Lovisa imagined Nev rescuing Queen Bitterblue dramatically, with fierce eyes and straight shoulders and a righteous dignity that made Lovisa feel like a coward for leaving the queen to suffer, for running away. Whatever. It was easy for Nev. She didn’t have Ferla for a mother. Or, thought Lovisa, Benni for a father.

At that moment, Benni appeared in the dining room doorway. He stood tall and handsome as usual, sleek in a dark fur coat, a father to be proud of, a warm expression on his face as he glanced around the room. When he saw Lovisa, he motioned for her to come.

Punctured by her own shame, Lovisa stood and followed him.

—

They climbed to her room, Lovisa fighting off a strange panic.

Once inside, he spoke gently. “Sit down, Lovisa,” he said.

He pointed to the bed, but she went to the desk chair. Its hardness made her feel less insubstantial. He sat on the bed across from her, very low to the floor, his hands on his high knees. He looked silly, actually. It was confusing.

“I’m not sure what you think you saw last night, Lovisa,” he said. “But it’s nothing you need to worry yourself about, because it’s no longer an issue.”

“What do you mean, it’s no longer an issue?” she said, incredulous.

“The person you think you saw,” he said, “is no longer in our care.”

He means the queen is dead, thought Lovisa, with a sudden shock of understanding. Because I found her, and saw her, they decided they had to kill her.

A wave of bleakness broke against her. “It was never an issue for me,” she said, hearing her own dull voice telling the lie. “Whatever you’re doing, I’m on your side.”

“That’s certainly good to hear,” he said. “Your mother and I both love you very much, Lovisa. But your recent behavior has made us wonder. I’m afraid your mother is quite angry. I think it’s fair to say that your brothers are taking the brunt of it this morning.”

Lovisa was choking on tears, that her father should say that so casually. “But they shouldn’t be punished for something I did.”

He shrugged. “Well, you know your mother. You might have expected it. Why did you go into the attic room last night, Lovisa?”

“It’s a room with privacy,” she started, but he held up a hand. Shook his head.

“I’m afraid that act won’t work on us again, Lovisa. Not after last night. You used that poor boy, didn’t you?”

“Where is he?” asked Lovisa, her voice cracking. “What did you do with him?”

“Pari Parnin took it into his head to leave school and travel,” said Benni.