Page 40
The next morning, I’m woken by the autumn sun beating down onto my cheek. But instead of the small team of servants that usually greets me in the morning, there’s only one: a small, timid girl that speaks only once to tell me her name.
“It’s Sylvia,” she grunts while helping me into the yellow gown I chose, another handmade one from my personal collection. Delicate pink blossoms dance around the hemline and the cuffs of its short puff sleeves. It’s similar to the gowns Blossom had me make for her birthday ball. Except this one is a little more casual.
After brushing my long curls, Sylvia applies blusher to my cheeks before releasing me to the hallway outside.
My brow lowers as I notice once again neither Phillion nor Meera are standing guard outside. Turning my head around the hall, my brow lowers even more as I realise not a single guard is stationed outside any of the doors.
“Where are all the guards?” I ask Sylvia.
My servant just shrugs before gesturing down the hall, as if to let me know she’ll be leading me to breakfast today.
I eat my breakfast alone in the dining room. My plate of fried eggs and potatoes was brought out by the same shy servant who dressed me.
When she goes to take my empty plate away, I grasp her wrist. “Where is everyone? The manor is so quiet. There are no guards. No servants. Where are the princes?”
Shrugging, she mutters something inaudible before shrinking out of my grasp. But before I can ask her to repeat herself, I finally hear footsteps down the hall.
“Princess Eden.” A familiar broad-shouldered prince marches into the room.
I frown. Part of me had hoped that if everyone had left the manor last night, maybe Castor would’ve gone with them.
“How are you feeling today?” He smirks. “Any shivers or sickness after your little adventure with my bliss last night?”
I glare at him. His black clothing looks like a stain against the walls. “I feel fine,” I say.
“You didn’t have enough then,” he chuckles. “Remind me next time to make you drink a whole goblet.”
“There won’t be a next time,” I reply, meaning it.
When it comes to his ‘secret society’, I’ve seen everything I need to see.
“Where is everyone? All my servants have gone and I can’t find Phillion or…” I stop myself before I speak of Meera. Castor doesn’t need to know that she’s here.
“Everyone left after the ball,” he explains. “And the staff have been reduced considering that there are only three of us here now.”
“Three of us?” I echo. “You, me and Lux?”
“So she can count,” he teases, stepping closer. “After you believed his little ink spill over the letter’s date, I wondered if he’d bonded himself to a complete imbecile.”
My eyes narrow. “What are you talking about—”
“Eden.” Lux’s voice carries through the room. He appears in the doorway, grinning at me.
Once again before I can process what’s happening, he grasps me by my waist and spins me around, pulling me in for a kiss that I can’t help but melt into. His sweet taste settles on my lips.
“How are you this morning, my love?” he murmurs. “Are you ready for your proposal?”
I laugh nervously. “I’m not supposed to know if you’re going to propose.”
“Forgive me,” he breathes. “As I’m sure you’ll be relieved to hear, I’ve not done this before.” He tucks a blonde curl behind my ear. “Castor?” He turns to his brother. “Is the carriage ready?”
“It is.” His lips twitch.
“Perfect. We shall leave at once.”
“Where are we going?” Anxiety prickles through me as he walks us out of the room.
I really wanted to talk to Meera before Lux proposes officially. A week ago, I would’ve accepted in a heartbeat. But for some reason now, I feel so uncertain.
