Her Rightful Place

67: The Meeting

Mireille breathes a heavy sigh of relief as the door to her suite in Cloiche Fuar closes and her maids and ladies begin the process of settling in. Though their journey began early in the day, it was not particularly fatiguing for the Princess, who was entirely captivated by watching the countrysides of Vyrunia and Mordalce pass by her carriage window. However, coming face to face with Queen Bêtel for the first time since that monarch turned her life upside-down was particularly nerve-wracking, as was seeing Prince Xavier again.

"Well, glad that's over with," Christelle huffs, dropping into the nearest chair. "I don't think she recognized either one of us, do you?"

"I think we would know if she had. She is not exactly known for subtlety," Mireille mutters in reply, toying with the piece of parchment Xavier had slipped into her hand. Do I even want to open it right now? she wonders privately. Her feelings of dread concerning the Midsummer's Eve Ball have only increased on their journey, and actually seeing the Queen of Mordalce again further heightened her worries. Although she had been looking forward to seeing the Prince again, at this particular moment the only thing she wants is to be alone, safely tucked away from the evil Queen, the Khandazarians, and anyone else who would do her harm.

"The way that Prince looked at you, Mireille...Like you are the most beautiful person he's ever seen, and the rest of the world no longer existed to him..." Monique remarks, her face inscrutable. "I don't know how you kept your composure. If someone looked at me like that..."

"Please, don't." Mireille did not fail to notice the way Xavier looked at her; in fact, his look is part of why she tarries in opening his note. Like the boys who visited Adrennes, when they saw me for the first time, she thinks scornfully. Like they've never seen a woman before, or something. How did this happen? He treated me like a normal person in Adrennes, and in the Palace of Roses. His letters have indicated eagerness to see each other again, but I thought we were friends first, not... But the betrothal that our parents want to make between us. If only—

"Mireille, what are you toying with?" Christelle asks, her eyes fastening on Mireille's hand that contains the note from Xavier.

"Oh, this. I...guess I must read it, to know for certain." With a brightness she does not feel, the Princess opens the note to find a hand-drawn map accompanied by the hastily scrawled phrase "come as soon as you can."

"Well?" Christelle prompts after Mireille has stared at the map for a few moments, trying to determine how to read it.

"It appears that the Prince would like to meet with me."

"You...don't seem excited."

"Seeing Queen Bêtel again was.... I just.... I would rather rest, just now, is all. But no matter. I suppose I must go."

"You cannot think to go alone, even to meet this Prince," Monique protests.

"Of course not. You will accompany me."

"And I?" Christelle asks eagerly.

"I have a notion that you would rather go inquire of that nice young man who was with the Prince at the gate as to whether there are any courtyards aside from that large one, where young ladies such as ourselves might enjoy the fresh air and perhaps play with a dog."

"I mean, yes, but—"

"Then that is what you shall do. Go at once; only tell Clothilde and Neera on your way out that we three are all taking rest in the innermost bedchamber of this suite and that we are not to be bothered by anyone under any circumstances. They will handle the rest. I do not imagine that I, at least, will be gone long, what with all the other duties the Prince must attend to."