The Key ♕

18

Sophie's Point of View

Tonight is finally the night of the ball, and everyone in the palace is running around frantically, trying to make everything perfect, especially Alice. She hasn't sat down once since early this morning.

"Cornelia! Please rearrange the flowers on that table over there," Alice shouts, running from one corner of the banquet hall to another.

"Yes, your Majesty," she answers with a polite curtsy.

"Oh, and please iron the tablecloths. They look ridiculously wrinkly," Alice adds.

I can't help but let out a low chuckle while I straighten the wine glasses on a table, "my princess, I think you should take some rest for a while. I can handle this."

"No, it's fine. I just need to make sure the-"

"Please," I laugh, sitting her down on a nearby chair. "I insist. Just tell me what you want me to do."

Alice slumps down and takes a deep breath. "Thank you, Sophie. Please go get Lucas for me. I need to talk to him about something."

I frown and bite my lip, "sure..."

"Is something wrong?" She asks, leaning forward.

"Nothing is wrong," I force a superficial smile. "I'll be right back."

As I sulk down the palace's long hallway aimlessly, I think about how I will act in front of Lucas. Should I tell Nathaniel to tell Lucas? No, he's way too busy. I can't bother him. Should I just act normal? I think that's probably the best decision. After a few minutes of mindless searching, I finally find him in the study, madly scribbling something down on a piece of paper.

I peer in and knock on the door, "Prince Lucas?"

He snaps his head up, and when he sees me, he frowns. My heart sinks a little, "what?"

"Princess Alice," I mumble, "she asked me to come find you. She needs to talk to you about something."

"Thank you," he gets up and pushes past me to get through the door. The golden embellishments on his heavily decorated suit scratches my shoulder. I wince as I press my hand against the wound. I slowly turn around and watch Lucas's retreating figure.

"Sophie?" Nathaniel's gentle voice calls out, "what are you doing here?"

"Oh, I was just..." I stammer, "nothing."

He frowns at my pained state, "what's wrong? Is your shoulder hurt?"

"Oh, this is nothing," I remove my hand from the cut to reveal my slightly bloody skin. "I scratched myself on something."

"Let me see," he says, placing a hand on my back to inspect the cut more carefully. "It's just a little cut, but to be sure, let's get to the infirmary and put some ointment on it."

"No, I think I should go back. Princess Alice-"

"It won't take long. Come on, let's go," he takes my other hand and pulls me towards the stairwell to the basement.

"I've never been down here before," I say once we get to the infirmary. Numerous beds line up along the cold grey walls. Only a few soldiers are scattered around the room with nurses attending them.

"That's a good thing, isn't it?" He laughs, waving a nurse over. "Please just give her some ointment for this cut."

"Of course, Lord Nathaniel," the nurse quickly grabs a container of clear gel and smothers it on my arm.

I feel a sharp pain as the cold gel makes contact with the wound. Nathaniel asks, "does it hurt?"

I look up into his clear green eyes, now clouded with worry. "No, don't worry, Nathaniel."