[Ladies Sunroom]

"Haven't you all noticed?"

Everyone turned their heads around to the person who had spoken up amidst the serene quietude, which was apparently Lorelei.

"Noticed what?" Yesenia asked, who was laying on a velvet chaise lounge near the sunlit windows.

"The Princess's drastic changes in her recent behavior. It's all so strange," Lorelei continued as she browsed through a book. "Do you all remember how she used to be a month or so ago?"

"Oh right, I remember," chirped Christabel, removing her teacup from her lips. She beckoned a maid to come forward and refill it for her. "Didn't she used to be rather..."

"Reticent? I thought so too," Lorelei said. "She never used to come up to us or start a conversation with us until very recently. She always kept to herself."

"Right. And whenever we attempted to strike up a light conversation with us, she'd just politely edge away from us," said Christabel, sipping onto her tea and then smacking her lips together with displeasure. "Janice, mix a cube of sugar in here, will you?" she whispered to the maid, handing her the teacup and turning back to address Lorelei. "And I've noticed how strange it is too. You have no idea how pleasantly surprised I was when she talked back at breakfast the other day. I wanted to grin till my cheeks fell off. And then the other day I requested her to call me Christa and she simply agreed."

"Right…? And when she followed us even after breakfast..."

"Haha, it was so cute."

"Girls, quit yapping," Yesenia snapped. "I'm trying to take a little doze here."

For a moment, both Christabel and Lorelei glared furtively at Yesenia in union.

"Why won't she nap in her own room? We come here to chat like civil people, and she won't even let us do that," hissed Christabel to Lorelei. "We have things to discuss, for God's sake."

"Oh, right," Lorelei suddenly remembered something. "Did you wrap 'it' up?"

Christabel looked blankly at Lorelei for a while before jerking straight up as if understanding what she meant. "Oh, that. Yeah...I'm done with that. What about you?"

"Done."

"Good."

"...."

"Hey, have you seen Elora?"

"Now that you mention it..." Lorelei looked around the sunroom. Apart from a dozing Yesenia and Enya who was in the corner by the window, pretty drowsy herself, they were the only ones there. "I haven't seen her all day. Is she sick, perhaps?"

Christabel chuckled. "I'd be glad if she was. She's such a pain in the neck, after all. Do you remember how she spoke to Odette that day? Left me absolutely appalled."

"Also me," Lorelei sighed and shut her book. "Speaking of her, why do you reckon His Majesty summoned Odette earlier today? He never really pays much attention to her."

"I know, right? I've never seen His Majesty approach her chambers ever."

"Well, it isn't something we should bother about much, anyways. Odette's smart enough to deal with her own circumstances. Even the Emperor once commended her on her wits."

"Mmm." Christabel gulped down the last remaining sip of tea. "Well, I'll be off, then."

"What for?" Lorelei's gaze followed Christabel as she shifted towards the door, a guard already waiting to accompany her.

"Haven't you heard?" Christabel asked as she took her shawl from the guard and wrapped it around her shoulders. "We've got a new mistress coming in soon today."

✿

"Her Highness," Sir Gradral softly touched my arm. "We're here."

I rubbed my eyes. I must've fallen asleep on the ride back home. I raked through my hair self consciously before cautiously stepping out of the imperial carriage. Ha! It seemed that I had gotten better at this whole 'carriage' thing.

Making sure not to wake myself up fully, I drowsily followed Sir Gradral back into the palace. I was hoping that I could just run back to my room and fall asleep on my grand, plush bed. But it seemed that I had other matters to attend to for Martha was waiting for me by the East wing entrance.

"Your Highness," she said and then dropped down into a curtsy. "Welcome back."

"Erm...rise. Yes, thank you," I said awkwardly. "Martha, could you prepare my bed? I really need a na-"

"Your Highness," she said as she nodded to Sir Gradral so he could leave. "There's so much to do before bedtime."

"Martha, it's literally dusk. Look, you can't even see the sun. Please, I can't work anymore because I am very tired. Emphasis on the 'very'."

The whole episode at Eyress had left me absolutely begging for rest. I hadn't run so much in my life. Well, first life, to be specific.

"No excuses, Your Highness," Martha said sternly. "I get my orders from much higher ups. Because you went to town this afternoon, you sadly missed your scheduled class with Sir Andre. So I was thinking you could catch up on that. But apparently, His Majesty has suddenly summoned you."

"What is it now?" I asked wearily.

Martha shook her head. "I wasn't told. Now do come on, Your Highness, follow me if you please."

