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“What do you wish for me to do while I wait for you?”

Valerie paused, letting her eyes sweep over the baroness, who was obviously deeply confused by her demands.

“Do you know how to read?”

“Somewhat. I have been taking private lessons.”

“Then read, paint, bring your husband if you have one. I do not care what you do to entertain yourself. I do not care if I find you asleep, as long as it will allow me to explore this beautiful place on my own.” She gestured to the walls around her.

Victoria gave a cheerful smile.

“The palace is remarkable, is it not? I understand your desire to wander it. I often do when there is no court business to attend.” Her smile grew brighter. “Perhaps it is fortunate I am the one who will be attending to you.”

“How so?”

She gave a giggle. Then she raised her hand to the side of her face like she was intending to whisper something private, yet she spoke with the same loud volume as before. “I have often been ridiculed for being missing or late to functions because I have gotten lost in the palace.” She then did lower her voice. “Or I fell asleep somewhere on the grounds.”

This is wonderful. The baroness will cover for me while I look around.She snuffed the desire to smirk.

Everything was happening easier than she imagined.

“But I will suggest to you, my lady,” Victoria said while she obtained a towel, since Valerie had finished bathing, “that you do attend the separate functions that some of the court women hold. It will reflect better on you in the eyes of the king if he sees you are able to blend in with them. It will be one of the factors that will help him decide on his wife. If you ladies are unable to assimilate into his company, it may not bode well for you.”

“Should they not accept us, since we will be the potential queen?”

“No.” She shook her head before she knelt to go through one of her chests for a nightgown. “They may go out of their way to make sure you stick out, so they can assure a queen they can manipulate.”

“If that is true, why would you tell me when you are one of them?”

“Because, my lady, while you are here, my task is to inform you of such things. I can also already tell you will not treat me horribly, like some high-handed noblewomen have. I will try to assist you as much as I can for that reason alone.”

She is trying to gain my trust.Valerie didn’t know if it was merely a ruse, but she didn’t particularly care.

“Thank you.” Valerie inclined her head in gratitude. “I shall consider you an ally during my stay, then.”

“You are welcome.” She walked over to the bed to untuck it, pulling the corner out carefully and folding it back, then turned with her hands clasped in front of her waist. “Do you need me for anything else? I can brush your hair or–”

“No, this is fine. Please, enjoy your evening.”

Once the woman was gone, Valerie let out a sigh and walked over to the window to stare at the night sky.

Finally, she could have a moment to relax, to breathe. The charade she was playing was tiring.

The waning moon bathed the long, wide, grassy field in the centre of the square palace walls with light. She touched her sternum, like that was where her magic was hidden away inside of her.

I do not remember a night where I have not done a moon ritual.It was something her entire coven performed every night to give tribute to their ancestors, to thank them for their power.

There was also a ritual for the sun she would miss in the morning, a tribute to the power of fire and those who wielded it.

Witches were the product of humans and Dragons mating; their witchcraft came from their mystical ancestor. Dragons had the ability to take a human form through a spell, and over a thousand years ago, one had decided to take a human female to slake their lust.

Witches were created by accident, since it hadn’t been known Dragons could breed with humans. Once they discovered they could, they became interested in the creatures they could create.

The result was a thing with a human body, but with magical properties like them. They were curious. Breeding with humans became a regular thing until there were hundreds of Witches.

Dragons taught them how to use their magic, how to access the world and nature around them to grow it, how to create potions, and cast spells. From there, they began to teach themselves, and their Dragon parents were entertained by their powerful little human-like children.

Apparently, life had been peaceful.