Chapter 4

Daria's dress swished to and fro as she walked quickly down the silent hallway. It took all of her restraint to not run crying back to her room.

Stupid! Foolish! Those words echoed in her head.

She bit her lip as she passed another full-length window. A view of the garden could be seen. Countess Harriet and the Prince were still walking around the lanes of flowers under the moonlight.

No, don't even think about it. Daria willed her thoughts to something else.

As soon as dessert was finished, her mother had proposed taking tea out on the garden terrace. Daria had rushed away as everyone was moving. She was too embarrassed, after what she had accidentally done. No one had noticed. Or so she thought.

She couldn't help it. Tears were dropping, no matter how hard she tried.

Daria opened the first door she approached in the hallway and collapsed inside the room. Only there, did her tears begin to fall fast and hard. It took a few minutes for her to compose herself.

She breathed in heavily. The familiar smell of books, ink and paper reached her. Daria opened her eyes.

She was in the library. She gave a small smile. Of all the places in the palace, she had subconsciously walked into the one place that could calm her.

She leaned into her favorite couch and closed her eyes. It was all silent in the library. Just the way she liked it.

Her thoughts kept returning to one subject.

She sighed and closed her eyes again. She really had acted foolishly at dinner.

Daria buried her head in the soft, comfortable couch armrest. She could feel her face burning with embarrassment as she replayed the incident over and over again.

Gravy splattered against his shirt.

Prince Derek's look of astonishment.

Countess Harriet pitiful smug look…

Daria gritted her teeth at the thought.

Stupid! Stupid! How could I lose control! I'm a princess. After all those etiquette lessons, I should have learnt how to control myself. I acted like a child with a tantrum.

Daria shook her head at her reflection in the mirror. Madame Doyle's voice was coming back to her, reminding her of all those lessons…

"No, Daria!" cried Madame Doyle. "That is not how a princess should act."

"But Charles pulled my hair. He was annoying me!" complained a ten-year-old Daria.

"Daria, you are a princess. No matter what happens, no matter how the courtiers or your guests may act. You will be expected to act as the gracious, charming princess."

"But what if I don't want to be a gracious, charming princess? Can't I just tell them to stop and go away?"

Madame Doyle sighed deeply again and rubbed her eyes. She stood up to look down at Daria.

"Daria, always remember, you are her royal highness, Princess Daria of Blaven. Remember that."

Another sigh escaped Daria as she remembered Madame Doyle's words. In her reverie, she had not noticed Lara's pet cat, Nutshell, brushing past her dress and jump up lightly onto her skirts. It was mewing quietly and pawing at her dress.

She absently petted Nutshell's head.

Madame is right again as usual. I should not have allowed that to happen. I lost my temper and all because I was jealous of the Countess. I have to accept the fact that I will never be talented at socializing with charm.

It was stupid. Prince Derek is only an acquaintance. My behavior was inexcusable!

What must he think?!

Daria groaned into Nutshell's fur at the thought.

To him, I must be some clumsy Princess, who cannot even maintain proper conversation! He must be comparing me with the Countess!

Daria sat up and shuddered. Heaven forbid that anyone should ever compare her with the Countess!

With resolution, Daria stood and walked to the window. Her decision was made.

She was a fool, she had acknowledged that. To display such actions that would suggest jealousy and possessiveness over someone who was but a mere acquaintance? Yes, that was foolish. She would not allow that to happen again.

She knew how they would have interpreted her action at dinner. She was sure the Countess knew; after all, the Countess had the look of a hawk whose eyes never left its' prey.

Daria closed her eyes again as she thought this out carefully. She didn't even know her own feelings towards the Prince!

I must wait. I have only met him today, after all. I have acted too abruptly.

I must ascertain my feelings slowly. I really should get to know him better.

Yes, that is it. We must become friends first, before I…before I…what?

Daria didn't know. Her feelings were too confused. She liked Prince Derek. She was interested in him.

But as an acquaintance…or as something more…?

She shook her head and closed her eyes once again.

It's too early to be thinking about this. I should just treat him as any acquaintance for now.

Her face relaxed into a small smile. She was calmer now, and she was prepared. She knew how she was going to face the Prince after this.

Hopefully, Daria thought, we can both act as though I had not caused gravy to stain his shirt!

Daria opened the huge window and a gust of wind twirled into the silent library. She breathed in the wintry night air.

There was no one in the garden or the terrace now. She was relieved. It was better for her to face the Prince and the Countess tomorrow.

Her eyes were starting to ache. Thoughts of tomorrow and what it would bring rushed out of her head, as Daria felt her eyes slowly close. Her slender frame slid down and leaned against the windowsill as she felt sleep approach…

Her last thought was of the empty lonely garden outside.

Someone was shaking her. She could feel movement around her. There was a bright light shining directly on her.

Daria opened her eyes and saw Lara peering down at her. She was still in the library. The sunlight from the window was blinding her. Somehow, during the night, she had crawled from the windowsill back to her couch. Her hair was splayed all over the armrest; the ribbons and pins Lara had put in had slipped out.

"Lara!"

"About time you woke up, Dar!"

Daria smiled sheepishly. "What time is it?"

"Nine O'clock in the morning. Have you any idea how long I have been looking for you?"

"What? I slept that long?"

"I was worried last night. You didn't return. I was waiting for you. There's something I have to tell you."

"Sorry. It's just that, something happened at dinner. I was upset…"

"What happened?"

Daria was silent. How to tell Lara? She was sure Lara would find the 'gravy-incident' humorous.

"Well?"

"Alright, so I was stupid. Promise you'll try not to laugh after I finish?"

"It has to be something funny you did, right?"

"Not saying a thing until you promise."

"Alright, alright. I swear on my loyalty to the Royal family of Blaven, I will try very hard not to laugh." Lara grinned.

Daria felt herself relax slightly; Lara always had that friendly, easy-going effect on people.

"So, at dinner-"

Here, Daria was interrupted by a quiet knock on the library door and then it swung open to reveal a timid maid.

"Princess Daria, the Queen has requested you take tea with her in half an hour." The maid's hands clenched tightly on her servants dress, her eyes barely looking Daria in the face.

Daria smiled kindly at the maid. She was a new girl at the palace.

"Thankyou. Please tell her I will be there."

As soon as the door closed, Lara was on her feet and pulling Daria up with her.

"What are you doing? I haven't finished my story yet!"

"Dar, you probably don't realize, but you look like a mess." Lara held up a few of Daria's loose curls. "We need to start getting you ready now. Your mother won't be happy if you arrive breathless and flushed."

"My story-"

"can wait."

Reluctantly, Daria allowed Lara to usher her back to her room for dressing. After all, she was having tea with her mother and she definitely needed to be ready for that.