Pherenike - Chapter 133

Pherenike cast a brief glance toward the doorway, then sat down on the king’s bed. There was not a trace of its owner in sight. In truth, nothing about the room suggested anyone lived here at all.

Since the princess’s birth, the king had spent most nights standing guard like a sentry in his daughter’s chambers. The remaining nights, he wasted in the chambers of the woman he believed to be his wife.

Everything was tidy, but nothing was luxurious. The room felt barren—bloodless. Gazing at the cold porcelain pillow, Pherenike tried to imagine him lying here like a corpse. Or perhaps one of those quiet nights he had spent alone, before Leuce was born.

“Kybellaune.”

Her hand, which had been brushing over the bedding, slowly withdrew. A young lieutenant of the king stood at the entrance. When Pherenike gave a faint nod, he quickly approached, bowed with customary respect, and reported:

“The princess is not in her chambers.”

“…The princess?”

“And the maid who was standing night watch is missing as well.”

Pherenike rose to her feet, exactly like someone who has just heard something too absurd to be true. The lieutenant stepped back a pace, as etiquette demanded when addressing a high-born woman.

“This morning’s maid overslept, and when she saw the sun already high, she rushed to attend Her Highness. But the maid who should have kept night watch was not in the antechamber. There was no sound from inside either, so she opened the door… and the princess was not in her bed.”

“And then?”

“Her Highness has occasionally convinced the maids who stand night duty to hide with her, so that she could surprise the morning attendants. So first they opened every wardrobe and chest in the room to look for her…”

“And she was not there?”

“No, Your Majesty. No matter how they searched, they could not find her. The maid was so terrified she could not bring herself to alert the outer guards immediately. She feared she would be punished alongside the missing attendant… She remained in a daze until Lady Ino found her.”

Pherenike knew the expression of an enraged mother. Her own face now twisted in the same fierce way she remembered on Axiothea. The maid—pushed into the doorway by the guards and trembling uncontrollably—collapsed onto her knees.

“Kybellaune, I have committed a mortal sin. Kybellaune…”

“Stand.”

In truth, the maid who had kept watch outside Leuce’s chamber had already been carried out beyond the city walls—unknowingly sent somewhere ‘safe’ It was a place the palace women were currently envying with all their hearts.

It was Pherenike who had spirited the princess away, and it was Pherenike who had arranged for the only witness to be removed.

Among the soldiers who believed they had committed grave impiety against her in the sanctuary, a few had sworn silence before the statue of Kybellar and helped smuggle the maid out.

They didn’t understand the situation—only that they desperately wanted Pherenike to absolve their offense in the goddess’s sight.

Of course, the first reason was to save an innocent maid who had done nothing from an undeserved death.

The second reason was so that the unfortunate woman could bear the blame one more time.

“…There is testimony from two guards who claim they saw, at dawn, a woman carrying a child far in the distance. One thought it was a trick of the light. The other believed it was one of the noble ladies’ maids taking her restless child out for a walk. That happens at times—some ladies bring their children to the palace to play with the princess and let them sleep over. Nothing causes greater trouble than a crying child in the hallowed royal precinct.”

He continued:

“Though the light was dim, they say the woman wore very dark clothing. And according to the other maids, the missing attendant was wearing dark blue garments when she came for the night watch.”

Pherenike stared at the ash-colored garment draped over the chair. In daylight it took on a misty, pale hue—like early morning fog—but at night it absorbed darkness without hesitation.

She stepped forward without waiting for the lieutenant to finish. But she was immediately blocked. Her lips curved in a quiet, derisive line.

“The gods will surely guide the princess swiftly back to your side, Kybellaune.”

“You say the child is gone.”

“Yes.”

“And her mother may not go to search for her?”

“Kybellaune…”

“It seems you have forgotten that I am Kybellaune, that I am your lord’s only lawful wife, and that I am the mother of the princess.”

“We have not forgotten.”

“I am that child’s mother.”

“Lady Ino is already leading the women through the palace. Her Highness has always enjoyed hiding for sport. Ino insists that the maid would never dare abduct the princess.”

Ino’s judgment was almost always correct. Pherenike gave a thin, humorless smile.

“Of course, the guards are not convinced and are searching thoroughly. If that maid truly were a spy from Paetusa, and if she anticipated today’s calamity and meant to deliver the princess to their camp… then Your Majesty would be in grave danger as well.”