The rest of the palace staff, of course, remained blissfully unaware of their inner enthusiasm, firmly believing that Princess Evelyn was ill and confined to bed rest, with their prince refusing to leave her side for even a single moment.
But they were far too terrified of Ivan to investigate further, having already paid dearly for allowing their curiosity to wander the last time Princess Evelyn stayed at the palace.
Still, whispers travelled freely among them. How long could one remain sick like this? Was the rumour of her being crippled actually true?
It had been six days since she was last seen, carried by their prince into his bedchambers, and more than a few of them privately wondered why the princess seemed to enter the palace unconscious with such impressive consistency.
