In a daze I made my way back to my quarters. My mind was buzzing with questions, and yet at the same time it felt blank. I even walked past the training hall without thinking about how I nearly got caught spying on the knights.

It was only when I got back to my room that I realised that I forgot to ask for his name. As soon as I closed the door, I fell to the floor, my legs giving way once again. I could feel my cheeks feeling flush, as I remembered the feeling of him kissing the back of my hand. For some reason I felt like screaming.

Ahhh. No. I didn’t get his name! I mean… I didn’t give him mine either. Maybe he thought that was strange. He probably thought I was strange. I mean I wasn’t even supposed to come until tomorrow! Will he know I’m a candidate by then? Are gardeners privy to the information of all the guests that are to come to watch the trial and the candidates within it?

Well, it’s no matter. I probably won’t see him again anyway. There are probably many gardeners in a garden that size. It is a really big garden. Though, while I was walking around… I didn’t see anybody else. Maybe they made him work till late because he’s the youngest on the team. And who knows if he is taking a day or two off after what just happened. I hope he gets compensated for helping a guest out.

He was really nice. I… no one aside from Dusk, Martha and Adare has been this nice to me. Would he come work for us I wonder? No. I wouldn’t want to subject him to the rigorous rules of House Thorn. I wonder how much gardeners get paid…. What… what are you thinking Dusk. Stop it. We don’t even plan to go back. We’re trying to escape. This is no time to be thinking about cute gardeners.

I gave myself a small slap on the cheeks with both my hands, took a deep breath in and out then stood up and went to get ready for bed. I didn’t want to do anything anymore. It had been a very long day, and I was more than tired.

While I did see the maze I did not manage to enter it. One of the most important ingredients to my potion lay within. It was so rare that it only grew in that glass maze. I would have to see if I could find a way in some other time. But for now, I needed to rest.  

Before drifting off to sleep, my thoughts were a mess.

There’s so much that happened today. But yet so much I have to do. At least I got mother’s room. That’s good… yeah… Oh… I forgot to write! I’ll have to do that tomorrow… And I forgot to look for mother’s notebook… I’ll have to… do it… tomorrow… too…

I woke up to a knock on the door. I rolled around in my bed. Confusedly, I called out “no Martha, I don’t want to get up. Just… let me sleep, huh? Please.”

Wait… these don’t feel like my sheets.

I opened my eyes wide when I realised I was at the Palace. I sat up straight as I heard the door in the room beyond open gently. I heard a noise that sounded like a trolley being wheeled into the room, and then further noises of plates and cutlery being laid down. Then the trolley rolled out, and the door gently shut again.

I closed my eyes and lay back down in the bed. I touched my necklace and felt its warmth.

The Palace. I’m here. It’s… day one. The start of the trial. The final day of Autumn. I’m really here.

After I got out of bed, I went through my morning ablutions then headed for the reception room. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to put on my new ‘uniform’ today, so I chose not to. Everyone else coming in would not know of the uniform yet. As soon as I opened the door, the tantalising smell of food wafted into my nose. Hungrily I walked to the table and sat down.

A lovely omelette filled with cheese and ham lay at the centre of the spread. A few different kinds of breads with various jams were arranged around the table. A pot of warm tea and a charming little cup were also on the table, along with a small pitcher of milk and a tiny tray filled with sugar cubes.

I sat down quickly, my stomach rumbling, and ate my breakfast.

If anything, the food in the Rose Palace is delicious. I should at least be able to write to Dusk about that.  

After I finished eating, I went to pull on the cord to summon Holly. It took her a little while before she came.

“Good morning my lady,” she said as she curtsied. “I hope you slept well.”

“I did thank you.”

“Was breakfast to your liking? Would you like something else?”

“No, thank you. It was delicious and more than enough. I called you up here to ask if I could get some paper and pen to write with. I would like to send two letters back to my Manor. Is that allowed?”

“My lady, in case you did not know, letters are allowed to be sent but they will be monitored by the Palace. Is that acceptable?.”

I nodded. “Yes, that’s fine. Thank you. Holly, before you go, I was wondering has anybody else arrived yet?”

“Yes my lady, a few have already arrived and have been shown to their rooms. I’ve been told that they have come from rather far away,” she said, nodding her head. “Most ladies are set to arrive later in the afternoon, to prepare for the ball right after. The ladies that live in the capital will probably come later, just before the ball.”

“Oh. Oh yes. The welcome ball. Thank you. Uh… later in the afternoon…”  

I need to figure out which dress to wear.

I guess, the nice blue one… that’s my best dress. But… it was also one of the heavily wrinkled ones.

“Very well, my lady, I will return with some stationary for you, and then retrieve your dishes.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“My lady …. Forgive me if I am being forward but if you do not have any attendants for the ball, would you like me to help you get ready?”

“Yes! Yes I would. Thank you Holly! That would be greatly appreciated! Oh… If it is alright… my uh… dresses.” I looked down, unsure what to say. “That were… inspected…”

Holly’s face turned slightly red. “Is there something wrong with them…?”

“I… … I don’t blame your brother, so please don’t think that, but if I could get at least one of my dresses… cleaned up, I would much appreciate it.”

“That won’t be a problem my lady. Since it is urgent I will attempt to get the dress sorted out as soon as possible.”

“Thank you Holly,” I said feeling at ease.

“Is there a particular dress you would like me to clean up?”

I walked over to my suitcases, which I had shoved to the side of the room and opened one. I picked up a dark blue dress, one that was heavily wrinkled, but one that Dusk and I favoured.

“This one. If you could.”

“You’re welcome my lady.” She took the dress from me and cradled it in her arms. “I will get this sorted. I promise. I will also get your stationary ready and bring it to you forthwith,” she said and curtsied again before leaving the room.

It took a short while before she returned to the room. She wheeled in her trolley, and took away all of the finished dishes, and left the stationary on the table in front of me. “Here you go my lady.”

“Thank you Holly,” I said.

“Once you finish, please pull the cord and I shall have it inspected before it is sent off. The palace will deal with putting it in an envelope.”

“Oh. Alright,” I said, looking at the paper and noticing the lack of envelope. The paper looked of high quality and smelt a little like vanilla and cherries. “Thank you, Holly. I’ll be sure to tell you once I’m done. I would like to have the letters sent as soon as I can. I should have sent them yesterday but I completely forgot to.”

“It is no problem my lady.”

Once she left, I set to writing. I penned a long letter to Dusk, telling her that I had arrived, and that she had nothing to worry about. I told her about the food, and seeing the training grounds and the beautiful garden. I told her I missed her and Martha and I couldn’t wait to see them again.

Then I wrote to my uncle. It was hard to write the words ‘dearest father’. But I had to. The Palace did not know my relationship with him was what it was. I told him what happened as clearly and concisely as I could. I tried to leave out the gory details, but he needed to know that our coachman went missing. He was probably wondering why he had not yet returned.

After I set my pen down, I pulled the cord for Holly, who came promptly to pick up my letters.

I watched as she left and then looked around my room.

That’s one thing down. Now… should I look for mother’s notebook? Where did she say it was? She said she hid it somewhere warm and safe…

I decided to start looking in the attendants room. It was the smallest room, so I figured it would be the easiest. Then I focused on the bedroom and the bathroom, but could not find it. I did however see the pretty white dresses and shoes that were in the cupboard.

It isn’t here. I guess the reception room is next.

I walked into the room, eager to start looking, when I suddenly heard an ear piercing scream.