As she swept into her chambers, the Princess turned to Rhynon with an air of urgency, her voice low and conspiratorial. "Rhynon, dear fellow, I require Alice's presence forthwith. Send for her at once, I implore you."
Rhynon bowed low, his dark hair falling across his forehead like a curtain of night. "Immediately, Your Ladyship," he replied, his deep voice resonating through the room.
As he turned to depart, the Princess's next words stayed his departure. "And, Rhynon? I must impress upon you the utmost importance of discretion. I require you to keep a watchful eye on the fly, lest it discover the flower."
Rhynon's countenance turned quizzical, his piercing blue eyes narrowing in inquiry. "The fly, milady? Pray tell, what manner of fly do you speak of?"
The Princess's smile was enigmatic, her lips curving upward like a crescent moon. "Merely a figurative fly, Rhynon. A nuisance, nothing more. But one that must be kept at bay, nonetheless."
Rhynon's expression turned grim, his jaw clenched in understanding. "I comprehend, milady. I shall keep the fly under surveillance, lest it prove a pest."
The Princess's eyes sparkled with amusement, her gaze glinting like diamonds in the candlelight. "And, Rhynon? I must request one further boon of you. Keep Her Majesty at bay, would you? I fear she may try to interfere with my plans, and I must avoid her...distractions."
Rhynon's face turned stern, his eyes flashing with a fierce inner light. "Fear not, milady. I shall keep Her Majesty occupied, lest she trouble you."
The Princess's smile turned mischievous, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Put crumbs all over, Rhynon. That should keep her suitably distracted."
Rhynon's eyes widened in surprise, but he nodded nonetheless, his expression a mask of stoic devotion. "As you wish, milady. I shall scatter crumbs throughout the palace, to keep Her Majesty...entertained."
As Ariadne stepped forth onto the balcony, the crisp night air enveloped her, and a sudden, uncontrollable sneeze burst forth from her dainty nose. The sound echoed through the chamber, a most unladylike interruption to the evening's tranquility.
Upon returning to her room, a discreet knock at the door announced the arrival of her loyal maid, Alice. The knock, a peculiar sequence of three light taps, a pause, and two further taps, served as a signature, a secret code known only to the two women.
"Enter, Alice," Ariadne called out, her voice still slightly nasal from the sneeze.
Alice entered, bearing a steaming bowl of soup, which she placed upon a nearby table with the utmost care. "I have brought you a restorative, milady," she said, her eyes shining with concern. "You are in need of it."
Ariadne's eyebrows arched in surprise, her curiosity piqued. "Pray tell, how did you surmise my requirement for this soup, Alice?" she asked, her hands wrapping around the warm bowl as if it were a lifeline.
Alice's smile hinted at secrets shared. "Mr. Rhynon requested that I prepare it forthwith, milady. He intimated that you would be in need of its...fortifying properties."
Ariadne's gaze narrowed, her mind racing with intrigue. How had Rhynon, that enigmatic figure, intuited her need for sustenance? And why had he chosen to communicate through Alice, rather than presenting himself? A shiver coursed down her spine as she realized that Rhynon's understanding of her was far more profound than she had heretofore suspected.
As Ariadne pondered the enigma of Rhynon's prescience, she summoned Alice with a gentle ring of her bell. "Alice, dear, please request that Mr. Rhynon attend me in the morning at his earliest convenience. I must unravel the mystery of his intuition."
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Under The Facade
Mystery / Thriller"A night of merriment and mystery, filled with giggles and chatter, drinks and dancing, as women in lavish ball gowns and masks twirled across the floor with their partners. But in an instant, the joyous atmosphere turned to grave and ominous silenc...