“Goodday Lady Longbottom.” Mother said as Drizelda stared at me.
“At least your mother knows how to address future royalty. You know when I’m queen I can have your head for that sweet Kate.”
“Kate, the inventory is waiting,” mother said softly and I left without taking my gaze off the spoiled little brat.
The chimes went off again. We sure were busy today.
“Good day sir, I will be with you in a minute.” Mother’s sweet voice greeted the customer that just entered.
“How can I help you today.”
“I need some more of your lavender sweetwater please.”
“Will that be cash…”
“No, add it to my bill.”
“Any idea when you are going to settle…”
“How dare you, how dare any of you. Just give it here,” Drizelda said.
I really wanted to punch her in the face.
“I’ll have your store for this, I swear.” She yelled and the door chimed vigorously.
“I’m so sorry that you had to hear that,” mom apologized.
“Never liked her that much anyway.” The gentleman said. “So you are giving credit here?”
“Not really but she demands it as she is the future queen of Paegeia.”
The man chuckled. “Well nothing is set in stone yet. Who knows, maybe someone else will sweep the prince off his feet than Drizelda.”
Mom didn’t answer. “Is there anything I can help you with, sir.”
“Yes, just give me what she took.”
“Really?” mom sounded not sure.
“Please my lady.”
Mom giggled. “You sure are charming.” I heard the register open. It was music to my ears.
They said their goodbyes and then the man left.
* * *
ALBERT
My father didn’t think it was time for me to discover the ins and outs of what it takes to rule Paegeia.
So in short, I had no idea why he raised the taxes. What was I going to tell my fair lady when I found her again?
I had to lay low so that my mother would think that I had forgotten about her, but in reality, I couldn’t stop thinking about her.
I told Robert about her, and only Robert as Helmut, Goran and Caleb were like me in so many ways when it came to commoners. They would never approve of my choice, but they didn’t know her. They hadn’t talked to her that night.
I was dying to go to Eikenborough to try and find her. Robert was helping me in any way that he could.
I only knew one person who know Eikenborough like the palm of her hand. Drizelda.
Robert had followed her last week to find out where she had purchased that sweet scent my lady was wearing.
He finally came back, reporting, and giving me a reason to go there.
“She what?” I snided.
“Yep, and she treats them like rats, lower than rats, throwing her royal status to be in the store owner’s face and threatening to close her store.”
I hated that so much. No wonder I was such a big disappointment to my lady that night.
“I’m sorry, I know that isn’t the reason you sent me there.”
“No, it’s fine Robert. If there is one man I can count on it’s you.”
Robert smiled. “You beat me fair and square sire,” he joked.
“I told you not to call me that. I’m not like that. You are free with me.”
“Forgive me. I learned that the hard way. I’m just scared she is going to mess up our plans.”
“She won’t. The plans are still moving forward but I need to find this girl of my dreams before we can.”
“Oh, I bought this. It’s what Drizelda keeps running up a debt for.”
He handed me a small tube of a soft purple water. “It’s called lavender sweetwater.”
I opened it and the smell of her that night returned. I closed my eyes and smiled.
“Let me guess, it’s her smell?”
“Exactly, Drizelda uses it too,” I asked.
“Something is clashing horribly,” Robert said and we both laughed.
“Don’t worry, I’ll find her.” He took the tube again. I didn’t want to part with it, but he needed it to find my fair lady and bring her to me.
“I see Drizelda is coming this afternoon.”
“Yes, I called for her.”
Both my parents stopped eating their breakfast and stared at me.
I looked up. “What? I have to marry her, you made that so crystal clear, so I might as well try to find out where our alliance is going to be, right?”
My father resumed eating his food, but mother just stared at me with an expression I couldn’t quite put words to. It was almost as if she felt my pain but I knew it wasn’t that since she had never felt my pain before. Only Delilah did.
I dreaded the coming of afternoon but I had no choice. I wanted to know more about Eikenborough and how I could devise a plan to go there.
At noon Drizelda finally arrived.
“Your majesty,” she and her mother curtseyed in front of mother and me.
“Welcome to the castle Drizelda and after that horrible humiliation my son bestowed upon you the night of the ball.”
“Not to worry, I guess a part of me understands why the prince did that.”
They spoke as if I wasn’t there.
“Can we be excused now mother?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“Thank you,” I walked away from their conversation and over to where tea was going to be served in the garden. I waited for Drizelda who take her time trying to woo my mother.
I grabbed Drizelda by her arm when she finally reached me.
“Ouch,” she said softly. “I am a lady and I am still blazing mad at what you did at the ball, Albert.”
I guffawed. “You are far from a lady,” I snided and pulled her in the farthest direction away from the tea party.
