To Be A Princess (ON HIATUS)

CHAPTER 10 - I Become a Master Detective (Yeah, Not Really)

THE NEXT DAY WAS absolutely chaotic. Apparently Xavier decided to skip out on the ball last night and Queen Lilian was furious. All activities that were planned for the debutantes were cancelled and we were given a day to do whatever we wanted. I was planning on spending my day locked away in my room taking a nap, but it seemed like my brother had different plans.

I had been dreaming that I was about to eat the most delicious piece of chocolate cake in the world when I was abruptly awoken by someone shaking me.

"Wha d'ya wan?" I mumbled sleepily. I was just about to fall back asleep when a piece of parchment was thrust in my face.

"This came for you," I heard Ellie's voice say.

"Huh? Oh, thanks," I said, still trying to wake up. "What is it?"

"A letter from Darren Black-Faulkner," she replied. "Do you need anything else?"

"No, I'm okay. Thank you," I said.

I opened the parchment as Ellie left the room. I looked over my brother's familiar messy scrawl and groaned. It read:

Dear Skylar,

Since you have the day off today, we (Papa, Uncle Jarred, and I) have decided that it would be a good idea for you and I to visit Uncle Jarred in his home in Baliros. We leave at noon so please be ready. We'll be staying the night so pack some clothes.

Your brother,
Darren

P.S. We'll be taking a carriage instead of riding.

I tossed the parchment across my bed and buried my face in my pillow. A part of me didn't want to get up, but another part of me was interested in what it was like in Baliros. I had never been anywhere farther than Cauvicourt.

Finally, I got up and slowly got dressed. By the time I had put on the forest green day dress I had chosen and packed some clothes, it was noon. I guess I slept longer than I thought, I said to myself as I raced down to meet Darren.

"Hey," Darren greeted. "You ready to go?"

"Yep, do we really have to ride in a carriage?" I asked. "I really don't want to."

"Yeah, we have to go through a part that's known for being full of bandits. It's safer to ride in a carriage," he replied.

"But we could fight them off better if we rode," I argued. "We could get trapped in a carriage and it's not like I'm helpless either. I can fight just like you."

"Please Sky, it's more to reassure Papa and Uncle Jarred rather than actually keep us safe," he sighed. "Let's just go."

I grumbled as we got into the carriage. I hate confined places almost to the point where I'm claustrophobic. I gripped onto Darren's arm as the carriage lurched forward.

"Sky, you're cutting off the circulation to my hand," he said and tried to free his arm from my grasp. "Sky, let go!"

He finally freed his arm and moved away from me. I slouched back in my seat and glared at the wall. As I sat, an idea suddenly popped into my mind.

"Hey Darren," I said. "Do you know anyone named Gareth d'Sauveterre?"

"No, but I do recognize that surname," he replied. "You could look it up when we get to Baliros. Uncle Jarred probably has books on that."