Rose was closing the wardrobe to hide her little secret when a knock echoed in her chambers. She turned towards the door and started walking towards it. It was morning already; it was no surprise her maids were here.
At least she was still allowed so privileges, but Rose knew she didn’t want them. She was no more than an elaborate pet.
She unlocked the door to reveal Welma, holding a tray with paper and ink. Rose froze in the doorway, staring down at what she held.
"What are you holding?" she asked, unable to hide her irritation.
"I was told to bring this to you on His Highness’s orders." Welma’s brows furrowed as she looked from Rose to the items. It was pretty clear what they were.
Rose sighed and stepped out of the way. All she could think was that he had given her so toys to play with, as though that would distract her from the situation.
"Do you not like it?" Welma asked as she stepped into the room.
"That’s not it," Rose said as she shut the door.
Welma turned to look at her. "Shall I place them on the table, then?"
"Yes," Rose said absentmindedly, waving a hand. "Go ahead."
Welma’s eyes narrowed, and she moved to do as instructed. When she placed the items, she noticed Rose had not moved from where she stood, and her grip on the blankets around her body was so tight her knuckles were pale.
"What is the matter?" she asked.
Rose looked at her with a dumbfounded expression. "I can’t believe you would ask that."
Welma tilted her head. "I expected you’d be in a cheerier mood, since you’re going to be getting what you wanted."
"What are you talking about?" Rose was growing increasingly irritated, and it felt as though Welma was trying to amplify it.
"Your replacent. The Queen won’t stop talking about how His Highness will soon be rid of you as soon as he finds your replacent, and the only reason you’re still around is because he couldn’t dare treat a princess as he does you."
Rose’s grip on the blanket loosened, and it almost fell until she regained herself. Welma’s words brought her so reprieve, but at the sa ti, they made her very cold, with one line running through her head: He couldn’t dare treat a princess as he does you.
"I did not know this," she eventually replied.
Rose did not doubt Welma’s words; she had no reason to lie. Despite her coldness since her return, Rose knew Welma had no malicious intent towards her. She might be the only one among the maids who cared how this affected her.
"Now you do."
"Did he say when? When he would find a replacent?"
"No, but the Queen is utterly convinced that when the wedding happens, you will be gotten rid of."
Rose hadn’t known about this. If this was the case, why wouldn’t Caius tell her the night before? If she had known he was just finding a replacent, she wouldn’t be such an emotional wreck. If she knew there was a chance she could leave, even if uncertain when, she would still be able to breathe easier.
"Thank you," she said to Welma.
The latter adjusted her apron. "You should know better than to do that. I am not doing you any favors. Besides, I was the one who emptied your room and burned all the dresses."
Rose nearly rolled her eyes at the confession. A few dresses wouldn’t hurt her. After all, they were never really hers to begin with—just costus Caius had given his beloved pet.
By the ti breakfast ca, Rose found she was in a better mood. She was leaving the castle, and if things went well, she might not need the refill. However, even as she felt a little lighter, Rose could not ignore the cloud of gloom she seed to see out of the corner of her eye.
---
"Princess," Rylen called with a bow as he stood at the entrance of the gazebo.
Rylen did not know when this had beco his duty, but since the Princess arrived, he had found she would be here before lunch and sotis before dinner, and he would have to call on her.
"Prince Rylen," she called, her usual smile in place, but sothing seed off about it.
Rylen scolded himself for the realization. It was not his place to notice if sothing was wrong with the princess. "Lunch is ready."
Her maid, Mara, was standing outside the gazebo; the older lady didn’t leave Caira’s side except when required. She had curtsied as soon as she saw Rylen.
"Thank you, Prince Rylen."
She smiled again, and once again, Rylen noticed that hint of sadness. It is not my business, he echoed in his head. He did his best to keep his distance, but Caira had a way about her, and they ran into each other multiple tis a day.
Rylen always made sure to keep the conversation minimal, which was easy as all she ever spoke to him about was his cousin, Caius. When she first arrived, she wanted to know his likes and dislikes and thought it best to get it from him.
Unfortunately, Rylen could not help her much in that regard, as his cousin was generally an asshole and his reactions to things and people were based on his mood. There was one thing he was certain his cousin liked, but Rylen didn’t have the heart to tell her his cousin had the libido of a horse on aphrodisiac.
Rylen did his best not to think about it, but he was horrified that Caira would have to deal with this. She was so fragile and innocent. The thought made him noticeably angry, and he would often remind himself of his role here. That was why it made no sense when the next words ca out of his lips.
"What is wrong?"
Caira’s eyes widened slightly as though she was surprised he noticed, then she turned away. "The castle is out of dried blueberries. I don’t think I can get you more snacks until the next bloom."
Another thing that almost bothered him about the princess was that she wouldn’t stop giving him blueberry snacks—biscuits, muffins, pies, cakes; the list was endless. The kitchen never ran out of the nurous recipes she provided, all written by hand.
At first, he had been bothered by it, but it didn’t take him long to discover there was nothing to it. She simply gave them to him because she knew he liked them. It was obvious in the way she treated her maid, who always had one knitted item or another. The princess made them all for her.
There was another thing he knew about the princess: she deflected. He knew the blueberry wasn’t the problem. She didn’t like to dwell on her worries, so she busied herself with other people’s interests.
"It would only take a few weeks or so. I can wait, and Your Highness has given enough blueberry snacks to last a year."
Caira lifted her head to look at him, and Rylen smiled at her. It was hard not to; she was clearly upset, and he wanted to help. After all, all her blueberry snacks were incredibly delicious.
"I don’t think the Crown Prince likes ."
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