Part of a Veiled Plan

"What? Except who?" Fiona asked, her brow furrowing with curiosity.

"Except you!" Maria squealed, the sound echoing through Dimitri's room, filled with neatly folded shirts and the lingering scent of his cologne. Fiona giggled, her cheeks flushing.

"Ahhh!! Fiona! He likes you!" Maria exclaimed, winking mischievously.

"Oh no! He feels sorry for me," Fiona protested, but a thrill of hope danced in her chest.

Maria laughed. "Yeah, right! He feels sorry enough to fall for you. Don't think I haven't noticed him staring at you at the dinner table."

Fiona's heart skipped a beat. He was staring? But why? Doubts battled with a burgeoning sense of excitement. What could he possibly see in me?

"I should have realized it when he asked me to go shopping for new dresses and to clean out your room," Maria continued, her eyes twinkling. "When I got a job here as a maid, I had to clean out my own room! You sly queen!"

Fiona laughed, but her mind raced. He likes me? A wave of insecurity washed over her. I'm just a nobody. He's... well, he's Dimitri.

Later that night, as Fiona lay nestled in the soft bed, the moonlight casting long shadows across the room, she couldn't help but replay the day's events in her mind.

Dimitri's smile, his touch, his words... He called me special. A warmth spread through her, chasing away the lingering shadows of doubt. Could it be true? Could he actually like me? She drifted off to sleep with a smile on her face, a flutter of hope blooming in her heart.

************** 

He stepped into Princess Vanessa's room, the soft click of the door echoing in the hushed space. The room was a sanctuary, a world away from the mansion's bustling activity. 

Cream-colored walls, adorned with delicate floral patterns, created a sense of calm, while sheer lace curtains filtered the sunlight, casting a soft glow over the princess.

The air was thick with the scent of old books and a faint hint of vanilla, a comforting familiarity that always brought a bittersweet ache to Dimitri's heart.

Vanessa sat propped against a mountain of pillows, her slender fingers tracing the lines of a worn book. She looked up as Dimitri approached and he noticed the faint tremor in her hands. 

"You should have told me you were coming," she chided, her voice a gentle melody tinged with a hint of reproach.

Dimitri chuckled, placing a new book on her lap. "You know I like surprises."

Vanessa squealed she examined the book, her fingers tracing the embossed title. "Thanks for this! I've been waiting for the second part." Her laughter echoed a bit too loudly, her eyes darting nervously towards the door.

Dimitri sat beside her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. Vanessa leaned into him, her dark hair cascading over his arm like a silken waterfall. He could feel the slight tremor in her body, the fragility beneath the facade of strength.

"Hey, you're always up here by yourself. At least this will keep you busy," he said, his voice low and soothing, hoping to ease her anxieties.

Vanessa sighed, her breath warm against his shirt. "I'm not alone. I have you."

"You'll always have me," Dimitri vowed, his voice thick with emotion. He meant it. He would always be there for her, no matter what.

He paused, his gaze drawn to the veil that shrouded Vanessa's face, a constant reminder of the cruel twist of fate that had confined her to this room. 

"How is it that no one talks about the princess who hides in her room and always wears a veil?" he asked, his voice light, but his heart heavy.

"Maybe because Daddy made sure of that," she replied, her voice laced with a bitter sarcasm that belied her cheerful facade. 

"He says, and I quote, 'Princess Vanessa has decided to keep herself hidden and covered until the day Prince Eric, her betrothed, comes for her.' ". Her imitation of her father was perfect, and Dimitri couldn't help but chuckle, even as a pang of sadness resonated within him.

"I really miss your face," he whispered, his voice filled with longing.

"I do too," Vanessa's voice was barely a breath, the unspoken words hanging heavy in the air. Dimitri's hand tightened on her shoulder, his heart aching for her. He longed to lift the veil, to see her smile, to chase away the shadows that haunted her eyes.

"Well, this curse won't stop me from attending my own birthday ball next week," Vanessa declared, her voice regaining its usual cheerfulness.

"I wish your father would understand and let you skip this event," Dimitri said, his concern evident.

Vanessa shrugged. "I have to put up a front." She paused, her fingers toying with the edge of the book. "How is the plan with the girl? The one Daddy asked you to train?"

Dimitri felt his heart skip a beat. "She is adapting quickly," he said, choosing his words carefully. "She has already started homeschooling and will be taking the royal exam next year."

"And she's fine with it?" Vanessa asked, her voice laced with a hint of suspicion. "Is she… suitable?"

Dimitri hesitated, a fleeting shadow of doubt crossing his face. "Yes, of course she is," he said, forcing a confident tone. "She is." He repeated the words, as if trying to convince himself.

Vanessa seemed to sense his hesitation, her gaze lingering on him for a moment before she looked away. "That's great!" she said, her voice regaining its enthusiasm. "You just have to make sure she has the manners of a princess, and is well-educated and well taken care of. She needs to be perfect, every inch of her."

Dimitri nodded, his gaze drifting to a nearby portrait of the king, his expression unreadable. The memory of their agreement flashed through his mind, a heavy weight settling in his stomach.

"What is her name, by the way?" Vanessa asked, breaking the silence.

He took a deep breath, steeling himself. "Fiona."