Chapter 10 - The Man Behind the Crown
Lucien’s men surrounded Blackthorn House.
Theo counted at least twelve through the windows.
Police vehicles waited farther down the drive, their lights turned off.
“They brought officers,” Miriam said.
“Lucien controls the commissioner,” Adrian replied.
Celeste remained on the floor beside the staircase.
The confidence she had displayed in the ballroom was gone.
“My father promised me the restoration council would govern Varelia until Lily became an adult,” she said. “He said Elena was being protected because foreign intelligence services wanted the last royal heir.”
“You believed him?” Adrian asked.
“I wanted to.”
“You framed Elena.”
“I believed she had stolen from the foundation.”
“You planted evidence against Lily tonight.”
Celeste looked toward the child.
“That was different.”
“How?”
“I knew Lily was innocent.”
Lily stared at her.
Celeste looked away.
Adrian closed his hand around the emerald.
“Why come here now?”
“Because my father ordered me to bring him Lily after the gala.”
“And you refused?”
“I delayed.”
“That is not the same thing.”
“No. It is not.”
A loudspeaker outside activated.
Lucien’s voice crossed the grounds.
“Adrian, release my daughter and send Lily outside.”
Lily gripped Miriam’s hand.
Lucien continued.
“The courts have appointed Celeste as the child’s temporary guardian. You are surrounded by lawful officers.”
Theo spoke quietly.
“The old tunnel leads toward the northern greenhouse. We may be able to reach Elena.”
Adrian gave him the emerald.
“Can you open it?”
Theo examined the setting.
“The clasp contains something electronic.”
Celeste nodded.
“It scans the hairpins when they are activated nearby. My father called it the Listener.”
“The seventh pin carries the final name,” Adrian said. “The emerald records anyone who opens it.”
Miriam understood first.
“Queen Amara created a trap.”
Adrian looked at Celeste.
“Did your father ever open the final pin?”
“He never had all seven.”
“Neither do we.”
Lily reached into her bag.
She placed six hairpins on the floor.
The seventh was the one Adrian had opened at the gala.
The third had been waiting beneath the ballroom.
Celeste stared at them.
“There should be seven.”
“There are,” Lily said.
She touched the wooden music box.
“My mother said one silver flower would never look like a flower.”
Adrian opened the music box.
The metal winding key was shaped like a narrow stem.
He pulled it free.
A hidden silver clasp appeared beneath the wood.
The music box key was the missing hairpin.
Elena had disguised it.
All seven were finally together.
The bell rang again.
Forty minutes remained before midnight.
Lucien’s voice returned.
“If Lily is not outside in five minutes, I will order the police to enter.”
Adrian moved toward the northern corridor.
Celeste caught his arm.
“The greenhouse entrance is protected.”
“You know another way?”
“Yes.”
“Why should I trust you?”
“You should not.”
She looked toward the emerald.
“But Elena told you to trust the woman who confesses before midnight.”
Adrian said nothing.
Celeste continued.
“My father taught me to use evidence as a weapon. I planted the coins. I altered the gala security orders. I helped falsify the records that made Elena appear guilty eight years ago.”
Lily’s eyes filled with anger.
“Why?”
“Because I wanted Adrian’s position. I wanted the foundation. I wanted my father to say I was more valuable than a princess.”
“And did he?”
Celeste’s voice broke.
“No.”
The confession had come before midnight.
Adrian handed the emerald back to her.
“Lead us to the Winter Garden.”
They entered the hidden passage behind the empty mirror frames.
Outside, Lucien ordered his men forward.
The front doors of Blackthorn House burst open as Adrian, Lily, Miriam, Theo, and Celeste descended beneath the northern wing.
The tunnel ended at a steel door.
Celeste entered a code.
The door opened into a vast underground greenhouse.
Warm mist covered the glass walls. White roses grew between stone paths despite the snow above them.
At the center stood a locked glass room.
Elena was inside.
Lily ran toward her.
“Mommy!”
Elena lifted her head.
For one heartbeat, she seemed unable to move.
Then she pressed both hands against the glass.
“Lily.”
Adrian reached the lock.
It required two keys.
Celeste inserted the emerald into one side.
Lily placed the disguised music box pin into the other.
The door opened.
Lily threw herself into her mother’s arms.
Elena sank to her knees and held her daughter.
Adrian stopped several feet away.
Eight years had changed his sister.
Her hair was shorter. A pale line marked one side of her forehead. Her face looked thinner than he remembered.
But her eyes were the same.
“Elena.”
She looked at him.
“You finally knelt.”
Adrian could not speak.
She stood and crossed the space between them.
For a moment, he expected anger.
Instead, Elena placed one hand against his cheek.
“You look like Father.”
“I am sorry.”
“I know.”
“I should have believed you.”
“Yes.”
“I will spend the rest of my life making it right.”
Elena looked toward Lily.
“Start with her.”
Footsteps echoed through the greenhouse.
May you like
Lucien entered with armed guards and the police commissioner.
“Touching,” he said. “Unfortunately, none of you are leaving.”
