Chapter 14

MILA

Isabella leaned against a pillar. Even her nightclothes were elegant and expensive. It was a shame her face was always so pinched and angry.

“Sneaking into the Prince’s room?” she asked while raising an eyebrow. My face flushed, but I said nothing.

“He’s not even in there,” Isabella continued, pushing off the pillar and moving closer to me. “Not that a nobody like you would know, but the Prince spends his night in Fresia. He never sleeps here. So if you were hoping to slip in there and seduce him, I’m afraid you’re out of luck.”

I shook my head. “I wasn’t trying to seduce Felix.”

“His Royal Highness, Prince Felix,” Isabella corrected me. “And the Prince doesn’t want you anyway. What, you think that just because he helped you this afternoon that he could possibly be interested? No, you’re just necessary for his precious banquet tomorrow. You could never have a relationship with anyone in the palace. You’re nothing. You’re lower than nothing.”

There was nothing I could say in response. I stared at the ground, once again thankful for my mask.

“Follow me,” Isabella instructed. “That is an order.”

I obediently trailed behind her down the hallway. She led us out to a small courtyard garden. I could tell from this angle that Felix’s chambers overlooked the outdoor area. That meant that there was still a chance I’d be able to sneak in and plant the necklace.

Isabella sat down on one of the benches and smirked at me.

“There’s a small kitchen through there,” she said, pointing at a door. “Bring me water.”

I had no choice but to follow her orders.

If Isabella thought she was punishing me by making me do serving tasks, she had no idea what she was doing. I had never minded doing service work, even for people like her. It was not demeaning to me.

Isabella must have noticed my lack of shame as I bought her the water cup, because her eyes narrowed in calculation. I silently stood to the side as she drank.

She threw the cup across the courtyard, forcing me to fetch it.

“Tired yet, sneak?” she asked. I merely blinked. I would not react to her taunts.

She tilted her head, studying me.

“Bring me a tea kettle of boiling water,” she said. I nodded once and slipped back into the small courtyard kitchen.

There were no gloves, so I had to carry the boiling hot kettle out to her with my bare hands. I tried to set it down on the bench next to her, but she shook her head and grinned. “Just hold it,” she said.

The pain of holding the kettle was shooting through my hands. My already-burned hand was stinging, and I fought back tears. It was a terrible pain, and Isabella did nothing except watch with enjoyment.

I tried to hold the kettle with one hand at a time, in an attempt to minimize the pain. Isabella just continued to smile at me maniacally.

“This is punishment, Lady Isabella,” I stammered. “This is completely unreasonable for my crime of simply walking around the castle at night.”

“That’s not what you were doing and you know it,” Isabella retorted.

Maybe it was the pain of the hot kettle or the long day of being treated like I didn’t matter, but something came over me. I dropped the tea kettle, and it landed on the ground with a loud clatter. Isabella jumped.

“I serve the royal family, not you,” I told her. It was my turn to stare her down. “And I am not a slave.”

Isabella rose to her feet. “How dare you, you little–”

“Isabella?”

We both turned at the sound of Felix’s voice. He had emerged from his chambers into the courtyard and was looking at us both quizzically. I could tell both of us were startled by his presence–after all, he wasn’t supposed to be here.

“What’s going on here?” he asked.

I turned to Isabella, fire in my eyes.

Thank you for your assistance, Lady Isabella,” I said. “Unfortunately, the hot kettle did not, in fact, treat my burns. But I so appreciate your efforts.”

Isabella’s face tightened as she tried to figure out my plan. Felix was studying the kettle on the ground. He raised his eyes to meet the Lady’s.

“Do not ever,” he said, in a voice both cold and commanding, “Treat my guests with such disrespect again. Your outdated ways of acting towards servants has no place in my castle.” “But, Felix–” Isabella rushed to his side. He shoved her off.

“You are dismissed.” It was an order.

With one last venomous look over her shoulder, Isabella scurried off back into the palace.

Felix turned to me.

“What were you doing out so late?” he asked. There was no hint of judgment or anger in his voice, just curiosity.

“I was taking a walk. I, uh, couldn’t sleep,” I managed. He nodded in understanding. “Come,” he said, extending a hand towards his chambers. “Join me in my study for a bit.” A thrill went through my body. I trailed after him.

Felix’s chambers were fairly empty. I suppose it made sense, given that he mainly slept in his city apartment. There was a cushy couch, a large desk, a few bookshelves, and a counter with a large coffee and tea machine. The room was slightly cluttered, but in a way that made it feel cozy. Lived in. Against my better judgment, it actually made me like him more.

“I was having trouble sleeping too,” Felix admitted, watching me take in his room. “There’s been a lot on my mind recently.”

I wandered over to the counter with the coffee machine. I studied his supply of coffee and teas, impressed with his collection.

“Have you tried this chamomile?” I asked, plucking a teabag out of its container. “My mother swears by it. It knocks her out in minutes.”

Felix came over to join me.

“I must admit, I haven’t,” he said. I lifted my face to his, smiling.

“Here,” I said. “Sit. Let me make you something.”

Felix did as I asked, and I got to work.

There was nothing in the world I love more than helping someone else through cooking.

At its heart, cooking was all about showing your love through food. Food, the universal language that had gotten me through my toughest times. Food, that thing that propelled me forward, even now.

I presented Felix with a mug and watched as he took a sip.

“My goodness, Miya,” he said. “This is the best tea I’ve ever had. What did you do?” “It was simple, really,” I said. “I used hot milk from your coffee maker instead of water to soak the tea bag in. And then I used one of the settings to make a nice whipped foam to top it with. That combo should have you fast asleep in no time.”

Felix took another sip and yawned, making us both laugh.

“You’re a very kind soul, Miya,” he said softly. The sound of his voice sent a shiver down my spine.

I bowed my head in humility. “That’s quite the compliment coming from the man who keeps saving me.”

Felix took my chin in his hand, something fluttering in his eyes that I couldn’t quite read. He looked at me with such gentleness that I thought my heart would melt.

“Miya,” he breathed.

And then his fingers moved towards my mask.