Chapter 52

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Prince Chevalier arrived at two thirty as usual, sweeping through the library with an overwhelmingly majestic aura - at least, to Belle. I was used to him by now, but he clearly intimidated her. She was kneeling on the floor next to me as I polished the brass adorning the feet of a coffee table, and I saw her tense and shrink when he appeared. I suppressed a smile and stood up, offering a hand for her. She looked like a frightened little rabbit.

"He's really not that bad," I said, helping her to her feet. "I'll be right back with his tea, if you want to wait to talk to him until I get back, but it'll impress him more if you go by yourself."

"You're sure he won't kill me?" she asked nervously.

"I'm sure," I replied, smiling encouragingly. "But you need to prove that you're taking this role seriously if you want him to even talk to you, and that means you can't let him scare you."

She exhaled deeply. "So, how long did it take until he didn't scare you anymore?"

"Just go," I giggled, lightly shoving her shoulder toward the door.

"If I'm dead when you get back, I'll never forgive you," she warned me, her brown eyes brightening with a teasing smile.

I just laughed and turned away, heading to the hallway and the kitchens. Belle could handle Prince Chevalier with a little encouragement, but she probably wouldn't get very far with him today. It took a little time to get used to him. I only hoped he wouldn't test her resolve the way he tested mine.

How long did it take until he didn't scare me anymore?

Less than two weeks, thanks to Jack. It was hard to be scared of Prince Chevalier when he was holding me while I cried. That was the first time I saw his eyes soften, the first time I heard gentleness in his voice, the first time I felt his fingers running through my hair.

There were nights when I sat outside, crying, my defenses and willpower exhausted for the day, and I thought of that.

Belle was here for a month, and I knew she'd never get to see that side of him. The side I didn't want to see when I came back with his tea and broached the subject of the goodwill gala. Cold, hard logic was something I could deal with. Warmth and concern weren't.

As I expected, she wasn't in the main library when I returned. I stopped at the door to the back room, taking a deep breath to prepare myself. There weren't any voices coming through the door. Belle was gone, and now it was my turn to talk to him.

"Prince Chevalier, you didn't chase Belle away, did you?" I asked sternly when I entered, setting his tea on the end table as if nothing was wrong. He didn't even look up from his book.

"Stay home tomorrow."

Where did that come from? Had Prince Clavis told him already?

"I'm afraid I can't do that, your highness. The goodwill gala starts tomorrow," I replied, trying to keep the surprise out of my voice.

He looked up at me, his icy blue eyes piercing mine. "And your mother?"

Concern. Just what I didn't want.

"I already asked my neighbors to help with her tomorrow, your highness, and I'm hoping my schedule will go back to normal for the rest of the week. But...the head maid gave me a new assignment for gala week, and I think we should discuss it," I said hesitantly.

"There's nothing to discuss," he said coolly.

"Prince Clavis told you, your highness?"

"He did. And, if you recall, I outrank the head maid, and you're following my orders, not hers. Stay home."

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