Cursed

Tea without Sympathy

While still in the princess's quarters, not long after she'd finished her bath, Stephanie received a letter. She sat in one of Ellinor's soft robes on the edge of her bed, reading the note, taking care to keep the content of it away from the princess's curious eyes. It was from her mother.

"I really wish you would take the room next to ours, Stephanie. It'll be much safer for you," Ellinor said, from her seat at her dressing table.

As true as that was, she just couldn't accept it. Not from her, and certainly not from Dominic. "In order to repay my debt for your help, and because I'm not quite ready to return to the kitchens, I agreed to help you get ready for her majesty's arrival, your little tea, and the ball. That is all. Until then, I will stay with my mother."

"But don't you want to know who that man was?" Ellinor asked, raising her eyebrows.

Ever-defiant, Stephanie turned to her and flashed a wry grin. "A princess doesn't speak of such." She then pocketed her mother's letter and headed for the window. From it, she saw layers of fluffy clouds cutting through the blue sky. Then, she glanced down to see two men on horseback, dashing through the gates, off toward the countryside.

***

After sneaking out of the castle on what was told to be official business, Prince Dominic and Lord Kentwall rode off in search of Stephanie's assailant. Any information that they could learn from the peasants or countrymen could be used to track down the intruder, so that's where they hoped to begin their investigation into the man's identity.

They rode for some time before happening upon a group of royal travelers on horseback. As they approached, Dominic noticed four knights surrounding a familiar figure at the center. At the man's side was a large, shimmering sword with his family crest etched into it. It was his maternal cousin, Prince Phillip of Eastridge.

"Well, if isn't my dear cousin from the North and his dapper whipping boy," Phillip said, his demeanor as proud as ever.

"You know, he is my cousin too," Dominic said, nearly incited by the comment.

Prince Phillip looked at him with narrowed eyes as a look boredom crossed his face. "Yes, well."

Dominic hadn't heard that his cousin would be nearby; causing him to question exactly what he was doing that far from home. Phillip belonged back in the eastern realm with everyone else like him, so what was he doing in the north? "Where are you off to, Prince Phillip?"

Without missing a beat, he said, "To my manor in Northborne. I have a few things to take care of there."

"I see," Dominic replied, weary of the answer he had been given.

"And you? Why aren't you home with that beautiful new bride of yours? Or is she too busy scrubbing pots and pans to be bothered with you in the light of day?" Phillip asked, flashing Dominic a mocking smile.

"As ever, my dear, cousin Phillip, you are both kind and gracious," he replied, unwilling to stoop to his level.

Phillip smiled, content with his condescending tone. "I have my moments."

Dominic couldn't wait until his pretentious cousin was out of his sight. "Well, we have business to attend to. Good day," he said, before turning back to Kentwall with a nod. "Kent."

The pair turned on their steeds and moved only a trot before Phillip stopped them. "Have you heard of the new decree?" he said, shouting loud enough to fill the space between them.

Dominic turned, steadying his horse as he looked back at his cousin and shook his head. "From the Emperor of the High Castle? No. But my father should be seeing him today at the Ministry of Legions."