"Oh my," Selma said with her fingers over her mouth.
"I hate to interrupt," Ariel said, his hands on his hips like an irritated father, "but we have to go now. Apparently all the prince candidates are here and I've already been spotted."
Maren turned toward them, unable to express her embarrassment. "You were spotted? By who?"
"Literally all of them," Ariel answered, his eyes narrowing. He turned on his heel, beckoning them to follow. "I'm already going to be in trouble but it will be much worse if you two are spotted. We have to get back before my mother realizes I dragged you three out with me."
Maren glanced over at Cora whose face was so red that she couldn't hide her embarrassment. Maren could feel her body heat begin to rise. Gently, she reached her hand out, brushing Cora's wrist with her fingers, slowly guiding the back of her hand down the length of Cora's and interlocking their fingers. With a slight push, Maren focused her energy through her body and into Cora's. She could feel the graze Cora's teeth made on her neck begin to heal and she could feel Cora's heat decreasing with the ebb and flow of magic that washed between them.
Cora turned her face toward Maren, meeting her eyes with a tender expression that she hadn't seen in some time. Cora squeezed her hand gently — something so simple, yet so grounding and comforting.
Ahead of them, Ariel's footsteps retreated, crushing sand and tiny rocks beneath his feet, but his were the only footsteps Maren heard. She looked up to find Selma staring at them, and for a moment, Maren's chest tightened. On some level, Maren knew that Ariel already knew and there was no doubt in her mind that he wouldn't care. But now, someone else joined this small circle that knew, and against her will — and theirs. She swallowed, unable to calm the storm that began brewing in her mind and heart.
Does Selma care?Will she tell everyone and shame us?
Maren had to admit.
She was nervous.
Selma blinked, her eyes darting between them. Then, with her fingers still in front of her mouth, she said, "That makes so much sense. I thought you two were close at the Academy but you've been together all this time!"
Then, there was a pause.
Cora tossed her head toward the heavens and let out a loud sigh. Maren, on the other hand, couldn't contain the giggle that escaped her that soon grew into wild laughter. She clutched her belly, leaning over as the laughter and anxiety poured out of her. Beside her, Cora ran a hand through her hair, letting out a gruff, frustrated sigh, but Maren knew she was relieved.
Selma was wrong about the timeline, but as Maren looked over at Cora, she knew her affection started long before their relationship even began.
Then, another thought stirred her mind.
What relationship? Her own voice in the back of her mind said. Nothing has been talked about. Cora told me feelings, but she hasn't actually confirmed the relationship.
The thought caused her stomach to turn. Maren averted her eyes and touched her hand to her opposite arm for comfort.
But she will, she thought. We'll talk about this again.
Selma giggled in reaction, clasping her arms behind her, and sauntered off, as if excited she learned this new secret of theirs. Cora grimaced and followed after her, telling her to listen to what she had to say. As the four of them trudged back to the castle, chattering in whispers, Maren followed behind quietly, unable to rid herself of this feeling that gnawed at her chest.
***
Inside the castle, the four of them tiptoed through the outdoor hallways, where the starblessed were roomed. They hovered behind a corner, unable to move even a single step more, or they would surely be caught.
"Ariel, there are a lot of guards!" Selma whispered from behind him.
Ariel's irritation grew. When he invited the girls out, he hadn't considered that the empire knights would have different guarding formations and schedules from the Avelle knights.
"When we snuck out the first time," he whispered, turning his head back to speak to Selma, "it was far easier, likely due to shift changes and mealtimes. But now, the night crew is fully staffed and ready for anything after the Forsyth debacle."
"Oh no," Maren whispered, tossing a worried glance at Cora.
"Well, they are starblessed. What if they just walk out and tell the Knights to let them enter?" Selma asked.
Ariel didn't think it a terrible idea. The girls had changed into their casual-wear back in the boathouse. Nobody would think that they were at the festival by that information alone. But there were still holes in the plan.
"Even if they walked back to their rooms now, the knights would, without a doubt, report back to the star court — and Thirteen," Ariel replied. "Getting you to your room could prove less of a problem if we do it like that. But getting these two," he gestured to Maren and Cora with his middle and pointer fingers, "back to their rooms with that plan won't work once Thirteen finds out. I'm counting on Hayden submitting a formal complaint to my mother that I was out on the town tonight. If Thirteen puts the pieces together and realizes I took them to the festival, unguarded, they can say goodbye to any semblance of freedom they once had until the trials end."
Ariel hated that he had to explain it, or even go to these lengths to protect the girls, but now that he was openly aware of the nature of their relationship, he felt it was his duty to make sure they could have those private moments.
It was what he would want someone to do for him.
"So what do we do?" Maren asked, concern in her voice. "We can't stay here all night."
Ariel turned his head forward and closed his eyes, searching his mind when suddenly he heard a voice he was sure he would remember even if he forgot his memories.
"General," his mother's voice echoed in the halls. "There has been a security breach in the northern hall. You and your men must inspect it immediately."
The general took a step forward, his hands positioned on the waist of his armor. "My knights can go, but I stay at the side of the princesses."
He stood, positioned between the doors to the princesses' rooms, making no indication that he was willing to move.
"Sir, as the queen of this palace, I will guard the rooms. It will be but a moment. It's only a single intruder," the queen replied. "Besides, the girls' doors are locked from the inside. Even if I wanted to get in, I couldn't."
