The Princess Game: A Reimagining of Sleeping Beauty (The Four Kingdoms Book 4)

by Melanie Cellier

  I turned back to the railing, nodding with slightly desperate enthusiasm. “Yes, aren’t they beautiful.” I pointed towards them and then gasped in not-entirely-assumed delight when one leapt from the water.

  “Almost too beautiful.” His voice had dropped again, and I glanced over my shoulder. He wasn’t watching the waves.

  I pressed on, afraid of what the change in his manner might mean. “I heard a story once about a girl who fell off a ship.” I shuddered. “But it turned out all right because some dolphins rescued her. Now that I know the dolphins are guarding our journey, I don’t feel afraid anymore.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” William stepped forward to join me at the rail. “I’ve always loved the ocean, myself. I’m greatly looking forward to seeing these islands of yours.”

  We chatted about the upcoming voyage in our usual friendly manner, and I forced my body to relax against the side of the ship. But inside the tension remained.

  When Rafe eventually called William away, I watched him go, my happy expression betraying nothing of the turmoil within. Why did I feel as if I had been weighed and found wanting? Tested in some way I didn’t understand.

  I tried to take a deep breath, but the tight band around my middle had yet to release. For years I had fooled everyone around me with relative ease. I had even come to an uneasy acceptance of my situation.

  And now this prince had come along and destroyed all my equilibrium. He blurred my boundaries in dangerous ways. I would have to tread more warily than ever. This unexpected voyage could prove my undoing in more ways than one. And if I fell, who would stand between my aunt and the destruction of my family?

  Chapter 16

  I stretched, feeling rough material scrape against my skin. I missed my usual clothes. I had managed to scrounge an outfit from the cargo hold, but the quality left a lot to be desired. At least I had found a piece of decent material to use as a scarf to cover my head.

  I took a deep breath of the salt-filled air and wished I stood up on deck. I could easily imagine the moon and the stars and the feel of the wind on my face. Unfortunately, even at night, sailors on watch also populated the deck. If I wanted to exercise unseen, the cargo hold was my only option.

  I gazed through the gloom around me and decided to use my surroundings as a challenge. The royal yacht wasn’t a cargo vessel, so the hold wasn’t packed full. The large storage space had only been included in the original design because royals generally didn’t like being limited when it came to their luggage.

  Shaking out my limbs, I began to run through the confined space. Picking up speed, I leapt over several crates, imagining enemies right behind me. I pushed off a large roll of material and leapt onto the top of a barrel. I paused there for a moment, keeping my balance as the ship pitched and rolled.

  I smiled, alone in the dark. I had found the perfect place for honing my sea legs. I propelled myself off the barrel and continued twice around the large hold, jumping off and over obstacles whenever I had the chance. Once I misjudged a leap when the ship hit a large wave and landed hard on my rear. I winced. Yet another bruise to add to the ones already turning purple and yellow.

  I forced myself back up and kept going. Most of the luggage and supplies in the hold had been strapped against the sides, leaving an open space in the middle. As I moved into the open, rounding a particularly large stack of crates, I whipped out one of my hidden knives, bringing it up in a blocking move against an imaginary opponent.

  To my shock, the blade met resistance with the clang of metal striking metal. I fell back and drew a second knife, settling into a crouch as I re-centred myself. The physical response came instinctively before my mind understood what I saw.

  A low, familiar laugh made my taut muscles relax. A second later, they tightened again as a knife swung towards me. I blocked, manoeuvring myself around and fully into the open.

  William pulled back and then attacked again, the laugh still reflected on his face. “You have no idea how pleased I am to see you here.”

  “You have a strange way of communicating pleasure.” I blocked another lunge, proud that my voice betrayed no breathlessness despite my recent exertion.

  “I’ve been wanting to try my skills against yours ever since I saw you fight in that gardener’s hut.” He shook his head. “And here you are, clearly lacking an opponent.”

  “Well, hello to you too.” I lunged forward with a feint and then a sharp jab, but he pulled back out of reach just in time. William was taller and stronger than me, so I had to move with extra speed to make up for it. I wasn’t sure how long I could maintain the pace.

  As soon as my breath became laboured, and a drop of sweat ran down my face under my scarf, I pulled back, lifting my hands in surrender.

  William raised an eyebrow at me, but I shrugged.

  “This isn’t a game to me, Princeling. I never practice to the point of exhaustion. Real danger could strike at any time, and I might find myself without sufficient reserves.”

  William gave a small bow. “Consider me corrected. Wise advice in these perilous times.”

  I carefully returned my knives to their places and watched as William did the same.

  “So, tell me, Oh Wise Aurora, why I have the very great pleasure of your company aboard this ship. I must confess to some surprise. I thought you were busy in the capital putting down a rebellion.”

  “I have my reasons.”

  He waited, and I debated how much I should say.

  “I have a certain…interest…in the islands that I didn’t wish to delegate.”

  William’s quiet exhale suggested he understood my unspoken words. “I didn’t realise the itinerary included Banishment Island.”

  “It doesn’t at the moment. But do you doubt me?”

  “Never.” The admiration in his eyes made me grin ruefully beneath my scarf. Now I just needed to figure out a way to follow through with it.

