I woke up to an empty room. Oscar wasn't there, but a familiar coat lined with silver thread was thrown over my me. I picked it up. It smelled faintly of tea.

The curtains had been closed again, but a bit of sunlight streamed through. When I pulled apart the heavy curtains, I'm greeted by the sky, already a light grey. It was morning. I wondered who left, Oscar or Otto?

I creaked open the doors to find the hallway empty too. The guards must not have been trying very hard to find him if a night had passed without me being found. Or like Oscar said, they can't enter this room no matter what. If so, they knew he was inside the room.

I closed the door behind me and walked down the staircase. At the hallway in front of the dining room I see a familiar silhouette.

"Karina!" Aideen gasped. "I finally found you!"

"Yes. Don't worry, I'm safe, Aideen." She was visibly worn out; her eyes were bloodshot and she was swaying feebly. "Were you searching for me this whole time?"

"Yes. Where were you? I heard you ran out during dinner when Otto became 'Oscar'."

"Don't worry, Oscar wasn't violent—I think of the Queen's injury on her face, "—when we were alone. We spoke." My voice drifted away.

"I'm glad you are fine."

"Yes. Let's return to the dorms so you can sleep."

"Yes, please. And do see princess Oda; she's waiting for you in your room." She smiled as she says this. "She was just as worried."

After bringing Aideen to her bed, I entered my dark room to see Oda sitting in front of my mirror.

"There you are!" she exclaimed, sprinting up. Her hair was loose for once, dangling to her hips. No wonder she always had it in fancy coiffures—as expected of the royalty who didn't have to work and worry about their hair getting tangled. She was in a simpler dark dress with a deep vermillion shawl thrown over her. From a distance, you would've thought she was a ghost.

"You were waiting for me?" I asked, gently guiding her to sit back down. Maybe I wasn't just a pawn to her.

"Of course not—well, yes. I was just afraid Oscar hurt or did something you." I remembered what Oscar said.

"And if he did?" She grimaced, but didn't say anything.

"You should go to sleep now," I recommended instead.

"I can't sleep until I hear what happened last night!" She glared at me. I sighed. Of course.

"We talked and then I slept on the couch. When I woke up, he wasn't there."

"We? Who is 'we'? Oscar or Otto? And what couch?"

"I spoke with Oscar. It's so strange how someone dead can speak like they are still alive." I let my hair loose too and threaded my fingers between the tangles. "We were in Oscar's room."

"His room?" Oda echoed in confusion.

"The room he was was locked in," I muttered. "When he was still alive."

"Oh." I looked at her face at the mirror. It held no signs of guilt.

She didn't acknowledge he was locked up. She won't acknowledge Oscar. I glowered at her silently. She noticed and her jaw tensed.

"He was locked up in there when he got the disease," I said, turning to face her.

"I know—"

"You didn't tell me! That—" I dropped my voice, "—the King and Queen locked their own son up!"

"I couldn't."

"Why?" I narrowed my eyes. "Do you want to be like them and keep it a secret?" She suddenly looked helpless.

"Oscar was a bad person, Karina."

"He was never loved! He was always locked up!"

"So now you're on his side?" Her eyes were angry, too. "He bullied Otto! He would say awful things and broke his items and ripped his books! Are you going to excuse that?"

I bit my lips. Then I stopped. No. She was still wrong.

"Did Oscar have toys, Oda?" Her expression told me what I suspected. "Did he have books? Did the King and Queen give him attention? Did they or his tutors or anyone try to understand him? Did you try to understand him?"

"I—" She didn't continue.

"What?"

"Karina," Oda whispered, her voice suddenly soft. Tears escaped out of her eyes. I set my comb on the table and faced her.

"Oda, what's wrong?" I pulled out my hankerchief quickly. While I dab at her wet white eyelashes, she continued to sob.

"It's my fault, Karina!" I wonder what she meant, was she talking about Otto? Oscar? "If I was there at dinner, Mother might have not being cut and I could have done something about Otto!"

No, of course not. It's about her mother. And Otto.

However, my irritation melted away when I saw her usually scowling face sniffling like a child. She was younger than age, but already carried such a heavy burden. The burden of having parents who ostracize their own son and of having brothers who were now one.

