The Wolf's Den

Path 1: Adrieve, Chapter 7: Part 1

        When she awoke again, she was lying on a bed with blankets up to her shoulders, still wearing the clothing from when she'd fallen asleep in the hallway. Quietly, she sat up, staring around her with a frown. This was definitely not up to par with what she'd been expecting, and it seemed to her that she was in a definitely rich surrounding. After a minute, there was a knock and a maid entered, smiling sheepishly to Adrieve. When the huge door shut behind her, she watched the maid fix the curtains at the window and let sunlight in, exposing drapes around the bed, closed in all but the right side, expensive furniture, and a chandelier and fireplace.

        "You been out for so long, miss's. The prince was worried about you's."

        "How long was I out for? What prince?"

        "About... Eighteen hours, I believe." After a moment, the maid mumbled to herself. "What prince, she asks. Why, our prince, this kingdom's prince!" Smiling cheerfully to Adrieve again, she hummed softly. "He's waiting for you at the table for breakfast. Let's get you dressed and ready for the day, then, yeah? Come, ducky, we got to get you out of those rags."

        "Rags? Excuse me, these are not rags, these are the finest clothing I could afford!"

        With a bow, the maid smiled apologetically. "My apologies, miss's, I didn't mean to offend you. The prince did pick out the nicest dress for you, though, and he asked me to help dress you in it. You must be special, you must."

        "Look, just let me dress myself, okay? Leave the room and I'll knock when I'm ready."

        "But, miss's, that's not how this works, you need to--"

        "I need to dress on my own, okay!? Just stand outside the door and if I need you to help me, I'll tell you. Don't you get it by now?"

        "I understand, miss's, but this dress is difficult to put on."

        "I'll manage just fine, thank you."

        When the maid stepped out, Adrieve waited for the door to shut before she started to put the dress on. After all, it wasn't everyday some handsome prince gave you a nice dress to wear to breakfast, now was it? However, after not being able to figure it out, the maid entered again, this time without knocking, eventually getting the stubborn, irate Adrieve into the dress on. Thankfully, she'd bathed lately, as bathing now seemed impossible. The dining table was vast, as well, full of food and the room full of servants waiting to serve. To Adrieve, this greatly pleased her, especially when the prince from Cinderella's story stood and waited for her to sit while someone else gently pushed her seat in for her.

        "Good morning! I knew that dress would look wonderful on you. My mother helped me to get you here safely when I found you crumpled in the hallway in those rags. We couldn't save your cloak, I'm afraid, but I had one made for you after you were tucked into bed," the prince said while servants served them breakfast.

        "Thank you," Adrieve replied after a moment, carefully starting her breakfast so he didn't find her crass. "I find the dress lovely."

        With a hum slightly, the prince began to eat himself, having been waiting for her to begin eating. After he finished chewing his first bite of oatmeal, he studied her face, her mannerisms, her expressions. She'd make a perfect queen, that much he was sure of. "Would you like to see the gardens after we finish breakfast?"

        Looking up from her plate, she swallowed her second bite. "If you would be so kind."

         Nodding in reply again, he continued to eat. "I don't believe I've gotten your name. Might I have it?"

        "Oh, of course, it's--" Taking another bite, she paused to think before studying his face and frowning subtly behind her hand, hoping it didn't meet her eyes. "My name's not important until I've gotten to hear yours."

        "I could be called 'the Prince,' but you can call me whomever you like."

        "How about... Prince Charn? That would suit you well, Your Highness."

        With a laugh warmly, Prince Charn approved, and when breakfast was finished, offered her his hand to take her on a tour of the gardens, and as they left the room, he glanced behind his shoulder to the servants and smirked before smiling charmingly at Adrieve.