-HER-

"It'd be better to be a queen one day than a play princess," Fiona declared, stunning me. Nuncia, Arke and Doria froze. It was good to know that I wasn't the only one who found Fiona's ambitions far-fetched.

Swallowing the moon sounded more reasonable than her becoming the Cromerian queen.

"So... you like him?" I laid out my question carefully.

"Not that much, but he has shown enough interest in me. I could tell if I play my cards right then someday, I might b—"

I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"You do know who you're talking about?" I reminded her. However, she was looking at me as if I was the one talking nonsense.

"Why? He's just another king," She waved her hand dismissively. "Anyway, we'll be going tomorrow, and I want you to accompany me as well," She stated.

"No!" Arke shot instantly. I saw something strange in her eyes. It was as if she was afraid of the idea suggested by Fiona. Though that look soon disappeared from her eyes. "I suggested only Doria and I accompany you," She chipped in.

Fiona cocked an eyebrow at Arke and probed, "Why can't Theora come with us?"

Arke swallowed hard and shuffled on her feet nervously. She gave me a troubled look but looked away instantly.

"I think it would be best someone stays back... in case something happens," She offered haphazardly. Her answer didn't seem quite convincing, though I could deduce from the sudden shift in her demeanour that she wasn't comfortable with me going on the tour with them.

But why?

She wouldn't have any reason of her own to stop me from going on the tour.

Maybe, Vittoria told her to do it? After all, Arke is supposed to be in charge of my safety. Maybe, leaving the palace would make me vulnerable to something dangerous I'm oblivious of?

On top of that, I wasn't enthusiastic about meeting the mutt king. I loathed him with every fibre in my body. It'd be better if I didn't accompany Fiona on the tour. My short temper and loath for the mutt king might end up with me doing or saying something stupid to him that might hurt his ego.

It'd be best for me to stay back.

"Nuncia would be staying back. I'm sure she'd enjoy some time off from sewing by going to the court," Fiona suggested.

"I think we should stick to what Arke is saying," For the first time in the history of time, I was agreeing with Arke on something. It was a rare event— just like the occurrence of any hint of intelligence in Arke's pea-sized brain. I could see that she was already smug about this. "Gathering news from the court isn't Nuncia's cup of tea. I'd rather have her stick to thread and needle," I suggested with a grave tone.

I could see Fiona thinking about it while we all waited silently for her.

"But what if I need you there?" She asked restlessly.

"What would you need me for?" I urged.

"What if the king asks me to do something only Theresa could do?" She gasped.

"I don't think he knows much about the princess," I tried to assure her, but she shook her head.

"You'd be surprised to know how much he knows about her," Fiona almost whispered, staring into the distance, on the verge of getting lost in her thoughts.

"Still, you can always talk the talk if you can't walk the walk," I told her, but she shook her head, discarding all my suggestions without giving them a second thought. It was as if she had already something fixed in her mind.

"You don't get it... he seems to know too much about her," she trailed off. "You must come with me, Theora," She snapped at me suddenly. "Now that I think of it... I don't think I want to be alone with him!" I could see Arke growing increasingly uncomfortable the more Fiona urged me to go with her.

"Aren't you the one who had ambitions of becoming the Cromerian Queen a few moments ago?" I laughed, but Fiona seemed anything but amused by my comment. In fact, her face turned a shade paler. I could almost see the blood draining off of her face.

"I think being a play princess would be much better than becoming a Queen of that cursed land," She shuddered as she returned to her senses. "Anyhow, you're coming with me!"

"Look... I know you're stressed out about this, but I think it would be better if I stayed back here. You never know what some vile people might have against you. They're only looking for the moment you turn your back. No, I must not go with you tomorrow,"

"But what if he tells me to do some kind of magic or speak Voynish? I can't even read it!" She protested in frustration.

"Hmmm... in that case, just think what Princess Theresa would do. Do you think such a prideful woman would do a few tricks to charm a measly king? Do you think she was a fool?" I pressed. Arke opened her mouth to say something, but she shut it instantly and gave me a side look.

"You're right," Fiona's eyes twinkled all of a sudden.

"There you go," I gave her an assuring smile. "When in doubt, act like a princess," I winked.

~

"What was that about?" I asked Arke after finding her alone in a hallway. I was returning from the study after a painful hour of trying to teach Voynish to Fiona. My patience for the day had already been spent on Fiona.

I was ready, no scratch that, I was looking forward to throwing my hands at Arke the moment she would start with the insults. I don't know why but this felt therapeutic to me. It helped me to get my mind off of the current situation.

Though, I was unprepared for the surprise Arke had reserved for me. She stepped very close to me, never breaking eye contact and declared, "No matter what happens, you shouldn't step out of the palace grounds tomorrow,"

At first, it sounded like a warning, but then, as her words gradually settled like dust on the floor, I realized it was an incomplete prophecy.

"Remember it and remember it well," She added before disappearing into her room for the rest of the evening.

Her behaviour felt uncomfortably bizarre to me. I was about to go to her room and grill her more about why I shouldn't go out the next day when I was distracted by a Visitor.

Viscount!

I tried to hide my enthusiasm at seeing him, but when his eyes fell on me, they twinkled... almost as if he was thrilled to see me.

"I- I didn't know you would be here," I tried not to smile through my voice. At that moment, I could hardly focus on anything but the man in front of me.

"I was visiting the court for a legal matter, so I thought, why not pay you all a visit,"

"I'm glad you came," I told him, earning a raised eyebrow from him.

"I hope the maid isn't bothering you," He spoke darkly, almost whispering in my ear.

"Oh, don't get me started on that!" I exclaimed loudly, and sure enough, we heard the sound of footsteps hurrying away. Viscount cast a cold look in the direction of the footsteps before turning back to me.

"The garden would be better," I suggested. He nodded before heading there.

"How is Fiona doing?" He asked.

"She's doing fine," I told him, but he didn't sound convinced by my answer.

"How fine precisely?" He probed.

"So fine that the Emperor has asked her to take his chief guest on a tour tomorrow," I told him with a dry laugh. However, he looked anything but amused at my attempt at humourising the incident.

"Theresa would never," was all I heard him mutter under his breath. I heard it only because I was close to him. I looked away instantly, blinking rapidly to ensure no treacherous tear escaped my eye.

"You seem to know her well," I commented when we reached the garden. It was darker here, dimly lit by the light coming from indoors. It was the hardest place to eavesdrop.

"I knew her quite well," He said, casting me a dark look before looking into the distance. "We grew up together,"

"I see," I whispered. "Do you have any message from Vittoria?" I asked to ease the tension.

"Nothing that would concern you," He told me. "I was here to make sure that you're out of trouble," He reminded me.

"I haven't gotten myself into one yet," I told him proudly.

"I'm glad," He nodded, the tip of his lip hinting at a smile, "Tell me more about the tour. Are you going?"

"No," I answered.

"Would you allow me to take you out tomorrow?"

_