On the dais, the knife presses deeper into Rosario’s throat. I have to do something. I can’t watch him die. But there’s no way I’ll reach him before that blade slits his throat.

“Well, Red, what’s it going to be?” Aldo says. To Condesa Ariña, he says, “Mamá, please relieve her of her sword.”

Ariña steps forward, and I allow her to take my weapon. It clatters as she drops it to the ground, then kicks it aside.

Beside Rosario, Carilla lifts her hand to her hair. It’s a slow, subtle gesture.

“Why did you join the Guard?” I say, buying time.

“I needed a way inside. Also I really wanted to meet you and Iván, and all the empire’s brightest sons.”

“Why did you pretend to be our friend?”

“I didn’t pretend! You are my . . . I knew that once you realized I was the true heir, you would . . .” He glances toward his mother.

“What were the barrels of sweet dream syrup for?”

“You’re trying to get me to say something unwise in front of everyone, aren’t you?” He puts pressure on the blade. The tip parts my skin, bringing searing pain.

Carilla pulls a hairpin from her hair, which loosens it, toppling her black curls to her shoulders. The pin is half the length of my forearm.

“Aldo,” I say to keep his attention on me. “I’m going to kill you now.”

Carilla spins, thrusts the hairpin up, under the chin of Rosario’s captor and deep into his brain.

I throw myself backward, turn in midair to land on my hands while my feet arc out and sweep Aldo’s legs out from beneath him. He rolls away and is back on his feet before I can blink.

He whips his sword around. “I should have been ready for that move, after seeing you fight Valentino.”

Carilla has a dagger in her hand now; where it came from I have no idea.

Tristán and Juan-Carlos advance on Condesa Ariña. Aldo sees his mother is in danger and yells, “Guards! Seize them! Kill anyone who dares raise a weapon to your prince!”

Three imposter Guards rush forward. Tristán and Juan-Carlos are forced to retreat back, toward Rosario and Carilla.

Conde Astón starts to duck behind the Hand, but suddenly Valentino is there, blocking his way. “If you try to hide from this war you’ve started, I will kill you myself,” the boy says to his father.

Aldo whips his sword toward my head, and I duck, dancing out of the way. But several false Guards have made it through the crowd and are suddenly at my back, giving me no quarter. As one, they lift their swords, aiming for my throat. Aldo says, “If you will not join me, there is only one choice left to you. Do you want it in the heart, the throat, or the head?”

I’m trapped. My prince is trapped. Nothing to do now but die fighting.

Rosario, I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.