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I was settling into a routine at the palace. Prince Chevalier’s room in the morning, the library in the afternoon, the occasional errand in between, the hour to myself in the alcove. It made the mask easier to wear, the dance easier to perform, having some consistency. Bring Prince Chevalier his breakfast at nine o’clock, bring him his tea at half-past two. Dust, polish, sweep, mop. Hum as you go, enjoy what you can, pretend to enjoy the rest.
Prince Chevalier didn’t arrive at the library at two thirty the next day, but I found myself in the kitchens preparing his tea out of habit. I paused, staring down at the teacup. What was I doing? Well, I’d made it already, and he was very routine about having tea at this time every day. He was probably still in his office. I would just drop it off for him there and head back to the library.
Prince Nokto answered my knock at Prince Chevalier’s office door with his trademark smile and his apparently trademark sloppy attire. After a day without having to deal with him, I didn’t feel like slapping him on sight, which was a nice change. I actually had to suppress a chuckle at his expense when it occurred to me that he might not bother with his appearance because he disrobed so often.
“Well, if it isn’t everyone’s favorite maid,” he said smoothly.
“Hello, Prince Nokto,” I said, smiling sweetly and walking past him to set Prince Chevalier’s tea on the desk. His expression was unreadable - was he pleased? Annoyed? Angry? There was no telling. His entire faction was there - Prince Clavis, Prince Nokto, and a tall, muscular young man with red hair who had to be another prince. It felt rude to bring Prince Chevalier tea and ignore the rest.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you had company, Prince Chevalier. Would anybody else like anything?”
The red-headed prince wore a boyish grin that was an odd but welcome contrast to Prince Clavis’ inscrutable smile and Prince Nokto’s sly grin. Actually, he looked completely out of place. He wore brown work boots, plain black pants, a purple shirt under a gray vest, a green jacket, and a pair of worn brown gloves cut off at the fingers. All was remarkably lacking any of the elaborate trappings adorning the other princes. He did wear a sword, a massive longsword much larger than the other princes’ blades that he kept strapped to his back, but a small bear charm hanging from the sword belt over his chest softened the effect.
“I’m a bit hungry,” he volunteered.
“I’ll be right back then. Excuse me.”
I knew Prince Chevalier had been in his office since about ten o’clock, and judging by what I saw, all four of the princes would be there for quite a bit longer. I went back to the kitchens and put together a tray of tea and assorted snacks. My second knock brought the red-headed prince to the door. He was taller than Prince Chevalier, possibly even taller than Prince Jin, but although he was physically looking down at me, I immediately felt at ease with him, thanks to his broad smile as he opened the door wide for me.
“Enjoy,” I said with a smile of my own, setting the tray on a corner of the desk and leaving quickly with a single chilling look from Prince Chevalier.
“Now that’s what I call service,” the red-headed prince commented as the door closed behind me.
I was still smiling as I got back to work in the library, in spite of Prince Chevalier’s glare. It was nice to express this part of myself - the part that wasn’t concerned with appearances or ulterior motives, but just wanted to be kind to those around me. I’d rather make people smile than constantly worry about what they thought of me. My heart felt full to bursting, and I was soon humming and fully engrossed in my work until Prince Chevalier interrupted me a couple of hours later.
“Maid.”
His cold voice was right behind me, jerking me back to reality. I was so startled that I actually jumped as I turned to face him.
“Yes, your highness?” I stammered as my heart rate settled back to normal, but he had already disappeared into his library. I followed obediently.
“Shut the door,” he ordered. I complied reluctantly. He towered over me, his sharp blue eyes only a few inches above mine, but his imperious attitude made him seem even taller and more threatening.
“I apologize if I disturbed you, Prince Chevalier,” I said, searching for a reason he would be angry with me. Maybe I’d interrupted an important meeting. Actually, if his whole faction was there, that seemed pretty likely.
“Don’t enter my office without my direct orders. Do you understand?”
His piercing gaze made me feel about two inches tall.
