I returned to my chair and my book, and she left for the main library, closing the door behind her. She maintained her facade of composure until the last second, but I glimpsed her defeated relief through the crack in the door just before the latch clicked.
Maybe I had pushed her too far. When considering the verbal jousting she'd undoubtedly endured with Clavis, right after overhearing my argument with Leon, it was really no wonder that she'd almost lost control at my comment about the red-light district. That had been a low blow to a single, poverty-stricken young woman who was just trying to make an honest living and take care of her only living relative.
It was unusual for me to regret my own words, but, in this case, I almost wished I hadn't said that to her.
Jin may have been right when he said I didn't deserve her. But he was wrong about one thing. I did care about what happened to her, and the thought of her slender frame walking through the red-light district was more and more displeasing.
I didn't bother her the rest of the afternoon, though I struggled to concentrate on my book. There were no sounds from the main library to suggest any further unwanted visitors. She needed the time to cool down before Clavis returned. It was unfortunate for her that he had her in his sights, but I wasn't going to interfere unless it seemed like she needed my help. She was significantly safer with him than she was alone on the streets, and she was clever enough to keep him at arm's length.
A few minutes to five, she presented herself to me again before she left. Though she didn't like me, she was dedicated to fulfilling her role to the best of her ability. And she appeared to have recovered sufficiently to handle one last tease.
"You handled Number One well yesterday. What is your clever plan for Noisy?" I asked, smirking.
"I'll manage somehow, your highness," she said confidently, although I saw the doubt in her eyes. "If that will be all-"
"Ready for our date, then?" Clavis asked, bursting through the open door with a wide grin.
Her green eyes widened at his sudden appearance. "Prince Clavis, I really don't-"
She didn't get more than that out before he'd grabbed her hand and took off. I watched with annoyance, made greater by the knowledge that he was targeting her to bother me. And it was working.
After dinner, I took a book to the gardens, taking advantage of the fresh air and the lengthening sunlight of spring evenings. The familiar cobblestone paths through the roses characteristic of Rhodolite led to many of my favorite reading locations, concealed by the reds, pinks, and whites of the full blossoms. Bushes, vines, arches, gazebos, stone walls; greens and grays contrasted and harmonized with the brightly colored blooms. I passed the central fountain, where clear water descended from a small bowl at the top through multiple consecutively wider layers to the large stone pool at the bottom. Too open, too public. My destination today was the pond off in the distance, surrounded by open grass, shade trees, and the occasional bench. I selected one, made of white wrought iron but surprisingly comfortable, and I stretched out on my back to read. The hours passed in blissful silence until the light became too dim to continue.
That was when Clavis returned, determined to get on my last nerve.
"Hey, Chev!" he called, his irritating voice coming to me on the breeze as I closed my book and sat up. "I took Ivetta to the Rose and the Thorn," he continued as he approached, ignoring my glare. "Jin and I tried to ply her with alcohol, but she wasn't having it." He took a seat next to me as if I'd invited him. "Did you know she's never had a drink before?"
The Rose and the Thorn. That was a tavern frequented by Jin. I couldn't picture her willingly entering such an establishment.
"Why would I know that?" I asked coolly.
He shrugged. "It could've come up in conversation."
"I don't converse with my employees."
Usually.
"Too bad. She's a fun one." He leaned back, interlacing his fingers behind his head. "And you'll be happy to know that I've ruled her out as a suspect."
"She hasn't worked at the palace long enough to be a suspect," I said sardonically.
"True, but there was still the possibility that she was somehow connected. Except she isn't. Isn't that good news, Chev? Especially since you're entrusting her with the key to your office." His glittering golden eyes watched carefully for my response. He wanted so badly for me to have an interest in Ivetta.
"I wouldn't have entrusted her with that key if I'd had any suspicions," I said sharply. "But maybe now you can focus on your original task."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, you're no fun." He looked up at the darkening sky. "All work and no play makes Chev a dull boy."
"To you." I stood to go, knowing he would follow, but at least there was the chance we'd run into somebody who would distract him from me.
"I'm not bothering you, am I, Chev?" he asked, smirking as he fell in step with me.
"You're always bothering me."
"Hey, Chevalier!"
That was Jin's voice. I glanced around and found him weaving down a path toward us, his face bright red.
"Aw, don't tell me you struck out with that barmaid?" Clavis asked.
Jin shrugged. "Her loss." He threw an arm around my shoulder, and I shoved him away firmly.
"You're drunk," I snapped. Which meant he'd imbibed massive quantities of alcohol. The tavern may well have run dry.
"Yep," he said, grinning. "Wish your little maid was here. I'd rather see double of her than of you."
"Who wouldn't?" Clavis agreed.
"D'ya talk to her 'bout the red-light district?" Jin slurred, wobbling dangerously on his long legs.
"What about the red-light district?" Clavis asked, his eyes narrowing as he looked back at me.
"He is referring to her daily commute," I said coolly. "Which is none of my concern."
"You don't mean that little thing walks through the red-light district?" Clavis asked, his golden eyes suddenly sharp and serious.
"Sure does, and Chevalier doesn't even care," Jin said, and then he hiccuped. "I need another drink."
"Can ya keep it down?"
Luke's sleepy voice came from a nearby tree, where he was reclining on one of the branches. His green jacket blended in quite well with the leaves, and his black pants and brown boots were almost invisible in the shade and dim light against the bark. He had made an art of disappearing in plain sight to avoid working.
"It's kind of late for a nap, isn't it, Luke?" Clavis asked.
Luke jumped down and walked over to us, yawning and stretching to his full height. It was an interesting irony that the youngest and most immature of my brothers was also the largest, in both height and build.
