[Scene: Morning Next Day in Kingsley. It is a sunny day outside but the air is getting colder, getting ready for the fall season. Caelia and Cassian arrive at the school to get started with the playground. The kids are distraught after what had happened with Caelia 3 days ago.]

TEACHER (worried):

“Caelia! Are you okay??”

CAELIA:

“I’m okay, I am just heavily allergic to figs. I’m feeling a lot better now.”

[The kids scramble to eagerly meet Caelia.]

KID:
“Miss Caelia! Are you okay?”

CAELIA: 

“Everyone, I am okay! Please do not worry. I am just really allergic to figs!”

[Caelia gestures for the kids to go back to their seats.]

CAELIA:

“Everyone, don’t worry about me! Let’s work together to finally build that nice playground for you guys!”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

I don’t care what the original Caelia has to say.

I’m going to work on this out of my own volition. 

Maybe at first, I wanted to find any way to survive but 

I’ve found something worth living for.

And now I want to continue for that purpose.

The original Caelia will never understand the pain that these people go through.

I want to help them.

----------------

[Scene: Back at the palace at the same time, Annalise is seen having tea with Queen Valeria outside at the castle’s garden.]

QUEEN VALERIA (smiles):

“What brings you here, Annalise? I hope you’re having a good day.”

ANNALISE (smiles back):

“I just feel like we haven’t caught up in a long time! I’ve been so busy running around the palace!”

ANNALISE - INNER MONOLOGUE:

… trying to get information around the palace but everyone is absolutely useless.

QUEEN VALERIA:

“You’ve been doing a great job keeping the palace in order! I really appreciate it.”

ANNALISE (fake smiles):

“It’s the least I could do! It’s been tough working on everything by myself but I am managing!”

ANNALISE - INNER MONOLOGUE:

It’s so disgusting having to constantly be around dirty maids. I thought that being in the palace would get me out of the slums.

[INFO PANEL: In “The Radiant Rose of Everhart,” Annalise’s past was living in poverty with her ill mom. One day, when she was walking around her hometown which was known for having the most beautiful roses around, people were gathered around mesmerized by someone. People were gushing at something but Annalise could not pinpoint what. She then sees the focal point of the crowd, like finding a needle in a haystack, it was Prince Theodoric Everhart. Their eyes met for one second and she instantly fell in love at first sight, but thought nothing of it. The next day, Prince Theodoric showed up at Annalise’s door with a bundle of roses, wanting to know more about her. That’s how their love story started.]

ANNALISE - INNER MONOLOGUE:

I gotta be grateful.

My life changed when Theo approached me.

I gotta keep my place so I don’t go back to that wretched place.

QUEEN VALERIA:

“To be honest Annalise, I don’t really agree with Caelia being out in Kingsley. I just think she changed too much overnight! It’s like she woke up one day and changed to a completely different person.”

ANNALISE - INNER MONOLOGUE:

I don’t need you or anyone else to tell me that. 

I know better than anyone that Caelia Ardent has changed overnight.

The schemes, the sabotage, backhanded compliments. 

It all stopped in an instant. 

And it’s like she doesn’t even acknowledge my existence anymore.

ANNALISE:

“The people in Kingley are probably very happy that she and Sir Cassian are out there fixing their homes.”

QUEEN VALERIA (after a pause, feeling wavering feelings):

“Yes. We have received many letters that praise her work out there.”

[Queen Valeria remembers the time when Caelia exclaimed that she does not care about being an empress and all she wants to do is build. And then remembers another time where Caelia defended herself against everyone who thought she caused the fire.]

QUEEN VALERIA (continues):

“... She has become a nicer person.”

[Annalise notices that Queen Valeria’s feelings about Caelia are changing bit by bit and Annalise starts to internally panic.]

ANNALISE:

“C-Could we have dinner tonight? Me, you, and King Oscar? It’s been a while since we have done anything like that. That’s why I called you out here.” 

QUEEN VALERIA:

“A dinner…? Good idea! I think the last time we had dinner was right before Theo left for his exhibition! I can ask my husband.”

[Annalise’s face darkens.]

ANNALISE:

“...Thank you.” 

-----------

[Scene: Later that night, at the dining room. The room is filled with extravagant paintings and gold artifacts. The dining table is so ornate and long that it takes up more than three-quarters of the room. King Oscar is sitting at one end of the table and Queen Valeria is sitting to his right. Annalise arrives at the dining room.]

ANNALISE (curtsy):

“Your Grace, thank you for agreeing to have dinner at such short notice.”

KING OSCAR (waves over for Annalise to come eat next to Queen Valeria):

“Annalise! Welcome. Thanks for organizing this. It’s been a while since we have all had dinner together.”

[Annalise walks over and sits down at the table next to Queen Valeria. What’s served on the ornate gold plate is a simple salad with greens and some fresh fruits. The side of the plate had a piece of meat. A well balanced meal.]

[Annalise notices the salad included figs.]

ANNALISE - INNER MONOLOGUE:
Figs…? 

