I've been excited to post this chapter, but I want to add a trigger warning for some of my more sensitive readers. This chapter includes Sofia accidentally cutting herself and getting stitches. If you don't feel comfortable reading the whole chapter, just jump past the lines :)

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XOXO

I ducked into my room quickly, leaving the door open and trying to listen for any remnants of a conversation without any luck.

I eyed the basket of vegetables and figured it was a good excuse to sneak to the kitchen, so I crept out.

"Sofia!" my father bellowed, and I froze.

"Yes, my dear, loving papa," I chimed sweetly, but his frown was lingering.

"What on earth was going through your and your sister's heads, talking to the crowned Prince of Enchancia so casually?" his voice was low.

He kept glancing over his shoulder, making me wonder if we were alone.

"We didn't know, papa. He didn't say he was the Prince, and we've never seen any of the royal family before," I defended our actions.

His wide eyes searched my face for any sign of falsehood.

I realized that I was very uncomfortable being stared at so intently. But, of course, I didn't mind James staring at me with those beautiful green eyes and that perfect jawline…

I snapped back from daydreaming as my father pulled me into his arms. "It's okay, child. Just do me a favor and don't talk to strangers. It's dangerous," He whispered in a tone I had never heard before.

My father was always the strong, outgoing, level-headed type, and I instantly knew something was wrong. I gently pulled out of my father's musky scented arms and looked up at him.

He towered over me by at least two feet, and his grey-streaked hair that once mimicked mine fell to his shoulders.

"What's going on, papa? Why are you and mother so worried about us here? Are we in danger?" I had so many questions, and I was determined to find the answers.

If we were in danger, we deserved to know the truth.

"No, child. Not really. It's not my place to get involved. I warned Miranda about bringing you girls here blind to the truth," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Not your place? I'm afraid I'm not following," I told him softly but was shrugged off.

"Take those vegetables to the kitchen before your mother comes looking for you," he sighed.

I almost rolled my eyes but thankfully stopped myself in time.

"Yes, papa. But, what did Ja-Prince James say before he left?" I asked sheepishly, and he gave me a stern look.

"Nothing, he hasn't left yet. He's with your mother in the kitchen," he laughed, and I hugged him.

I raced to the kitchen, straightening my waist-length hair as I ran. I stopped just short of the door and took a deep breath.

"Come in," my mother called, and I poked my head around the corner, surprised.

"How did you-"

"Don't you ever get tired of asking me that?" she interrupted me shaking her head "now come in and get those vegetables put away so I can make dinner."

James was sitting on a stool at the prep station, and I gave him a shy wave before stashing the basket in the pantry.

I noticed that the cooks were nowhere in sight and wondered if they were gone because the Prince was visiting or my mother had sent them away.

"So, James tells me King Roland II is interested in purchasing the estate" my mother smiled as she rolled out the dough she was working on, and I held my breath.

"I didn't tell her. She assumed that was the reason for my visit," James corrected her defensively, and I exhaled slowly.

"I had a suspicion that the king would be interested; I'm just glad he spoke up so quickly. With any luck, we will be on a ship by the end of the week," she whispered more to herself than to us, and James's face fell slightly.

"Lady Miranda, I was hoping you could stay long enough for Sofia and me to become more acquainted," he stated bluntly.

My mother scowled at him and scoffed rudely.

"That's not happening, no offense, your majesty, but Enchancia and I do not have the fondest of memories."

"Yes, I have been aware of your and your parent's…disagreements. But you must understand their position; I mean, after all, they were-"

"SOFIA!" my mother slammed her hands on the table, sending up a cloud of flour and nearly giving me a heart attack.

The look on James's face told me he felt the same way.

"Y-yes, ma'am," I jumped, holding my hand over my chest.

"Go…Peel potatoes…in the dining room. NOW!" my mother demanded, pointing towards the door

I stared at her like she was crazy as I collected the tubers and the knife. "Okay?"

I left the room but hid around the corner.

I had gotten on to my sisters multiple times for eavesdropping, but I couldn't stop myself.

I had been willing to wait for my mother to open up to me, but it seemed like she was determined to keep something from me.

"She doesn't know, does she" James accused, and my mother shushed him.

"No, and none of them will find out either."

"Are you sure keeping it from them is such a good idea? They should know who they are."

"With all due respect, Prince James, it's none of your business."

