Chapter 646: A PAWN MIGHTIER THAN THE CROWN

Hildegard did not slow her steps.

She marched through the corridors like a storm wrapped in silk and fury, her cloak snapping behind her.

Every servant who caught sight of her instantly stepped aside.

Her face was too tight, too urgent, too dangerous for questions.

As she rounded a corner, she almost bumped right into none other than Cherry.

Cherry screwed her face up nastily the moment she set eyes on Hildegard.

“Well… well well.” Cherry said with a nasty tone. “If it’s isn’t my sister’s plaything.”

Hildegard looked at Cherry with the most dangerous form of a hate.

“And if it isn’t the girl who never got over her younger sister sitting on her throne.” Hildegard snapped back in a sing sing sarcastic voice.

Cherry’s face fell and Hildegard took delight in seeing that happen.

Cherry quickly hid back her emotions and pointed her stiletto nails at Hildegard.

“Now look here. Your attempt to set that girl free. Will never work. Accept defeat. The true Queen would be ascending soon.”

Cherry motioned to Auburn with her left hand.

Hildegard hadn’t even seen the stupid girl since.

“Didn’t take note of you.” She said. “That’s how insignificant you are.”

Auburn’s face went red.

Hildegard looked back at Cherry and aggressively pushed back her finger. “You can take away those dirty filthy sausages from me.”

Cherry hissed.

“You should know me by now Cherry.” Hildegard sneered like a snake. “I’m not scared of you. Never have and never will. U know what you’re about. Your sister doesn’t and I know this thing here is an imposter.”

“How dare you say-

“Shut up!” Cherry snapped at Auburn who went silent instantly and then turned to face her oppressor. “You’re right. In the grand scheme of things, nothing you say or do would make a difference. You’re just a pawn in the game.”

Hildegard smiled, a wicked smile. “And soon you shall understand how the simple move of a pawn can make to kick the Crown off the chess board.”

Cherry looked flabbergasted and Hildegard stalked off in victory.

After she had ascended stairs to the first floor, collided straight into Otto.

He gasped. “There you are! I’ve been searching everywhere for you.”

“Good,” she said sharply. She seized him by the wrist. “Come. Now.”

Before he could question her she dragged him upstairs, down a long hall, and into her room. She shut the door, locked it, then crossed the room swiftly to close every window.

Only when she ensured they were completely sealed in did she turn to face him.

Her chest was rising fast.

His, too.

“How is she?” Hildegard asked immediately.

Otto’s features softened and sharpened with heartbreak.

“Not well,” he said quietly. “She looks… defeated.”

Hildegard closed her eyes, swearing under her breath. “Those bastards…”

Otto stepped closer. “What about you? Did you see Rose? How did it go?”

Hildegard laughed a bitter, sharp, humorless. “Not well.”

Otto sighed heavily. “Of course.”

She snapped, “The King and everyone else is putting pressure on Rose to have Jasmine sentenced. They’re cornering her. She’s slipping.”

Otto’s jaw clenched. “She’s the Queen. She has veto power.”

Hildegard scoffed. “You don’t know who Rose becomes when she’s tangled in palace politics. She’s terrified of making the wrong move.”

“I’ll go talk to her myself,” Otto growled. “I don’t care what anyone says I’ll-

“No.” Hildegard grabbed his arm. Hard. “Otto, it will do nothing. I already tried. I begged. I argued. It didn’t change a thing.”

Otto’s shoulders sagged.

“This is madness,” he muttered. “I finally figured everything out and now

….. now this?”

Hildegard frowned. “What do you mean?”

Otto took a deep breath. “The map. The translation. Bale. Aiden. Jasmine’s family.”

Hildegard blinked. “You found something?”

“Yes.” His voice trembled. “Her uncle. He might be alive in the distant lands.”

A slow, shaky smile appeared on Hildegard’s lips. “Then that’s it. That’s why Jasmine came here in the first place. To find her family.”

Otto nodded. “Exactly. And we would need to go there together. But with all of this happening?” He shook his head. “We’re stuck.”

He paused.

Then his eyes widened bright with sudden realization.

“Unless…”

Hildegard narrowed her eyes. “What?”

Otto stepped closer, his voice lowering urgently. “What if we sneak her out?”

Hildegard blinked at him. “Sneak… her out?”

“Yes.” He nodded vigorously. “It’s not even a bad idea. Think about it: We plan it well down to the last guard rotation, the tunnels, the northern gate we can get her out of the royal pack without anyone noticing. By the time they realize she’s gone, she’ll be too far.”

Hildegard stared at him, stunned.

“Otto, Jasmine running away would only convince everyone she’s a thief.”

“Maybe,” Otto said. “But isn’t it better to be a wanted thief than a mutilated corpse?”

His voice cracked. “Hildegard, she’ll lose her hands. Her eyes. Then they’ll send her to Wolf Abide. You know what that means.”

Hildegard exhaled sharply, trembling.

She knew.

She knew too well.

She paced the room once, twice.

“It’s a good plan,” she admitted finally. “It’s actually a very good plan.”

“But…?” Otto asked carefully.

She stopped pacing.

Then she looked at him with something like dread.

“But there is one problem.”

“What?” Otto asked quickly.

Hildegard swallowed. “Jasmine is pregnant.”

Otto blinked.

Then blinked again.

“What?”

Hildegard nodded slowly. “I know it sounds insane. But I’ve suspected it for a week now.” She took a breath. “And this morning… I confirmed it.”

Otto’s jaw dropped open. “She’s… She’s WHAT?”

“Pregnant,” Hildegard repeated quietly. “With child.”

He stared at her for a long, stunned moment.

“Who is the father?” he finally managed.

Hildegard shrugged. “My only guess is Xaden. They must have… done something before he left.”

Otto swore loudly, hand flying to his waist. “What why didn’t she tell me?”

“Because she doesn’t know.” Hildegard sighed. “She has no idea she’s pregnant.”

Otto stared at her, horrified. “Jasmine doesn’t know?”

“No,” Hildegard said. “And I don’t think she even suspects it.”

Otto swore again louder.

Hildegard continued, her voice heavy. “And if she is pregnant… sneaking her out becomes dangerous. We don’t know how far along she is. We don’t know how stable the child is.”

She rubbed her forehead. “Her last pregnancy was difficult. Extremely difficult. It progressed too quickly.”

Otto stiffened.

“And if it’s the same this time,” Hildegard whispered, “and Xaden is the father… then Jasmine might already be in danger, right now.”

Otto went very, very still.

For the first time since she met him

Hildegard saw real fear in Otto’s eyes.