CHAPTER 13 And How Did That Make You Feel, Princess?

Henrietta

"And how did that make you feel, Princess?"

"Terrible, Rufus. Simply terrible!" I took the kerchief Rufus offered me and blew my runny nose much too loudly for a royal. I didn't care.

I was reclining on a daybed in the dungeon across from a large beastman with golden hair, eyes, and aura. He was so big he almost didn't fit in his chair. He had dainty reading glasses on his wide, hairy nose, and took notes on a scroll in his lap. The scroll was secured to a thin slab of wood so he could work without a desk. The first hour had flown by so fast that I wouldn't have noticed except that Rufus' [Calming Effect] perk had expired. He was being awfully generous, letting me stay longer.

"I know I'm annoying, but why does Mother need to point it out in front of company?" Of course, Mother only did so in front of the queen's court ladies, those dames whom she trusted the most. She never would have done so publicly; that would have tarnished our family's honor.

It still hurt.

"Dismissing your opinion and criticizing your passion. Have you considered that you can be yourself now? You are outside the influence of your parents' house here." Rufus looked over the brim of his tiny reading glasses. He reminded her of Lord Tisbury, an uncle figure who worked for the Drendil Order of Phoenix Knights. They both exuded confidence. "Your parents did give you the tools to survive—lessons in social etiquette and sword skills. Perhaps keep what is important to you and leave the rest behind."

"I don't know if I can, Rufus." A week of baking and making friends had been magical … but I was supposed to further the agenda of the royal family. I had been born and raised to give my life for Drendil. "I have a mission, and I owe them so much."

"You had a mission," he emphasized. "Fight the Dark Lord. You came, you fought, you lost. Now, you have a new purpose: serving the victor to your duel. I'm told it's common in North Sumbria. Furthermore, no child owes their mother or father for being raised. That was their choice and their responsibility."

"I didn't actually fight Keith." I coughed and blushed. "I mean, I didn't fight the Dark Lord."

"You didn't?" This was the first time his aura of confidence had faltered.

"We talked, and I got distracted, and before I knew it, I was here." I waved around me. "Maybe I should go fight him."

"Is that what you want or what's expected of you?" Rufus leaned back in his chair. "Is that what your parents want?"

I sighed. "I don't know anymore."

"Let's try an exercise," Rufus offered. "If you pretended to be honest with yourself, what would you tell me you wanted to do that you don't have to admit wanting?"

That convoluted question was easier than any of the previous. "I just want to make bimbleberry scones that turn out buttery and relax beside a dragon on Lake Loria. I want to help King Keith with his magic, and have tea with Gerda, and sleep in on Saturdays."

Rufus was writing again. He carefully blew on a small slip of paper. "Then I have your first prescription. Ah, there's Tulith now."

The maid walked down the stairwell and into the main dungeon hallway. Henrietta's cell was very close to the entrance, and the lizardkin was visible from between the bars.

"It's been two hoursss, Commander General," Tulith stated, opening the door to my cell. She held up a slip of paper. "And I've new orders from the king."

"Yes, yes, I've just finished. Here, read this."

Rufus handed Tulith his slip, and she passed over hers, then they both read their respective instructions quickly, nodding. When Tulith was done, she passed Rufus' writing to me. It was almost illegible, but years of reading court ledgers and scrawled bureaucratic missives had prepared me for this day:

No less than two hours of baking each workday.

Required inner-kingdom travel on one rest day.

Two full 8-hour rest periods on Saturday.

By Order of Commander General Rufus Triever, King's Dogs of the Black Fortress, punishable by the First Order.

Huh. It turned out, Rufus was actually the most powerful general in the Dark Lord's army. And he'd just bowed politely to me with a friendly, "Until next week, Princess," then left.

I looked at the slip in my hand, confused, then back up to the empty doorway.

"Wait, Rufus, wait!" But it was too late; I was alone with Tulith. The maid continued to hold the bars of the cell open and waited for me.

I wasn't ready. I needed a minute to blow my nose again, and I needed time to gather myself. "Can we swing by a wash station before I meet with the Dark Lord?"

"As you wish, Princesss." Tulith nodded, knowingly.

"Thank you."

I had a lot to think about before I met with Keith.