Chapter 128

Third Person POV

“Leave us,” Mia said to her warriors once she was settled in her room. “Settle into your own rooms.”

Rachel showed them where their rooms were in passing before taking Mia and Emily to their joined rooms. They were able to throw their belongings into their rooms before joining Mia in her room.

“We have strict orders from your father to make sure you are safe, Your Majesty,” one of the warriors said.

Mia, Rachel, and Emily were inside of Mia’s room and the warriors stood at the doorway with their arms folded across their chests.

“Look around,” Mia said, waving her arms all around her. “We are surrounded by royal guards. We are completely safe here. If I need anything, we will find you. But I’d like some time by myself with my friend.”

They sighed and took a step back.

“If your father finds out…”

Mia raised her hand to stop her words.

“He won’t,” she said firmly. “Trust me, ladies.”

They looked at one another one last time before relenting. With a head nod, they turned and left the room, leaving Mia alone with the other two girls.

She turned to face them with a smile on her face; Emily chuckled and sat on Mia’s bed. She had already dropped her suitcase off in her bedroom which was right next to Mia’s, connected by a door so she could easily access Mia’s room.

Rachel looked a bit uneasy and was about to leave.

“If you need anything, please let me know,” Rachel began to say, but Mia held up her hand, stopping her words.

“I do need something,” Mia told her. Rachel raised her brows, not expecting that the princess would need anything from her. She did have her own handmaiden after all.

“What can I do for you, Your Majesty?” Rachel asked, bowing her head in respect to the princess.

“I want your uniform,” she said, pointing at the girl’s plain clothing that matched the design and colors of the palace.

Rachel frowned and glanced at her clothing.

“My clothing?” Rachel asked.

“Mia, what are you up to now?” Emily asked. Having been friends with Mia for so long, Emily knew that she was up to something, and it was going to get them both into trouble if she wasn’t careful. Mia was known to get herself into situations and Emily was known to get her out of these situations.

“Lucas doesn’t know I’m here yet,” Mia said with a shrug. “I want to use this time to explore the palace, but I can’t if I’m constantly surrounded by warriors and guards. I’d like to disguise myself as a maid and go around the palace.”

“They will recognize you regardless,” Emily told her. “Your face is all over magazines.”

“Maybe so, but I’d like to see how much of this palace I can check out before I am recognized.”

Emily and Rachel exchanged a look; Rachel never thought in her wildest dreams that she would be part of such a scene, but here she was, preparing to give Mia her maid’s uniform.

“And what shall I do in the meantime?” Rachel asked, chewing on her bottom lip nervously. She didn’t want to get into trouble with the royals if she were to be found out.

“Don’t worry,” Mia said, as if she could read Rachel’s thoughts. “I will vouge for you and tell them that I had you do some tasks for me. In the meantime, you can hang out here with Emily.”

Emily gasped, standing from the bed.

“You expect me to allow you to explore this palace by yourself without my assistance?” Emily asked, her eyes wide.

Mia nodded and took her friend's hands into hers. Now she was speaking to her like a friend and not like a handmaiden.

“Yes,” she answered. “I won’t be long, Em. I’d like to do this myself. Please…” She begged.

After a moment of pause, Emily finally sighed and nodded, relenting.

“I can’t say no to you,” Emily breathed. “But you can’t be long.”

“I assure you, I won’t be,” Mia said softly.

She quickly changed into the maid’s uniform and Emily grabbed a new outfit for Rachel to wear in the meantime. Mia pulled her long and silky brown hair into a ponytail, wiping off her makeup in the process. She needed to look the part of a commoner if she was going to pull this off.

“Be careful, Princess,” Emily said after her. “I don’t need to explain to your father why you suddenly got hurt or disappeared.”

Mia chuckled.

“I’ll be fine,” she assured her before she left the room.

She traveled around the palace, keeping her face from being seen by other maids, not that it mattered. Without her royal clothes, flawless hair, and stunning makeup, Mia, though she was naturally beautiful, looked rather average. She looked around at all the beautiful artifacts around the palace.

She wandered around until she reached the library, and she took a look at some of the books that the place offered, finding herself rather impressed. She enjoyed the library she had in her palace very much and she was nervous that this palace wouldn’t live up to her expectations, so she was pleasantly pleased.

She made it to the kitchen where the chefs and servants were running around, preparing for a royal feast for that evening. She could smell that they were cooking her favorite foods, and she smiled at the gesture; it was very kind that they had done their research and were preparing something she personally enjoyed.

The food smelled so good, and her mouth began to water. She couldn’t remember the last time she ate. She was feeling so nervous she completely skipped breakfast.

