A Beast's Tale

Chapter 41

I saw them through the window when I was walking down the hall at midday. From my perspective, the pit trap was easy to locate, but rosebushes blocked it from Ivetta's view. She was walking hand-in-hand with Clavis, a detail which already irritated me, and then they rounded the corner, and she took one step into nothingness. Clavis yanked her back—and into his arms.

Trap successful.

I sighed and unclenched my fists, continuing toward the kitchens to make my lunch. I'd completed most of the paperwork and left the rest for Clavis, and after I ate, I intended to check on Blade. He'd shown no signs of lameness, but he'd traveled across the country twice in the span of twenty-four hours. Even considering his youth and Rhodolite's small size, such a venture could cause minor injury, especially given the poor conditions when we rode out. I'd considered leaving him at Clavis' villa and returning for him later. He was a handful, though, and the stable hands there were unfamiliar to him. Better to bring him back and let the staff here tend to him.

The smell of honey wafted through the air as I neared the smallest kitchen. Either Luke, or someone baking honey-flavored desserts to lure him out of hiding.

It was Belle and Rio.

"Oh, Prince Chevalier!" Belle exclaimed, coming close to dropping the cake she was removing from an oven. "What are you doing here?"

"That should be obvious." I went to the pantry to retrieve the ingredients I wanted. Clavis must have talked her into baking for him. Better her than him, with his bizarre tastes for the abstract and unusual. His creations were edible. That was the only kind thing I could say about them.

"Shouldn't Ivetta be making your lunch?" she asked, her voice hesitant.

"She's on her lunch break."

There was a pause before she said, "Oh."

"Mm, that smells amazing!" Rio gushed as I started a fire in a stove well away from them. "You're such an amazing chef, Belle!"

"I'm not that good. You're just biased."

"How could I not be? You're the woman I love!"

She gave a nervous laugh. Without looking, I knew she was glancing my way. "Rio, stop joking around."

It was nauseating. He continued praising her every word and action, even embellishing his exuberant adoration with phrases about her being 'his future wife,' and she continued brushing him off, clueless as to the truth before her eyes. The man was the definition of a simpering fool. It was a relief when she finished frosting and decorating her cake and they departed in search of Luke, leaving me to eat in peace. I then washed my dishes, put everything away, and went down to the stables.

Blade and I saw each other before I arrived. He lifted his distinctive white head and nickered, and then the young stable boy, who had been walking him on the lead, could only hold on as the stallion trotted up the hill toward me.

No injuries, then.

"S-sorry, Prince Chevalier," the boy said as I caught the lead. "He just—"

"You're no longer needed."

"Yes, Your Highness. Sorry, Your Highness." He walked away, his brisk, stiff steps telling me he wanted to break into a run but knew better than to do so and spook the horses.

I patted Blade's muzzle, noting the blanket he wore as a precaution against chill from riding through the rain. It wasn't a cool day, but the temperature was mild enough to keep it from being uncomfortable for him. I knew he'd received a warm bran mixture to eat as well after our return yesterday.