It felt strange hugging the princess; she was a whole different class from me, yet I did. As I place my arms around her, she buried her face deeper into my chest.

I had never comforted anyone. It was always Catalina who held me and sang to me in order to sooth me. I was used to being spoiled and fussed over that I don't know how to take care of anyone else.

What did Catalina do to ease me at times like this? She sang lullabies, but I did not have an angelic voice like hers. She also would hold me in her arms and coax me to sleep when I was younger, but I couldn't possibly hold the princess in my arms. Then I remembered. Catalina always brushed my hair.

I continued to hold the crying princess, and slowly started combing her hair with my fingers. It felt just like Otto's, soft and feathery.

We stayed like that until dawn came.

"I'm sorry I showed you a shameful side," Oda said and pulled away from me.

"No, you were up all night. I'm sure you were tired." She smiled, thankful I didn't say anything more.

"I'll be leaving."

"Return safely."

After she left, I took a short nap, burned out from the exhaustion of yesterday and the talk with Oda.

I woke up from my short nap when I heard knocking on my door. I quickly changed out of my nightgown and into a new dress. I brushed back my hair, not having time to tie it up, before opening the door.

Before my door stood Oriana and Annabelle.

"Are you fine?" Oriana cried out, rushing to my side. "I was scared to death when you chased after the prince! But I'm glad you did." She smiled and I remembered my. She's a hopeless romantic.

"That was dangerous!" Annabelle said, brows pressed together, appearing from behind her. "Rumors are spreading throughout the dorms."

"Oh please! They are just jealous of Karina's courage." Oriana laughed and puts a hand on Annabelle's arm, causing her to soften her face. They were getting along surprisingly well. At first I had thought they were alike, but Annabelle was shyer and more prim, which reminded me of our enigmatic conversation that day in the forest.

"Are you tired? What happened between you and the prince?" Oriana continued to ask, clearly interested in gossip.

"Nothing, I couldn't catch up to the prince," I fibbed. Before leaving, Oda had told me to keep me and Oscar's meeting a secret from everyone.

"Tell the guard girl and your foreign friend you got lost." I had raised my eyebrow at her strange way of remembering people.

"Nothing happened?" Annabelle looked surprised while Oriana disappointed.

"So you didn't see the prince," Oriana repeated, pouting. I chuckled.

"I apologize for my boring tale." I apologized for lying once again, I thought to myself.

"Not at all. I brought some tarts, I thought we could have our own relaxing tea party." Annabelle brought forth a basket with a lid, and upon opening it, I saw familiar tarts inside.

"They look delicious!" Oriana said, brightening the mood.

"Please do sit." I quickly prepared space for the desserts on my table. Annabelle carefully sets the tarts onto plates from the basket. Only then did I remember that Aideen wasn't here.

"Shall I go make tea?" I asked.

"No, it's fine," Annabelle said quickly, "I think we can eat them up in one seating." I nodded. Just as I was about to bite into one, there was rapid tapping on my door.

"Who is it?" I asked.

"Aideen! Karina, there's an urgent matter!" The girls gave each other looks. I raced to the door and opened it to reveal a panting Aideen. I turn to the girls to show it wasn't a good time, but she pulled me out anyway.

"What is it?" I asked.

"It's awful! Oda was talking to Otto when Otto, no, Oscar, escaped the tower! Please help find him with us!"

I gasped.

I ran into the room to get my cloak, as Oriana and Annabelle stood up in worry.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh, I'm so sorry, there's a family issue, I think I might have to return home today."

"Is everything alright?"

"What happened?"

"Don't worry," I said quickly, "I'll be back for dinner."

After clasping on my cloak I left the room and followed Aideen outside.

"Do you know where he might be?" I asked. She shook her head.

"Oda will wait in the tower because as a princess it would be suspicious if she ran around searching, I'll search the main castle."

"Yes, I'll search somewhere else, then." We parted ways and I wondered where to go.

I had to find Oscar first. Oda hated Oscar, and Oscar despised her no less. Not to mention the latest affair with Oscar hurting the Queen. Having them collide would be dreadful.

No. Oda would hurt Oscar for hurting the people she cares about, Otto and the queen. Oscar, however, was the one running away.

Maybe he didn't want to fight. Maybe he was hiding.