“No plans today,” I answered, almost honestly. I had no plans with my new friends. And technically, my plans weren’t for the day, but this evening. “I’m wandering and seeing who needs help with what. But it is a lovely day.”
“It is. I hope it is this nice on Midsummer Day.”
“Oh yes. I’m looking forward to the festival. I’m so glad my visit ends after the holiday.” The reminder that I was only in Skorsa for a couple more weeks dimmed my mood slightly. “I’m going to miss the village.”
Sam looked around, then lowered his voice. “Have you decided if you’ll tell everyone the truth before you leave?”
Sam and I had spoken about this before. I had admitted that I hated the idea of walking away from the friendships I was forming, but didn’t want to continue them under false pretenses indefinitely, either. The problem, however, was that there was no guaranteethose friendships would remain once I admitted my identity. Not in their current forms, at least.
Gemma, I thought I could maintain a genuine friendship with, even after she learned I was the crown princess. But did I want someone like Kayla to learn my identity? Though she wasn’t the person who concerned me now.
It felt like a lump of coal settled in my stomach as I remembered joking with Alan last night, convincing him that my charm was nothing more than a pretty crystal. I hadn’t been able to bring myself to admit the truth to him, not when he looked at me and saw Mina, not Princess Charmina.
After he had kissed me, I had forgotten that earlier guilt. But it surged back now, stronger than before. Affenala save me, I would have to tell him the truth eventually. How would he react?
I should have told him last night. I should tell him tonight. But I knew I wouldn’t. Not when the charm had given me exactly what I wanted, a chance to see what people thought ofme. I hadn’t intended to go around kissing people while wearing the charm, but I couldn’t regret kissing Alan. I couldn’t deny that his kiss had affected me more strongly than any other of my life.
Part of that was him.
But part was knowing that he didn’t see my crown when he looked at me. I wanted that. Especially with Alan.
I would save the revelation of my identity for closer to my departure. After we got to know each other better.
“I want to tell some people,” I answered Sam after a delay that had caused the corners of his lips to turn down. “But I haven’t decided if I want to tell everyone.”
“Be careful with that. It is a heavy secret to bear if you only tell a select few.”
“That’s why I haven’t made up my mind. Don’t worry, at the very least, if I tell Gemma, I will tell Cole so that she doesn’t have to hide it from him. And I’ll ask her if she is comfortable with Kayla and Hannah not knowing. If she isn’t, I would tell them, too. Andprobably everyone, at that point. But I might choose to tell everyone, regardless. Someone is bound to come to the ball and recognize me.”
For the first time, the thought of that ball, where every eligible commoner would be welcome, filled me with dread. I had never particularly looked forward to the ball, but I had understood its purpose. I had respected that it would be the last chance to meet people before I selected my consort. A choice that would be made with a disinterested heart and an eye toward contentment and the good of the kingdom.
My heart was anything but disinterested at present.
I swallowed as that truth rolled over me.
“You’re going to be late.” I stepped away from Sam and his insightful gaze. “I’ll see you later.”
Spinning around, I headed toward the fountain in the center of the square. A splash of water on my cheeks wouldn’t make everything work out like in a fairy tale, but it couldn’t hurt.
???
“Mistress Penniwell,” Ihurried from the tavern, where I had helped prepare the noon meal, to the widow’s side. “Would you like me to hold your basket while you shop?”
Her grandson, an energetic child with brown-black hair that fell over his eyes, currently held the basket. He was already shifting from foot to foot, barely able to stay at his grandmother’s side rather than racing ahead. No doubt Master Penniwell had sent the boy because he wanted to help his mother, but the child would probably prefer the far more physical chores on the family’s farm to standing in the general store while the widow slowly made her selections.
In fact, Jack didn’t even wait for his grandmother to respond. He thrust the basket toward me. “Thank you, Miss Devale!”
I accepted it, and he scampered off.
Mistress Penniwell watched him go with a shake of her head. “Childrenare always so impatient.”
“Luckily, I am happy to help. What are you shopping for today?”
I entered the general store with Mistress Penniwell and chatted with her as she selected her purchases. Gemma had told me before that the widow always bought the same things, but it took her considerable time to do so. She liked to look at every item in stock. The store wasn’t so large that even that should take too long, but she also wanted to talk. Every person who came into the store was roped into a long conversation with the widow.
Eventually, her basket was full, and she made her way to the front counter.
“You are out of lavender soap,” she informed Master Kiels as he totaled her purchases.
