Sasha requested to see Arielle.

The woman received her in the same drawing room.

"I am afraid I do not have much time, Sasha. Things are a little hectic. I heard you checked Ruby's villa yourself yesterday. Did you find anything?"

"None, my lady. But I discovered something else."

"And what is that?"

"One of the Belles reported Rothsker is still alive."

"Do you mean the true Rothsker?"

"No, of course not. I meant Leo Reginald Stanhope."

Arielle's face turned red and her jaw tightened. "How certain is your Belle?"

"She found evidence that he traveled to Herst from the mainland and never returned."

"It was not him in Everleigh?"

Sasha shook her head. "I believe he was never in Everleigh. It was Terence Garmont, the man who bought The Grimes from Willoghby. His niece has been acting on his behalf since his death."

"His death was never published?"

"As most untitled Royal Circus members, I assume."

Arielle was looking too angry than Sasha had hoped for.

☙✾❧

Trent was already waiting outside the tavern located just outside Coulway. His bowler hat shadowed his face, his entire form wrapped in an oversized workman's coat.

He was nervous. He had never been in this tavern before. A brawl could start anytime, but this was where his men said the woman went to. They were right. Her carriage was at the back.

Gulping down the rest of his drink, Trent counted the minutes and seconds, his senses very aware of his surroundings, all the while he prayed Sasha was correct.

Half an hour later, a woman with long brown hair that reached her waist descended from the stairs. The hair was swept to the side. She did not look familiar to him, but one look and he knew who it was.

She looked angry as she pulled up the hood of her brown cloak. The men whistled as she walked past them, graceful as Trent expected her to be.

But she was not who he was here for. Arielle would return to Belcourt, as Sasha had told him.

But whoever she met here tonight was from elsewhere. Trent bent his head, his palms damp with sweat. It could be anyone from the Circus who would descend those stairs. It could be Dior. It could be Remington. It could even be his own father!

He still waited, beginning to believe that Sasha's plans were working. He had thought it was a long shot, but then he was beginning to believe that Blackwood's fiancée was a genius because Arielle went out of Belcourt as she had predicted. Anger, he thought, could indeed make one be very reckless.

And finally, with merely a few minutes after Arielle's departure, someone climbed down.

He had on a bowler hat, but his black hair was visible at the nape.

The hat did not do the trick because it took Trent one look to recognize him.

Trent turned his head away, facing a couple of men flirting with the barmaid.

When he heard the tavern door close, Trent pulled his hat down, ready to leave, his jaw tight, and his face hot.

In his head, he was cursing the man's name.

He returned home and immediately grabbed a piece of paper. It would be delivered to Caroline's maid first thing tomorrow on her trip to the market by St. Vincent's wife. Fatima would then deliver it to Iyana, who would deliver it to Sasha.

His hands shook with fury as he wrote one name.

Macmier.

☙✾❧

Three days later, Caroline's heart pounded hard against her chest as she walked along the corridor of the dungeon. The stone flooring continued to the walls, her footsteps echoing back to her as she continued further down.

A Soldier accompanied her to Ruby's cell. The Belle was the only prisoner, they said, but she could not stay longer than five minutes.

She did not know who Ruby truly was, or what the woman was without her assignments as a Belle, or even before she was taken in by Belcourt. With Belles, no one could truly be certain. That could be said to all ladies of Belcourt, in fact.

The woman may have had something to do with what happened to Caroline, but she could not let Ruby be sent to Sinhold to die. Not when she was almost certain that Ruby did not kill Albert.

Her eyes watered when she caught sight of the woman sitting on the floor, dressed in a black dress. Gone were the woman's fancy gowns. She was stripped down to what Belcourt thought she was—a criminal. And even then, Caroline could not judge the woman.

Ruby's head lifted and her blue eyes widened at the sight of Caroline. "Carol? What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you," she said, her voice quaking. "I wanted to make certain you are all right, but then I think you are not."

Ruby smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. "I have nothing to say."

"I will get you out of here."

Ruby frowned. "Carol, the High Court is the only thing that can get me out of here."

She shook her head. "I can get you out. I know you are innocent. I know you did not kill anyone."

Ruby scoffed. "How are you certain?"

Caroline blinked, a little taken aback. "Well, perhaps you killed someone before, but I am certain you did not kill the prince."

The smile on Ruby's face remained, turning into a bitter one. She took in a deep breath and let it out. The woman blinked a few times, fighting back tears. "What can you do, Carol? Barge me out of here?"

Caroline shook her head. "No, of course not." Lifting her head, a tear fell from her eye. "I will tell Belcourt who did it."

Hope shimmered in Ruby's eyes, but then it disappeared just as quickly.

"You do not believe me."

"I want to, Carol, but I cannot summon myself to hope." She looked around the filthy cell. "Look where I am."

"Say goodbye to this place soon, Ruby," said Carol. "It does not deserve your beauty."

☙✾❧

There was no ugly crying between her and Ruby. She merely shed one drop of tear. The other lady did not.

But something had to be done.

She had to do what was right.

And so she found herself in the same drawing room with Arielle that same day.

"I was told that you have important information, Caroline?" Arielle asked, gracefully placing her teacup on the table.

Carol watched the ripple of the liquid disappear before she lifted her eyes. "Yes. I have been dishonest when I was interrogated by the Soldiers after the murder happened."

Arielle's brow arched. "You were?"

"Yes. I feared that if I told them the truth, they would accuse me of the murder."

"And why is that?"

Caroline swallowed hard. She hated to do this. But she must. Because Ruby was innocent. And Ruby had a link to the Royal Circus. Belcourt could never find out.

"I ventured outside the Great Hall. That part was true. But I ventured further that night. I saw the crown prince playing chess with someone in one of the drawing rooms. Then I left and returned to the Great Hall and found Ruby already there. We never left the Great Hall after that. She could not have gone out to murder the prince. I would have known she was missing."

Arielle suddenly looked interested. "And who did you see with Albert that night, Caroline?"

Caroline swallowed again.

She closed her eyes in prayer. May God forgive her for this.

"Sasha. It was Sasha."