Page 118 of The Royal Art of Revenge

“Hm?” I look up from the rack of dresses I’ve been absent-mindedly rifling through. “Oh, I haven’t driven in about two years. I don’t even possess a physical licence right now. I’ve got no idea what happened.”

Jasmine clenches her jaw. “Harriet. I haven’t spoken to you since the banquet. You aren’t answering your phone.”

If you can count one missed call as not answering your phone... sure.

“People do miss calls,” I reply. “Especially when there’s only one. And no message.”

She clenches her fist at her side before quickly releasing it. “Yes, I’ve had some issues with my phone. Dad tried calling, too.”

“Oh, did he? I must have missed all of those, too.” I pause. “I didn’t see them at all.”

“Are you sure?”

“Would you like to see my phone? Check the call log?”

“No, no. It’s fine.” She glances at Faye. “Can we talk for a minute? Sister-to-sister?”

Valentina turns around and rolls her eyes. “My arse,” she mutters, just loudly enough for me to hear it.

“Of course.” I look at Jasmine and smile, then motion to a more open area of the store. “Shall we go over there?”

She nods and leads me over there, wrapping her arms around herself. She’s trying to make herself look small, but I know her well enough that her anger is already simmering along beneath the surface.

I just need a little something to bring it out of her.

She turns, and her mask has dropped. Her eyes are hard and cold, and her lips are pulled into a thin line that’s as tense as her shoulders. “How did you do it?”

I tilt my head, blinking innocently. “Do what?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“Oh, my hair? I got a new curling wand and—”

“The engagement. To the crown prince. How did you do it?”

“I thought you already knew how that came around. Didn’t Finn tell you how we met during that meeting the other day?”

She flinches, presumably at my casual use of his nickname. “That’s not—” She takes a deep breath before continuing. “Yes, and I want to know how you managed to wriggle your way into the palace. How you conned them into letting you marry him instead of me.”

“Conned them?” A laugh escapes me before I can stop it. “Good grief, Jas. You really can’t accept that he just chose me, can you?”

“There’s no way. No. Way.” She clenches her jaw but quickly releases it when she sees Valentina watching us. “I know you did something. Our engagement was guaranteed until you showed up in front of him. How did you do it? Did you stalk him? Deliberately appear in front of him?”

“You’re losing your mind,” I reply. “Whatever he told you about how we met, it’s the truth. It was a coincidence in the park, and I tried my hardest not to reveal my real name when I ended up in the palace. I had no idea that’s where I was going until I got there, and then it was too late for me to back out. It’s not my fault the queen recognised me. What was I supposed to do? Lie to her?”

“Yes!”

Other eyes around us land on us, and I untuck my hair from my face in a lame attempt to hide my identity. I know this only serves to make me more suspicious, and good.

I want to be suspicious.

I want to be seen.

I want to be recognised.

“Yes,” she repeats, quieter this time. “You should have lied. You knew how I felt about him.”

“Oh, please. Don’t act as if he’s the love of your life.”