“The same way you ‘found’ the dining hall last night?” Viv questions, looking amused. “The library’s all the way in the North Wing.”

“I can show Mr. Dawson the way, Your Highness,” Cara offers.

Viv looks at me, and I nod.

“Okay,” she relents, then begins walking down the hallway.

“It’s this way,” Cara instructs, nodding her head in the opposite direction from Viv’s retreating figure.

I follow her as she begins walking. “So, have you worked in the press office for long?”

Cara looks startled I’m speaking to her. I notice she glances behind us before answering. She relaxes slightly once she confirms Viv is out of view. “No,” she replies. “I’m just an intern here for the summer.”

“Oh, really?” I respond. “So you’re still a student?”

Cara nods. “I’ll be starting my final year at Edgewood in September.”

“Edgewood?” I repeat. “Isn’t that where Vivienne goes now?”

“Yes. The princess will be entering her second year.”

“But you two don’t know each other?” I ask. I didn’t sense any familiarity between her and Viv. “Isn’t it a small school?”

“I’m quite certain Princess Vivienne has no idea who I am,” Cara answers wryly. “But yes, it is a small school.”

I let the subject drop. We turn a corner and walk down another long corridor in silence.

“I didn’t believe them.” Cara breaks the quiet. “The news reports. I couldn’t figure out why everyone here was so panicked. But I get it now. She’s different with you. Really different. I mean, with Charles, she—” Cara glances over and stops talking when she sees my tense expression at the mention of Vivienne’s fiancé.

We make another turn, and I’m grateful I have a guide. There’s no way I could have found the way myself.

Cara stops outside a pair of ornately carved doors. “Here’s the library.”

“Thanks for helping me navigate, Cara.”

“No problem,” Cara replies. “I can ask someone to retrieve whatever it is you need to study. Playbooks?”

“Thanks, but I’m all set,” I reply, belatedly realizing they’re still in Viv’s room, along with the rest of my belongings.

“You’re sure?” Cara asks. “It’s no trouble.”

“Positive,” I confirm.

“Okay, Mr. Dawson.”

I laugh once. “Please, call me Jace.”

Cara smiles. “Okay. Jace.” A slight flush colors her cheeks. She turns around, only to pivot back toward me and complete the circle.

“Can I ask you a favor, Jace?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Could you not mention anything I said to Vivienne? She, uh—you seem to be the one person she listens to…not that she should listen—I know she’s almost queen—”

I cut off her awkward babble. “I won’t say anything.”

“Thank you,” Cara replies, looking relieved. She turns to leave again, this time not turning back.

I open the door to the library and step inside. Towering metal shelves line the walls. Several stories of wrought-iron walkways provide access to volumes that stretch to the domed ceiling that’s covered with intricate, detailed paintings. I grab a random book from a reachable shelf and sprawl out on one of the leather couches scattered throughout the large room. I start to fall asleep before I reach the second page.