Page 128 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown

That isn’t going to happen. He doesn’t just get to look at people and find out everything he wants to know.

“If I had permission to use the well, I wouldn’t have to go out into the forest so much,” I gently say, keeping my voice calm and even.

I don’t want to place any blame, but he is the one who probably told the guards not to allow us common people to get water from the well unless it was for drinking. Does Prince Archie think we are going to run out of water if we use it for something else?

Foolish.

But it could also have been the guard who was in a bad mood and didn’t want to watch me come to the well several times to get water.

“No, no one is permitted to get water from the well for anything but drinking,” Prince Archie declares.

And I was wrong about the guard just being in a bad mood. It was definitely Prince Archie who set the rule in our town. I remember being able to draw water from there, but something changed.

A lot has changed recently.

There is no winning when it comes to Prince Archie, and I’m afraid I’m about to get into trouble with him. He doesn’t want me to go into the forest and yet he won’t let anyone draw from the well if it’s for anything other than drinking water. Where am I supposed to go to get water to wash the clothes?

“No worries.” I wave my hand in the air and put a smile on my face. “I just thought I would ask. I can understand why you don’t want us to use the well for anything but drinking water. It keeps it clean, but it also keeps it full.”

All I want to do is punch him in the face and tell him how stupid he is. How he is making it harder on everyone else. Prince Archie doesn’t even need to come to the well for water. None of his people do. They all have something fancy in the palace, living like kings.

I hold in a chuckle as I stare at him.

“I have been looking for you everywhere.” Skylar finally stands next to me before turning to Prince Archie and bowing. “I asked Adeline if she could get me one piece of ice to melt at the shop I work at. We have a piece of clothing that needs to be washed. I saw her walk into the forest and just knew she would save me time.”

Prince Archie’s eyebrows raise as he looks at Skylar. “You needed something from the forest?”

I look back and forth between them, trying to work out what is going on.

She nods. “Just a piece of ice, and look at this bucket, overflowing. Thank you so much. I really appreciate you taking the time to do that for me so I didn’t have to go do it.” She pulls me into a hug and takes the piece she never asked for. “This is so cold. I can understand why you put it in the bucket now.”

I look at her and blink.

“What?” Skylar chuckles. “I know what I said, but we aren’t going to pay any mind to it. I know why you use a bucket.”

“Women.” Prince Archie clears his throat.

We both turn back to him. He is still here. I was hoping that with Skylar coming up and talking that he would go back to the palace and leave us alone.

“Oh, sorry, Prince Archie.” Skylar slightly bows. “I didn’t mean to take you out of the conversation. I just am so grateful for Adeline thinking about me and helping me out.”

Is she trying to save me from his wrath?

“Can I speak with Adeline alone?” he asks.

“Right.” Skylar gives me a nervous smile. “Thank you again for grabbing the ice.”

I watch her walk off, holding the piece of ice, back to the shop she works at.

Prince Archie clears his throat once again, bringing my attention back to him. “Yes?” I politely ask.

“Let us walk to your house so you can drop it off to your mother,” he suggests.

I smile tightly and grab the bucket of ice as we slowly make our way home. Silence envelopes us as we walk, and I want to say something, anything, but I don’t talk to him.

“Here we are. Thank you so much for walking me back.” I open the door and place the bucket inside before turning to him. “I really appreciate it.”

His face hardens. “Do not dismiss me. I am the one who dismisses people.”