ch. 2: rachel — and therefore helena — sees it

the next day

Rachel was still so thrilled by the previous day's victory for "Team Helena" that she literally whistled while she worked.

And the task at hand was not exactly whistling-inspiring stuff.

"Rachel, I need you to go through every single photo of the Cup that D-Throned has posted and to monitor every new photo they post throughout the week," Helena had ordered.

"Yes, your majesty," Rachel had responded. "But if I may ask: what am I looking for, exactly?"

"Oh you know, the usual. Anything that will hurt us. Anything that will damage reputations," Helena responded, almost sounding bored. "But also, if you see any photo depicting someone attempting to help Pryce, you are to alert me immediately."

Rachel wanted to ask if this meant the palace — and its occupants — still faced immediate danger, but that would have been one question too many. So she yes-your-majesty'd and high-tailed it back to her office, where she was clicking through a D-Throned photo slideshow that was literally 378 bloody photographs long.

But bigger picture: she and Helena had gained the upper hand on Cyrus; the sulking monarch would soon be forced to prepare his abdication speech, just as soon as the actual paternity test results came through. So, Rachel whistled while she worked.

The photos were innocent enough, and certainly none came close to revealing whether or not Ted had an accomplice. Most of them just depicted Princess Eleanor's exit from the stadium, one frame at a time.

"Boring, boring, more boring," Rachel sang to herself as she clicked through #158, 159, 160. She was debating the merits of skipping ahead to the 200s when photo #164 appeared on the screen and made her fingers come to a complete halt.

It was yet another photo of Eleanor being escorted out of the stadium, but this one was different. In this one, Eleanor wore an expression that Rachel had never before seen on the princess' face: adoration. Rachel clicked back to #163 to see what had led to Eleanor's look of admiration; it was virtually the same, though instead of admiration what Rachel saw was comprehension. It was zoomed out a bit more than #164 so Rachel could see that Jasper had his arm around Eleanor's waist. If there was a thought bubble over Eleanor's head, it might have read, "oh my god. You're really here for me."

In both photos, the bodyguard was completely oblivious to the love beams Eleanor was sending his way.

Rachel flipped back and forth between the two for a bit, and then, after re-landing on #164, leaned back in her chair, deep in thought. The release of the newest paternity test would throw the palace into a bit of upheaval, to say nothing of the press. An abdication of a hated monarch followed by the coronation of his 22-year-old nephew would send the media into a tizzy.

But a royal love story? Between the princess and the help? Now that could distract them.

Her wheels turning, Rachel picked up her phone and began to dial Rod Sterling's direct line. Surely D-Throned could do her this favor.

She was halfway through the 11-digit number when Helena strode into the room.

"Rachel, while you're at it, I need —"

The queen didn't finish her sentence; like Rachel and Rod Sterling, King's Cup photo #164 — in all its fullscreen glory — had caught her attention and stunned her into silence. There was no denying it. Eleanor indeed felt "quite deeply" for her bodyguard.

Paired with Jasper's resignation letter, it also helped explain why the princess hadn't left her room since returning from the stadium the prior day, Helena mused.

Rachel lowered the phone, ready to explain her plan. But the queen needed a moment to process what was on the giant computer screen in front of her.

"Rachel, do you see what I see?"

"That depends, your majesty," Rachel replied carefully. "What is it that you see?"

"I see my daughter looking like she's head over heels in love. With her bodyguard!"

"And that… angers you, m'am?" Rachel asked. Helena's tone had managed to come off as both incredulous and indignant.

"No! On the contrary, it proves that I was right."

Rachel wasn't sure what to do with that, so she decided to use that moment to explain her plan to the queen.

"A love story," Helena stated when Rachel was finished. "You want to sell my daughter's feelings to the papers so they ignore the fact that Cyrus is not the rightful king?"

"I mean no disrespect, your majesty," Rachel replied, scrambling to save face.

"No, no, it's good," Helena said slowly, her wheels turning. This photo, she realized, could do more than distract the press. It could, perhaps, be used to force Jasper and Eleanor out of their stalemate. "In fact, it's perfect."

"I'm glad you think so, ma'am."

"You know what to do?"

"Of course, your majesty."

"Good. You do that while I figure out where in the world Jasper Frost has gotten himself off to."