“Yes, your highness,” I said softly, dropping my gaze meekly. I wouldn’t be making that mistake again. If two thirty came and he was still in his office, he’d just have to do without his tea.
“I keep it locked for a reason. I limit those in possession of a key for a reason. Whether I’m there or not, I don’t want you anywhere near there without my permission,” he continued.
I stared at the floor, taking every word without protest. He was talking to me like I was a naughty child, and as much as I didn’t like that, it was beginning to dawn on me how serious this could have been. There was nothing personal about this scolding. I hadn’t seen or heard anything that could get me into trouble this time, but he was right. He kept his private life private, and he kept his work private, too. I was lucky to get away with just a few harsh disciplinary words. Better that than one of Rhodolite’s enemies thinking I could give them information about Prince Chevalier’s politics.
His voice stopped, and I held my breath, wondering what was next. He caught my chin and forced me to look back up at him, and, strangely enough, there was a hint of a smile on his lips.
“You’re going to fly right into a trap if you’re not careful, little dove,” he said, his voice softer now than I’d ever heard it.
I stared up at him in confusion. What happened to the scolding? And why was he teasing me again?
A knock at the door behind me interrupted the moment - whatever it was. Prince Chevalier released me and sat down in his chair as if nothing had happened. I swallowed hard and turned to open the door.
“Just the lady I wanted to see,” said the red-headed prince, looking down at me with a wide smile.
“May I help you, Prince…?” I asked.
“Luke,” he said, his boyish grin reaching up to his leaf green eyes. “And you already did. I don’t know how I would have made it through that meeting if you hadn’t stopped by.”
“Get out of here, Jumbo,” Prince Chevalier snapped from his chair behind me.
Jumbo wasn’t a bad nickname for Prince Luke, actually. It was very fitting. Literally.
“I’m just trying to be friendly, King Highness!” Prince Luke protested.
“Thank you for your kind words, Prince Luke, but I have a lot of work to do before I leave,” I intervened, offering him an apologetic smile.
He smiled back at me, a friendly, genuine smile. “Thanks again. If you need anything, just let me know. Ivetta, right?”
“Jumbo,” Prince Chevalier warned.
“I know, I know, I’m leaving.” Prince Luke gave me a wink as he left.
The warm, happy feeling was back. Maybe Prince Chevalier hadn’t appreciated my gesture, and maybe I had been wrong, but at least I’d made Prince Luke happy. I turned back to Prince Chevalier, hoping he’d finished berating me so I could get back to work.
“Is there anything else you needed, Prince Chevalier?”
“No,” he said flatly.
My remaining half hour passed uneventfully, but the warm, fuzzy feeling faded quickly as soon as I exited the palace’s front gate. Once a week, the doctor stopped by to check on Mother, and today was the day. I knew she wasn’t getting better, that she would never get better, and I dreaded these visits, but occasionally the doctor could offer something to at least ease her suffering. Then, before he left, I would pay as much as I could toward our growing bill - the primary reason for me taking the job at the palace. It paid better than anything in the village or the city, and although it kept me from Mother for more of the day than I would have liked, the hours I’d worked out with the head maid were reasonable. I was at least in a more comfortable position as far as money was concerned than I had been before.
I tried to lose myself in the beautiful day, as I usually did during this time, but the ache in my stomach only got worse the closer I got to home. Best-case scenario, the doctor wouldn’t decrease his estimate of the time Mother had left, and I could pay enough of the bill to make an actual dent in the interest accrued. At least I was eating at the palace now, so I only had to set aside enough money for Mother’s food. Well, I ate lunch at the palace, anyway. But I could usually grab a quick bite in the morning when I put in Prince Chevalier’s breakfast order, and again in the evening, right before I left.
Which reminded me, I had forgotten to grab something to eat. Maybe the ache in my stomach wasn’t just from dread.
I hated this day of the week.
It wasn’t uncommon for carriages to pass me as I walked, and that, combined with my thoughts, prevented me from noticing this one in particular until it stopped beside me. The door opened and a familiar voice called out to me.
“Ivetta, hop in.”
I looked up in surprise. Prince Yves smiled as he held the door open and offered me his hand.
