“Not yet, she’s not,” he replied. “She’s still too green.”
Cyrus moved much closer than I knew, and when his hand met my back to force me his way, he spurned me with thenerveto react to my face.
“You’re crying?” he asked.
“Thank you,” I spat, working myself up. “Thank you for that remarkablybrilliantobservation, Mr. Evergreen! Now, if you would be so kind as to get me her saddle down, I-”
“Whyare you crying?” he pried.
“It does not concern you,” I said.
Cyrus barred me from making another attempt at the seat; his height was my nemesis.
“Because I’m not alord?”he asked.
“Why would I be crying over your status, sir?” I whined.
“You said it didn’t concern me,” he said. “I assumebecauseof my status.”
“Does no one sleep in this place?”I asked. I shook my head. “And what does yourrankhave anything to do withanything?”
“You tell me!” he said.
“Oh, believe me, sir! If I had anyideaof what you were on about, I would!”
“Then, if mystationdoes not offend you, tell me why you’re upset!” he called back.
“Yourstationhas nothing to do with why I won’t tell you-”
“Then why won’t you?—?!”
“Because you’re his confidant!” I shouted. I took a sharp breath, mad that he had gotten that much of me. I quickly crossed my arms. “Forget I said that.”
“...What did Sam do to you?” Cyrus’s tone became dire with his expression as he found the loose ribbon dangling at my side. He stared at it for too long. “Was heinappropriatewith you?”
“What?” I asked.
“Did hetouchyou?” He positively seethed. “Look at you, your dress. You’re crying. You’ve been running.”
There was a moment ofsparkingheatbetween us, the energy before a storm.
“N-No, Mr. Evergreen. The Prince was…”
He waited.
“He was…” I grabbed the end of my tie and fastened it back into its place.“He was feeding an appleto someone else. Please don’t make me explain. I’m devastated.”
He exhaled. “Agatha.”
“...You’re not surprised?” I asked.
There was no answer.
“I should’ve known,” I said. “Of course you aren’t.”
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“...And then he,” I swiped my face free from evidence of my pain. “Then he had the audacity to follow me back to my room.”
