Black dye ran down my gloved fingers tips as I rubbed it in. While Collins paced the room, and after I said my piece of the week's happenings, he gave a mountain of advice. From how to avoid the Wells and their possible schemes to navigating another odd meeting with Wulfric. 

“If you need a break from your room then take a walk through the servant corridors. Your servant should lead you there.”

I dropped my hands onto my lap: He should know about the letters, how I almost saw the man who wanted them. 

“I need to tell you something else.” I braced for impact as I said, “I wrote another letter and sent it. I followed it with one of the knights and Buckley. You were right, someone was reading them.”

His eyes grew more tired with every passing word. 

“Winslet,” he sighed. “Can you never sit still?”

It seemed he wanted to lecture me, but was either too tired or knew that I knew better. 

“Did you at least see who took them?”

“I couldn’t make out a face, but the postman is in on it. He brought my letter to this alleyway. Gave it to some man to read.”

“I’ll….look into it.”

He rubbed his neck. Taking a seat by the window as he gathered his thoughts. 

The Collins I saw weeks ago wasn’t this worn down. Something was chipping away at him. That or my presence was the only one he could afford to let the mask wane in. 

“Have you been practicing your dancing?”

“Yes. I think I’ll be okay for a dance or two, if someone asks.” 

“Good.” He sat up straighter. “Now, you can’t enter the ball by drawing too much or too little attention. Be early to the party – people will make note of your presence, possibly introduce themselves, then move on when their friends arrive.”

I pulled off my gloves and let the dye soak into my hair, leaning against my vanity as I listened. 

“If you arrive early, you can leave early. Of course, greet the king when you see him. Make it short, but respectable. Do it again when you leave.” 

“What if he wants to talk?”

“There'll be too many people to hold a long conversation.” 

“It’d be good to have at least one dance, none is strange to the nobility. But too many, and with the same man, is equally worse.” 

I itched my dyed eyebrow. “How do I tell a nobleman no if he wants to?”

“Say, Forgive me but I’m feeling unwell. That or I’ve already promised the next dance to whomever.” 

He stood up from his chair. The light from the window danced off his black suit, matching his brushed hair. 

“Though of course it’d be better to stay towards the back of the room. Light conversations, but don’t look like you’re hiding.”

“Can I ask, what will you be doing during the ball?”

He sucked in a breath. “I won’t be there.”

I shot from my chair, heart dropping. “What do you mean? You’ve been here for almost a week now, but I’ve barely seen you. I mean….the balls in two weeks! Can’t you stay a little longer?” 

He shook his head. “Forgive me. I wish I could afford more time to help you, but I have no choice. There are a multitude of matters I have to attend to that keep growing.”

“This is one of those matters. The whole peace treaty depends on me being here and not getting caught.”

Collins avoided my gaze. 

“I know this hard, Winslet,” he walked closer, “It isn’t fair either. Yet, I promise you, after this, your life will be made easy. You won’t have to work another day in your life unless you choose to.”

Our eyes met. 

“If you can hold out a little longer, I can get this treaty made – despite others efforts against it.”

I resigned back into my chair. “Just don’t make me wait too long.” 

“Thank you.”

The last thing I heard was the click of the door as he left. 

“Three breaths in, three breaths out, My Lady.” Buckley brushed out the final loose wave in my hair. “You’ll do great tonight.”

“I think I’m going to throw up.”

“If you do then I’ll rush in and blame it on the wine. That’ll get the nobles squawking,” she smiled. 

Buckley was having more fun than I was, dressing me for the ball. Ms. Whitmore’s dress had arrived in time. A blue satin gown wrapped in silver embroidery. The sleeves circled my upper arm in a single band while my hands had silver gloves up to my elbow. 

“I’ll be in the hall with the other servants,” She said, decorating my hair with silver ornaments. “If you need me.”

My focus went in and out as I walked to the ball’s entrance deep within the castle. I arrived early like Collins suggested, so there were few parties that had arrived. 

Buckley had left me, and I worried I was going deaf as I entered. 

“One breath, two breath, three,” I whispered. 

The ballroom was massive, with chandeliers that pooled light across the room – there weren’t any shadows to hide in. Windows lined the walls, allowing what felt like the whole kingdom to look in. 

A nobles talked beside the long tables with perfectly lined up snacks. Their attention was a sharp breeze as I walked by. 

As instructed I looked for Wulfric, to give a proper greeting before I could shuffle into some corner of the room. Yet, he wasn’t there on the small throne that awaited him. It was situated so he could watch the whole ball if he wanted. 

I chose a nice corner of the room and let the minutes pass by. Before I knew it the whole room was filled with bodies. Nobles of all kinds, each one laughing and enjoying themself.

My gaze drifted across the room, landing on Fabienne Wells as she stood surrounded by a group of women. 

She locked eyes with me. Then leaned closer to one of her friends, and said something behind her fan. The other women giggled in return, before one of them went off into the crowds. 

Great, I thought, scuttling behind a group of nearby people. I've been here long enough, and I’m sure the king won’t miss my greeting. 

“Princess Vivian?”

I didn’t hear anything. The music was too loud. Plenty of people were laughing – nobody said my name.

“Your Highness.”

A hand clamped around my wrist and yanked me back. Pain shot through my arm as I came face to face with some sleazy noble. He stood barely an inch away, still holding my wrist. 

“I’m so glad to make your acquaintance. Lady….something told me you’ve been waiting to make mine.”

“I’m afraid she was wrong.”

“There’s no need to be shy.” His breath was heavy with wine. “How about a dance?”

He smacked his lips. Tugging on my wrist, he dragged me closer to the ballroom floor. 

In the corner of my eye, I saw Fabienne and her friends. Some smiled viciously, while others wore a twisted expression of, better her than me.

I felt a bubbling in my chest. A familiar anger that I’d been forced to bury each time a noble like this came along. 

I stared at the hand gripping me.

In the garden, Fabienne threw the first slap at my servant. What’s one to hers?

I raised my hand—

“I’m afraid Sir Walton,” a voice interrupted, “that Her Highness has already promised me the next dance.”

Wulfric had appeared. His expression was sharp, his eyes sharper as he glared the man down. Unsoftened by the smile on his face.

“Now if you’d be so kind as to let her go.”

“Your Majesty," Walton stuttered. 

The man let me go, taking a few steps back. 

“Off you go.”

Walton bowed before walking off, his tail between his legs. 

I rubbed my wrist clean. 

“Were you about to hit him, Your Highness?” Wulfric whispered, a real smile on his face this time.

“I would never dream of it, Your Majesty." 

He held out his hand and I looked at it.

“I did say you promised me a dance."

“You did,” I sighed. 

I took his hand and he led me to the center of the room. He placed a hand around my waist, and the music kicked up.

My practice, thankfully, hadn’t been for nothing. I kept in step—but as we turned, my eyes caught Fabienne again. This time, she wasn’t smiling.

People whispered at the edges of the room. Watching.

The music grew louder. Too loud.

Heat crept up my neck. My chest tightened like it might burst.

“Vivian,” Wulfric whispered. “Look at me.”

My gaze drifted back to his.

“That’s better. Now–rest your head against me.” 

“What?”

“Please.”

I hesitated, then let my head rest lightly against his chest as we moved.

“Do you hear my heart?” he murmured. “Focus on that. Nothing else.”

I closed my eyes.

His heartbeat was steady. Grounded. 

It drowned out the noise around me, and in my head, and for a moment, everything else fell away – I could breathe again.