A Dove's Tale

Chapter 15

I didn't think Prince Chevalier returned to his room during the day, but I only let myself hide there for a few more minutes before I forced myself back into the hallway. No princes were in sight. I kept my head down and hurried to the library, trying to recover my composure, trying not to think about Prince Licht. A few more hours of cleaning, and I would get to escape, back into the sunshine where there were no bloody daggers and boxes of bandages hidden under the bed.

I couldn't get it out of my mind.

Work. I needed to get back to work. The chandeliers weren't going to clean themselves, so I got a ladder from a supply closet and set it up next to the alcove, where the sunshine was the brightest and the view was the prettiest. Sunshine, candlelight, bright gold fixtures - brightness and happiness, with no place to hide dark secrets. I paused in my dusting to look down into the gardens. It was such a nice day outside. I loved working in the library, but it was days like today that got me wishing I was outdoors a bit more. I let my eyes wander around the gardens, just for a moment. Prince Luke was up in a tree, sitting on a branch, his arms folded over his chest. He looked to be asleep. The sight made me smile. And down by the pond, there was the bench where Prince Chevalier had taken up residence yesterday, and the tree where I'd enjoyed an hour of reading. That had been oddly nice. I'd never thought the day would come when I'd be able to relax around Prince Chevalier.

The library doors opened, and my heart sank as I turned to see who had entered. It was too early for Prince Chevalier to arrive. But the honey blonde prince dressed in shades of maroon was a welcome sight.

"That's dangerous," Prince Yves said reproachfully, frowning as his deep blue eyes took in my precarious situation. He held a small brown paper bag in one hand, and he came to a stop at the bottom of the ladder, resting his free hand on the lower rungs to stabilize them.

"Hello, Prince Yves. I was just coming down, anyway."

I wasn't, but it was probably rude of me to stay atop the ladder if he wanted me for something.

"You shouldn't be doing this alone," he said, watching me climb down.

"No, but I'm the only one here. Is there something you needed, your highness?" I asked as my feet touched the floor.

He held out the paper bag. "This is from the cafe. I stopped by to give it to you yesterday, but I guess you were at the festival with Chevalier." His inflection on the last few words evidenced disapproval.

"Oh, thank you, your highness," I said, my eyes widening in surprise as I took the bag.

"Don't thank me. It was Licht's idea," Prince Yves said, blushing and averting his gaze.

"Prince Licht thought of this, your highness?" I asked in disbelief, peeking into the bag.

"Of course he did. He's the sweetest, kindest person you'll ever meet," Prince Yves insisted, his deep blue eyes coming back to mine.

I stared at him in shock. "Prince...Licht?" I repeated, unable to wrap my head around what Prince Yves was saying. The man sitting alone in the dark, cutting himself, scaring the life out of me when I arrived unexpectedly, was the same man who suggested buying me a croissant after a chance meeting on the road?

Prince Yves scowled. "Yes, Prince Licht. Whatever you think of him, you're wrong. Just because he pushes everybody away doesn't change the fact that he's really a gentle person."

Sweet? Kind? Gentle? I ran back through the events that occurred in his room, and I realized that he never once threatened me. He didn't want me intruding, and he didn't want me telling anybody, that was all. I took his actions as a threat because I didn't understand what was going on.