It is not an easy task to return to a house where you have killed somebody. But what choice did Emma have? Her life was tied to this house, for she could not see herself returning to the Duchess's palace. Nevertheless, she found it difficult to come back to the gloom of the place.

The servants were wary of her and often cast sidelong glances at each other, as if to say, "Be on your guard—this one is dangerous." Emma could not blame them for thinking this; after all, she had killed her husband on their wedding night and they knew only what was gossiped in the halls.

She felt isolated and frightened. Around every corner, she expected to see Frederick's face looming over her like a monstrous shadow. Every second was dominated by the thought that he would find a way back from the dead and she would no longer be able to defend herself. She thought very little of Dominic at this time.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Alright, Dom, what's the matter?" a boisterous voice echoed through the throne room.

Edward and Thomas walked in to see Dominic sitting hunched over, displeased and brooding.

"Nothing," he grumbled to nobody in particular.

"Your Highness, you can tell us," Edward suggested. "You can trust us as your confidantes."

"He doesn't need to tell us, what?" Thom said with a grin. "It's that girl."

"She has a name!" he snapped.

"What is it with you and names lately, Dom?"

"It's not about that…"

"Then what is it about? I haven't seen you this moody since the day that ash-covered peasant hit you in the face with a snowball," Thom frowned.

A pause followed this, then,

"What did you say?"

"That you haven't been this moody—"

"About the peasant girl! Ash-covered, yes?"

"She was quite filthy."

"Yes, I remember," Ed added, trying to be helpful.

"She had a face… covered with soot and ashes…"

"Yes, Dom, we just said that. Look, stop thinking about that woman from the ball. She's a murderer!"

"She is not!" he exclaimed, jumping to her defense.

"Dom, she killed her own husband!"

"You don't understand. Good with a sword…" he was now pacing the throne room and muttering under his breath.

"Your Highness, what is the matter?" Edward asked, alarmed, while Thom shrugged his shoulders.

"Of course!" Dominic exclaimed. Thom and Ed jumped.

With that, he dashed off in the direction of his chambers.

"What's the matter with him?" Edward asked, almost nervously.

"I don't know. But if I didn't know better I would say he was going after that filthy peasant girl."

"The peasant-?"

"But we know better. He probably just didn't want to talk to us anymore."

"Probably."

They stood in silence, contemplating rude peasants, confused princes, and the irony of the fact that the one woman Dominic fell in love with had rejected him.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Emma was in her room when a knock came on the door. It was slow and measured.

The sound startled Emma out of her reverie. She had been sitting upon her bed and tears of frustration were leaking from her eyes. Nobody would make eye contact with her and nobody wanted to speak with her. She was alone and furthermore, she was unwanted. She had done nothing to deserve this. It wasn't her fault that the only individual who seemed to care despite the recent murder was that selfish prince…

The knock made her think of Dominic. Had he followed her here?

However, her vanity was dashed when the door slowly opened and Henry stood on the threshold.

"Henry!" She quickly recovered herself and was soon by his side, embracing him with all the emotion a companion-deprived young woman was capable of.

"Emms!" he exclaimed in response, hugging her fervently, as well. He quickly changed his tone and backed away, however. "I'm sorry…. Milady."

"Don't call me that!" she practically sobbed as he backed away.

"But you are a lady…" he said, with some confusion.

"It's not something I want."

"Would you rath'r go back t' sweepin' under the Duchess's feet?"

"No! Yes.. I don't know."

"Emms," he returned to the familiar name with ease, now that he knew she would rather hear it. "I can' tell you wha' to do. But don' you think you're bet'r off this way?"

"How am I better off? Everyone thinks I'm an insane murderer!"

"To be sure, Emms, 's not an easy thin' to pi'ture you killin' someone. But Vincen' knew."

"Knew what?"

"Tha' Freddy fellow was up to no good!"

"He… he what?"

"Tha's why he was angry a' you tha' time, remember? He didn' know why you wanted to marry someone like tha'."

"Oh. Oh, I see… Henry, why have you come here?"

"I though' you migh' be needin' a friend righ' abou' now…"

She could only smile with tears in her eyes.

"Did I guess righ'?"

He was answered only by another fierce embrace.

Suddenly, they were both again interrupted by a knock on the door and the entrance of a startled maidservant.

"M-milady, His Highness is here to see you."