Vincent
I shower and dress and then decide to head out to the conservatory to see what Nathan and Isadora are up to. Well, I know what they're up to, but I wouldn't mind watching. I'm about to head down the stairs when I catch sight of the queen and the last person on earth I expect to see in this palace. Alex Richter. Alex Richter is one of the deadliest assassins in the world. He's brutal and efficient. He never fails to take out his target, and he’s a ghost. His crimes leave no evidence, just dead bodies. He’s ruthless and without mercy. Even among killers he’s feared. Only the powerful or most dangerous people in the world know his name. I know everything Richer is capable of, I've hired him in the past.
To say that he's dangerous is an understatement. If he's here with Ileana this must be why she cancelled her meeting with Nathan. What the fuck is she up to? Why the hell is she engaging an assassin? I need to find out. I step back concealing my presence in the shadows of the dim corridor. I resist the urge to charge down the hall and beat the answers I want out of Richter. There are million reasons why that wouldn't be smart right now. Besides I know a man like Richter would die before he'd give up his secrets. That’s one of the reasons he’s so highly paid, an indiscreet assassin is useless.
I strain my ears trying to hear what they're saying, but they’re too far away. Though I doubt highly I’d hear anything useful. Ileana and Richter aren’t going to be discussing the specifics of his assignment in a hallway, even one that appears empty. I suspect they're heading to Ileana's office. As soon as they disappear from my line of sight, I race down to the second floor. If I move quickly I can get to Ileana's office before they do. I rush down the hallway grateful that all of the staff seem to be hard at work and not wandering the hall. I take the back stairs two at a time, and arrive to find the hallway leading to the queen’s office empty.
Luck is on my side, and the door to Ileana’s office is unlocked. I slide quietly into Ileana's office and quickly look for a place to conceal my presence. I slip into the closet on the far side of the room just as I hear the click of Ileana's heels on the marble floor of the hallway. I silently shut the door just as Ileana and Richter enter the room.
“I appreciate you arriving so quickly, Alex,” Ileana says. She sounds friendly, almost intimate.
“Your highness, you know I’m always at your service for anything,” Richter says. I can hear the leer in his voice.
“Oh I know, Alex, and believe me, I do appreciate all of your skills,” Ileana purrs.
What the fuck is going on? This definitely isn’t her first meeting with Richter. I wonder how many there have been. The queen’s list of enemies has grown short over the years, and the reason why is clear to me now. The only question is who is going to be next. Whatever their relationship may be, this isn’t a social visit.
“You know, Alex, I wasn't sure the wedding was actually going to happen.”
“I'm surprised it did. The two princes have never made a secret of how much they dislike each other, but I know how persuasive you can be. I can’t imagine what secrets you must know about their families to have brokered this arrangement. It’s a brilliant piece of diplomacy.”
Ileana laughs, “You have no idea how brilliant.”
“But, Ileana, you didn’t bring me here to celebrate your diplomatic victory did you?”
“Not at all. I have a job for you, Alex?”
“Target?”
“Prince Nathan,” Ileana says smoothly. It takes every ounce of self-control to remain hidden and listen.
“This won’t be simple. The prince is a young man. You won’t be able to pass this off as a natural death.”
“I know,” Ileana relies unphased.
“Accident or suicide?” Alex asks.
“Murder,” Ileana says.
“Murder? You want it to look like an obvious assassination.”
“Not exactly. I want it to look like a crime of passion committed by Prince Vincent.”
My hands clench into fists at my side, and I can feel my rage coursing through my veins. I will myself to remain calm. I know exactly how Ileana’s plan ends. It’s diabolical and brilliant.
“Vincent’s temper is practically a thing of legend. And everyone knows how much he hates Nathan.”
“Indeed, they’ve been rivals since they were boys,” Richter says, understanding in his voice. He too no doubt has guessed Ileana’s end game.
“A jealous rage overtook him. He just couldn’t bare to share Isadora with Nathan for another day,” Ileana says in a tone of mock regret.
“Unfortunately,” Alex says, “The penalty for such a crime is death.”
“Unfortunately,” Ileana agrees. “Sadly with the death of both princes, I’ll be left ruler of all three countries.”
“Don’t you mean your daughter?”
“No I don't.” Ileana snaps. “Isadora doesn't have the real strength required to rule, to keep her enemies at bay. She'll come to me. She’ll have to. I'll be ruler or the entire region, and with the strength of three nations at my disposal who knows what I might do?”
“Who indeed?” Alex says.
“So you can do it?”
“I can do it, for a price of course.”
“Of course, how does one hundred million sound.”
“It sounds like Prince Nathan is a dead man.”
They both laugh.
“Not just yet, though,” Ileana says. “I need to plant suspicion. That shouldn't be too hard with Nathan, he’s always disliked Vincent, and with a push from me he'll have his spies investigating soon enough. They'll be the first to say that Vincent was dangerous and that Nathan was worried about his safety.”
“How long do you need?”
“A week should suffice.”
“A week it is then.”
I hear the scrape of chairs and dying footfalls. I wait for absolute silence before I risk opening the closet door. My blood is boiling; Ileana is truly evil. This the worst kind of treason, and I don't think Ileana will stop with Nathan or me. I think Isadora could be in danger as well. I'm not going to let anyone hurt Isadora, and I'm not about to be a pawn in Ileana's games. I have to speak to Nathan.