I was settling into a routine at the palace. Prince Chevalier's room in the morning, the library in the afternoon, the occasional errand in between, the hour to myself in the alcove. It made the mask easier to wear, the dance easier to perform, having some consistency. Bring Prince Chevalier his breakfast at nine o'clock, bring him his tea at half-past two. Dust, polish, sweep, mop. Hum as you go, enjoy what you can, pretend to enjoy the rest.

Prince Chevalier didn't arrive at the library at two thirty the next day, but I found myself in the kitchens preparing his tea out of habit. I paused, staring down at the teacup - what was I doing? Well, I'd made it already, and he was very routine about having tea at this time every day. He was probably still in his office. I would just drop it off for him there and head back to the library.

I knocked at his office door. Prince Nokto opened it and gave me his trademark smile. "Well, if it isn't everyone's favorite maid." His attire was as sloppy as ever. Maybe he didn't bother because he was disrobed so often, I thought, suppressing a chuckle at his expense.

I smiled at him. "Hello, Prince Nokto." I walked past him to set Prince Chevalier's tea on the desk. His expression was unreadable - was he pleased? Annoyed? Angry? There was no telling. His entire faction was there - Prince Clavis, Prince Nokto, and a tall, muscular young man with red hair who had to be Prince Luke. It felt rude to bring Prince Chevalier tea and ignore the rest. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize you had company, Prince Chevalier. Would anybody else like anything?"

Prince Luke wore a boyish grin that was an odd but welcome contrast to Prince Clavis' inscrutable smile and Prince Nokto's sly grin. Actually, he looked completely out of place. He wore brown work boots, plain black pants, a purple shirt under a gray vest, a green jacket, and a pair of worn brown gloves cut off at the fingers. All was remarkably lacking any of the elaborate trappings adorning the other princes. He did wear a sword, a massive longsword much larger than the other princes' blades. It was strapped to his back, but a small bear hanging from the sword belt over his chest softened the effect.

"I'm a bit hungry," he volunteered.

"I'll be right back then. Excuse me."

I knew Prince Chevalier had been in his office since about ten o'clock, and judging by what I saw, all four of the princes would be there for quite a bit longer. I went back to the kitchens and put together a tray of tea and assorted snacks. My second knock brought Prince Luke to the door. He was much taller than Prince Chevalier, possibly taller even than Prince Jin, but although he was physically looking down at me, I immediately felt at ease with him. He wore a broad smile as he opened the door wide for me.

"Enjoy," I said with a smile of my own, setting the tray on a corner of the desk and leaving quickly with a single chilling look from Prince Chevalier.

"Now that's what I call service," I heard Prince Luke comment as the door closed behind me.

I was still smiling as I got back to work in the library, in spite of Prince Chevalier's glare. It was nice to be able to express this part of myself - the part that wasn't concerned with appearances or ulterior motives, but just wanted to be kind to those around me. I liked making people smile, and my heart felt full to bursting. I was soon humming and fully engrossed in my work until I was interrupted a couple of hours later.

"Maid." Prince Chevalier's cold voice was right behind me, jerking me back to reality. I was so startled that I actually jumped as I turned to face him.

"Yes, your highness?" I stammered as my heart rate settled back to normal, but he had already disappeared into his library. I followed obediently.

"Shut the door," he ordered. I did so, reluctantly - if he was mad at me, I preferred to have the door open for a quick exit. He towered over me, his sharp blue eyes only a few inches above mine, but his imperious attitude made him seem even taller and more threatening.

"I apologize if I disturbed you, Prince Chevalier," I said. Maybe I'd interrupted an important meeting - actually, if his whole faction was there, that seemed pretty likely.

"Don't enter my office without my direct orders. Do you understand?" His piercing gaze made me feel about two inches tall.

"Yes, your highness," I said softly, dropping my gaze meekly. I wouldn't be making that mistake again. If two thirty came and he was still in his office, he'd just have to do without his tea.

He caught my chin and forced me to look back up at him. There was a hint of a smile on his lips. "You're going to fly right into a trap if you're not careful, little dove," he said, his voice softer now than I'd ever heard it. I looked up at him, confused. What was he talking about? And why was he teasing me again?

A knock at the door behind me interrupted the moment - whatever it was. Prince Chevalier released me and sat down in his chair as if nothing had happened. I swallowed hard and turned to open the door.

"Just the lady I wanted to see," said Prince Luke, looking down at me with a wide smile.

"May I help you, Prince Luke?" I asked.

"You already did," he said, his boyish grin reaching up to his green eyes. "I don't know how I would have made it through that meeting if you hadn't stopped by."

"Get out of here, Jumbo," Prince Chevalier snapped from his chair behind me.

Jumbo wasn't a bad nickname for Prince Luke, actually. It was very fitting. Literally.

"I'm just trying to be friendly, King Highness!" Prince Luke protested.

"Thank you for your kind words, Prince Luke, but I do have a lot of work to do before I leave," I intervened, offering him an apologetic smile.

He smiled back at me, a friendly, genuine smile. "Thanks again. If you need anything, just let me know. Ivetta, right?"

"Jumbo," Prince Chevalier warned.

"I know, I know, I'm leaving." Prince Luke gave me a wink as he left.

