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Memories of Aunt Meena flood my mind, spiking a pain through my chest. I pause, hands shaking, and move the conversation on.

“H-have you ever seen them?” I ask.

“No.” If Vanya notices the tremor in my voice, she does not comment. “I work instead.”

“Every time? Why?”

Vanya gives me a side-long look.

“If I do not work, the work does not get done.” She glares at other staff, who immediately scurry away.

“That is untrue!” Eliza pipes up from the sugar station. “That time you had a fever and you were in bed fordays. We worked okay then.”

“Enough talk.” Vanya waves us off. “Keep rolling.”

Eliza and I share a smirk but keep quiet. I feel like I am a young girl in the presence of Aunt Meena in one of her sterner moods.

I stay until dessert is served to the king, and we have our own smaller share afterwards. Once the pond apple pie is eaten, I say my goodbyes and make my way back to my chambers. My mood darkens.

The prince has not often spoken to me since the night I fractured my rib. I stayed in his chambers for a few days after, out of the way of the king. Inez checked my bruises, fussing over me and ensuring the correct dose of lavender tonic. But the prince stayed in the adjoining room, rarely acknowledging me.

I continue to visit his chambers every few days as we had agreed but his room is always vacant. I only hear him return after I have gone to bed and locked the door. Each morning I awake, he has awoken earlier and disappeared.

Inez had brought me news from the other servants—the prince told the king I was rightfully horrified by his transformation and I had been scared into submission. The thought brings bile to the back of my throat. But I know it is necessary to deceive the king. There has been no word on my second escape attempt.

Despite this, the longer the prince ignores me, the more I am uncertain of his intentions. The image of the warm, passionate prince I had spoken to is rapidly fading. Instead, it is replaced by the cool, aloof man I am acquainted with.

But when I return to my chambers, there is a note on the bed. I pick it up, curious. The paper is thick and stamped with royal ink. Sweat breaks out on my palms at the thought of another note from the king but I relax when I realise it is signed by the prince.

Be ready at sundown.

If it was a note from anyone else, it would be ominous.Perhaps it still is, I think to myself. After all, he has not spoken to me since that evening. I chew my bottom lip, contemplating, before deciding on the benefit of the doubt. I consider calling for Inez to help me get ready but there is a chance she will be one of the servants permitted to view the firebugs. I do not want to disturb her evening, in that case, so I dress myself.

The corseted dresses are too difficult, and I spend several frustrating minutes trying to fasten them before giving up. Instead, I pull on a loose-fitting dress, my hair poured loose over my shoulders. I have seen the prince in far worse states so I do not think he will mind. And if he does, it shows more of his character than mine.

As the sun dips below the trees, I hear a knock at my door.

“Enter.”

The prince steps in, donning a deep blue tunic threaded with gold. He is clean-shaven, and his hair is combed. My stomach flutters, which I internally scold myself for—he has been ignoring me. He does not deserve my frivolous affections.

“Miss Shivani,” he greets me and inclines his head. “You look lovely.”

“Yes.” I sniff, even though I do not agree. He must sense my irritation because he has the grace to look contrite.

“I apologise for—”

“You have nothing to apologise for, Your Highness,” I interrupt him. “We are not friends. You do not owe me your time, and nor do I owe you mine.”

The prince swallows.

“Nevertheless,” he continues, “I would like to show my thanks for your help when I was…in a poor condition. Especially now you are mostly recovered.”

He stretches out his hand. I look at it hesitantly, chewing my lip. How was he aware my rib was nearly healed?

“Not as friends,” he continues. “But as allies?”

His eyes are earnest, and my resolve quickly crumbles.