A Peasant and A Princess

Chapter Thirteen: Gone

"I told you not to get yourself caught going out! And what do you do?"

If people didn't yell, the world would be much nicer.

"Are you even listening to me?" My father snapped at me.

Of course I was listening. There wasn't much else to do. Going to my father's study was bad enough, much less twice in a month for the exact same thing.

"Look, I said I don't care, as long as you don't get yourself caught. And you've got yourself caught. So from now on, you stay in the castle. Am I understood?"

I nodded meekly.

"And on a side note, it's about time for you to start looking for a husband. I'll send a note to Belle Edith to talk to you about that. Now get out."

I pushed my chair in and ran out of the study faster than I had run home. And that was saying something.

Have I mentioned that I hate how right everyone is? Mallory was right. Mallory was right Mallory was right. I messed everything up by being an idiot.

And now there was nothing I could do. Now, on top of not being allowed out of the palace, I was under watch, and needed to find a husband. A husband! As if that was something I was concerned about.

I wanted Mallory to know that I was sorry. I wanted her to know that I wasn't mad at her, and that she was right. But now I would probably never see her again, and she would always think that I had left her, and the person I loved like nothing else would hate me for the rest of my life.

I was lying on my bed when I realized I didn't remember getting there. My pillow was wet and so were my sleeves. When I sat up and rubbed my eyes, I realized that there was a cup of tea and some pastries on my nightstand. Jane must have been here while I was buried in my pillows, crying like a baby over something that couldn't be fixed.

I picked up the tea and took a robotic sip of it, before stuffing the danish into my mouth.

I got up, rung my bell for Jane, and opened my curtain. The sun made everything look white for a second, but after a moment or two, I could see outside perfectly through the glass in my window. I could see the sprawling garden, the tall sunflowers, the stone circles, the fruit trees, the stone statues of my ancestors.

"You rang, Your Highness?"

Apparently, I hadn't heard Jane come in.

I didn't bother to turn and look at her. The garden was lovely, and besides I felt powerful, almost like my father, looking out the window, not turning to look at my servant.

"Bring my breakfast to my room. Dress me in my cream dress with the navy lace. And tell Miss Edith that I'll be meeting her in the parlour in two hours."

"Yes, Your Highness," She sounded confused, but she stepped out of my room regardless.

If Mallory was gone and her opinion of me out of control, at least I could have power over something."