  Especially since it wasn’t entirely a cover story. I’d had time to think about it and realised I could work this trip to my advantage. I intended to take the fight to my aunt, exactly as I had hinted.

  William beat me to the hold the next night and joined my exercises without comment. His leaps could clear the crates and barrels more easily than mine, but I was more sure on my feet. The next night I was expecting him, and he didn’t disappoint.

  As we finished our third circuit, he cut in front of me, reaching our original starting point two steps ahead.

  “I win.” He grinned over his shoulder at me.

  “Boys.” I rolled my eyes. “I didn’t realise it was a race.”

  “It’s always a race.”

  “I’ll remember that next time.”

  “Do.” He leaned against a tall barrel, his gaze turning calculating. “So, I’ve been doing some thinking.”

  “Sounds dangerous.” I was still trying to think of a way to reroute our trip, so I wasn’t paying him much attention.

  “There aren’t too many females on this ship.”

  My eyes flashed to his, all other thoughts forgotten.

  “The way I figure it, there are two possibilities. One is that you spend the day in hiding somewhere. In which case your options are limited.” His eyes flicked around the hold. “The other is that you spend your day in plain sight. And there aren’t too many women on board amongst the sailors and soldiers. The number goes up a little when you include the queen’s attendants, of course, but not by much.”

  “Stop.” I held out a hand to halt his words, my eyes locked on his. “I’m only going to say this once. If you ever try to find me outside of this…” I gestured around us without breaking eye contact. “If you ever even attempt to identify me, that will be the last time you ever see me. I will be gone, and I won’t look back. And I will know if you try.”

  Something flashed in his eyes, and the strength of my desire to understand his emotions surprised me. How much did William care if he never saw Aurora again?

  For a long mom
ent, we stared at each other.

  Was my imagination responsible for the fear and longing I saw reflected back at me?

  He pushed himself off the barrel, keeping his gaze on mine, and stepped forward, closing the distance between us. I resisted the impulse to step backwards, unwilling to look weak.

  One of his hands wrapped around my upper arm, and he almost whispered my name. “Aurora.”

  I drew a ragged breath, waiting to hear what he would say. But the next words weren’t his.

  “Aurora? So this is where you keep sneaking off to – or should I say who. I’ve always wanted to meet the mysterious Aurora.” The all-too familiar voice smashed the tension like a hammer blow.

  The infamous spymaster, more shadow than woman, never gasped. But it took all my self-control to hold one in. I turned slowly, knowing that my performance needed to be flawless. The decision had been made for me – Celine was being introduced to Aurora.

  For a long moment the three of us stood still, sizing each other up. Then Celine cried, “Yes!” and punched the air with her fist. Her triumphant crowing caught me by surprise.

  “Excuse me?” I put extra depth into my Aurora voice.

  Celine shook her head, still chuckling to herself. “Something strange has been going on at the palace. I got a little worried that all the action might be happening there, and this might turn out to be nothing more than a boring sailing trip. But if Aurora chose to come along, then I made the right decision. The excitement will be here.”

  I suppressed a wry smile. If only she knew – choice had nothing to do with it.

  William glanced between us, clearly too wary to say anything. I pondered my next move. I hadn’t realised Celine knew about Aurora. But she had obviously heard of her, and she had also recognised something strange was going on at the palace. She was more aware than I had given her credit for.

  I bowed low. “I am honoured by your esteem, Your Highness.”

  William turned a surprised expression on me. I had never shown him half as much respect. But he wasn’t Lanoverian, and I didn’t want Celine to get the wrong impression from his presence. “I hope you have heard that my loyalty lies with the royal family and with Lanover.”

  “Oh, of course.” Celine waved her hand, as if physically dismissing any possible doubt. “You are the one who guards us and watches over us. I know that well enough.”

  I blinked. “Forgive me, Your Highness. I didn’t know any of your family knew of me at all.”

  She sat down on a conveniently sized bundle and looked at me, the smile still tugging at her lips. “None of the rest of them do, I’m pretty sure. I considered telling them, but…” She shrugged. “None of them listen to me or take me seriously, so why should I tell them what they’re too busy to find out for themselves?”

  She bit her lip as if she knew how petulant she sounded. After a moment, she shook herself. “You can learn a lot from the servants, if you’re bored enough to listen. Cordelia would be proud of me. She was always the observant one when we were children.”

  She turned her gaze on William. “But I don’t know what you’re doing here, Prince William. What connection could you possibly have to Aurora?”

  “No connection but the veriest chance. I am nothing but one of her many admirers.”

  Celine raised an eyebrow. “Does my sister know that?”

  My eyes flew to her face at the dry words before I remembered that she didn’t know my true identity. I bit my lip. I would have to tread more carefully than ever. I couldn’t afford to let my guard down.

  William shifted uncomfortably and didn’t reply. I took pity on him and changed the subject.

  “Why did you desire to meet me, Your Highness?”

  “Are you joking?” Celine stared at me with wide eyes. “You’re everything I wish I could be. Your life must be filled with excitement.”

