Her Royal Highness the Princess asked Shade:
"Could what happened to the Southern Kingdom's earl have something to do with that 'Emotionless Killer'?"
The "Emotionless Killer" was a rumor in the city. According to increasingly outrageous accounts, the person who assassinated the earl was something like a death warrior raised through cruel methods, specifically to provoke conflict between the two countries and ignite a war. Shade could only say that people should not read too many Knight Novels.
The witch laughed as well, while Shade shook his head:
"What does this have to do with me? I was at home all last night. Though it probably has something to do with the perfume-soaked handkerchief I accidentally lost. I lost that handkerchief at last weekend's banquet, and it had a curse attached to it. I hope whoever picked it up throws it away as soon as possible."
Shade spoke carelessly. After Little Mia pawed at him, he scooped up a spoonful of apple sauce and spread it over her premium cat food. Shade had secretly tried that cat food before; it actually tasted quite good.
Leisha had decided to return to Yodel Palace with Miss Galina, so she was also having breakfast at the table and chatting with Shade about how her brothers and sisters were following the tournament. The princes and Princesses of the Cavendish Family all had their own Followers or so-called "friends" competing, and they treated whether their favored candidates could win as a contest within the family.
In Shade's view, this was plainly the king deliberately indulging his children's rivalries. It was not much of a problem while His Majesty the King was still in good health, but once it truly involved a struggle for the throne, Shade did not dare imagine what might happen.
It was