-Felicity-

My first day of being Princess Shauna’s knight ended uneventfully. After the morning interview, I was taken around to the administrative area, introduced to everyone, told the schedule, and where to look for updates. Thirty new names to remember, and they only had to remember one.

Not that it would be difficult to remember my name after my debut. Furthermore, the name everyone knew me by wasn’t even the one I’d picked.

It wasn’t fair.

Striding down the path toward the palace gates, I was surprised when Daniel jumped his horse over a bush to join me. “Fancy meeting you here!” he said cheerfully. “Lucky me!”

I looked up at him, squinting slightly. “Lucky? I think you were waiting,” I said.

Daniel clicked his tongue. “Am I not allowed to wait for a friend to see how her first day went?”

“So you admit it,” I said. Though Daniel and I weren’t exactly friends, so I wondered where he’d gotten that idea. He’d pulled my shirt off a year and a half ago, then lurked nearby for the rest of the war. We’d only had a handful of conversations, though they’d been more often lately. I’d required his help a bit during my investigation of Aunt Karen.

Daniel rode ahead and turned his horse to block my path before dismounting. “I’ll admit to waiting,” he said and leaned toward me, “Does it make you happy to know that I waited for you?”

I gave that an actual moment of thought.

He burst out laughing. “I wasn’t expecting a serious answer to that question!”

“It makes me a little happy,” I said after assessing my mood. Daniel’s eyes widened in surprise at my answer. “I like Princess Shauna. She’s quite pleased with me,” I reported. “So, thank you for suggesting that I be placed as her knight.”

Daniel looked away. “Nor did I expect a sincere thanks for what I did,” he said puzzledly. “I suppose I did owe you something. After all, it was my hand that uncovered your secret.”

I couldn’t really speak on the subject; it was too embarrassing. “Did you hear what he’s done now?”

The second prince, the youngest of the three siblings, pulled his mind back to the conversation and lifted his brows. “You tell me first because I’ve heard two things.”

“Oh. No.” I sighed. “He moved my things to his house this morning. Without my permission.”

“Right. That’s the least of it,” Daniel said. “He’s been going around talking to his friends about having you married off.”

“Did he say to whom?”

“F-Felix,” Daniel sputtered as he pronounced the name and devolved into giggles. “Cecil Lambs and Felix are now joined at the hip, I’ve heard. Surprisingly, they’re not up to debauchery.”

My shame and rage were at odds, fighting for dominance. I’d thought that him moving my things to his house meant he knew I was Felicity, but apparently not. Lifting my hands to my head, I pushed them through the short fringe of my hair. “By Freya’s Breath! I can not with this man!” I shouted.

“Forgive my confusion, but which one?” Daniel laughed.

“Duke Lyon!” I said in fury.

“From what he’s said,” Daniel reported, “He thinks his son’s sudden interest in altruism is because he wishes to court you properly.”

I turned away from the prince to scream in frustration. “I’m going to steal his cat!”

Daniel bent over laughing. “Like you stole Lady Flowers’ dress?”

“I bought that,” I said.

“After you destroyed her,” Daniel said. “Everyone is still in awe and fear of how thoroughly you did it. They’re all speculating what the marquess could’ve personally done to you to warrant that level of malice.”

I turned to face him, rubbing the burn scar on my cheek. “Aunt Karen had it coming,” I said proudly. I didn’t put it past him to have interrogated the maid after Cecil had escorted me away. 

Daniel also gave a catty smirk, confirming my suspicions that he already knew. “They’ve begun to ask why you would do such a good job digging into what they did but neglect to answer the glaringly obvious hole in your report.”

“Of course, you didn’t guide them to that question,” I said.

“Not at all!” Daniel said. His tone led me to believe him. “It’s exceedingly obvious if you take two seconds to think. Why should you put your own whereabouts in a report you wrote yourself?” His horse tossed its head. Sobering slightly, Prince Daniel’s smile changed a fraction, “You’re going to have to put some consideration into whom you will marry,” he said. “Your war with Duke Lyon has marked you as someone to watch. They won’t hesitate to take you down if you misstep even a little.”

“I’m aware,” I said. “Princess Shauna insinuated that I’m poised to become the new Queen of High Society and suggested that I start making some ‘friends.’” I quoted with my fingers.

“I couldn’t agree more,” Daniel said. “I will leave that up to you, though.”

I lifted my brow. “What? Do you not want to receive my assistance with anything? You’ve helped me.”

“I think I will hold on to whatever favors you owe me until such time as I desperately need them,” Daniel said with a coy smile. He reached out his hand.

I went to shake it, but he startled me by bowing and placing a kiss on the back of my hand instead.

“Good evening, My Lady Mortuary,” he said cheerily and mounted his horse to ride away recklessly across the garden. I held my hand to my chest, unexpectedly feeling something. I wasn’t sure what, but it made my heart beat a little faster than usual.