“Why are we searching for the queen, when it was a curse that killed him?” asked another nobleman. “Shouldn’t we be investigating his daughters—the Traveler one could be out there doing anything, for Sun’s sake. Or the Burnt Bay traitor may have gotten her hands on a bloodletter, despite being locked away.”

“There is no evidence to suggest Florencia has anything to do with any of this,” Danton interrupted.

“Yet,” Ambassador Ghoush said. “But I do agree with you, Ambassador Danton. We need an acting leader. Someone to guide this investigation.”

“There seems an obvious choice.” Ambassador Perry raised a hand. “All those in favor of Lady Akeylah’s appointment?”

Akeylah started at the sound of her name. Raised her head and watched numbly as hand after hand went up around the table. Every ambassador, every noble. Even Lord Rueno lifted his arm, after a pause. The room fell silent. Looking to her to solve this.

She swallowed a hysterical laugh. They wanted her to lead? She’d fallen in love with the enemy. Allowed her own father to die.

But they were waiting, expectant. And someone needed to tell them.

She met Rueno’s gaze. “I agree with you, Lord Rueno.” In another lifetime, she might have been amused at the way he nearly fell off his chair in shock. “Our first priority must be finding Rozalind.” Akeylah shut her eyes for a moment. “And since she is most likely carrying the rightful heir, we will need to decide upon a regency until the child comes of age.”

A hush fell over the room. She could already see Ambassador Ghoush and Lord Rueno trading stares as they realized what this meant.

“My lady.” Captain Lindle frowned. “If Her Majesty is with child, then—”

“Then you understand why I wish you to find her, and quickly,” Akeylah interrupted. Whispers broke out, faces lit up, eager at this new gossip, this terrible tale to spread. A queen who murdered her own husband.

Suddenly, Akeylah couldn’t do this. She didn’t have the energy for these people, these pampered nobles who needed servants to tie their shoes, wipe their rears. What did they understand of suffering? Had they ever watched their lover kneel in a pool of their father’s blood? She rose, one hand at her temple. “Excuse me. The stress of the day…”

Danton leaped to her side at once. “We can decide these matters later,” he said, and she felt a surge of gratitude. “Get some rest,” he murmured to her, before he spun back to the room. “For now, Lady Akeylah is right. Our primary focus must be on locating the queen.”

He continued to speak, but Akeylah lost track as she ducked from the solarium. She only just reached her chambers, however, when a noblewoman stopped her.

“Lady Akeylah.”

She wrenched open her door.

“My lady, please, it’s about your sister.”