  “You’d be surprised." My mind ran over the endless hours I spent training and waiting and watching. And that was before I even counted the time I spent as Celeste.

  Celine’s expression suggested she didn’t believe me, and I reminded myself she was only fourteen. “You said something strange was going on at the palace…”

  She nodded, bouncing a little on her improvised seat. “The servants and the guards were following me around. Everywhere I went.” Her tone turned defensive. “You might not believe me, but it’s true.”

  William turned dancing eyes towards me. “Oh, she believes you.”

  I took a deep breath. The prince needed to learn when to keep his mouth shut.

  Celine looked between the two of us. “Wait! Was that you?” She wrinkled her nose. “But why in the kingdoms would you want to have me followed?”

  “For your protection, of course, Your Highness.”

  “My protection?” She narrowed her eyes. “And why would I need extra protection? I’ve never been followed before.”

  I had definitely been underestimating her. I held her gaze, keeping my own strong and steady. When the silence had stretched out between us, she shook her head. “All right, you don’t have to tell me. But if you give me a chance, I’ll show you I can be trusted.”

  I smiled beneath my scarf, proud of her for not trying to use her royal status to order my cooperation. “And how would you suggest I do that?”

  She shrugged. “Let me train with you. That’s what you’ve been doing, right? I was watching you for a while.” She seemed proud rather than embarrassed of her spying. “And I heard what you said to Prince William, too. I won’t try to find you or anything, I swear.”

  I nodded slowly and then my eyes swung to William.

  He sighed, seeming to know what I was waiting for. “It seems you’re leaving me no choice but to make the same promise. Despite the temptation, I won’t try to find you when you don’t want to be found.”

  I withheld my own sigh, not wanting either of them to know how nervous I had been. I glanced between them and then recognised the true source of my relief. I didn’t feel so alone.

  Several of my agents had been instructed to make sure they were included in the travelling party, but somehow not a single one of them had made it onto the royal yacht. And that despite the full crew of sailors and the company of guards my uncle had insisted my father send along for his and my mother’s protection. I noted my father had sent the smallest of the companies attached to the palace, but they still numbered over eighty men.

  And yet it only took me the first day to realise that none of my people were amongst them. And I had never had either the necessity or the opportunity to recruit any of the crew of the Viktoria. Their absence concerned me, but I could do nothing about it.

  I had been all alone on this ship, but now I had a team of three. My normal band of agents had been with me for so long, that I had forgotten what it was like to operate without support. A foreign prince and a fourteen-year-old princess were hardly the agents a normal spymaster would choose, but they were exactly the people I wanted standing at my back.

  “Well, then,” I said, letting my pleasure colour my voice. “Welcome aboard.”

  Chapter 17

  Celine had never possessed the discipline or the will to stick to a steady exercise regime, so she struggled to keep up with us when we trained. But she never complained, no matter how many times she lost her balance and fell. And every night she pushed herself harder.

  Around Aurora, the old Celine returned. And I realised how much I had missed her. Clearly I had been wrong to exclude her for so long. I wasn’t the only one constrained by circumstances outside my control and in desperate need of an outlet.

  William accepted her inclusion with good grace, even if his eyes did sometimes linger on me a little wistfully, as if he missed our time alone. He treated her as a younger sister, and she embraced the relationship in a way she had never done with Frederic or Cassian.

  I had to take extra care when transferring between my two personas now that Celine was sneaking out of the state cabin at night a
s well. I was more grateful than ever that the beds each had a privacy screen. I walked a tightrope, and I knew it.

  Since I spent my nights cooped up below decks, I endeavoured to spend as much of the day as possible in the open air. Most of the other royals seemed to feel the same way, with the exception of my uncle who preferred to avoid us all by holing up in his cabin.

  Rafe and Marie kept largely to themselves, and I tried to respect their privacy as much as I could. They had already been forced to bring half of their family along on their wedding tour.

  We enjoyed almost perfect weather, the boat flying along on the planned route. We passed several islands, but Rafe had decided to sail straight to our southernmost port and then stop off at some of the larger isles on the way home. Even from a distance the islands looked magnificent, however. And, thankfully, the curse allowed me to enjoy them openly.

  William and Celine’s shared secret produced a new camaraderie, and spending time with them reminded me of what it had been like between me and my siblings before the curse and before Rafe and Cordelia had left Lanover. Celine was a great deal more fun on-board ship than she had been lately at the palace, and I once again regretted holding myself back from her.

  As we travelled, William read aloud from a travel guide he had found at the palace, and Celine interjected with scathing and hilarious commentary. I giggled often and added my own observations whenever I thought the curse would let me get away with it, which was much less often than I would have liked.

  “Is that the smallest island we’ve seen?” William asked, standing at the rail and gazing across the waves.

  Celine nodded. “That’s Inverne.”

  I jumped up from my seat on a large coil of rope and leaned out over the edge. Inverne was my favourite island, and I had been looking forward to passing it. The bright aqua of the water as it approached the island almost took my breath away. I squinted, trying to make out fish and coral below the surface.

  The white sand reflected the sun, broken only by a few small, dark spots which I knew from experience to be giant turtles. The emerald green foliage rising from the beach looked cool and inviting.