Chapter 111- One Less Problem

Arabella Toussaint:

"How do you know?" Lucien asked me, and I didn’t know how to answer that.

Come up with something, Arabella. Anything!

"Nothing." I quickly shrugged, trying to make the question seem far less important than it suddenly was. "It’s just that... I was too dead asleep to wake up properly, but I thought I sensed someone standing in the doorway..." I paused for a moment, avoiding eye contact. "I wanted to scream but was so exhausted that I preferred to keep my eyes and mouth shut. Ha-ha."

Even as I said it, my mind was already racing. Oh Goddess. I wasn’t imagining it. He did come.

Before he could ask me anything else, I decided it was safer to change the subject. There was something else I needed to discuss with him anyway.

Bradley already knew about the club, but telling Lucien felt different.

"Your Highness. I want to go back to where everything started." He rubbed his forehead as he listened quietly. "I mean ... the club... Princess Anika visited the night before she died," I explained. "I want to go through the security footage again and talk to anyone who might still remember that night."

Lucien’s fingers stilled against the table. Something in his expression shifted before he quickly masked it. "I think..." he cleared his throat, "that investigation was thorough."

I ran my thumb over the surface of my Coke can. "I know."

"Then what are you expecting to find?"

"I don’t know." That was the truth. "Back then, everyone was sure Victor was the culprit. I want to look at everything without starting with the assumption that he was guilty."

Seeing subtle lines on his forehead, I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. "So, you believe he’s innocent."

"I don’t believe anything, My King." I paused. "You gave me a job, and I want to do it properly. If Victor is guilty, I want to know for sure. And if he is not, then I need to find out who is."

Lucien remained still for a few seconds, as though weighing my words, then he turned to Bradley. "Get her access to everything from the original investigation. Not just the club footage but all our findings."

Bradley looked up from the folder. "Are you sure? Everything?"

Lucien nodded. "Everything."

Whatever problems Lucien and I had with each other, at least he was giving me every chance to do the job he’d brought me back for.

***

I left Lucien and Bradley behind at the Warrior’s Café and headed back toward the guest building.

Whatever royal business they were discussing had nothing to do with me, and after spending half the afternoon in the café, I was ready to go back to my room.

I had barely left the warriors’ building when I spotted Jasmine a short distance away. She was standing near the training grounds with a warrior, holding the same clipboard tucked beneath one arm. She waved a hand toward one of the buildings while giving him instructions.

I slowed down. For the past few days, there had been this strange tension between us. I knew the cause, and perhaps it was better to deal with it now instead of letting it grow into something bigger.

I changed direction and walked toward her. "Hi, Jasmine."

She turned, and the moment she saw me, the calm, commanding look on her face disappeared. It happened so quickly that I doubted if anyone else would have noticed.

"Hello, Arabella." She masked it with a polite smile and then turned back to the warrior, handing him the clipboard. "Have these checked before evening and send the final list to my office."

"Yes, Lady Jasmine." He bowed to her and walked away, leaving us alone.

Jasmine folded her hands on her chest. "How are you, Arabella?"

I smiled. "I’m good."

"That’s nice." That perfect smile remained plastered on her beautiful face. "If you need anything, I can have an Omega sent to your room. I’m a little busy right now, so..." She trailed off when she saw me shaking my head.

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you, Jasmine. Please. I only need a minute of your time."

She pressed her lips together for a brief moment before asking. "About?" I wasn’t sure how to begin without making the whole thing more awkward than it already was.

"About me being here." One of her eyebrows lifted, but I continued. "I know what you must be thinking, Jasmine."

A faint smirk appeared on her lips. "Oh, do you?" Okay. Maybe this wasn’t going to be as easy as I had hoped.

"I think so." I shifted my weight. "You probably think I came back here... to ... interfere with your relationship with Lucien... I mean, the King!"

"And what exactly gave you that impression?" The question was innocent enough. Her tone wasn’t.

Why was she being a bitch about it? Before I escaped this place, we were on friendly terms. Weren’t we?

"Listen. I’m here because the King asked me to help with Anika’s murder investigation. Once that’s done, I’m leaving. I’m not here to take your place."

"To take my place?" She repeated the words slowly, looking mildly amused now. "And you came all the way over here to reassure me?"

"Of course. It’s the girl code. I never liked home wreckers, and I’m not about to become one."

Jasmine chuckled at that. "I’m supposed to take your word for that?"

For the first time, her smile slipped slightly. I stepped closer and instinctively reached for her elbow, wanting her to listen before she found another reason to leave. Then I remembered exactly who I was touching.

She was the future Queen. I immediately let go and stepped back. "Sorry." I dipped into a quick curtsy. "That wasn’t very respectful."

Jasmine glanced at me and then sighed. "No. It wasn’t."

"I just want you to understand that I’m not here to come between you and Lucien... I mean His Highness." This time, I wanted to make myself perfectly clear. "I swear to the Moon Goddess. I have a life outside this palace, Jasmine, and I want it back."

Jasmine took a small step back and nodded. "Okay."

"I’m serious. The King and I have an agreement. I finish the investigation, and then I leave." I didn’t know why I was so desperate to explain this to her.

She made a face but didn’t look up. "What kind of agreement?"

"He promised me my freedom once I finish the job. After that, I can leave the palace and go back to my life. I swear."

That seemed to catch her by surprise. For a moment, she simply stood there. "He actually promised you that? Are you sure?"

"Yes." I nodded. "So, believe me, Jasmine. I have no plans to stay here longer than I have to."

Her expression finally eased a little. "Well." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I suppose I can live with that."

Thank Goddess. Finally! At least I had one less problem to worry about in this palace.