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“I’m suddenly feeling quite heated. I feel so foolish, I think I may need to step away from judging eyes to collect myself. Is there some place I can use to take a moment?” When my pleading gaze met hers, she briskly nodded.

“Yes, of course, Miss. This way.”

I followed the server through the energetic room, and the armor studded guards by the door only briefly glanced my way. Having a uniformed staff member acting as my chaperone didn’t raise any suspicions. A couple lefts, followed by a right, led us to an alcove of archways open to the outdoors.

Thinking I could have studied the halls and room locations to recreate blueprints for Dee had been over-zealous. This building was massive. Even with all the guards stationed in and around the ballroom, they still littered this gods damned castle. Finding privacy so I could snoop was off the table.

The midday sun streamed through, reflecting off the posted guard’s armor.

“Miss has overheated in the packed ballroom. She requires a moment of fresh air.” Her rueful gaze ran over my purple, blotchy torso, an attempt to garner sympathy with the men.

The guards exchanged a glance before one nodded in approval.

“I shall leave you here, Miss. The gardens are enclosed, so you are safe from prying eyes. Go ahead and collect yourself. If you need, ask one of the servers for club soda upon your return. For the stain.” She gave a soft smile. With that, she curtsied and shuffled back down the hall.

Standing before the two guards, I offered a simple smile before bowing my head low as I demurely walked past them into the gardens. The afternoon sun beat down, and I took a moment to bask in the illuminating light, angling my face toward the cloudless sky.

I inhaled an invigorating breath. So far, so good. I’d gathered some information regarding the castle’s plans over the coming weeks, and if I played my cards right upon my return, I might be able to convince someone to show me where the next event will take place. Might be possible, seeing as I coerced a staffer to bring me to the lush castle gardens.

I should really get paid for this. I’m quite good.

Deciding I should enjoy the lovely castle gardens before risking getting thrown into the castle dungeons, I meandered around the stone pathways framed with newly sprouting shrubbery and flowers emerging from their winter slumber.

My former life of oppression had started melting, finally allowing me to grow like a seedling breaking ground. Though I feared the consequences, it would almost be worse to continue living the way I had been. At least this way, if I died, I got a chance to actually live the way a soul was meant to. Flourishing, blossoming, having hope, something to believe in.

“Lady Nora?”

I jumped from the startle, whipping around to have the dread in my soul validated when that smooth, lustrous, deep voice said my name. Prince Nicholas stood mere feet from me, dressed in material so fine it glimmered in the sun. I hadn’t even heard him approach, and I cursed myself for being too immersed in my thoughts. I’d had no chance to run or hide.

My pulse beat heavily in my ears, and I dropped into the clumsiest curtsy to have ever been curtsied. My ankles wobbled as I fumbled to spread my skirts to my side. “Sir prince,” I spat out.

Sir prince? The flame of embarrassment engulfed me, and I wondered if an actual flame would be less painful.

“Please, Nicholas, remember?” His steps scuffed along the stones until the tips of his shiny leather boots came into view. “Enough of that bowing,” he muttered.

I slowly raised myself, aware of each notch in my spine that straightened until I stood upright before him. What were the chances he’d be out here? I swallowed the hard lump in my throat. Why did I think I could pull something like this off and get away scot free?

“What are you doing here?” My curiosity couldn’t be reined.

“In my own gardens?” His eyes creased in that playful, charming way of his, and I think some of my internal ice melted. “I think that question is more appropriately pointed at you.” With his hands clasped behind his back, he exuded a casual grace, a strength that nearly eclipsed my confidence.

I feared I’d become a transparent vessel, and he could see my soul, all my plans and deceptions. “I-uh, came out for some air.” My mouth instantly became a desert. Gods, was the sun always this hot?

“I see you had a run in with some punch? I understand what that’s like. Awfully hostile beverage.”

I hadn’t noticed that when he smiled, a true, big smile, that his right cheek pulled into a dimple. My own lips started curling. His joy was a living thing that I breathed in, and in that moment, there was no castle. There was no ball, there was no plan to deliver retribution. My unbridled laughter surrounded both of us as I recalled how I’d ruined his suit with the same punch. How ironic.

“Maybe you should stop serving this.” I gestured to the darkening splotch atop my lavender dress.

“Oh, I don’t know.” He shifted on his feet, taking in the fresh air of spring. “Without it, I might miss out on scintillating conversation.” As if the sky were a work of art, he studied the expanse before returning his piercing, thoroughly molten gaze to mine.

My heart skipped a beat, and I scrambled to steady my breathing, lest it communicated something I didn’t want known. Why did that all too alluring smile make my knees feel wobbly?

“Though I must say, I am a bit jealous,” he added, and my eyebrows contorted into a confused expression. “You do wear it better than I.”

Sizzling. My skin was sizzling under the fiery stare that crowned his white smile. There was no hoping my cheeks remained their usual ivory after that. Desperate to change the subject, I blurted out, “You remembered my name.”

“Does that surprise you?” An unbothered, cool question.