The next morning, I hear a knock on my door.
"Who is it?" I ask.
"It's Kile."
"You do realize the meeting isn't for hours, right?" I say.
"Oh. Whoops."
"How'd you get up here, anyways?"
"I told the guard that I had permission from the royal family."
"Technically, you do. You kinda live here."
A butler walks over. "Delivery for Princess Celeste."
"What is it?" Kile asks.
"It looks like flowers. But who would send me them?" I wonder.
"A secret admirer?" Kile suggests.
"Doubt it." I point to the stems. "The stems have some spots of white on them. It had Osten written all over it. I bet that the moment I sniff them, I'll get a face full of whipped cream."
"True. He's done that to candy and given it to me. The truffles were filled with that green spicy stuff from New Asia," Kile says.
"Well, I need to change for breakfast. Not to be rude or anything, but can you please get out of my room?" I ask.
"Sure thing."
Kile leaves. Jane brings me an outfit and I notice a look in her ebony eyes that I've become accustomed to seeing in Ahren's.
"Jane, are you seeing someone?" I ask in mock-surprise.
"How'd you know?" Jane asks me.
"You have the same look in your eyes as Ahren usually does when Camille calls," I explain.
"Oh."
"What's his name?"
"I don't want to bother you with my love life."
"It's fine. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, though."
She does want to. Jane tells me about Mitchell, who is actually one of the soldiers I'm training. From her description, I realize that Mitchell was the first person who volunteered to take the place of the trainee I'd used to test the troops.
"Oh, he's so kind and honorable!" Jane gushes.
I'm happy for her. She found a love just like Ahren and Camille's. Speaking of Camille, I remember that I haven't really talked with her lately. I've been too busy with training and other royal guests. I hope she hasn't felt neglected here.
When it's time for breakfast, I purposely sit down next to Camille.
"Sorry everyone's been super busy lately," I apologize.
"It's alright. Riots won't stop themselves," Camille's says.
Camille is always nice. She literally forgives everyone.
"How's everything been?" I ask her.
"Everyone's been really nice to me," she replies.
We start talking. She tells me about what's going on in France. After breakfast, I ask her if she wants to help with the troops. After all, Camille is the sweet French girl. No one would dare to mess with her. Camille agrees to give them a speech or something.
After breakfast, Camille and I go out to where the troops have gathered. They go quiet as soon as she walks over. When she tries to encourage them, they applaud. The troops are really respectful of her. I train them. They are more "behaved" than usual, knowing that the future Queen of France is watching them. At the end of the training session, Jules is in the lead for points, with Johan in second and Randy in third. I don't know if I should be worried or relieved because Randy is doing well. Well enough that he could try something on Eadlyn.
When Camille and I walk inside, with me congratulating her, I hear a clicking noise. A bucket of bright blue paint falls from the ceiling, followed closely by sand. This has Osten written all over it. My theory is confirmed when I hear Osten snickering from behind a corner.
"What in the world?" Camille asks.
I sigh. "Osten."
"Oh." Camille has known about his pranks for a while, but never been pranked up until now.
"Come on, we need to get this paint off before it dries," I say.
She nods.
