Arielle returned the book. She couldn’t possibly say if His Majesty the King taught her directly. What if her two siblings thought of Arielle as a bother to the king?
"Ah, William taught to read ... and Lucas taught to write," Arielle lied once again.
Andrea was really suspicious of Arielle at the mont. She had a feeling that the girl had found comfort here. She looked at Alexis worriedly.
"I’m glad you’re treated so well here," Alexis said, making Andrea raise her eyebrows.
The man reached for an empty cup, and Arielle automatically took the teapot and poured the warm liquid into the cup Alexis chose.
"But I hope you don’t forget your real holand," continued Alexis in a cold tone that made Arielle swallow nervously. She nodded slowly.
"I will return when the agreent with the North has been concluded," said Arielle.
There was a knock on the door, and Lucas appeared.
"The Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Nieverdell. Your rooms have been prepared, so you may rest in your respective rooms while waiting for dinner. Also, I have a ssage that His Majesty, King Ronan D. Blackthorn, has invited the three of you to a banquet night together."
Two male servants and two female servants were ready to show Alexis and Andrea the way to their room. Before leaving the room, Alexis touched Arielle’s shoulder, making the girl’s body stiffen. The touch felt so soft as if to say that everything would be all right.
Arielle was left alone.
This was the first ti Arielle had received such a gentle touch from her own sibling. Her heart was happy to have her brother’s attention, but why was there part of her telling her that sothing bad was going to happen?
"Princess?" Lucas called, making Arielle flinch in surprise.
Arielle looked back and found Lucas was still waiting for her.
"His Majesty the King has been waiting for you," Lucas said with a friendly smile, making Arielle blush.
***
Alexis and Andrea were walking through the palace hall. Andrea suddenly stopped Alexis’ steps, making the man furrow his brows. The woman turned around and asked for so alone ti to talk to Alexis.
Alexis also told the servants who were following him to give him a mont. And the four servants then resigned.
Andrea took Alexis’ hand and led him away from the hallway. She looked left and right to make sure no one was overhearing their conversation.
"What’s wrong, Andrea?" asked Alexis, who didn’t like his sister’s impatient attitude.
"Why were you being nice to Arielle earlier?" Andrea asked, narrowing her eyes sharply.
"It sounds like she likes the North more than the South," Alexis replied. "I can’t make her think she’s getting less and less accepted by us by acting rude or cold toward her. If we want Arielle to co back, then we have to make her believe that the South is a better place than the North."
"But-"
"Andrea, act maturely. You are the eldest daughter in our family. You are a representation of our mother, a queen. Calm down and just go with the flow. We are in territory that can’t be touched by father. I will not help you even if you are my own sister."
Andrea huffed in annoyance.
"Be nicer to Arielle and stop bullying her while we’re here," Alexis ordered.
"We’ll talk about this after dinner tonight. Now rest first," said the prince, then left Andrea, who was clenching her jaws in displeasure.
Alexis turned to look for the two servants earlier. He moved his index finger, indicating that their conversation was over. Then the four servants escorted them to their respective rooms.
Neither of them realized that soone had been listening to their conversation with their hearts beating fast.
Tania was going to pick Princess Arielle up. She rushed to hide behind one of the pillars at the end of the dark corridor covered by shadows when she saw the princess’s two siblings.
Tania only intended to hide as she didn’t want to run into the two. She squeezed her clothes, holding back anger when she heard that Arielle’s two siblings were taking advantage of the princess’s kindness for their purposes.
Hearing the harsh tone of Prince Alexis, made Tania suspect that sothing urgent had happened in the South. And it seed that they would again sacrifice Arielle for their sake.
Tania couldn’t stay silent. She had to do sothing. She would find out what the southerners were up to. Tania looked at her wrinkled hands. But what could an old servant like her do?
Ah, His Majesty King Ronan...!
Tania believed that man would surely help her. The woman imdiately ran from Whitethorn Palace to Blackthorn Palace.
Tania stood breathlessly in front of the king’s office door. She clutched her chest, which was beating fast from running. She took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. Tania also noticed her hair which was slightly ssy due to the wind.
After she deed herself neat enough to et the king, Tania stepped forward. However, before she knocked, the door to the room had been opened from the inside.
William had just co out of the king’s chambers carrying a small scroll of letters tied to the feet of a sizable snow eagle. The eagle had white feathers on its head and tail, and the whole body was covered with brown fur.
The large eagle’s two legs gripped William’s arms tightly, making Tania step back in fear. The man looked unperturbed by the claws surrounding his hand.
"Tania? What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Ah, I want to et His Majesty the King to discuss sothing important," said Tania, who imdiately lowered her head.
"Important matter? Can you tell first?"
"This is about Princess Arielle," replied Tania, making William nod in understanding.
The man opened the door to the king’s room again and made way for Tania to enter. He didn’t know what was bothering the old woman. But if it concerned the princess, then William had no right to forbid Tania from eting the king.
"You can co right in."
"Thank you," said Tania, then she walked into the room.
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