Prince Player(45)

So far, reports have been relatively benign. She’s been accused of being a money whore, of seeking fame, of wanting power. It’s all the usual female bullshit stereotypes, and for the most part she’s sheltered from it all, since she can’t speak the language. The reports are all bullshit and speculation and don’t mean anything. It’s just feeding into the culture’s hatred of outsiders and playing on that.

But this… this is different. I listen carefully as the woman reads a report on Hazel, and I can feel my anger slowly building.

“The documents show that Hazel Joyce, Wife Consort of Prince Nolan, was hired by the American State Department in 2010. Although seven years ago, there are no indications that she has severed ties.” The woman pauses and looks directly into the camera. “There are other rumors and allegations flying around, but we here at Tiger News believe this simple fact: Hazel Joyce is an American spy, and she now has access to the highest levels of our government.”

I can’t believe my fucking ears. The woman goes on to talk more about how Hazel is a traitor and how she’s seducing me to gain state secrets, all for the benefit of the Americans. It makes absolutely no fucking sense, considering America is an ally, and has absolutely no need to get any of our “secrets.” More than that, Hazel just isn’t a fucking spy. I know her, and I know that she wouldn’t be able to pull that sort of thing off. I only found her on accident, when she stumbled into my room while I was changing.

Or was that an accident? I shake my head, hating myself for even thinking it. But they did say that there’s a document proving that she was hired by the State Department. I can’t imagine that Hazel is actually a spy, since she hasn’t once pressed me for any information about Polovia. But if she were a good spy, she wouldn’t, not yet at least.

My mind starts racing and I can’t believe I’m even entertaining these thoughts. It’s absolutely insane. Hazel isn’t a fucking spy. I can’t let those bastards at Tiger News trap me with their small-minded propaganda, and yet I can’t help myself. The absurdity of the situation hits me hard in that moment, and I don’t know what to do.

But the moment passes. I shut off the television and stare at the blank screen. For a second there, I was buying into that bullshit, but I know the truth. Hazel isn’t a fucking spy. We had her vetted and confirmed her story before I was allowed to marry her. If she really did work for the State Department, we would know. Besides, seven years ago Hazel was sixteen years old, hardly old enough to become a fucking spy.

No, it’s just nonsense. I believe that the network was given a document, but I know for a fact that it’s fake.

Which means Julian. He must be getting more aggressive with his tactics. He probably can’t find good dirt on Hazel, and so he’s resorting to making up lies and rumors to discredit her.

Rage flows through me again, but not entirely at Julian. I’m angry at myself for doubting Hazel, even for a fucking second. I know her, I’ve been around her, I need to trust her. If this is going to work, I can’t second-guess the person who’s trying to help me.

I walk to the door and step outside. Thomas is standing there and he looks up as I turn toward him. He bows slightly and I check to make sure that we’re alone.

“I’m going to ask you something, Thomas, and I need you to be honest with me,” I say.

He blinks. “Yes, sir. Of course.”

“Who are you loyal to?”

He looks mildly surprised, which is basically him showing a ton of emotion. “Loyal, sir?”

“Who are you loyal to?” I repeat.

“The crown, sir,” he says.

“That’s not what I’m asking and you know it.” I step toward him, eyes locked with his. “Who are you loyal to?”

He hesitates a moment longer before answering. “Andrew personally assigned me to the Wife Consort,” he says finally.

I nod slowly. “Good. I have a task for you.”

“Yes, sir,” he says.

“Follow Julian Eder. Or assign someone loyal to follow him.”

Thomas raises an eyebrow. “I don’t think I can do that, sir. It goes against our code.”

I sneer at him. “The stewards have been interfering with politics for ages.”

“Maybe, sir.”

It annoys me that he’s resisting, but I understand. Every steward is sworn to always be loyal to the crown, but never to interfere with politics. Because they’re so close to the royal family and to the people of the court, they were seen very quickly as posing a threat. If you owned the stewards, you owned the court. And so they were made to stand outside of politics as simple servants, but everyone knows that they’re much more than that. The stewards have helped princes overthrow their fathers, cousins kill their brothers, and much more through the ages. In modern times, the stewards have relaxed a bit with all the in-fighting and murdering, but they’re still dangerous.