The warm, happy feeling was back. Maybe Prince Chevalier hadn't appreciated my gesture, but at least Prince Luke had. I turned back to Prince Chevalier, hoping he'd finished berating me so I could get back to work. "Is there anything else you needed, Prince Chevalier?"

"No," he said flatly.

My remaining half hour passed uneventfully, but my feet were dragging as I made my way back down to the town. Once a week, the doctor stopped by to check on Mother, and today was the day. I knew she wasn't getting better, and that she would never get better. I had come to dread these visits, but occasionally the doctor was able to offer something to at least ease her suffering. Then, before he left, I would pay as much as I could toward our growing bill - the primary reason for me taking this job. The palace paid better than anything in the village, and although I was kept from Mother for more of the day than I would have liked, the hours I'd worked out with the head maid were reasonable. I was at least in a more comfortable position as far as money was concerned than I had been before.

I tried to lose myself in the beautiful day, as I usually did during this time, but the ache in my stomach only got worse the closer I got to home. Best-case scenario, the doctor wouldn't decrease his estimate of the time Mother had left, and I could pay enough of the bill to make an actual dent in the interest accrued. At least I was eating at the palace now, so I only had to set aside enough money for Mother's food. Well, I ate lunch at the palace, anyway. But I could usually grab a quick bite in the morning when I put in Prince Chevalier's breakfast order, and again in the evening, right before I left.

Which reminded me, I had forgotten to grab something to eat. Maybe the ache in my stomach wasn't just from dread.

I hated this day of the week.

It wasn't uncommon for carriages to pass me as I walked, and that, combined with my thoughts, prevented me from noticing this one in particular until it stopped beside me. The door opened and a familiar voice called out to me.

"Ivetta, hop in."

I looked up in surprise. Prince Yves smiled as he held the door open and offered me his hand.

"Thank you, Prince Yves, but I don't mind walking."

He frowned, wearing his haughty expression again. "It's not every day a prince offers you a ride in his carriage."

"No, and I appreciate the offer, but I wouldn't want to hold you up, your highness."

"Just get in," snapped another voice that I didn't recognize from inside the carriage.

"It's no trouble," Prince Yves added.

"Well, if you insist, your highness," I said reluctantly, taking his hand and allowing him to help me into the carriage.

The unknown voice belonged to Prince Licht. I sat across from him, and Prince Yves sat beside me. The carriage was in motion as soon as the door was closed.

"Hello, Prince Licht," I said, smiling.

His crimson eyes met mine briefly before he looked away. He seemed rather bored, actually.

"We're heading to a cafe in the town," Prince Yves explained. "Did you get everything cleared with Chevalier?"

"Yes, your highness, he's given his permission for me to have that afternoon off next week," I replied with a smile.

Prince Yves' blue eyes were wide with surprise. "How did you manage that?"

"I just asked him, your highness," I said uncertainly.

Prince Licht sighed. "Are you going to tell me what's going on? If I have to sit here and listen to this, I'd at least like to be informed."

"We're making beignets next week, for her mother's birthday," Prince Yves volunteered, unconcerned by Prince Licht's irritation.

"And you seriously expect me to believe that you just asked Chevalier and he gave you permission?" Prince Licht's eyes narrowed slightly as he studied my face.

"Is that really so hard to believe, your highness?" I asked quizzically. I knew Prince Chevalier was difficult, but he wasn't completely impossible.

"Yes. He never does anything unless it's to his benefit somehow. What sort of deal did you have to make?"

Ah, so there it was. The assumption that I was sleeping around with everybody. Prince Clavis was really enjoying spreading that rumor around. It had to be him. He was popping up too frequently for me to think otherwise.

"I did have to make a deal with him, of a sort, your highness. If the beignets are any good, he wants some." I was trying hard to maintain my smile and not show the irritation I felt.

"And if they're bad?"

"They're not going to be bad," Prince Yves interjected. "Not with my help, anyway."

"That was my thought, your highness, so I felt it was a safe bet."

"Nothing is a safe bet with Chevalier. Be careful with him." Prince Yves' blue eyes were full of concern.

"Thank you, Prince Yves, I'll keep that in mind." I was already fully aware of that, but it was nice of him to worry about me.

The carriage came to a stop. "Would you like to join us?" Prince Yves asked as he helped me out of the carriage. "The pastries here are amazing."

My empty stomach liked the sound of that, but I didn't have time.

"I would love to, but unfortunately I can't. Thank you again for the ride, Prince Yves, Prince Licht." I gave them a genuine smile and a wave as I left. That was really nice of them. Well, nice of Prince Yves, anyway. Prince Licht seemed a little annoyed, but he'd also been that way the last time I saw him. Maybe it was just his perpetual state of being, like Prince Chevalier's constant state of intimidation. At any rate, they had taken my mind off of Mother and the doctor's visit for a few brief minutes.

The doctor examined Mother while I prepared her supper. When he finished, I followed him outside the house and reached into my pocket for his money.

"No need for that," he said with a friendly smile.

"Oh, no, it's no problem. The palace pays well enough," I said. He'd tried to refuse money from me before, but I didn't want his charity. I had some pride, after all.

"No, really," he said. "The bill has been paid in full."

I stared up at him. "I know you're concerned, but really, I can afford-"

He shook his head, his smile widening. "I got a letter this morning with full payment and then some."

I couldn't believe it. "But who would do that?"

"I don't know," he said. "It was anonymous. I would guess you've got a wealthy benefactor up at the palace."