“Why the urgency to see me?”
“I want to talk. There are rumors about Eikenborough.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Drizelda.”
“It’s not that big of a deal. So I owe a pathetic little store some money,” she said.
I glared at her.
“Albert, I’m going to pay them.”
“When?”
“How do you even know about this?”
“Things have reached my ears.”
“If those peasants complained I will have their shop…”
“No, you won’t. You need to learn to pay your bills on time as it reflects badly on me. And remember, this little arrangement we have can end at any moment.”
Her eyes grew. “What do you mean? It’s been decided that you and I will be wed, Albert.”
“Nothing is set in stone sweetheart.”
“Fine, I’ll go pay my bill.”
“No, I will do it as you are already a big thorn in my foot and next time pay for your goods before you leave.”
I turned around and left.
“You leaving.”
“Yes, I don’t want to spend more time with you than I already have.”
She grunted, threw a small little flip.
At times I swear she hated me as much as I despised her. She just wanted to be queen, that was all this was for her.
* * *
KATIE
* * *
Two weeks had almost passed.
I still struggled to not think about that night even though I hated him now. On that night he had been perfect.
We were restocking inventory again. Mother was preparing a batch of sweetwater and other herbs and spices she made while I was busy putting them into their packages at the back.
The shop door bell chimed.
“How may I help…” Mother’s voice stopped. “Your highness,” she sounded shocked.
I froze.
It couldn’t be.
“Please, get up.” His voice said and I closed my eyes.
I wanted to get
my butt out front but I remembered what mother had said.
The king would send our whole family to the gallows if he found out.
“I’m here to settle Miss Longbottoms’ bill.”
“Your highness.”
“No, I’m sorry that she’s run up such a debt. I only recently learned of it, and some of her other affairs. She will never abuse credit here again. I promise.”
“But I can’t deny her with her being our future queen.”
He huffed and mumbled something softly. “And yes, you can. I’m giving you the royal seal.”
I gasped. He’s giving mom a royal seal meaning that he was going to buy from our store. Only Tony, in Eikenborough, had the royal seal.
“Oh my goodness. Thank you so much.” Mom obviously had no idea what to say while everything that I had cocked up over the past two weeks to try to forget about him just vanished. He was truly perfect.
“I might not be able to help many others when it comes to paying more taxes than they should but at least that seal will protect you. If you ever have a problem with the collectors, come to the palace.”
“Thank you, your highness.” Mother’s voice broke.
Why was he here? Why our store?
“I wonder if you can help me.” There was a song in Albert’s voice.
“I’ll try my best,” mother chuckled. I smiled softly.
“Do you keep an inventory of the names you sell your lavender sweetwater too?”
“Miss Longbottom loves it.”
“It’s not her I’m searching for.”
Shit mother was going to know that I wore some the night of the ball.
“I see. You are trying to find someone.” She sounded serious.
“You could say that, and she was definitely wearing this.”
“I see,” mother said again. “I’m so sorry but I don’t keep an inventory of purchases, your highness, since so many come from near and far just for the lavender sweetwater. It would be impossible. I truly wish that I could be of more help.”
“Not to worry. I’ll find her soon. I always do.”
Mom gave a nervous chuckle. “Good luck.”
The bell chimed as he left.
Albert was here, in our store, giving mother a red royal seal.
“Katherine Squires, what have you done?” Mother’s voice filled the store room.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t plan this Mom. I didn’t even know he would smell it.”
“He is not going to stop. I saw that look on his face.”
“What look?”
“The less you know the better.” She was quite angry.
Mom turned around leaving me with a grin on my face.
“And wipe that smile off your face. It’s not going to be good news if his father and mother find out about this.”
She kept complaining but I was already back in the clouds with him. I really couldn’t wait for him to find me.
Doubt came back in healthy, full doses. I saw Albert that night, and knew it was him. He was truly handsome, but I had no idea if he would feel the same about me.
Chapter 8
KATIE
* * *
I dropped off my siblings at the small school right next to the church.
It was a beautiful summer’s day and I closed my eyes as the sun’s heat brushed my skin.
I hated the winters and wished that it wasn’t as cold as winter always was.
Father sounded better during the summer. He held on and a part of me wished that I could find Albert and just remind him of his offer to heal father with his Swallow Annex friend.
Mother was already in the store when I arrived.
A gentleman was standing at the register and he turned around slowly as he heard me coming in.
He was handsome too, had beautiful weird hazelnut eyes and pitch dark hair.
He loved the sun.
“Good morning,” I said and smiled at him.
He just stared.
“Sorry, Katherine, the inventory.”
“Yes, mother.” I spoke and could feel the gentleman’s eyes on me as I disappeared to the back.