The general's hand went to the hilt of his sword and Ariel panicked. What was his mother doing? Why would she come, alone in the middle of the night and make such grand claims?
And then — yelling.
Suddenly, voices became louder in the area that the queen said. Ariel could hear swords unsheathe and the distinct sound of arrows flying from a crossbow. The guards looked startled, even the general, but his mother remained composed. She stepped forward toward the princesses doors.
"I will protect them here," she said. "Just don't let the enemies pass through that first door." She gestured toward the main door that led to the princesses courtyard.
And with that, the guards fled, making their way toward the north entrance.
The queen paused for a long moment, gazing at the princesses' rooms. Ariel was frozen in fear. Was there really an intruder? Right before the festival?
Then, the queen spoke. "You four can come out now."
Ariel froze, blinking. There was no doubt in his mind that he was speaking to them. But how did she know? Ariel emerged first. Then Selma, followed by Maren and Cora. The queen stood across the yard in her nightgown and shawl, her lips pressed in an unamused line. Her gaze was steady, washing over each of them, finally landing on Ariel.
"Princess Maren. Princess Coralynn. Princess Selma," she said, keeping her gaze steady on her son. "You three may go to bed."
"Yes ma'am," they said in unison and scurried off to their rooms without another word. Ariel knew they had left their rooms unlocked while they were out at the festival so that wouldn't be a problem and Selma's room was just across the courtyard from the starblessed. She was placed there for ease, but now, Ariel was relieved she wouldn't have to see him be interrogated by his mother. But that brought up a much larger question.
How did she know?
Had Hayden written to the castle already? There was no way. Ariel knew even Hayden wouldn't be so stupid as to wake the queen of Avelle for something as unimportant as the prince sneaking out. Now had Hayden found out Ariel took the princesses with him, that was another story. But there was no way Hayden saw them, right? Ariel knew he wasn't composed enough to hide such a thing during their interaction. And the more he thought about it, the more improbable it sounded.
So how does she know? He asked himself.
"Should you still be here if there's an attack?" Ariel asked, his voice flat, hoping she'd take the bait.
"There is no attack," the queen answered simply, gazing at him knowingly. "Not a real one, anyway."
Ariel's grimace wavered.
She had known.
She had known long enough to plan a fake attack to allow them back into their rooms.
The two of them stayed there like that for some time. He stared back into his mother's hard gaze, but he couldn't help but crumble under her presence.
Finally, he decided to go first.
"Please," he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper, "don't tell Thirteen about this. The princesses will have even less freedom than they do now."
For a moment, he thought he saw his mother's eyes soften, as if she was surprised by his plea. But any trace of softness was gone.
"What were you doing?" She asked, crossing her arms in front of her.
"We just went to the festival," he answered, lowering his eyes. "They've never been able to experience one. I thought it would be fun to just…well…just have fun."
The queen narrowed her eyes. "And what did that fun consist of?"
Ariel's head snapped up at the sound of distrust in his mother's voice.
Does she think…? He thought, staring at his mother in disbelief.
"You're not implying that I–" he started, unable to finish his sentence at the mere idea of it.
"-did something indecent with those girls?" The queen finished for him, her brows furrowing deeper. "I don't know Ariel, why don't you tell me?"
"Mother!" Ariel's face contorted into the picture of disgust. Not only was he horrified at the idea of it, but he hated that his mother would even suggest such a thing. Did she not know his character at all? "How could you ask such a thing? I am not some depraved animal! Maren and I have been friends for years!"
"That's exactly why I'm concerned, Ariel!" She whisper-shouted back. "When boys and girls grow up together, sometimes these things happen, but you must think of their reputation! I did not raise you to be-"
Ariel's palm made a hard thud on his face, hiding his grin, full of conflicting emotions. On one hand, how could she not know? She was his mother. On the other, he was so overjoyed that she didn't know that he could hardly contain himself. For a moment, he'd almost lost that mask he'd been constructing his whole life. But on some level, he was sure she had to know. Even her words were like perfectly constructed lines from a play — like a bad actress who didn't believe the words herself. His smile faltered as he closed his eyes, pushing his curls back, letting his hands fall to his hips. When he opened them, he stared back at his mother, searching her eyes for any hint of truth.
But she didn't know.
She truly didn't know.
He sighed. He couldn't be mad at her. She didn't deserve it. She was just a good mother looking out for her child who she'd spent years trying to set up with the Starblessed that miraculously emerged from her kingdom. He knew what it could mean if anyone saw him out with any one of those princesses that night.
Only now did he realize how reckless that was.
And how the consequences could differ depending on who he was seen with.
Were it Selma, he could've been taken out of the trials.
Were it either of the Starblessed, he could be forced into a marriage he didn't even want, to preserve the reputation of the girls.
"I'm sorry," he said, his eyes softening. "I promise nothing untoward happened. Maren is my friend. I would never intentionally-"
"I know," the queen said, her gaze still hard. "But you have to consider these things Ariel. She isn't just a friend anymore. One day you might even be married-"
His eyes snapped toward her, stopping the words from spilling from his own mother's mouth. He hadn't meant to do it with so much disdain. He knew his duty. But for a moment — a single moment — he let the mask slip.