"Nah, it's never too late for a nap. Whatcha doin'?"
"We were discussing Chev's new maid," Clavis explained. "You haven't seen her yet, have you?"
Luke shook his head, still rubbing his eyes as he tried to wake up. I noted he was still wearing the worn, fingerless brown gloves he came with when he arrived at the palace not long ago.
"Not yet. I hear she's really pretty."
"Not just pretty," Jin cut in. "Smokin' hot."
With the drunk, the prankster, and the overgrown boy after her, maybe she was safer in the red-light district.
"You three are welcome to stay here and waste your time discussing inanities. I'm leaving, and I want to be left alone. Do you understand?" I said sharply.
Luke shrugged, the small bear charm that hung from the sword belt across his chest dancing across his plain purple shirt and gray vest. I didn't see how he could sleep comfortably with that great sword strapped to his back. Then again, I didn't see why he wore that ridiculous charm.
"Sure, I guess," he said to me. "Wanna get something to eat?" he asked the others.
Of course, he wanted to eat. He ate like a starving teenage boy. At least he wasn't going to grow anymore. He was useful in battle, but a drain on resources otherwise. But he got the subject changed to food, so I didn't have to hear any more comments about Ivetta as I left them behind. Although why their comments bothered me was a mystery. She was just a competent little maid, nothing more.
An attractive, clever, interesting, competent little maid.
I hadn't told her to come to my room in the morning. Such a measure was probably unnecessary, as she seemed to be handling my brothers well so far. But then, she hadn't met Nokto yet. He was particularly skilled in the art of seduction. Luke was also tricky, with his boyish innocence routine lulling women into a false sense of security right up until they woke up next to him. I'd usually place my bet on Nokto, but Luke may have the better chance at getting to her. She was too wary for Nokto's games. Probably.
Why did any of that matter to me? Let Nokto or Luke have her. As long as she did her job appropriately and didn't keep them from doing theirs, it was none of my concern.
And her walking through the red-light district was also none of my concern.
So, why couldn't I stop thinking about that?
It was her humming that woke me again the next morning, even though I hadn't told her to come. She was quick to pick up on my preferences. I was more than a little relieved to know that she wasn't alone in the library, and maybe I enjoyed listening to her a bit more than I cared to admit. I lay still until the humming stopped at nine o'clock when she called her cheerful greeting, and then she left for my breakfast.
I could get used to this.
She had set the desk with breakfast when I emerged from the bathroom, but unlike the past couple of days, she met my eyes and ventured a question.
"Do you have anything you need me to do after this, your highness?"
"Do you really enjoy being tormented so much?" I asked, studying her. "Or perhaps you're hoping to get out of something Noisy has lined up for you?"
Her face said it all, but she still tried to hide it. "Just trying to be helpful, your highness."
I allowed a hint of a smile to show. My office could use some tidying up, and she'd be relatively safe from Clavis' schemes where I could keep an eye on her.
"In that case, there is something you can do for me - when you're done with Noisy's chore. I'll be in my office."
"Yes, your highness."
She finished in the bathroom at the same time I finished breakfast, and I only needed a single glance to see that she had another question. I stopped, waiting, but she said nothing.
"Ask your question," I prompted, mildly annoyed. This was probably regarding whatever Clavis had roped her into.
"Prince Chevalier, how do I get to Prince Nokto's room?"
I was careful not to allow anything to show on my face, but her words brought a sense of foreboding. "What business do you have with that Clown?"
"He asked me to clean his room, your highness," she said, collecting the dirty dishes.
She wasn't looking at me, and I found my eyes wandering freely across her for a moment. Her long black lashes hooding her bright green eyes, the sun reflecting off of her glossy black hair, her slender, shapely limbs, her gentle curves - she would be nothing more to Nokto than another notch on his bedpost. Maybe she'd be able to resist his seduction. Maybe - but maybe wasn't good enough. If she went in angry, she'd have a much better chance.
"Drinks with Number One and Noisy last night, a tryst with the Clown this morning. My, you are a busy little dove."
She sighed, irritated. "Please stop making such comments, Prince Chevalier."
I walked over to her and spun her to face me, catching her chin firmly so she couldn't look away. "You didn't manage Noisy too well, did you?" I asked, smirking down at her.
She pushed my hand away, the blush coming easily to her cheeks. "Prince Chevalier-"
I put my arm around her waist and pulled her up against me. A mistake. Her soft curves nearly erased all thought, but suddenly, it was even more important for her not to fall for Nokto.
"And you are foolish enough to think you can handle the Clown?"
Her green eyes flashed, and she pushed me away firmly. "Don't do that!" Her angry cheeks flushed even deeper.
I laughed scornfully and turned back to the door. "Turn right when you leave, and then three doors down on the left. Make sure you behave."
I didn't have to look back at her to know she was fuming. It was dangerous for me to look at her any longer. I'd never held a woman before, never even wanted to, and the feel of her against me still had my thoughts in chaos. At least she was angry enough to defend against Nokto's charms. At least she'd pushed me away when she did. Any longer, and I may not have been able to let her go.
This wasn't like me. I was always in control, always prepared, always thinking ahead. What was she doing to me?
I circled back to my room a few minutes later, when I thought it would be safe. She should be en route to the kitchens with the dishes. The quiet and stillness echoed around me as I surveyed the empty room, envisioning her bending over the desk again. No. I had to stop this. I went to the bathroom and splashed my face with cold water.
If Nokto so much as laid a hand on her-
I splashed my face again, setting my jaw firmly. It was time to work, and that was all. There were pressing matters to attend to, matters of national importance. I couldn't waste my time thinking about a silly little maid.