Public Secret

The first rays of dawn were just beginning to touch the horizon, but Fiona was already in the kitchen, a whirlwind of nervous energy. 

She had to avoid Dimitri. Had to. Had to.

"Good morning," Maria chirped, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "You're up before the roosters!"

"Couldn't sleep," Fiona muttered, her back to Maria as she stirred a pot of porridge. 

"Decided to make breakfast."

"Mmm, smells good." 

Maria leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. 

"Did you and Dimitri... you know... slip away last night?" A suggestive wiggle of her eyebrows.

"What? No!" Fiona snapped, her cheeks flushing crimson. 

"He doesn't want to be seen with me in public." A sigh escaped her lips, a mixture of frustration and resignation. "I understand, but..."

"Understand what, Fiona?" Maria's voice was sharp with impatience. "You're a diamond in the rough! You deserve to be shown off!"

"What's all this chatter?" Mrs. G's voice, sharp and laced with suspicion, echoed through the kitchen.

"Nothing, ma'am!" the girls chorused, exchanging nervous glances as they quickly exited the kitchen.

"Fiona," Mrs. G said stopping Fiona in her track, her voice softening slightly, "Miss Rose, your tutor, is here. Take a tray of breakfast to her." 

A hint of a smile played on her lips, a silent approval of Fiona's early diligence.

Fiona nodded, her hands trembling slightly as she picked up the tray. 

"Good morning, Miss Rose."

Rose barely glanced up from her books, her lips pursed in a thin line. "Fiona."

Footsteps echoed in the hallway, followed by the chorus of maids' greetings. "Good morning, Mr. Dimitri."

Fiona froze, her heart hammering against her ribs. 

Dimitri entered, his gaze immediately locking onto hers. 

A slow, dazzling smile spread across his face, a smile that sent a shiver down Fiona's spine. 

She couldn't believe her eyes, as he walked over to her, and held her hand. She could feel all eyes on her. Especially, Miss Rose.

"Mrs. G, would you be so kind as to gather the staff?" Dimitri asked, his voice smooth and commanding.

Mrs. G, her brow furrowed in confusion, hurried away. A tense silence descended upon the room, the air thick with anticipation.

"Dimitri, what are you doing?" Fiona whispered, her voice laced with a tremor of fear.

"Something I should have done long ago," he murmured, his eyes never leaving hers.

Before she could react, he closed the distance between them, his lips crashing against hers in a searing kiss. 

Fiona's eyes widened in shock, her body rigid. The world around her dissolved into a blur of gasps and whispers.

He pulled away, his eyes sweeping across the room. A triumphant smirk played on his lips. 

Rose's face was a mask of fury, her eyes burning with jealousy. 

She snatched her bag and stormed out, the sharp click of her heels echoing through the hall like a death knell.

"Now you all know," Dimitri declared, his voice ringing with authority, "how I feel about Fiona. Treat her with the same respect you would treat me." 

He turned back to Fiona, his eyes softening. "That's how much I like you."

Fiona's cheeks burned, her mind reeling. Maria, beaming, gave her a silent thumbs-up. The rest of the staff stood in stunned silence, their eyes wide with disbelief.

...

Miss Fiona, where should the flowers go?" A young maid, her face a picture of innocent inquiry, stood before her in the garden.

Fiona flinched. Miss Fiona? The title grated on her nerves. "Please," she said, her voice strained, "just call me Fiona."

A sneer echoed from behind. "Oh, do you want Mr. Dimitri to fire us now?" Pauline's voice dripped with malice.

Ever since Dimitri had revealed their... relationship, the other maids had grown distant, their eyes filled with a mix of fear and resentment. 

Only Maria, ever loyal, had found a way to bridge the gap. 

"Miss Fiona's personal assistant and best friend," Maria had declared, forcing a begrudging respect from the others.

"I... I just..." Fiona bowed her head, the weight of their judgment pressing down on her.

"Just what, brat?" Pauline's voice was sharp as a whip. "You better crawl back to whatever hole you came from."

Something snapped within Fiona. She was done being the quiet, submissive girl. "You know what, Pauline? You're right."

A smirk twisted Pauline's lips, but it faltered as Fiona continued, her voice gaining strength. "Mr. Dimitri will fire you if you don't behave. I'm his girlfriend, after all. Imagine his reaction if he heard you call his 'love' a brat and tell her to leave." 

Fiona stood tall, her hands folded defiantly across her chest.

Pauline's eyes widened, a flicker of fear replacing the malice, "I..I"

 "You... what? You better get back to work and leave me alone!" Fiona rolled her eyes and turned back to the flowers, a small smile playing on her lips. 

She heard Maria squeal, "Fiona! That was awesome! You totally served Pauline!"

A ripple of whispers spread through the garden. 

Fiona glanced around, noticing the other maids avoiding her gaze, their hushed voices a constant hum. 

Pauline had stormed off, her face flushed with anger.

This isn't going to make things easier, Fiona thought, a sigh escaping her lips. 

She shook her head, pushing Pauline from her mind. 

There were more pressing matters, like... Takachi.

…..

"He's what?" Maria exclaimed, her eyes wide with alarm. 

They had retreated to the safety of Maria's room, the garden suddenly feeling too exposed.

Fiona recounted her encounter in the market, her voice barely a whisper. "I was surprised, too. Now I'm terrified of what might happen. I see him in my dreams, Maria." 

She glanced around the room, as if expecting someone to be listening.

"Fiona, this is serious," Maria said, biting her nails. "He's a threat to the kingdom. Does Dimitri know?"

"No," Fiona said quickly, shaking her head. "He can't. He doesn't know about Takachi, or that I'm a Wanderer."

"You have to tell him, Fiona," Maria insisted, her face etched with worry.

"I... I can't," Fiona said, her voice thick with fear. "He'll send me back." 

She took a shaky breath. "I wasn't an orphan sold into slavery, Maria. I was kidnapped from my village." 

Maria's eyes widened, mirroring the shock in Fiona's own heart.