Come to think of it, doesn’t Caelia hate figs?

[Flashback: Back when Prince Theodoric chose his prospects: Caelia and Annalise, everyone had an initial dinner together. The same meal of a salad with figs was served. Caelia absolutely went rampant on the maids around the house, demanding that any fig was taken out of her sight.]

[Annalise looks intently at the figs sprawled out on her salad, but before getting too deep in her thoughts, King Oscar starts the conversation.]

KING OSCAR:

“So, Annalise, how have you been? It’s been a while since we have talked.”

ANNALISE:
“I’m good, Your Grace, thanks for asking!”

QUEEN VALERIA:

“Hun.. she's been working so hard! All by herself! The palace has never looked more pristine!”

ANNALISE:

“Aha! Thank you! It has been hard working all by myself but… I’m managing!”

KING OSCAR:

“Well, we appreciate your work.”

ANNALISE:

“It’s not a problem, really! I appreciate you preparing dinner for us! I especially love figs!”

KING OSCAR:

“Maybe we should’ve invited Caelia to have dinner with us tonight.”

ANNALISE (feigning ignorance):

“...She’s doing good things out there… building things and getting her hands dirty as a noble… We should let her continue to work out there for the people who need it! I’m sure Duke Ardent has heard about her good deeds in Kingsley.”

[King Oscar and Queen Valeria pause.]

KING OSCAR:

“I’m not so sure about that. We haven’t received any letter from the Ardent house in 8 months.”

ANNALISE - INNER MONOLOGUE:
Eight months..?

No contact for 8 months??

ANNALISE: 

“How insensitive of me… I wasn’t too aware of her relationship with her family.” 

QUEEN VALERIA (to Oscar):

“Hun, have you heard from Duke Ardent?”

KING OSCAR:

“Edward and I… have lost contact with one another since Caelia arrived here. And no one from the north sent any letters to Caelia.”

ANNALISE - INNER MONOLOGUE:

Strange… I heard they were close friends with one another.

And besides, wouldn’t Duke Ardent want to hear updates about his daughter living at the palace? 

ANNALISE:

“I’m sure that he’s proud of his daughter nonetheless! She’s doing great things in Kingley and helping people out!”

KING OSCAR:

“I’m not sure he even knows. The North is segregated from everyone else, it takes a while for information to get over there.”

ANNALISE:

“Well, he should know! Caelia is basically rebuilding a town! That’s something to be proud of!” 

[King Oscar stays quiet.]

ANNALISE:

“Maybe a good idea is to send over a letter to Duke Ardent telling him about all the good that Caelia has been doing!”

KING OSCAR (bothered):

“Y-Yeah.. maybe.”

QUEEN VALERIA:

“Annalise, dear. You are too kind.” 

ANNALISE:

“Her work should be recognized by her family even if it’s considered a man’s job! Her and Cassian are doing well out there, it should be celebrated!” 

KING OSCAR (strict):

“Okay, maybe we should change the subject.”

ANNALISE:

“O-Oh. I apologize, your grace.” 

[Annalise notices King Oscar’s weird behavior when Duke Ardent is mentioned.]

ANNALISE - INNER MONOLOGUE:

It’s going to be tough cracking the King.

But I’ve gathered enough information to infer that Everhart and the North are possibly on bad terms right now, along with Caelia and Duke Ardent having no contact for the past year, at least. 

The King seems sensitive about Duke Ardent. 

I’m not quite sure what to do with this information.

QUEEN VALERIA (changing subjects):

“H-Hun! This dinner is so nice! Maybe we should have another dinner like this when Caelia comes back.”

ANNALISE:

“Caelia is coming back?”

QUEEN VALERIA:

“Yes, we plan to call her back soon to fix things around the palace.”

ANNALISE:

“That’s great! It’s getting kinda lonely here. And I’m sure her expertise is needed to fix the palace before the ball!”

[King Oscar slowly nods his head.]

ANNALISE:

“How is Prince Theodoric? Have you been hearing from him?” 

QUEEN VALERIA:

“He is doing well! I’m sure you already know since he had sent many letters to you, Annalise, but his hunting is going well! The King and I were getting worried since we haven’t heard from him in a while but we just heard from him today!”

ANNALISE (beaming):

“Oh really?! Yes, Prince Theodoric is very talented at hunting. I haven’t gotten a letter in a while. I’m sure it’s hard fighting off wildlife all the time.”

QUEEN VALERIA:

“We miss him so much. I wish he would come home earlier.”

ANNALISE - INNER MONOLOGUE:

I hadn’t gotten a letter today.

I’ve been sending him letters nonstop since he was gone but he sends his parents letters and not me?

Maybe he’s just too busy?

QUEEN VALERIA (to King Oscar):

“Hun, have you sent a letter back?”

KING OSCAR:

“Yes… sent one this morning.”

[The entirety of the rest of the dinner was mostly Queen Valeria and Annalise talking to each other while King Oscar is slowly hacking away at his meal.]