She recognized the count the second he stepped from the carriage. He was a massive man, over the average height, and very muscular. She could remember seeing him around the court. He had the same red hair and bushy beard, only now it was streaked with grey. She thought he must be the same age as her late father.

Her blood boiled as she saw him, to think this man, this monster, was the cause of so much suffering for so many innocent people. Herself included. She stormed away and locked herself in her room. She knew she couldn't be near the Count, she didn't trust herself to do or say something foolish around him. 

Like sticking a knife in his back, she thought idly. 

Gia had excused her from working the welcome banquet, so when the palace was quiet and she was sure everyone was gone to bed,  Auriel snuck out of her room to the kitchens, where she knew Gia had food set aside for her. 

As she turned the corner, she ran into a wall. No, not a wall. A person. A very large person. Count Burgess. Auriel quickly lowered her head, both as an apology and to hide her face.

"My lord, please forgive me! I meant no disrespect, I didn't see you around the corner, and I..."

"It's all right. No harm done. A little thing like you must've been hurt running into me." He chuckled, his voice gravel. 

Keeping her head down, Auriel stepped away and continued toward the kitchen.

"Thank you, my lord. Please excuse me, I have something to tend to." 

Her heart felt like it was in her throat, threatening to strangle her. Her eyes blurred with anger. She entered the kitchen and took several calming breaths. She would make it through his visit and then everything would go back to normal. Hopefully even better. Perhaps the Count really would abolish the slave trade.

Despite losing her appetite at running into the Count, she forced herself to eat, knowing it was important to keep her strength.

But when she left the kitchen, an unfortunate sight awaited her. The Count stood there, arms folded across his chest. 

"Auriel Rosa," he grated and Auriel's blood went cold. She hoped the sudden fear she felt didn't show on her face.

"Excuse me, my lord, I don't know anyone by that name." She tried to step around him, but he blocked her.

"I have records of every Toran sold into Priya. If merchants or nobility want to cross the border, they have to get my permission first. I know every Toran who's ever set foot here. And only one raven-haired girl ever came to Priya."

Auriel lifted her head and met his eye.

"Auriel Rosa. The only living heir of the Rosa house. The only thing left..." He mumbled, more to himself.

Auriel didn't respond, just tried to step around him again.

"I can tell you what happened to your family. What really happened."

Auriel stopped. The Count held his hand out to her as if she would take it.

"How could I trust you to tell the truth?" she asked.

"Because I have nothing to gain or lose from telling you. Follow me." He turned and walked away. Auriel followed. She wanted to know, needed to know. 

Count Burgess led her to his room. This guest room was extravagant, Lady Cassia was probably hoping to win his favor and thereby August's. The thought made Auriel sick.

"Your sister and I were engaged. Did you know?" The Count said it so nonchalantly that Auriel scoffed at the statement.

"It's true," he continued. "She and I formed an attachment while she worked at the palace. I asked for her hand and she accepted. We got permission from your father and the next step was to announce it publicly. But then she... then the trial happened and of course, the engagement never came out." 

The Count motioned for Auriel to sit but she shook her head. She wanted to stay on her feet for whatever was about to happen. She didn't know what, but she could feel something bad lurking in the Count's words.

"Your sister had learned, purely by accident, that Lady Cassia's brother was in the dungeon. She knew he had never been given a trial and thereby was being held illegally. She came to me for help, but there was little I could do. To reveal the king's crimes to the House of Lords would be disastrous for the kingdom. The export of prisoners as slaves puts more money in the coffers than any other business. Not just to Priya either, but all the surrounding kingdoms. I would've lost everything. And the king would've been overthrown by the House. At the time, the House of Lords was more powerful than the royal family, thanks in no small part to your father who had more money and political power than any other noble. 

"I thought Diana had dropped the issue, but your sister sent word to Lady Cassia about her brother, and the two colluded to have him broken out of the dungeon. At the same time, evidence was starting to surface of the king's involvement in the slave trade. As a way to distract the House, the king proposed a marriage between the royal family and the house of Rosa. The Lords were shocked of course and all talk of the slave trade stopped and turned instead to the prince's bride-to-be.

"Fearing a power shift, the House was against the union, and rightfully so. But after much convincing on your father's part, the House was swayed. Your father had sworn that his allegiance would stay with the House of Lords and he would not support the royal family without the approval of the House. So your engagement was announced, and the evidence against the king quietly disappeared. 

"Then suddenly, a turn of luck for the king, a letter from Diana to Lady Cassia was intercepted at the border. It was the perfect setup. While he couldn't reveal the real letters Diana wrote as it would expose his crimes, he could fake them. Attempts were made to forge Diana's writing, but none were good enough. So he turned to his son, Prince August. While August couldn't recreate Diana's hand, he could recreate the hand of his closest friend. You."