Schemes

After the rather surprising turn of events that morning, Prince Spencer had bid Carina farewell just as the afternoon rolled around, and left after promising to send her an invitation to his home later. His home, of course, meaning the royal palace.

Carina could only worriedly eat her lunch, fearing the inevitable meeting with Spencer's parents, the king and the queen.

Her head hurt just thinking about it. In her past life she would've never fathomed being able to meet someone of such high status, and now she was about to meet an actual king and queen. The whole thing made her feel sick with worry.

As if sensing Carina's discomfort, Marie returned just at that moment, frowning at her pale complexion.

"I've checked with Jane's maid and she let it slip pretty easily that Jane and Vanessa had indeed set the whole thing up. I discovered something worrying too, Miss. I believe Anne has been bribed by Miss Jane to keep an eye on you and to report your movements back to her."

Hearing that last bit of news had all Carina's thoughts of the royal palace completely pushed out of her mind. She frowned to herself at the revelation that Anne was now working against her. It wasn't as if Carina had much attachments to Anne to begin with, but she hadn't treated Anne horribly either, and now she was actively working against her?

Carina genuinely wondered if the people around her actively tried to make her life complicated beyond belief.

"If Jane has resorted to dirty little tricks like this, then I suppose we should pay her back in kind, don't you think?" Carina asked the question to Marie, grinning.

"What did you have in mind, Miss?" Marie questioned, worried Carina was going to try something crazy and violent again.

"That personal maid of hers, what was her name?"

"Addie."

"What do you know about her?"

"She's been second miss's personal maid for three years now, ever since the second miss turned fifteen. Most of the other maids know to treat her well since she's so closely associated with the second miss. Even the duchess works closely with Addie sometimes since she and the second miss have such closely aligned goals."

"Hm. And what about Addie's family?"

Marie hesitated for a moment. "Her family... Miss?"

Carina flashed a smile, though it did nothing to ease Marie's worries. "Yes, her family, Marie."

".... Her parents and her little brother live not far from here, near the outskirts of town. Her father works as a blacksmith, and him and Addie are responsible for their household's income. Her little brother has always been interested in becoming a knight, so they've been saving up money to send him to an academy that specialises in knight training. Currently they've only managed to save up enough for one year's tuition at the academy, and he'll be starting his first year there in just a couple months."

"Interesting..." Carina mumbled, eyes narrowing in deep thought.

"... Miss?"

"Don't look so worried, Marie, I'm not going to do anything... unsavoury... to Addie's family. In fact, I'll be helping them out quite a bit."

"... You'll be helping them?"

"Oh, of course. Though, that'll be entirely up to Addie. If she'll help me, then I'll help her. Jane isn't the only person in this house who can throw some money around, you know."