A Dove's Tale

Chapter 50

That afternoon I spent talking to Prince Nokto preceded a week and a half of the peace I'd been longing for at the palace. I don't know what exactly changed. My interactions with the princes, even Prince Clavis, became less irritating and frustrating and more interesting and friendly. The tension between Prince Chevalier and me gradually disappeared, the fire in his eyes fading into memory, and we fell into an amiable coexistence. Conversation came naturally with him, more naturally than with the other princes, though I was careful to avoid details of my home life.

I didn't talk about that with anybody unless I had to, not even Theresa. Not that I had time to see her anymore.

Mother's health was failing fast. It wasn't long before she was completely bedridden, and taking a carriage home to tend to her midday replaced the pleasant lunch breaks I used to spend reading in the library. The bucket was a constant vile reminder that she was slipping away, bit by bit, and there was nothing I could do for her except clean up the mess and fake a smile. A good night's sleep was a thing of the past. Whether I was up late taking care of her; lying in bed awake, my mind too full of stress and worry to close my eyes; or finally succumbing to exhaustion, only to be plagued by nightmares; the result was the same. I woke up tired, I was tired all day, and I went to bed tired. It was just my new state of existence.

I never thought the palace would become my escape.

It was just nice being in the library, surrounded by books, even if I didn't have time to read them anymore. Occasionally, somebody stopped by, searching for official records or books on specific topics relating to important matters of the government. They all ignored me, except for Sariel and the princes. I knew Sariel was young for a court minister, but I didn't realize how young until I saw the wizened men in ministerial robes who barely spared me a glance. Sariel couldn't be much older than Prince Jin. I still wasn't sure what to make of him, although he didn't seem so frightening when he had no agenda beyond finding a certain book. And unlike the other court ministers, he acknowledged my presence and asked for my help in finding it.

Just like everybody else in the palace, there was more to him than his first impression.

Maybe I could stay here, after all.

About a month after I'd started working at the palace, I went to Prince Chevalier's room to start my day as usual, but he wasn't there. His sword, cloak, and boots were gone, and he'd left his bed unmade, which all pointed to him getting up early. I didn't know what to make of that. Never once in the time I'd worked for him had he failed to give me warning about any change in schedule, and yet he hadn't said a word about this. It was none of my business, though, and I knew how capable he was of handling himself, so I shrugged it off and got to work. Until I learned otherwise, it was just a change of plans. Nothing for me to worry about.

I wasn't worried. I wasn't.

And I wasn't relieved when he returned at nine o'clock.

"Good morning, Prince Chevalier," I said, looking up from my dusting briefly to smile at him.

"We have a new Belle," he said simply.

"Oh, I see."

That probably explained his strange absence, and it was definitely a reason for me to feel relieved. The thought that Sariel or Prince Clavis might try to pressure me into becoming Belle after Mother died had been nagging at the back of my mind.

"Have you had breakfast yet, your highness?"

"Yes."

Then what was he doing here?

He stood, arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against the wall next to the door, watching me. It was unnerving.

"Is there something else you need me to do, your highness?" I finally asked.