Chapter 12

MILA

When I arrived in the royal kitchens, I was surprised to see my ingredients all laid out for me already–I simply needed to assemble the pies and zest the prickly pears. I decided the best thing I could do was focus on my work, and not try to freak out about why Felix could possibly be summoning me specifically.

Making the pie was easy. I had done it so many times over the past week that it felt instinctual to me now. The sight of the prickly pears reminded me of my shame that morning, but I kept telling myself that this was my second chance. I had been fortunate enough to have many second chances here in Fresonia, and it was about time I started making the most of them.

When it came time for me to serve the dessert, I was feeling much better. I carried out the pie on a silver platter, stepping carefully so as not to trip. When I arrived in the tea room, I was surprised to see that Felix was not alone.

Next to him was a beautiful woman in an even more beautiful dress. I recognized her as the woman who had accompanied Felix to the restaurant last week. In this setting, she looked positively regal.

“That is the Lady Isabella,” Mrs. Barker whispered in my ear. “She’s one of the Prince’s companions.”

I tried not to think too hard about what companion meant.

Isabella wrinkled her nose as one of the kitchen staff offered her a tea sandwich. “I don’t eat that kind of thing,” she sneered at the servant. “That’s for fat and poor people.”

The servant looked crushed. I stared down at the pie in my hands, bracing myself for the cruelty to come. If that’s how she was reacting to sandwiches, how on earth would this Lady Isabella react to pie?

“Isabella,” Felix admonished her. “Be kind.”

She rolled her eyes and started fanning herself.

I could have sworn Felix stole a glance at me before saying, “I need to get to the police station this afternoon and see if anyone’s come forward with information about the girl.”

Isabella looked disinterested. “What girl?”

“The girl I’ve been looking for,” Felix said. I became acutely aware of the stone necklace beneath my shirt and could only pray it wouldn’t start glowing.

“Oh, her.” Isabella leaned backward in her seat, as if sizing Felix up. “Who is she anyway?”

“She was a one-night stand,” Felix said bluntly. Even though no one else in the room could have possibly known it was me, I felt a flood of embarrassment.

Isabella’s eyes narrowed. “You’re looking for some girl you slept with once?”

Felix shrugged in response.

Isabella was clearly growing angry as she said, “You find a new woman to sleep with practically every night, and yet you ignore me.”

Felix looked at her, confused. “I’m not sure I catch your meaning, Lady Isabella. We grew up together. I consider you to be a sister, not a romantic partner.”

I tried not to giggle at his rejection. That might have been mean of me, but she deserved it a little bit.

Mrs. Barker nudged me forward to serve. I tried to be as invisible as possible as I placed down the pies and started the zest for Felix’s plate.

“Why is this girl so special, then?” Isabella asked. She sounded like a whiny child. Felix was being a bit confusing. Why would he not come right out and accuse me of being a thief? It sounded like he was looking for me because he was interested based on our one-night stand, not because I took something. If so, that changed things quite a bit.

I moved to Isabella’s plate, trying to zest as quickly as possible.

“She’s important,” Felix explained patiently. “And she took something important from me.”

Isabella snorted and asked, “How important?”

Felix leaned forward in his chair, serious. “It’s a matter of life or death.”

His words shocked me. The prickly pear tumbled from my hands and into Isabella’s coffee cup below.

The hot liquid splashed out of the cup. A few droplets hit Isabella’s dress, but most of it made its way onto me, burning my hand.

I cried out in pain, but my hurt was cut with confusion when I noticed Felix hissing in pain as well. His right hand now had a red mark on it, exactly where the coffee had hit me. But there was no way for the coffee to have traveled that far and burned him, too.

My thoughts were interrupted when Isabella started to scream.

FELIX

I had brought up the search for the girl on purpose, hoping to get a reaction out of Mila.

If it had been only Isabella present, I might have told her that I had found my Destined Bride, if only to get her off my back. Isabella was not a Knight herself, but had been raised in the court and was descended from a long line of Dragon Knights and riders. She had been hoping for years that she would be revealed as my Destined Bride, but I had always known I was meant for someone else.

As soon as the coffee burned Mila’s hand and my own started to ache, I knew I had found the one.

My theory was true–Miya was Mila, and she was clearly wearing the mask to disguise herself. I had no idea why–did she not know that I was looking for her? What was the point of hiding?

Isabella rose to her feet, shaking and screaming. I fought the urge to roll my eyes as I realized what her anger was about–a few drops of coffee now stained the edge of her dress. The woman was completely unharmed.

“You are fired! Immediately!” She screeched, jabbing a finger in Mila’s direction. Mila, still cradling her hand in pain, looked up at the lady with fearful eyes. I could feel my own stress and anxiety levels rising along with hers.

All I could focus on was that hand. Was she seriously injured? I stepped forward, taking her hand in mine, aware of Isabella’s temper tantrum behind me.

“Are you hurt?” I breathed. She looked up at me, and my heart skipped a beat. I would have known those eyes anywhere. I should have realized that it was her last week in the restaurant.

“I think it’s just a minor burn,” she practically whispered.

“You need to go to the palace doctor just in case. He can give you some burn ointment,” I told her.

Mila looked at my hand and spied the matching injury.

“What about you?” she asked softly. “Don’t you need treatment as well?”

“Oh, this is an old wound,” I said. I hated lying to her. “It’s just acting up today.”

Isabella was seething as Mila was escorted from the room.

“How dare you?!” she asked. “Sparing the life of a servant after she brutally attacked me?”

This time, I could not resist my eye roll. Isabella had always been sweet growing up, but as she had gotten older, she had allowed her royal privilege and position to spoil her. I had no interest in ever marrying her as a result.

“Somehow, I believe you’ll survive, Lady Isabella,” I said over my shoulder as I left the tea room.

Even though I normally slept in my city apartment, I needed to stay at the castle tonight.

My Destined Bride was in the castle. I couldn’t miss a moment of it.