Chapter 71

CAMILLA’S P.O.V

By the time we had uncovered all there was to know about Frederick’s mother, I couldn’t help but feel bad for him. We were yet to find out where she lived when she was with him but it was clear that they lived alone and he never had the chance to relate with any family. I wondered if he even went to school but there was no way to find out if he did. My heart ached for the little boy he once was and I wished we had met on better terms.

“What are you thinking about?” Ryker asked a few hours later after we were done tucking the kids in and I shrugged. “Is this about Frederick?” I stayed quiet but he already knew the answer. “The spies are searching for him using the things they found in the tunnels. He couldn’t have gone far.”

“You know as well as I do that anything left in those tunnels was inconsequential to him. He had half an hour’s head start and he knows those tunnels. If he wanted those things then he would have taken them,” I eyed the new journal sitting atop my pillow. “I’m not worried about them finding him, he won’t show himself until he is ready. I’m more worried about what we don’t know. Doesn’t a part of you feel like this is wrong?”

He stopped everything he was doing so that he could turn to me. “I’m not sure if I am following correctly. Are you talking about everything he is doing or everything we are doing?”

“Both,” I answered honestly. “He just wants recognition and I can’t exactly fault him for that. I feel like he would make a great ally and we need to focus on trying to get him to consider that.”

Ryker stared at me as if I had grown three heads. His mouth was wide and he had to remind himself to close it after a split second. He walked around the bed until he was standing next to me and made me sit on the bed. He stood between my legs and softly stroked my hair. He slowly cupped my cheek and made me look up at him.

“I love you,” he began slowly, “but you cannot tell me that you believe that he will become your ally when you represent every single thing he wants but cannot have.”

“He could have killed me but he didn’t.”

“Look, I know you don’t agree with me but-”

“There are no buts, you are about to enter a war, Camilla. It might not be the kind of war you are expecting but when the people find out that there is another potential heir, loyalties will be tested. You cannot think like this right now. You need to look out for yourself and the best interests of this palace.”

I didn’t agree with him but I knew that there was no use arguing so I simply nodded. Ryker narrowed his eyes as if he knew I just agreed for the sake of peace. He took a step back and instead of waiting for him to say anything, I picked up the journal and pretended to read.copy right hot novel pub