Chapter 12

A sharp knock rattled the door.

I groaned and burrowed deeper beneath the covers, eyes swollen and raw from the night before.

The door creaked open. Light footsteps—too many—rushed into the room. A moment later, the blankets were yanked off me.

"Hey!" I gasped, curling into myself.

Two maids seized me by the arms and hauled me upright. Another began stripping the bed. Before I could protest, cold hands were already tugging at my clothes.

"What… stop," I mumbled, grabbing at a sheet to cover myself.

They didn't listen. Wordless, efficient, they guided me across the marble floor into a bathing chamber. Steam curled from a gilded tub filled with rose petals. I blinked against the warmth, dazed.

They scrubbed me in silence, mechanical in their movements, never meeting my eyes. Were they as embarrassed as I was?

They dried me. Oiled me. Dressed me in a sea-blue gown with delicate silver embroidery. A soft cloak was draped over my shoulders and fastened with a moonstone clasp.

Who oils and dresses a prisoner?

What was happening?

As I stared at my reflection in the polished glass, a sharp voice cut through the silence.

"I am Madam Vatore, the head maid," came a voice behind me.

I turned. A stern woman stood near the door, arms crossed. Her crisp uniform matched her posture; her graying hair pulled into a severe bun, her eyes as sharp as cut steel.

She continued, "His Highness has invited you to join him for breakfast."

I stared at her. "I... I don't want to see him."

One of her brows lifted ever so slightly. "His Highness has extended an invitation. As a guest in the castle, it is your honor to accept."

I laughed bitterly. "Guest? That's a strange way to say prisoner."

The maids froze. Their hands stilled. But the head maid's expression remained composed.

"I was tasked with preparing you for breakfast. And I will fulfill my duty," she said calmly, voice unwavering, but her tone carried warning.

"I'm not hungry," I muttered.

She stepped closer. "Any personal grievance with His Highness... can be more easily resolved over breakfast." Her hand settled lightly at my waist, guiding me toward the door.

"Fine," I said through clenched teeth.

The guards escorted me through the palace gardens. They bloomed in quiet splendor—vines climbing marble archways, birds chirping from sculpted trees, sunlight spilling like gold across leaves. It felt… dreamlike. Too perfect.

They led me along a cobbled path to a white gazebo surrounded by tall lavender hedges.

He was already seated.

The Crown Prince rose when he saw me. He wore a dark, high-collared coat, sleeves rolled neatly to his wrists.

"Lady Iris," he greeted, gesturing to the seat across from him.

I hesitated, then sat.

"You came," he said simply, signaling for the servants.

"I didn't have a choice," I replied coldly.

A servant poured tea, fragrant and calming. Another placed a plate of eggs and warm bread before me.

"I wasn't sure what you liked," the prince said as I took a cautious sip. "But your brother mentioned your fondness for eggs and bread."

"You shouldn't have," I replied sharply. "I would've preferred whatever you feed people in the dungeons."

He sighed, leaning back. "Are you still angry with me?"

"I'd have to be a saint not to be," I said, pointing at a crystal pitcher on the table.

The servant poured a pale blue liquid into my cup.

"What is this?" I asked, eyeing it warily.

"Aqua berry juice, my lady," the servant said, bowing slightly before retreating.

I took a sip. It was sweet, slightly sour, with a strange salty undertone.

"This is new... but I like it," I said, turning to the servant. "What's it made from?"

"Aqua berries and seaweed," he answered.

A flicker of amusement crossed the prince's face at my curiosity. But I wasn't smiling. Not for him.

Not yet.

I cleared my throat, " What did you invite me here for?"

He smiled, "I wanted to apologise,"

I blinked. I picked up the bread and stuffed it into my mouth now staring at him.

"I was careless with my actions and ended up emotionally scarring you," he said. " The missing cases are making me desperate but that is no excuse for whatever I did."

"Am not forgiving you any time soon," I said flatly. There was something else he wanted. In the book he would warm up to people to get whatever he wanted. He was doing that to me.

He was quiet for a moment, " I really am sorry."

"What is it that you really called me here for?" He choked.

He met my eyes," What else would I want?"

Silence stretched between us. Only the rustle of leaves and birds dared to speak.

Just as he was leaning in, a knight in gleaming silver strode briskly down the garden path. He leaned in close to the crown Prince and whispered something to him.

His jaw tightened.

"I apologise but something that needs my urgent attention has came up," he said, already standing.

"What if I were to escape?" I asked, eyes narrowing.

He paused, then gave me that unreadable look of his. "If you were going to escape, you would have done so back at the manor. Your door there was never locked."

He turned without another word, the knight shadowing him.

I glared at his back. He was rude to mention the manor. He knew everything that Lisbeth did to me and was mocking me for enduring all of that without running away.

I clicked, standing up and I walked, wherever my feet would take me.

A pair of shoes clicked behind me almost immediately. I was being followed. A maid with russet braids bowed slightly, "I'm Beatrice, I was instructed to serve you."

Beside her was a guard," I'll walk you back to your room."

I was a prisoner.