A few times, Mia noticed other kitchen staff giving her dirty looks because she was in a place she wasn’t supposed to be in, or she was just in their way. Nobody recognized her as the princess or as a maid and that made them more agitated as they shoved past her.

She apologized a few times when someone ran into her, and they huffed in aggravation. She quickly rushed to the exit, starting to feel a bit uncomfortable despite wanting a nibble.

“Excuse me, maid, what is your business here?” One of the chefs asked just as she reached the doorway to leave.

She turned to face them and bowed apologetically. She didn’t bow often, and she felt strange doing it, but she needed to play the part of a servant.

“I’m sorry. I’m new here and got turned around,” she admitted.

The chef narrowed his eyes at her and then grabbed a platter of food, shoving it in her face.

“Well, if you are here, you might as well get busy,” he muttered. “Bring this into the parlor. There is a gathering happening soon and they requested some food.”

“Yes, sir,” she said, bowing her head again as she held the platter of mini sandwiches firmly in her grasp.

She quickly hurried out of the kitchen. She had no idea where the parlor was and almost regretted not having Emily by her side. Emily was good at navigating and finding out information; now Mia was on her own to figure things out.

Then a thought occurred to her… was she supposed to attend this gathering?

Would they be wondering where she was?

Mia rounded the corner, lost in thought, and nearly ran smack into a wall. The platter of mini sandwiches she was holding fell to the ground, and some of the sandwiches splattered onto the floor. She gasped as she nearly fell over with the platter. She felt a pair of strong hands on her shoulders, steadying her and when she looked up, she sucked in a sharp breath when she was faced with familiar and very warm eyes. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him.

It wasn’t a wall she ran into… it was…

Xaden…

Would he recognize her? Did he even know what she looked like?

“Are you alright?” Xaden asked once she was steady.

He released his hold on her, and she immediately missed his touch.

“Y…yes,” she stammered.

She was ashamed of the fact that she stammered; she was normally stronger than that. She didn’t get nervous over a handsome face, but for some reason, she could barely keep a straight structure in the presence of Prince Xaden.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, glancing at the food on the ground.

“No need to apologize,” he said, bending to pick up the sandwiches.

Her cheeks flushed and she quickly bent to pick the sandwiches up herself.

“No need to help me,” she quickly said. “I’ve got it. It was my mistake.”

He smiled and it warmed her heart to see him smile.

“It’s not a problem,” he told her. His eyes found hers and heat surfaced on her face. Once she got the last sandwich back on the plate, she stood to her feet and he followed her movements, his eyes scanning her face curiously. “You look familiar… but I don’t think we’ve met before.”

“Oh… uh… I’m new,” she said quickly. “I don’t believe we have met either.”

He nodded.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you,” he said, “I’m Prince Xaden.”

She nodded.

“Of course, I know who you are,” she blurted. “Your Majesty…” she added as she bowed her head.

“Were you taking those sandwiches to the parlor?”

Mia completely forgot where she was headed, and she nodded quickly.

“Yes,” she breathed. “I’m a little lost. I don’t know my way around here yet.”

He smiled and once again, it warmed her heart.

“You truly are new,” he chuckled. He pointed in the direction of the parlor.

“The parlor is down that corridor and around the corner. The door is opened slightly… you can’t miss it. I’ll be heading there shortly; I just need to do something.”

She nodded and bit her lower lip.

“It was an honor to meet you,” she said, meeting his eyes.

He nodded and then turned to leave. She watched as he disappeared around the corner, taking her heart with him.

She straightened her posture and started down the hall in the opposite direction as Xaden, just as she reached the doorway, she heard some voices inside and it made her freeze entirely.

“Lucas don’t be so harsh,” a woman said. “You don’t even know her.”

“I don’t need to know her. I’ve read enough about her today. She’s selfish and cruel… she also doesn’t seem to be so bright. This arranged marriage is stupid and I have no idea what father was thinking when setting this up.”

Mia’s heart broke a little upon hearing this; this man speaking was her future husband, and he already thought so little of her.

She walked into the room, holding the platter firmly with her hands. They barely noticed her enter and if they had, they probably wouldn’t recognize her as the princess. The woman he was speaking to was beautiful and she knew right away that it was Princess Charlotte.

“You can be so heartless sometimes, brother,” she murmured, taking a sip of her tea. “Why haven’t you gone to get her yet? I heard she arrived already. I thought this gathering was for you to meet her.”

“I know…” he muttered. “It’s not my duty to fetch her. If she was wise, she’d know something was going on right now and she should be here. I haven’t even met her yet and she disappeared into her room. What kind of future wife is—”

He was cut off just as the tray of sandwiches landed on his lap and the silver plate clattered harshly on the ground!