Page 9 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown

When I arrived home to find my mom trying to move something heavy, I felt guilty. She didn’t scold me. Didn’t tell me she was disappointed about me staying out late.

Part of me wishes she had.

It would make me feel a whole lot better.

“It’s okay, you said the prince wanted to eat with you. I didn’t expect you to turn him down.” My mother gave me a pointed look.

“I know, but I still feel bad,” I mumble, looking away from her and letting the guilt take over once again.

She walks over, cupping my face with her cold hands. “It’s okay, Addie. There wasn’t much to do around the house yesterday.”

I chuckle and shake my head, giving her a certain look this time. “There is a lot to do around the house, yet you still let me go out and walk around the town and forest.”

Mother gives me a tender smile. “Because I know once the baby arrives that you won’t be able to get out much. I want you to have some freedom at the moment. Winter is coming, and you won’t be able to go into the forest much when the temperature drops.”

I sigh, folding another piece of cloth. Winters around here can get dangerous. I don’t wander off into the forest much, or really walk around the town because of how cold it is and how much snow we get. It’s not safe.

But I still try and go outside to get some fresh air, no matter how cold it is.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

“Adeline!” Skylar yells from behind the door. “I need to talk to you!”

I look at my mom, and she nods. “I’ll be back soon. Thank you.” I kiss her cheek and jog toward the door.

Skylar is standing in the doorway in her capri-style pants. We are polar opposites. She loves pants and to be less girly, but still getting all dolled up, and I love dresses and to walk around in nature, without a scrap of makeup. But somehow, we are best friends and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“You have to tell me everything that happened yesterday!” She grabs my arm, pulling me out of the house.

Of course she has already heard what happened. I’m surprised she didn’t come to me earlier, begging for answers.

I laugh, closing the door behind me. “There isn’t much to say.”

“Don’t even start with me! I had to hear from Agnes that the prince was seen walking with you yesterday. Agnes! I didn’t hear it from my best friend who should have rushed over to me right away.” Skylar slaps my arm. “I thought we told each other everything.”

I sigh and give her a smile. “We do, I just haven’t had time yet. I was going to find you when I finished my chores this morning.”

And after I walked out in the woods, but she doesn’t need to know that. Telling her about the prince wasn’t high on my priority list.

“So, tell me!” she squeals.

Everyone’s attention turns to us for a brief second, but they quickly look away when they realize it’s just the two of us. This is a common occurrence with Skylar and me, so much so that most people don’t bat an eye toward us anymore.

I look at the front door, making sure it’s locked before I start talking. I’ve already told my mom, and I don’t want her to worry.

“Prince Archie saw me around town yesterday and told me he wanted to have lunch with me. Not a question but a request. We walked around a little bit, discussing things as we went. He let it slip that he wants me to take lessons to be a proper lady, can you believe that?” I scoff and look at Skylar.

“What would you need that for?” she asks. “No one around here is a proper lady. Some of us have even moved away from wearing dresses.”

That has happened in the past year or two. More women my age want to wear pants and shirts. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy wearing pants, but there is something about dresses that makes me feel giddy inside. Makes me feel more like me and not an impostor.

“Apparently, he has his eyes set on me to be his wife,” I whisper, not needing everyone in town to know my business.

Gossip spreads around the town like wildfire. It’ll morph into something I don’t want it to. It would put a lot of pressure on my parents, and my mother really doesn’t need that while being pregnant.

“But you can’t tell anyone,” I quickly say. “I don’t need it getting around. I just want to keep it quiet. It’s probably not going to happen anyway, and I don’t need people asking me a million questions.”

“Your secret is safe with me.” She grabs my hand, giving it a small squeeze. “What are you going to do about this?”