I didn’t like that.
“She is really beautiful.”
“Yes, every gentleman in Eikenborough is smitten with our Katie, but she is a tough one for sure.”
“Katie?”
“Short for Katherine.”
“She works here.”
“She’s my eldest. Do you want me to package this for you?”
“No, I’ll take it just like that. Thank you.” He said and the cash register opened.
Since the shop had gotten the royal seal it always opened. Drizelda hadn’t been back again after that day and I wondered if she ever would.
Her bill settled, by the prince, helped us settle quite a few of ours. There was even enough to buy more medicine for father and food for the house.
I returned to find mother standing in the doorway.
I looked at her. “Is he gone?”
“Yes,” she spoke softly.
“He’s been here before, hasn’t he?”
“A few times. The sweetwater is really starting to become a bestseller.”
“I’m glad.” I didn’t know if I should voice my concern.
“He won’t Katie, he has a sweetheart.”
“Mom, it’s just the way he stared at me.”
“I keep telling you that you are beautiful. Even the prince thinks that.”
“The prince has no idea what I look like.”
“He could sense it,” she came over to me and pulled me in for a hug. “Every boy in this village is smitten with you Kate, you are just full of nonsense.”
“No, I’m not, they all want a damsel in distress, and I’m no damsel, mother.”
“That you certainly aren’t.”
* * *
ALBERT
Three weeks after the ball, I felt so many things, irritation was one of them.
Robert has had many shops and girls to search through. He had found a couple that carries the scent but none of the girls fit the description and one that did fit the description had the smell all wrong.
Still I wanted to know more about her.
“I don’t know, Albert. She is just a girl still. A bit too young if you ask me.”
“Dammit.” I said and sighed.
“She definitely told you she was a woman. Reached her womanhood.”
“Yes, she had breasts, Robert.”
“This one is too young, it’s not her. Hey we will find her, I promise.”
I smiled. I was starting to wonder if she wasn’t a figment of my imagination.
“What could you find out about the sick, her father is definitely sick.”
“Not a lot. The minute I ask around they shut down. They are very private village, Al, and a few don’t like me snooping around too much. I am already drawing attention.”
I nodded.
What if she used a spell that night. It could explain why she ran when the clock chimed. But they pay for everything. She didn’t sound like the type that would pay for a potion and not for her father to see a Swallow Annex.
“What if we just send Connie and Issy to heal all the sick in Eikenborough.”
“And have your father asking questions. Al, you know you can’t.”
“Dammit, Robert. I need…”
“You need what?”
“To change her mind about who she thinks I am.”
“Albert, we will find her. I know we will.”
I couldn’t get her out of my head and I was starting to lose hope that maybe she didn’t even live in Eikenborough.
Where was I going to find her?
The cabin was small, but it was my private sanctuary. It held a bed which I used plenty of times whenever I was with Connie.
I hadn’t seen her since that night.
Now, I couldn’t be with any other woman. I only wanted my fair lady.
I felt like I was under a spell, a love sp
ell.
Goran and Helmut found out about my obsession with Eikenborough. They teased me about her. They didn’t understand.
They’d meet someone eventually. Someone who would cause their pulses to race whenever they were near, make their palms sweat, and labor their breathing until it felt impossible to catch a single breath. I just had to find her.
Robert landed. I could feel the earth vibrating whenever he touched ground.
I waited for him on the porch of my small cabin.
A moment later he walked out of the clouded forrest with a tunic around his waist and ran toward the cabin.
“Any news,” I asked sounding hopeful.
“None my prince. All the women that I’ve found with that scent are either married or old. From the description you gave me, it’s not one of them. I’m sorry I’ve failed you.”
I sighed sadly as he came to sit down in one of the rocking chairs.
“It’s okay. Let’s face it. Mother was never going to let me be with her and father, he doesn’t really care enough to know what I want. That’s how it is, Robert. But I do appreciate you trying.” I smiled at him. Not my glorious happy smile, but it was a smile.
“The militia has sent word. They need you full time at the camp.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s just going to break my mother’s heart, not to mention Delilah’s.”
“I’ll make sure that she knows the truth soon, my Prince.”
“Thank you Robert.”
The rest of the day we just hung out at the cabin. Caleb, Helmut and Gordy joined us around three.
We went through our plans for killing the crown prince of Paegeia. Me.
Helmut sighed as he ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t know if this is going to work, Al.”
“What isn’t going to work? It’s a solid plan.”
“He is a Chromatic dragon. The kind you are trying to save, and letting your father and ours believe that he killed you, will cause another rampage among the Chromatics.”
“It won’t,” I said softly.
“I know you think your father doesn’t love you because you are not his true love’s son, but he does, Al.”
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