Manu’s face grows contemplative as he picks off a leaf from one of the taller shrubs and twirls it between his finger and thumb. “Then that’s exactly what you’ll say at the Conflux, if you choose to go.”
“Slade—King Ravinger,” I quickly correct myself, “won’t ever agree to that.”
He cocks his head. “Do you know what a Conflux is?”
I falter for a moment, because Slade hasn’t told me much about it. “I know that it’s some sort of trial that the royals call during special occasions.”
“Yes, but if you look throughout history, it’s not really a trial. It’s a spectacle.”
I blink in confusion. “I’m sorry?”
“A Conflux is what royals call for either another monarch, family members of a royal, or a person of high status. Instead of following the normal laws of Orea, those called to a Conflux are exceptions. Brought forward because the subjects of Orea need to see that even people involved within the monarchy are handled and held to some type of law. In this case, a gold-touched pet who’s rumored to have stolen her king’s power and helped assassinate a prince,” he says pointedly.
My face grows hot. “Why are you telling me this?”
He tosses the leaf aside, letting it flutter to the ground. “Because, like I said, I like you. I think King Ravinger might be rotting your head, because all of Orea is not your enemy. I’m not your enemy. Let Second Kingdom do what they do, which is to call you in for questioning, you’ll explain your innocence, and they can give you a slap on the wrist.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, right.”
“It’s true,” he says with a shrug. “The history of the Conflux proves it. I think the most severe punishment was a fine for a hundred thousand gold coins in the last hundred years.”
“Whether that’s true or not, it doesn’t apply to me.”
“Think about it—nobody truly wants to go against Ravinger. We know how powerful he is. But if we let King Midas’s death stand without questioning? The people will be incensed. They’ll get dangerous ideas. Whether it’s to kill another royal without consequence or to take it upon themselves to mete out judgment, both of which we don’t want. That certainly wouldn’t be safe for you.”
I feel the underlying threat of his words like a papercut slicing over my skin.
Manu comes closer, dark eyes imploring. “Piece of advice, Doll, never let the people come up with their own narrative, because you’ll rarely like what they say. But if you take control of this now, if you give testament, then all the monarchs will be able to put on the show that everyone needs to see. We can move past this, and all this talk of war can be put behind us.”
My moiling thoughts twist in an eddy. I have no idea what to say or what to think.
Luckily, I’m saved a response when a guard comes striding forward. “My lady?” The man stops short when he notices Manu and then looks uncertainly between us.
I paste on a forced smile. “Yes?”
“There’s someone here to see you.”
I hesitate, surprise filling me. “Alright.”
“I’ll leave you to it, Lady Auren,” Manu says as he begins to walk away. “Just…think about what I’ve said.”
The guard and I both watch as he departs, and I let out a strained breath before I turn back. “Is there really someone here to see me?” I ask. “Or did you make that up?”
“I’ve been told there’s someone here requesting to see you.”
My brows draw together. “Who?”
“I’m not sure, my lady. I was only sent to fetch you.” He looks around nervously. “I’m sorry that you were out here alone with the Third Kingdom’s advisor. I will alert the other guards and make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
“It wasn’t anyone’s fault,” I say, because the last thing I want is for Slade to get angry at his guards. “Lead the way.”
He nods and I follow behind him to return inside the castle, and I wipe my hands over my brown dress, hoping there’s no grass stuck to me anywhere.
To my surprise, he doesn’t lead me anywhere upstairs, but toward the front door of the castle.
“They didn’t allow whoever it is to come inside?” I ask.
“No, my lady. Not without your permission.”
That takes me aback. What must they think? That I have any kind of authority here? It’s strange, even to me.