Page 34 of The Royal Art of Revenge

“You do know that lying to the monarch is punishable in this country, don’t you?” She raises her eyebrows, but there’s no hint of anger or frustration in her words.

“I—” I clasp my hands together in my lap and look down at them. “I’m afraid that’s all I can tell you.”

She pauses, gripping the handle of her teacup. “All you can tell me? Are you saying that Hannah isn’t your name?”

I close my eyes. “I cannot answer that question, Your Majesty.”

“Whyever not? If you really are Harriet, then—”

“Forgive my interruption, ma’am,” Rowan says, catching my gaze as soon as I open my eyes. “There may be a legal reason why the young lady cannot answer your questions.”

“More binding than the fact I’m the Queen?”

Rowan nods, then bends down and whispers something in her ear. Her eyebrows shoot up, and a wave of realisation slowly softens her features.

“Of course. That would be exactly something William Sinclair would do.” She brings her hand to her mouth, frowning.

“What’s going on?” Crown Prince Finley asks. “Can someone clue me in?”

She waves her other hand at him, dismissing his question. “Rowan, you were a lawyer once.”

“Twenty-five years ago, ma’am,” he replies.

“But you’re aware of all our laws.”

“I keep myself abreast of them as well I can, yes.”

“Good enough,” she says. “Hypothetically, if someone was coerced into signing something that means they cannot reveal their legal name, would that be binding in a court of law?”

“A judge may rule that an element of coercion invalidates the contract,” he replies carefully. “But if the agreement was signed in exchange for something—say, money—then it may be harder to prove, given both parties benefit from it.”

The Queen looks at me. “What if something was being withheld and access was granted on the basis of the contract terms being fulfilled? Say, a trust fund?”

She knows everything.

Oh, my God.

I look between them both. If there’s any chance they can read in my eyes that they’re on the right track, please, please let them see it.

Rowan stares at me for a moment, holding my gaze, then bows his head. “If conditions for access to a trust fund have already been met, then it would be unlawful for that access to be revoked or restricted unless it’s stated otherwise.”

“So,” the Queen says, happily pouring herself another cup of tea. “Let’s put this together, still hypothetically, of course: if a young lady has a trust fund that grants her access to it at the age of twenty-one with no other requirements, but her access is either revoked or restricted unless she signs a contract stipulating that she keep her legal identity a secret, that contract could be considered void?”

“It’s rather simplified, but under Askurian law, I believe there would be an excellent argument for it. One that a judge would certainly be interested in hearing.”

“Interesting.” She sips her tea and looks at me. “And, if someone else were to accidentally discover this young lady’s legal name—but the young lady does not verbally confirm the other person’s discovery—could she be held responsible for breach of a potential contract? Assuming the contract can’t be voided, of course.”

“Without reading the terms of the contract signed by the young lady, I cannot say for sure. However…” Rowan turns his attention to me again. “The young lady could simply not answer any questions that could confirm her legal name.”

“But I’m the Queen. I expect my questions to be answered.”

“You’re a gracious leader, Your Majesty. I’m sure you could make an exception every now and then.”

“Very true.” She taps her nail against her chin, then looks at me and smiles. “Then how about this? I ask you some questions. Simple yes or no answers, nothing complicated. If the answer is no, you can shake your head or say so. But if the answer is yes, you say nothing. You don’t nod, smile, put your thumb up… Nothing that, should anyone walk in here, give an indication that you’re answering the questions.”

Oh.

She’s smart.