When Spring Died

Chapter Twenty

"Why?" Étienne mumbled, a lock of hair falling into his eyes.

"Because, Your Grace..." Henri lowered his voice to an almost inaudible whisper. "The withering...it's spread. A great deal."

Étienne jerked back, eyes wide. "What?! How do you know? How--"

"The borderlands are completely dead with decay now. Happened across...three days, I believe? And Armand Évreux, you know he is practically head of all the gentry further inland came to me the other night in a panic. Said the orchards frosted over and died the next day. I have other reports. The only provinces that aren't in a panic are Marseille and the cities surrounding it. That will change soon, to be sure."

"Why hasn't this reached Ivette...?" Étienne's fingers clenched and unclenched.

"Well, Your Grace, this has been happening for weeks. And I am responsible for the borderlands, and the queen is so far removed that it is I people come to with their problems. Just as I am now coming to you."

"This will break Ivette's heart," Étienne whispered, before remembering that he was upset with her. "No one could reach her at all?"

Henri shrugged. "I told them the queen would give little aid. We must turn to ourselves for a solution."

Étienne shook his head. "No. No, what you did was very wrong. Ivette must know."

"For what purpose?" A sneer curled across Henri's grizzled face. "You say this, Your Grace, only to have it thrown right back at you. The queen does not care, nor will she. What solution resulted from bringing Ryssland and Norvége here? None! All that culminated were nasty rumors about Her Majesty, and countless occasions where you have been made a fool, is that not so?"

"I...yes, but--"

"Has Her Majesty made any further progress in rejuvenating Vesna's blessing?"

"No, but she--"

"And do you, in your heart of hearts, believe she ever will?"

"No! But--"

The word was out before Étienne could stop it. He cut himself short. Henri sat back, satisfied. Étienne's eyes slowly closed as he breathed his shame in and out. Yet he didn't take back what he said. It was years of loyalty to Ivette that made him feel ashamed at all.

He supposed he'd known all along Ivette wouldn't...she couldn't...fix this. It was too much for her. Always had been.

"Frantsiaya's future will rely on someone else," Henri said. They were quite alone now, most of the party-goers having convened in the main courtyard for dancing. "And I pray it will learn to rely on you."

Étienne let to his feet, bewildered because he had simultaneously hoped and dreaded the conversation taking this turn, the way it always did.

"No," he laughed but it was short and filled with nerves. "No, you are talking treason."

"Is it treason to want to save my country?" Henri countered. "Treason to want what is best for Frantsiya? If that is the case, then most everyone is treasonous at one point or another."

"Do not seek to twist your meaning into appearing so harmless," Étienne insisted. "Your words are gentle, monsieur, and yet the venom of an asp is concealed within them."

"Your Grace. Let me be blunt." Henri's gaze sharpened, his tone cool and firm. "It is not so much the lack of Vesna's blessing that does not endear me to Her Majesty. It is how she endangers her entire country by inviting plagues of foreigners into our innermost havens. The unrest she has caused is, quite frankly, beyond disquieting."

"She's done her best."

"Her best has caused hysteria. Not in the Spring Courts yet, explicitly, but soon..."

Étienne silently agreed, yet he didn't put it into words. He did not believe himself guilty of anything so long as he did not say it aloud.

"Your Grace." And now Henri's voice was a gruff, hasty whisper. "I have a plan. Before Frantsiya can be brought to ruination. A few letters from me, and you would have masses of supporters. If we scramble to find enough proof, or at least a reason, we will have reason to put Her Majesty on trial and force an abdication. And then you and you alone will--"

"You're asking the impossible," Étienne exclaimed, breathing very hard. His head spun. Then he said quieter, almost tearfully, "I...I can't be without Ivette. And if anything, please let me believe she can't be without me."

Henri sighed and rested his forearms on his knees. "She is so enamored with her foreigners that this country's fate is in the margin of her afterthoughts. And so are you." His lips twisted and he nodded just ahead.

Étienne turned around and he felt his heart shrivel away. Ivette was here. How lovely she looked in plum-colored silk, her dark curls swept high on her head. And there, practically hanging off her arm was that blasted tsar, Sasha. Henri had spoken true. Sasha had been invited. Étienne watched as Sasha leaned down to say something to Ivette, and it made her smile. Really smile as she answered him.

Why did she never smile like that for him? Did he displease her so?

His fingers clenched into hardened fists, and the icy sting of betrayal flared again.

"If you're really intent on marrying her, you're welcome to do so once you have the crown. You're not annulling your engagement after all. Not officially."

"What about Laurent? He's idolized in the army and will have plenty to say. You...we need the army on our side, though I will not let this come to bloodshed."

"I'll take care of Laurent. You'll note he is currently separated from his most loyal troops in the Canaille, yes?"

Somewhere deep down, Étienne suspected that had been the reason all along Henri had written to Laurent, drawing him back to Marseille in the first place. It made Étienne admire Henri's cunning all the more. What a powerful ally he would make.

"So. What say you, Your Grace?"

He hesitated.

Henri inspected his nails. "You know...if Her Majesty were queen consort, she would lose all appeal to Sasha Morozov. She would lose any power of the state that might allure him."

Étienne blinked. He could save Frantsiya, rid it of foreigners and withering. Ivette would be his. He swallowed hard around the lump in his throat. His answer came faster than he meant it to.

"What do I have to do?"

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Hey there demons, it's me, ya boi :D
And I happen to have ideas, so after like...a month's hiatus, here we are. I also wrote this at work so if the quality is DEPLETED, my apologies after the fact.
Thanks for reading!