“Study hard,Granddaughter.I will be expecting reports from Lord Narvene on your progress.”
And with that, he turned his attention back to the papers on his desk.
I guessed I was dismissed.
I eased out of the room and into the hallway, having no idea where I was going. I picked a direction at random as words tumbled through my head.
Princess.
Power.
Crown.
Queen.
The weight of destiny, of prophecy, of duty, pressed down on me. I needed air. I needed space.
I finally found a door that opened to the outside, and hurried through it, taking a deep breath of the crisp autumn air. I had stumbled upon the gardens. Most of the flowers had lost their blooms by now, but some of the trees still had their leaves in reds and golds.
The farther I got from the building, the more I was able to breathe. My feet carried me deeper into the grounds. I spotted a covered passageway, ivy climbing the ancient stones, and something about it beckoned to me.
I ended up in a quiet courtyard, with stone walls lining it. It was overgrown, some of the weeds stretching higher than my head. There was a small fountain in the center, and some late-blooming flowers struggling between the weeds. A wooden structure made its way around the courtyard, in front of the stone walls. Someone hadcoaxed roses and ivy to cover the planks. While most of the flowers were dormant, preparing for winter, a few roses still hung on, bright pops of pink and yellow against the brown and gray. There was a sense of peace here, a rightness. I slumped onto a stone bench, decently hidden from view, and allowed myself to finally breathe a sigh of relief.
For the first time since arriving here, I felt a moment of peace. I closed my eyes, letting the quiet surround me and calm the churning thoughts of fate and change.
“I see you found the Rhosyn Garden.”
I should have been startled, but somehow, Griff’s voice felt like a natural part of this sanctuary. Rather than feeling miffed my solitude was at an end, I felt relieved as I opened my eyes to see him leaning against the stone entryway, hands in his pockets.
“It looks like it was magical once,” I said softly.
He made his way over, his footsteps muffled on the cobbled path, and sat next to me. “I understand that the former queen used to love tending to the plants here. It was her sanctuary away from the chaos.”
“Which former queen?” I asked, even though I knew the answer already.
His eyes crinkled as if he knew what I wanted confirmed. “Yes, it was Rose’s garden.”
No wonder this felt so familiar. I had spent years with Nana tending her garden. She loved to putter with the plants and soil, and then used them for everything from decorations to food to healing.
We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, Griff’s presence at my side somehow only adding to the peaceful atmosphere. But eventually, the weight of everything that had happened came rushing back.
“Thank you for rescuing me in the kitchen,” I said softly, uncomfortable with how I trusted this tall, quiet, sandy-haired stranger implicitly. My head screamed at me to use caution around him, that I didn’t know him, didn’t know anyone here. But something else fromdeep within was speaking louder, telling me I was safe as long as I was with him.
“Of course.” We fell silent again until he half-turned to me. “To be honest, I was worried you were going to hate me.” His mask slipped a bit, the truth of his words showing on his face.
“I did,” I admitted with a soft laugh.
He raised an eyebrow at me. “Past tense?”
I thought about it for a moment. “I know it’s not your fault I’m so unprepared.”
“I’m sorry it had to be me who took you away from everything you’ve known and dropped you into this mayhem.” Even though his face remained an expressionless mask, I heard the sincerity behind his words.
“All my life, I’ve thought there was more,” I replied slowly, thinking through the words I’d never truly processed before. “ThatIcould be more. I’ve only been here a day, but already, I’ve learned so much more exists in life outside of the borders of Fairhaven.”
His shoulders eased slightly.
“But I am angry,” I continued.
