I spent far too long in the bath. The sweet flowery scent enveloped me as soon as I entered the bathroom. It instantly calmed me down. The warmth of the water felt so nice that I nearly fell asleep.

If it wasn’t for our family’s profession I might have decided to be someone who makes bath fragrances. There’s probably a lot of money in that. Maybe that’s what I’ll do once we manage to escape. Dusk can help me grow the flowers.

After my bath, I pulled on the cord in the reception room. I had debated once again if I should go. It was not yet dinner time, but with such a large late lunch, I was probably going to skip dinner. Since there was still time before bed, it would be remiss of me to waste it when there was nobody else around.

Holly promptly showed up a few minutes later. She curtsied upon entering, and smiled lightly. “Good evening my lady. I do apologise for not clearing away your dishes when I was last here, I was rather… preoccupied with my thoughts.”  

I shook my head. “It’s understandable. It’s no matter. Plates can be cleared away at anytime.”

“I can send for someone or will clear them away myself when you are on your walk. Now, if you will, allow me to guide you to the main garden, my lady,” she said.

“Um, Holly, before we go, I have to ask, does the Royal Palaces have a curfew?”

Most towns had a curfew set in place. Though monsters invaded mainly when the moon was full or when there was no moon at all, most towns did not want to take the risk of anything happening. There was a saying, that only brigands and monsters walked around at night.

“Not for today my lady,” she said. “The Palace is filled with guards, and nary a monster has been seen on the grounds without it being quickly exterminated. And neither is there a curfew for tomorrow. The only set curfew on the Royal Grounds is during the moonless night.”

“Ah. Yes. I see. Thank you. Well then, let us go to the garden. Please, lead the way.”

“Yes my lady, follow me,” she said with a bow.

Holly led me down the many hallways, through the Rose Palace. She kindly pointed out a few places around the palace as well. She warned me, against going down a certain hallway, though would not say why. I wondered if she was always like this or if she was still trying to make up for her brother’s shortcomings. But it did not matter. It was still useful information to be held.

I knew the stories from mother. Of doors I should never touch. Of hallways I should not enter. Of rules I should strictly follow. “The Rose Palace was not what it seemed,” mother had said.

It hid its secrets. It hid them well.

“The exit is around this way my lady,” she said in front of a rather old looking door. It seemed to be a door that not many nobles used.

She opened it and led me outside. The crisp wind instantly greeted me. It felt refreshing after my warm bath. I watched as few brown leaves fell from the trees that lined the path before us. As we walked I could hear the sound of swords clashing close by.

“What’s in that building?” I asked pointing to the large stone building we were about to walk past.

“That is the barracks and training hall my lady. The day after tomorrow your chosen knight will be sent from there to meet you. They have training now until dinner time. However, once the trial begins I have been told most training will grind to a halt, as a lot of members will be assigned to guard their chosen ladies, and also patrol the grounds. So right now, many are undergoing a last minute training regimen.”

“Oh, I see…”

The person who would be my assigned knight would be there wouldn’t he? I wonder if he’s training right now. I wonder… if he hates me too.

“You will meet him in the meeting room in the Rose Palace, my lady, though who your chosen knight is, is information I am not privy to. I have just been told recently however, that the knights have mostly all been assigned already, though once tomorrow’s ball takes place, there may be changes based on the Crown Prince’s thoughts.”

“That’s alright. I suppose I will find out soon enough. Thank you for the information nonetheless.”

Has Ash been chosen as a knight as well? Is that how she knows this information? I hope he isn’t my knight. I don’t think I could bare someone who can’t hide his hatred for me… well, if my knight does hate me, there won’t be anything I can do. I’ll just have to make him change his mind.

Suddenly Holly stopped in her tracks. She paused for a moment before turning towards me meekly. “My lady, would you… perhaps like to take a sneak peek?” She asked softly.

“A… sneak peek. Can I? Really?” I asked, my eyes lighting up at the thought.

“My lady, as you know, my brother is a knight. I have visited him in the barracks on several occasions. Sometimes… without permission. There is a small room above the training hall that allows one to stay a little hidden and watch the proceedings below. So long as we don’t take our time, I do not see a problem in a little visit.”

It seems she’s still trying to make up for her brother’s actions. She doesn’t have to. But no matter. I am awfully curious.

“Then I would love to! If… if that’s alright.”  

“Yes, my lady,” Holly said. “I can take you there. I know this goes without saying, but just in case, I must urge you to please keep as silent as you can. Though they are known to allow visitors, I’m-“

“It’s fine,” I said to her. “I’ll be as silent as sadness. And if we are caught you can tell them that I was the one that wanted to see what the training hall was like. I’m sure they will not be able to bestow punishment upon me.”

“Very well, this way then, follow me my lady.”

A few minutes later, I found myself climbing up the narrow wooden creaky stairs to the room that overlooked the training hall. It was a small room, with a few chairs and a curtain over a dusty window. The window looked down upon the entire hall. I could tell that once upon a time the room was probably used for nobles to oversee knights that they may favour in secret. By how unkempt the room looked however, it seemed as though it was no longer in use.

I walked up to the window and gave it a wipe with my handkerchief and looked out in awe. Holly chose to stay below, so she could keep watch for me.

The training grounds was large. Several men were skirmishing with each other. A few were hitting training dummies with wooden swords, or practising archery. I could hear the chatter of men and clanging of weapons louder from this vantage point.

It seems this window seems to be enchanted with some sort of spell. Every time I focus my eyes on something in the distance, the scene becomes clearer than it would normally.

It’s impressive how hard they train.

I looked around until I noticed two men sparring. Their swords clashed fiercely, far too quickly for the untrained eye. I could barely make out their movement. I could tell though, that one had green hair and the other brown. The green haired man attacked as hard as he could while the brown haired man seemed to be only defending with a rather large sword. The green haired man bent down and swiped his sword under the feet of the brown haired man, who deftly jumped up and avoided his attack, and then countered with a move of his own.

The fight finally ended when the green haired man jumped up in the air and the other man slashed his sword hard. Strong wind emanated from it and pushed the man away. He landed on his feet, but lost his sword in the process. Then the green haired man fell to the floor, breathing heavily. He let out a large sigh with his arms over his head. Then said something and pointed to the other man, before letting his arm rest over his head again.

The brown haired man thrust his sword into the ground and broke out into a very small smile. I could finally see him properly. Dark grey eyes were framed by dark brown wavy hair. It looked soft. I wondered what it would feel like to touch. His nose was straight, and he had high set cheekbones. He had a small scar on his left cheek that ran down in a straight line.

How did that happen I wonder. Did it hurt?

Suddenly the man looked up towards my directions. For a second I wondered if he could see me. It felt as though our eyes connected.

Can he see me? I doubt it. Holly said they couldn’t see me from below. But maybe he can. He looks…

In that instant my sisters voice floated into my head.

“I hope he’ll be handsome.”

My heart skipped a little.

No, no, no. I didn’t just think that. No. Enough Dawn. Stop that.

I backed away quickly from the window, my face hot. I stood still for a moment, fanning my face. My heart pounding in my chest. I wrung my hands together and calmed myself down.

Is he still looking?

I tiptoed towards the window and glanced out. He was still looking up towards me. He looked as though he was thinking, and then still looking upwards, he took a step forward.

I jumped back from the window, and hurried out of the room, nearly tripping over a chair in my haste.