Chapter 17

MILA

Nerves flooded my body. I had come so far, only for my cover to be blown by this supreme jerk. It felt like I was back in the restaurant all those years ago, his grip on me never loosening.

“It’s Miya,” I said quickly. “I wear a mask due to a facial injury. I don’t believe we’ve met, sir. But I’m flattered that you think so highly of my cooking.”

Edward’s eyes narrowed. I was sure he could see through my lie. I had hoped my attempt at kissing up to him would smooth over any suspicions. It appeared my idea had not worked, and now Felix had stood and was making his way towards us.

“Let’s prove it, then,” Edward said, pulling out his phone. “I have a picture of Mila Benson right here. We can do a little side-by-side.”

I tried to hide my reaction at him saying he had a photo of me. If nothing else, it was incredibly disturbing. In a more pressing matter, was my time in Fresonia all over? I honestly didn’t know how many more close calls my blood pressure could take. Felix approached us, took one look at my face, and turned to the rest of the room.

Felix loudly announced to the entire table, “When you are finished with dessert, please do me the honor of joining me in the gardens. We have a new flower from India, and we are desperate to show you while you’re here.”

A murmur of excitement ran through the guests, the attention that had once been focused on me now directed at the possibility of seeing a rare flower.

He then clapped a hand on Edward’s shoulder, startling him into dropping his phone.

“Edward, my good man!” he said. “Tell me how things are going with that baseball team you love so much.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. I didn’t know if Felix was rescuing me accidentally or on purpose, but regardless, I took advantage of the distraction to go back to the kitchens.

As I walked past the far end of the dining hall, I felt angry eyes on me. I turned, expecting to see Edward, but instead, there was Isabella, glaring at me as if her life depended on it. I swallowed hard and continued on my way. It really didn’t matter if she had noticed Felix’s interference, she hated me anyway.

Back in the royal kitchens, things had calmed down a bit. The staff was cleaning up from the event, congratulating each other on a job well done. Several people gave me a smile as I passed them. I tried not to revel in the sense of community I felt here, since it all felt so precarious. But it was hard to ignore how good it felt to be part of something bigger than myself.

As I cleaned up my work station, I noticed one of the castle maids going in and out of a room off to the side. I wandered over, hoping to lend an extra hand.

“Hi,” I said, recognizing her as Cassandra, the maid who had fetched me for tea yesterday. “I’m Miya. We met yesterday?”

She grinned at me. “Miya! Hello! Good to see you! I’d love to stop and chat, but I have to deliver all these coats to the guests.”

She gestured behind her, and I realized she had been going in and out of a coat room.

“They need their coats to go out and see the flowers from India,” she explained, hurriedly grabbing another stack. “I’m the only one available to run them back and forth.”

An idea hit me, all at once: I could slip the necklace into Felix’s coat. I knew which one was his, since I remembered it from the bar. This could be my last chance to return the stone.

“Do you need help? I’m finished cleaning up. It seems like you have a lot on your plate.” I tried to make the offer as casually as I could.

Cassandra’s face flashed with relief. “I’d love that. Thank you so much. Just deliver these to the footman at the main entrance to the dining hall. You’re the best!”

She dashed away, her arms full.

I slipped into the coat closet, glancing over my shoulder, making sure no one was looking as I made my way over to Felix’s coat.

FIONA

Working in the royal kitchens was far from glamorous. It was dull, the people were dull, and it frustrated me to no end that nobody trusted me to take the lead on any cooking assignments. Even Samara had turned down my offer to be in charge of the dinner rolls. It was, frankly, insulting.

Naturally, perfect little Miya got her own work station so she could make her precious pies. It was almost nauseating watching her work. And then when Prince Felix called her out to introduce the dessert? Her, instead of literally anybody else? My blood was boiling.

But I kept my head down and said nothing. I did my work, I tried my best. I said nothing when Miya re-entered the kitchen, glowing from her success, and everyone around us treated her like the greatest chef to ever walk the planet. I said nothing as I was forced into the demeaning task of washing dishes. I said nothing when Samara congratulated us all on a job well done, knowing full well I hadn’t done anything.

The royal kitchen staff did not seem too friendly with me. Well, that was their loss. I pretended not to notice whenever they coughed in warning of my arrival. It was easier this way.

I did notice Miya sneaking into the coat closet.

The other maid had vanished, leaving Miya alone with the guests’ coats. She looked around before sneaking into the room. I frowned and hid behind a large shelf, keeping myself out of her view. I pulled out my phone and started recording. If she was doing something sneaky, I needed evidence this time.

Sure enough, when she thought she was out of sight, Miya slipped that stone necklace out of her uniform and off from around her neck. Felix’s necklace!

I had never been more thankful for my phone.

Mila slid the necklace into the pocket of one of the coats. I realized from the royal insignia on the back that it must have belonged to Prince Felix.

I felt a wave of confusion wash over me. If she had stolen the necklace, why was she returning it now? Why the need to sneak around?

Had I been wrong?

No, that couldn’t be. Miya was a thief and liar and that was that. Maybe she just realized the necklace was not valuable enough for her to take the risk.

But I now had the video evidence connecting her to the missing necklace in the first place.

A plan started to form in my head. If I could show this footage to Samara and Prince Felix, Miya just might fall out of their favor. Their gratitude to me for unveiling Miya’s treachery would surely earn me a raise and a promotion.

Miya snuck back out of the closet and gathered a few coats in her arms to take up to the guests. I stopped recording and slipped the phone back into my pocket.

Some thief, indeed.