The Payment For Evil & Gossip

Knights and guards turned silk-lined suitcases upside down, checked beneath luxurious cloaks, and poked at everything with suspicion.

A few of the drunker guests had collapsed on the stone steps, snoring, while others whispered behind gloved hands.

"This is absurd," someone muttered.

"The princess is missing," another voice countered, hushed yet alarmed. "If something happened to her in this castle, what does that say about the security?"

Jean stood nearby, stiff with guilt. She had barely spoken since joining the search, her face pale. She should have followed the princess. 

Should have kept her in sight. Instead, she had been too distracted by Lucius—

She shook the thought from her head.

Lucius, noticing her distress, nudged her shoulder lightly. "Stop blaming yourself," he murmured. "You'll have time to beat yourself up later. Right now, we need to find her."

Jean swallowed, nodding.