#Chapter 88: The Mystery Buyer

Ruby The rest of the week goes by all too slowly now that I’m done with school and the mystery of the curse has been solved. Most days, I just read in the library or walk around the castle grounds. Atwood walks with me sometimes, but he’s also been busy with the herbalist. Apparently, the person who bought the toxic ashroot came back after Atwood had the herbalist destroy all of the plants. We were right in assuming it was Alice; there’s no doubt in my mind that the Queen conspired with her as well. We’ll find out tomorrow, because tomorrow is Christmas. Now that it’s Christmas Eve, it’s time for the auction. I decided not to tell Atwood about the brooch after all since he’s been so busy that I don’t want to bother him with such silly things, but I did tell him that I’ll be going to the auction. “Sure,” he says to my request to go to the auction. He’s sitting at his desk, holding a packet of papers in his hand. From afar I can see lots of handwritten notes