I trailed off after Martha, the folds of my dress clenched in my hands. I wonder what the Emperor had summoned me for. Was it something important? It couldn't be. The last time he did so, it was for breakfast. Ah, the thought of breakfast reminded me that I hadn't eaten anything since this morning. Now my stomach was all grumbling.

"Martha," I pulled at Martha's skirt peevishly. "Could I get a bite before turning up to my Father? I'm starving."

"When was the last time you ate, Your Highness?"

"Breakfast."

Martha sighed very heavily before changing her route. "Stay right there. I'll get you something to eat from the kitchen. Then we can proceed to the Emperor together. Alright?"

I nodded and then hung around the hall in wait for Martha to return with the goods. Since I still had no idea where my chambers were, I couldn't possibly bail on her and go to sleep. So it was the best option to lay in wait.

At long last, Martha arrived with a tray of food.

"Eat quickly, for we are already late," she urged as I sat myself on an upholstered sofa nearby.

I glanced at my food like a predator does to its prey. A chunk of roasted meat, two slices of freshly baked focaccia, cheese and one large choux pastry puff. With a glass of some freshly squeezed orange juice along the side, it was a pretty decent meal.

Finally satisfied, I set down my tray and followed Martha to the throne hall. The throne hall was probably my most favorite room in the whole palace. With three thrones (two large ones for the Emperor and the Empress, and a smaller one for the Princess besides) and excessive decorations of gold and silk, the room was easily the most expensive one.

"You may proceed further alone," Martha whispered to me by the entrance. "I'll wait for your return nearby. Good luck."

With that I was let into the throne hall, the sudden glints of gold and the grand chandelier above causing me to narrow my eyes. I curtseyed before the Emperor blindly. When my sight finally adjusted to the well-lit room, I was surprised to see that the Emperor and I weren't unaccompanied.

"My daughter!" the Emperor's loud voice echoed through the room. "Do come a bit forward. Your little trip went well, I hope?"

"Yes, Father," I said nervously, wringing my hands behind my back. I never knew what this old man would bring up next. Judging by his appearance and his recent behavior, he was a rather jolly guy. But still, Reynard's comment lingered at the back of my brain. "Stay away from the Emperor," he had said. I knew he had meant well but I just couldn't avoid his existence every day, now could I?

"My daughter, you are well, yes?" the Emperor said, leaning back on his throne, looking upon my tiny figure with a smile. A smile which I knew not the meaning of.

I replied monotonously, "Yes, Father."

"Grand," he laughed. "Now do raise your gaze and take a look at this magnificent person I want you to meet."

Hesitantly, I looked up. I was confused because I couldn't see anybody at first except for Christabel and Odette standing by the wall and a dozen guards lined perfectly along both sides. Then from the corner of my eye I saw a face. It was a woman. A very, very beautiful woman who looked not much older than me. The reason I hadn't spotted her at first was because her fiery red hair had conflated along with the tapestry at the back. Her eyes were like ice, a sharp blue to balance out the flames in her hair.

"My darling," the Emperor spoke to her, his voice dripping honey. "Introduce yourself."

Just then, the woman's expressionless face molded into the most heavenly smile, the type of smile that could kill someone.

"Your Highness, so very pleasant to finally meet you" she said with a voice as that of an angel and bobbed into a graceful curtsy. "I am Yvonne Sumner of New Avia, Clatoise and newly appointed mistress to His Majesty. I hope I get along well with you for we are to reside in the same palace from here on forth."

What? What, why?

I turned my head towards the Emperor in hopes of an explanation but I was surprised to see him smiling at her. It's not like I really cared who she was or what she was doing here. As long as she doesn't hinder my plans to escape death, I was okay with her. But I was uneasy with the way she had smiled through her lips while her eyes gave a totally different expression. It was all very fishy. Why had the Emperor chosen another Mistress so close to the Ceremony? But wait, she had said that she was from Clatoise. Was this anything to do with the mysterious trade agreement that Christabel had once mentioned?

Anyways, I bent down in a slight curtsy and rose to needlessly introduce myself as well. "Princess Cynthia..." I paused and winced. I didn't know what this princess's full name was! "...of Wisteria."

I looked up to note everyone's reaction. It seemed that Christabel and Odette weren't letting anything show through with their commendable poker faces. Yvonne just kept smiling.

"Very good." The Emperor seemed satisfied. "Now, these wonderful women will show you to your chambers. Ask them for help if you get lost inside the palace," he said, addressing Yvonne as he pointed towards Christabel and Odette who were apparently the 'wonderful women'. "You may leave now." He slumped down on the throne and whispered something to a guard by the throne.

Not laboring in this situation and also because I was exhausted, I went straight back to my room without waiting to catch up with anyone and had a good night's rest.

Further formalities could wait.