Page 115 of The Royal Art of Revenge

“I know.” I smile, glancing up at him. “Jasmine isn’t that stupid. She knows how to play the media—she’ll release a few unsavoury things about me that are close to the truth, like how I undercut her to become your fiancée. Hold back the things that have truth to them.”

“You didn’t undercut her. I never wanted to marry her, and I already told you that my mother refused to grant permission.”

“Oh, no, I undercut her. Once we made contact, I deliberately went behind their backs and snuck around to achieve my goal. I knew exactly what I was doing. There’s no use sugarcoating it.”

“You—”

“But nobody else knows that your mother refused to grant permission. Besides, it’ll hardly matter when the truth about her parentage comes out.” I pause at that. “By the way, did you ever tell your mother she’s my father’s biological daughter?”

Finn hesitates.

“Finn.”

“I thought she might explode if I told her before the banquet,” he admits. “For what it’s worth, I do think she has her suspicions. Especially after the way he spoke about you during the meeting.”

“Mm. Well, more fool him for that. Shouldn’t you be leaving before Oscar comes and knocks this door down?”

He checks his watch and slides off the vanity. “You’re right. And, you be careful today, all right? You shouldn’t be bothered on a private errand. Security will be—”

“Nearby the whole time, yes, I know.” I fight back a small laugh at his obvious concern. “Sophia went over everything with me yesterday. If anything happens, I’ll leave right away and not kick up a fuss, I promise.”

“Right.” He pauses again. “I don’t know why I’m worrying. You’ll be with Valentina. She’ll stop anything happening to you before security get anywhere near the situation.”

“You say it like she’s a martial arts master.”

“She might well be. I’ve seen her take down a grown man. Between that and your proclivity for hidden knives, you’ll be just fine.”

I laugh, put down the curling wand, and get up. I push him towards the door while saying, “Just go, Finn. I’ll be fine, I promise. If anyone recognises me and I get extra attention then, well, I just have to get used to it.”

I reach around him for the door handle, grab it, and tug it open. The first thing I see is Oscar standing there with his fist raised as if he’s about to knock, and he opens his mouth, staring at us both.

“Oh, good. Excellent timing. Here, it’s your turn now.” I give Finn a light push out of the door, and he looks back at me, eyes wounded as if I’ve just kicked a baby otter in front of him. “Don’t look at me like that. You need to leave, or you’ll be late.”

Oscar clears his throat. “She’s right, you know.”

Finn shoots him a half-hearted glare, then kisses me quickly. “I’ll see you later. If anything—”

“I’ll be fine,” I say at the exact same time Oscar says, “She’ll be fine.”

“See?” I raise my eyebrows. “Even Oscar knows. Now, go. If anything happens, someone will tell you right away anyway.”

Finn hovers for a moment, uncertainly practically dripping from his pores, and Oscar rubs his hand down his face.

“All right. That’s enough. Let the woman go shopping.” He grabs Finn by the shoulders, turns him around, and practically manhandles him down the hallway. “Be careful!” he calls over his shoulder.

I shake my head and close the door, then head back to the vanity to finish getting ready.

Honestly. I’m going shopping. I have a security team.

Absolutely nothing will go wrong.

I grab my phone and open my conversation with Valentina. Finn made sure her number got to me, and we’ve been in contact ever since. Today’s shopping trip is a way to escape the noise surrounding everything and get me out of the palace for a little bit.

More than that, it’s an opportunity to join my darling half-sister in setting a narrative.

ME: Did you do it?

Her response is speedy, as always. I barely have time to curl one lock of my hair before my phone flashes with her reply.