Angelica and Susie were thinking up their plan when they heard something down the hall. Susie opened the door and found Kimi there. "Oh, Princess Kimi! I didn't know you were out here."
"Neither did I! I mean...yes, I was just about to go back into my room..." Kimi started for her door when Susie stopped her.
"No, I don't mind! Won't you come in?"
"Sure..." Kimi stepped inside Angelica's room. It was in complete disarray, with dresses and jewelry all over the floor. Angelica was the first to speak.
"Your Highness..." She bowed. "...I would like to take this opportunity to tell you that you are about to be married to a complete idiot and one who doesn't much care for you."
"What?"
"Prince Thomas, or Tommy, if you prefer, is having an affair with one of the servants," Angelica said without hesitation. She was born with the gift of lying. She calls it an art.
Kimi was slightly taken aback. "And where did you hear this?"
Angelica didn't know what to say. "Er...I heard him outside last night!" She didn't realize that what she said was true.
(elsewhere)
Lil woke up to the sound of royal footsteps outside. "Oh, Prince Tommy. You've woken up, I see."
He answered her, "Yes. Thank you for your courtesy last night, my lady."
"Don't call me that! Didn't I tell you I was one of Kimi's servants?"
Tommy untied the horse as he said, "Yes, but I doubt whether that's true." He was on the horse now. His eyes seemed to gaze at her as if he could see what she was thinking.
There was a long silence. Lil finally said, "Well, I should be going now. Good-bye!" She got up from her bed and left her room to go outside. Meanwhile, Tommy rode the horse back to the stables thinking the strangest thoughts about Lil.
(back to Angelica's room)
"...so will you help us?" Angelica asked after explaining her plan to Kimi.
"Sure, if it'll get me out of the wedding."
Susie was happy. "Then it's decided! Now, get dressed and meet us in the courtyard at noon."
Kimi went back to her room. Outside the window, she saw a familiar figure and smiled to herself. The figure was that of Phil, getting water from the well outside.
(Tommy's thoughts)
I'm not marrying Kimi, no matter what my parents tell me. After all my years of studying language, I can't find the words to tell my mother and father, the King and Queen of England, that I'm in love with one of the Princess's servants.
(Kimi's thoughts)
I know for a fact that I can get out of this marriage. Angelica taught me how to lie. If I suddenly get sick the night before the wedding, they'll have to at least postpone it. But if I tell anyone that I have eyes for my servant and not the Prince, they'll banish me for sure. I have to only trust the Baroness's plot.
(reality)
Kimi woke up, supposing she'd just had a weird dream. She heard someone outside throwing rocks at her window. She opened it. "Phil?"
"Kimi! I'm glad I woke you up. Can you let me in your room? The back door's locked."
After about five minutes of struggle, Kimi pulled Phil inside her window. "Well?"
"You probably won't have to marry the Prince after all. He loves my sister."
"How did you figure this out?"
"She told me."
Suddenly, Kimi threw her arms around Phil as if she'd never let him go. "Thank you, thank you!"
"Kimi?"
"What?"
"You're choking me...can you let me go?"
"Sure!" She let Phil go. "Good-bye!" She waved as he climbed out her window.
a/n: Strange idea...huh? The next chapter will probably be the last chapter of Part I.
