Heidi gazed out the window as she chewed on her hair. Her sisters were in one of the parlors with Derek and Trist. She had been excused so she could rest before the picnic. Her mind was still on what Drew had said to her. They had gotten to know each other fairly well during the time they sat in the library together, and apparently he'd gotten to know her a lot more than she realized.

He was right in what he said, of course. In their conversations she would be sweet and nice, but it wasn't her. While she spun off all the right things to say, her mind was wondering if it would ever end. All the politeness, the court etiquette, the people who served her but didn't care an ounce what happened to her.

Sometimes she wanted to tell them to be quiet, to go away, or tell them everything she really wanted to do. Sail across the ocean in one of those big ships, climb a mountain, build her own house, marry a man who loved her. But she had learned long ago that being proper is better than being yourself. Besides, she'd probably faint, maybe even die, if she climbed a mountain or built something.

She bit her lip and choked back tears. She hated this sickness. She couldn't do anything! She couldn't even go outside without someone accompanying her. It just wasn't fair. And because of it, she'd probably end up marrying some stranger who only chose her because she was pretty. She'd seen the way Trist looked at her last night, and she didn't like it. But there was nothing to be done. It was all hopeless.

"Heidi!" Xavia came running to her. "We're leaving now!" Then the girl noticed Heidi's fallen face. "What's wrong?"

Heidi forced a smile as she stood up and smoothed her skirts. "Nothing, I'm fine. Let's go."

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"Would now be a good time to tell me what it is you like to do, Your Highness?" Derek asked Sophia as they climbed out of the carriage.

Sophia laughed, a bit nervously. His smile was quick to put her at ease. "Well, I enjoy reading," she said slowly.

"Ah, reading, the wonderful art of words. I do enjoy it myself. I even have ventured to write my own books on a few occasions," Derek said.

"Did you really?" Sophia asked. "I would love to read them."

"Well, they were nothing spectacular, just thought I would try my hand at it."

"Oh, but I'm sure they must be good."

Derek laughed. "Well, if you insist. What else do you do with your spare time?"

"I embroider some."

"Of course, it seems the thing for accomplished young ladies to do. What else?"

"Well, Sir, I don't really have time for a whole lot else, with caring for my sisters," Sophia replied, looking up into Derek's bright blue eyes.

"Ah, well, you do have a lot of them," Derek said, glancing around at the princesses. "And what with your mother gone...it must be terrible responsibility, being the eldest."

Sophia nodded. "It is, but I don't mind really. I love them."

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Xavia ran over to Ben, who was staring rather dejectedly towards Sophia and Derek.

She smiled up at him. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing—just waiting to take you all back."

"Do you have to stand right there?" Xavia asked.

"No," Ben replied after a moment.

"Then don't you want to come and talk to us?" Xavia questioned, grabbing his hand.

Ben looked down at her and smiled. He always liked children. "I suppose I could do that, just for you, Miss Xavia."

She giggled and led him over to where all of the princesses except for Sophia were sitting in a circle.

Ben took off his hat. "Ladies," he nodded.

"Ben," Xavia nodded, mimicking him.

He grinned.

Xavia grabbed his hat and tossed it to Minerva, who passed it to Aerin, and so on. They played a game of keeping it away from him, until it got passed back to Xavia. She hid it behind her back.

They heard a bird cooing in the distance.

"What kind of bird is it, Ben? If you tell me right I'll give you your hat." Xavia said with a sly smile.

"Dove. Mourning dove," he answered.

She threw his hat at him.

Just then, Trist left King Edward, whom he had been talking with, and came over to the girls.

"Heidi, would you walk with me?" he asked smoothly.

Heidi paled slightly, then rose. It wasn't really a choice; she couldn't refuse, though she dreaded it. "Of course," she said rather coldly.

Everyone grew quiet. Ben glanced at Sophia, who had turned almost whiter than Heidi.

They locked eyes and she mouthed, "Please."

He nodded, and as soon as Heidi and Trist had disappeared behind some trees, he hurriedly stood up to follow them.

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"You are very beautiful, Heidi," Trist said as they walked.

"Thank you," she replied, looking at her feet.

They walked in silence for a moment.

"If I were to find the curse—" Trist started.

"Well, you haven't," Heidi interrupted. "No one has yet."

"True, but I will try my hardest to win...for love."

"Love?" Heidi questioned, puzzled.

"For you, Heidi. Ever since I laid my eyes on you..." he took a step closer to her.

Heidi stepped backwards.

He seemed not to notice, and continued towards her. "I just want you," he whispered.

"Sir, I—"

Trist grabbed her waist and tried to kiss her.

Heidi screamed.

Ben flew out from the trees and pulled Trist off of her, then punched him hard in the eye.

Trist stumbled backwards.

"Don't try that again!" Ben shouted.

Trist's mouth twisted into a crooked smile. "We'll meet again, my dear. I will have you," he said firmly. Then he ran back towards the others.

Ben turned to Heidi. "Are you alright? He won't get away with this."

"I'm fine," she said shakily.

Ben extended his arm. "I'll walk you back. We'll tell the others what happened and you won't have to see him ever again."

Heidi nodded and took his arm.

When they got back, Trist was talking with King Edward and Derek like nothing had ever happened. He didn't even have a bruise.

Ben left Heidi standing with Sophia, and went to report to the king.

"Sir, I was following Princess Heidi and Sir Trist and—"

"You were following them?" the king said with a frown. "You ought to know better than to invade on people's privacy, Ben."

Ben was taken aback. "I—but—Sir!"

The king frowned but didn't reply.

"Sir, Trist was acting dishonorably!" Ben said.

The king acted as if he didn't even hear—simply continued on in his conversation.

Ben repeated his accusation, louder this time.

No reply.

The girls all looked puzzled.

Ben repeated a third time, shouting now.

When again, none of the three men reacted, Ben came over to Heidi and Sophia.

"There's something wrong here," he said.

"He can't just get away with this!" Sophia said, now knowing all that Heidi had told her.

"One night is really an awfully short time to find the curse," Derek was saying to the king.

"Yes, it is," King Edward said, "but I can't wait forever to find the curse."

"Of course not, but perhaps just a few more days..."

"Three days!" Trist said. "That would be enough time."

"Well, I suppose I could perhaps extend it to three...that's not really that many."

"Yes, yes, it would be just right," Derek said.

"Alright then! Three it is!" King Edward said happily.

The princesses glanced at each other. It wasn't like their father, to give in that easily. He never gave in once he had his mind set on something. Something strange was definitely going on here.