"I would like to make it my business; I want Sofia-"

"NO!" she stopped him "you do not get my daughter. I don't care what your social status is or if she was to accept her title. She is not to know, and you are not to see her again. Period."

"Lady Miranda, I will let you get away with speaking so viciously towards me this time, but you need to remember that I am the crowned Prince of this kingdom. I want to call on Sofia if she allows me to do so, and I will do whatever is necessary."

"Yes. I'm sure you would. Forgive me for speaking like that. I want to get back to our normal lives; staying here is driving me mad" my mother's voice reflected the strain I knew she was enduring.

"My father is expecting you tomorrow morning. I will call on Sofia while you are at the palace."

"Oh, I don't think so. I will bring Sofia with me, and you two can have a supervised visit there. She is still my daughter, and you are a man. Albeit a trained gentleman, but a man nonetheless."

"That will be acceptable. Be sure to bring Laura and Hannah as well; I feel they will get along with my sister."

"Gaining favor with all three of my daughters will not make my husband and I change our minds about leaving, James."

"Well then, I suppose I will have to gain favor with you then."

"Heh, good luck with that, your majesty. I'm going to go see how Sofia is doing with those potatoes."

I flew to the dining room and began peeling the potatoes as quickly as I could.

My mind was spinning. What had my mother and James meant? Social status and titles? Were my grandparents royalty? Was I?

I pictured myself dancing with James in a majestic purple ballgown adorned with luxurious pearls. My skin was coated in glittering powder and sparkling under the ballroom lights.

I felt something warm on my hand and, to my horror, I realized I had cut myself.

"SOFIA ODETTE!" my mother screeched, rushing to my side "what have you done, girl?!"

I clasped my hand over the gash on my wrist and ran to the kitchen. I needed to stop daydreaming so much.

James panicked at my blood-covered arms and began searching for a first aid kit "what happened!?" he asked feverishly.

"I just cut myself. It is not as bad as it looks," I assured James, but my vision began to blur, and I slumped against him.

He propped me up on the stool he had been sitting at, and my mother, whose face had lost all its color, held me steady.

"There are bandages under the sink," she directed

I closed my eyes, but she slapped my face to keep me awake "You are so much trouble, girl. How on earth does one hurt themselves so bad peeling potatoes?" James tied a length of twine around my arm to use as a tourniquet and poured warm water over my injury, making me flinch.

My father appeared by my side and helped them restrain me.

"You're going to be just fine, Sofia," James cooed gently as he inspected my arm "Lady Miranda, she needs stitches. Do you have a needle, twine, and a block of ice?"

"Yes, hold her steady, love," my mother instructed my father, and I felt his grip tighten as I rested my head on his chest.

"Sofia, you need to stay awake," My father's gruff voice trembled.

"I'm going to have you fixed up in no time. Try to stay awake," James assured me, patting my head affectionately.

I nodded as best I could as the looming euphoria of sleep engulfed my consciousness.

"James," I sighed before everything went black.

When I awoke, I was on the kitchen floor, surrounded by bloodied rags.

I could hear the hushed tones of my parents and James talking.

There was a pulling sensation on my arm, but as I turned my head to inspect the situation, my father put his hands over my eyes.

"Nope, nope, nope. You're going to regret that child."

"I'm almost done. How do you feel, Sofia?" James asked sweetly.

"Cold, Tired, Blind," I mumbled, trying to shake my father's calloused hands away groggily to no avail.

"There, done. Lady Miranda, can you dispose of the rags and get more hot water? I need to defrost her arm so it doesn't lock up on her."

I heard my mother scramble to get the supplies, and James's soft hand held my good one "you did well. I don't think we will have to amputate," he said gravely, and I took a sharp breath.

"Amputate?! was that a possibility!? How bad was the cut?!"

I struggled out of my father's grip, stopping when I heard laughter fill the room.

"I'm so glad my pain is humorous to you," I grumbled, getting sleepy again.

"You deserve it, girl. Were you trying to kill yourself with a paring knife? Because you almost succeeded." My mother scolded me, "We were just lucky prince James has had extensive medical training."

I sensed the feeling in my arm returning and felt a bandage wrapping around it while my father finally let go of my face.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention…Thank you, your majesty" I frowned at the thought that I had completely embarrassed myself for the second time around James and was ready for the day to be over.

"Please, Sofia, call me James. After this debacle, we should be on a first-name basis.