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Good morning—I did not wish to wake you.

I am in the library all day. Please visit me when you have a moment. There is much I long to tell you.

Forgive me. I was cold toward you last night. The truth is that I have difficulty finding words when I’m in front of you. My mind is a tangled web, as you know.

You asked for it, so it is yours—something sweet:

The light in your eyes puts the stars to shame.

Lope

It was as if all the strength I’d lost last night had returned, as if I were a dying plant, suddenly revived by cool rain. I pressed the note to my heart and twirled around the room. Those were the same sort of words she’d written about the girl she’d loved. The words I had prayed were about me.

I would keep my own love locked safe in my chest, for now—it wasn’t fair of me, a noblewoman, the daughter of her employer, to make such a declaration to her. I wanted her to feel no obligation to me.Shewould be the one to lead our dance, when she felt safe and confident enough to unlatch her heart and let me see within.

I could picture it so clearly.

Lope would confess her love to me in the rose garden, andwe’d spend nights exploring the palace, experiencing all its wonders. Then, on quiet nights, we would read side by side in the library, nestled by a hearth fire.

I stood in front of a mirror, a little warped but still finer than any I’d seen in my life. My curls were in a haphazard pile on my head, sagging on one side, and my rouge had been smudged away. But I looked at my brown eyes the way she did.They put the stars to shame.

Those were not the words of someone uncaring.

Father had been wrong. Hers were the words of a girl with a tender heart, a heart tender withlove.

Elation bubbled through me. I grinned and I couldn’t stop giggling, even though I hadn’t said a word. I held my hands against my burning cheeks, gazing into the mirror. Her words played in my head again and again,Put the stars to shame, put the stars to shame.

“Oh, I could kiss you now,” I sighed.

And I would. As soon as I was presentable, I’d make my way to her.

After I pulled the braided rope to ring for my ladies-in-waiting, I noticed on the nearby clock that it was already three in the afternoon. I’d slept most of the day away—no wonder Lope had retreated to the library.

An eternity later, my two maids appeared and set about their work. As I sorted through the skirts and bodices in my wardrobe, I realized with a jolt that I didn’t know what Lope’sfavorite color was. I would need to ask her immediately.

In the meantime, pink was never a poor decision.

My maids helped me into my gown and decorated my hair with pearl-tipped pins, and as they did so, they threw one another delighted little glances. I recognized those smiles.

“Is there intrigue in the palace today?” I asked hopefully.

“Yes!” cried Ainhoa, tying a string of pearls around my throat. “Oh, my lady, we are all dying of curiosity!”

I squeezed my hands together, grinning at my reflection. As if today couldn’t be more divine. “Tell me everything!”

The taller maid, Estel, fetched me new stockings and a pair of shoes. “There’s aswarmof courtiers in the hallway outside the Hall of Illusions. We couldn’t figure out why—but it reminded me of that first night, when it appeared so suddenly. Itmustbe something splendid.”

My heartstrings tugged me toward Lope, toward the library, but my sense of curiosity was just too strong. And besides, I reasoned—it’s on the way, isn’t it? And Lope had wanted me to gather up secrets about Le Château.

Once I was dressed, Ainhoa, Estel, and I raced around one corridor and then another. The halls were so dark today—out the windows, heavy, black clouds blotted out the sun so completely that candles had already been lit. Around another corner, just as they said, we found a crowd surrounding the knights and the double doors. Courtiers stood on their toes, whispering, as they tried to get a better view.

I strode to the nearest nobleman, a boy about my age with a prim, silver suit.

“Pardon me,” I said, “what has everyone so curious today?”

The boy whirled toward me, his mouth falling open. He hastily swept into a graceful bow. “Lady Ofelia! Forgive me, I—I know your father does not want us crowding by the hall just yet, as it is still incomplete—”

“Enough of that,” I said, batting away his words. “I ask you because I shall burst if I don’t find out what’s causing all this commotion!”