“Thank you, Prince Yves, but I don’t mind walking.”
He frowned, wearing his haughty expression again. “It’s not every day a prince offers you a ride in his carriage.”
“No, and I appreciate the offer, but I wouldn’t want to hold you up, your highness.”
“Just get in,” snapped another voice that I didn’t recognize from inside the carriage.
“It’s no trouble,” Prince Yves added.
“Well, if you insist, your highness,” I said reluctantly, taking his hand and allowing him to help me into the carriage.
The unknown voice belonged to the prince I met in the library two days ago, the one who looked almost exactly like Prince Nokto. I sat across from him, averting my eyes from his cold, empty expression and his elaborate jacket with its light blue and gold trimmings, and Prince Yves sat beside me. The carriage was in motion as soon as the door was closed.
How was I supposed to handle this situation?
“Hello again, Prince…?” I asked, forcing a smile as I tried a polite introduction.
His crimson eyes met mine briefly before he looked away. “Licht.”
Not very chatty, then.
“We’re heading to a cafe in the city,” Prince Yves explained. “I heard you got everything cleared with Chevalier.”
“Yes, your highness, he’s given his permission for me to have that afternoon off next week,” I replied, turning my attention to the much friendlier Princes Yves. His deep blue eyes were curious.
“How did you manage that?”
“I just asked him, your highness,” I said uncertainly.
“Is that all?” Prince Yves asked, his eyes widening with surprise.
“Is that really so hard to believe, your highness?” I asked. Prince Chevalier was difficult, but he wasn’t completely impossible.
“Yes. He never does anything unless it’s to his benefit somehow. What sort of deal did you have to make?”
Ah, so there it was. The assumption that I was sleeping around with everybody. Prince Clavis was really enjoying spreading that rumor around. It had to be him. He was popping up too frequently for me to think otherwise.
“I did have to make a deal with him, of a sort, your highness. If the beignets are any good, he wants some,” I replied, working hard to maintain my composure.
“Well, then you should be fine,” Prince Yves said, a confident smile crossing his face. “I’ll make sure they’re good.”
I was glad he didn’t ask the condition if the beignets were bad. Just the memory of Prince Chevalier’s breath on my ear made my cheeks warm.
“Are you okay?” Prince Yves asked, his smile fading as his blue eyes studied my face.
“It’s a little stuffy in here, your highness,” I said quickly, hoping he bought that explanation for my blush. It wasn’t really a lie. I suddenly felt very exposed, sitting in the carriage with two princes and the thought of a third. The jolt of the carriage coming to a stop brought me a huge sense of relief.
“Would you like to join us?” Prince Yves asked as he helped me out of the carriage. “The pastries here are amazing.”
My empty stomach liked the sound of that, but I didn’t have time, and I wanted to get away from all princes, physically present and otherwise.
“I would love to, but unfortunately, I can’t. Thank you again for the ride, Prince Yves, Prince Licht,” I said, smiling and waving as I left.
Fortunately, they didn’t chase after me like Prince Jin had, and my cheeks gradually cooled back to normal. That was really nice of them. Well, nice of Prince Yves, anyway. Prince Licht seemed…indifferent. But the carriage ride had taken my mind off of Mother and the doctor’s visit for a few brief minutes, and I welcomed the distraction.
He was already examining Mother when I arrived at home, so I set about preparing her supper. When he finished, I followed him outside the house and reached into my pocket for his money.
“No need for that,” he said with a friendly smile.
“Oh, no, it’s no problem. The palace pays well enough,” I said. He’d tried to refuse money from me before, but I didn’t want his charity. I had some pride, after all.
“No, really,” he said. “The bill has been paid in full.”
I stared up at him, trying to make sense of his words. “I know you’re concerned, but really, I can afford-”
He shook his head, his smile widening. “I got a letter this morning with full payment and then some.”
Shock rendered me momentarily speechless. I scrambled to recover and ask the all-important question. “But…who would do that?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “It was anonymous. I would guess you’ve got a wealthy benefactor up at the palace."
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