Translator: Nox

Chapter 25

Chapter – 25

A sly spark lit the prince’s eyes. “Trade garments with me.”

Bewilderment crossed the beggar’s face. “Here? The two of us, Your Highness?”

“Picture the excitement.”

Doubts flickered as the prince’s playful smirk held firm, but the beggar relented, shedding his threadbare rags.

Stripped to a flimsy rag hugging his ghostly frame, he waited. The prince swept up the grime-stained bundle and flung his finery in exchange.

Attire fully reversed, they stood transformed.

Then the prince, shrouded in squalor, eased back a pace…

He froze, alert. “Soldier nearing. I offer a warm nod, yet…”

Snap!

His palm cracked against his face. He crumpled, trailing fingers over the mock welt.

“Guard brands me street filth.”

Precisely so.

Outfits alone flipped fates.

Jeanne reeled, stunned like hammered from behind.

Catherine leaned close, voice dripping scorn. “Louisa bares that performer right there. Stage disrobing? Pure filth.”

No retort came from Jeanne.

Filth? Crowds devoured it regardless.

Ahead, patrons mirrored the swapped royal’s fumbled palace poise amid revelry without thinking.

Court spectacles stood worlds apart.

Noble chambers fared no better.

Verses droned of exalted falls and legends, players chanting rote like scribes.

No soul dared feign ennui; prestige demanded rapture.

This gripped raw.

Earnest strides built unblinking drama.

Twists abounded, core plain: streets rat to throne, crown cast low.

Jeanne pondered deeper threads beyond the pair.

Catherine overlooked, though keen eyes caught quick.

Twin veils cloaked it.

Louisa shone as the dethroned one first.

Ragged exile beyond gates held bearing amid kin’s blows, alms rebuffed—limbs fluid with grace.

Tonight’s Louisa echoed flawless amid Massena’s wreck.

Goblet poised, nods crisp, phrases refined.

Jeanne marveled refined command of old lessons.

Gone the prior fumbler scorning elder’s yoke.

Strides precise today summoned…

Grandfather’s echo.

Massena’s true torchbearer.

Nobles scorned her bid as pride’s grave, but this proved marrow-deep resolve.

Upstart loomed next.

Timid soul bloomed ravenous in velvet.

“Fascinating how silk sways them. Blind to protocol or policy, they bow to garb alone. Royalty… perhaps overrated?”

Jeanne shivered at that feral gleam.

Catherine drew her glance.

Fit too well.

Absence seized, throne eyed hungrily.

All witnessed Catherine’s grab.

Massena snatched via fire sale, loans endless, lineage mocked—facts burned public.

Onlookers pierced the thrust.

Louisa’s edge astounded.

Actor-toting pariah hid lethal wit.

Jeanne sensed Catherine cornered.

Her dam railed unaware, locked on the climber despite barbs.

Jeanne matched her trance.

Lust festered; dawn glimpse of homebound noble sparked steel concealed.

“Tom! Garb back on! Ruinous shift.”

Prince glowed; beggar veiled intent.

Air thickened with his stage ascent.

Jeanne tensed sharp.

Turnabout brewing?

True compassion creased the prince’s brow. “Palace reclaim, but you’ll rise too. Earldom mine to grant.”

Weight bent the plotter’s resolve.

Rank might blunt the strike.

Prince glided aside.

Rear spark flared.

Jeanne’s nails dug flesh.

Steel gleamed.

Armed equals.

Dawn poses reborn, mirrored retreats.

Prince pressed. “Hand over my threads?”

Limbs rose twin, flawless echo.

Peak hung electric.

Thump.

Drape plunged.

Glows ebbed stageward.

Figures melted away.

Disbelief rippled.

Halt sans slaughter named.

“Done?”

“Cliffhanger?”

“More soon?”

Pleas surged.

Baron Jean-Pierre ignited cheers, revel town’s rogue.

His palms spurred wave overtaking hall.

Catherine hunted Louisa, fury primed.

Nods nearby clicked. “Massena’s tumble, veiled plain.”

Awakening hit Catherine.

“Vile turncoat! Spared the jilted hag a seat here from mercy… she wounds me?”

“Softly, Mother.”

“Herotia bows to none. Emperor cradles us. Fears whom?”

“His own wrath.”

Absurdity curled Catherine’s lip; Jeanne lilted cool.

Duel barred.

Shifted sight summoned lost crown heir.

Nine years fled palace amid slaying storms; Callinan culled foes, border blade to scepter.

Hidden royal roamed, climber crowned false.

Throne’s threat pulsed.

Catherine’s coffers swelled imperial; ire spelled doom.

Domain aired treason.

Jeanne breathed warning; dread etched Catherine deep.

“He’d peg me as plot enabler?”

“Doubt shields none.”

Ashen shift fed Jeanne’s quiet glee.

Artful strike.

No profligate duchy-slayer, yet Jeanne once deemed her unfit lead.

Maneuver myopic.

Craved goals over whispers.

Error exposed.

Elder saw true.

First Prince risen, old blood reclaimed…

Louisa’s guile claimed peerage bare.

If breathing still.

Gala hummed sequel chase.

Louisa swarmed, fates probed.

Catherine seethed central theft.

Spotlight hers…

Jeanne evaded: folly birthed the bid.

Lounge nook claimed, whispers filtered noble awe.

Sequel hunger clawed Jeanne too.