Freya fumbled with her fingers after telling Oriana and Madame Rosalie everything that had happened while she was in Eridor, including the situation with Rowan and the princess. Now, she stood before the women like a culprit, ready to receive their ruling. She couldn’t raise her face to look at them. Though she knew they were disappointed, Freya wanted guidance. She wanted them to tell her what to do because, at the moment, she didn’t know. And avoiding Rowan, how long was that going to last, seeing that they lived under the same roof?

Oriana sucked her teeth, her brows knitted. "I don’t think Rowan will actually marry some random princess... I don’t know him that well, but from what Adric says about him, Rowan only does what he wants."

"Why didn’t you let him explain? Maybe he was going to tell you everything that happened," Madame Rosalie added, both women’s eyes now fixed on the younger one.

Freya cleared her throat, darting her eyes to the side. "I was scared... I didn’t want him to be the one leaving me behind."

"Hmm..." Madame Rosalie nodded. "Well, you were trying to protect yourself." The woman clicked her tongue as she remembered something, her eyes widening. "But you’re not pregnant, right?"

Freya’s hand instinctively went to her stomach. She had forgotten that being with a man could lead to pregnancy. How had the thought skipped her mind? Panicking, she bit her lip nervously. "How would I know?"

"You don’t know," Oriana said, shaking her head slowly. "It just happens. And the next time you’re in a room, screaming for your life while trying to bring forth another life." She let out a tired sigh.

Freya’s brows raised, horror etched across her face. Madame Rosalie, noticing this, chuckled.

"Can you not scare her?"

The room grew silent as everyone became lost in their thoughts. One thought about the new life she had just brought into the world, another feared the possibility of carrying life due to carelessness, and the last one worried about the two others.

"Do you love him?" Oriana’s voice broke the silence. "Do you think you love him? Maybe that’s why you agreed to let him..." Her voice trailed off.

Freya chewed her lip nervously. "Does loving him mean I don’t want him to touch any other woman? Because that’s how I feel, I want him to look only at me."

"Well, that’s close," Oriana responded. "But it’s not just about your body. You should love him as Rowan. You’re supposed to want to know more about him and just love him for who he is."

Freya raised her head, rubbing her hands together. Now that she heard Oriana say it, she realized she knew nothing about Rowan. Even when they were alone, she didn’t ask him about his life or family. Every time they were together, it was either under the sheets or about to be. They never had any real conversations.

Madame Rosalie sighed, pointing at Freya. "Don’t tell me you two just say nothing and suddenly get into it like animals in heat." She turned to Oriana, exasperated. "I don’t think the beating I gave her was enough," she muttered, shaking her head slowly.

Freya moved toward the wall, resting her back against it. Why hadn’t she thought about the consequences of her actions more clearly? She didn’t know why she had acted like someone possessed by lust, going straight to bed with a man she wouldn’t have otherwise entertained, without considering if she could love him or not. And now, she had ended everything but was still an unmarried maiden who had been touched.

"I’ve disappointed my father, and all of you," Freya muttered, her voice low, tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. "I’m a failure, right?"

Oriana waved her hand dismissively. "No, Freya. You’re not a failure, we’re just worried about you."

"She’s right," Madame Rosalie added, looking at the younger girl with sympathy. "We don’t think you’re a failure. We just don’t want you to experience unnecessary pain. It would have been better if you were in love, had a long, deep conversation, before undressing."

Shaking her head gently, Freya said, "But I’ll never get to marry. No man would want to take a girl like me. I might even end up working in inns for money. I don’t want to live like that." Her voice cracked with emotion. Freya was terrified of disappointing her father, the one man who had worked so hard to give her a comfortable life. She couldn’t bear the thought of him being mocked by others for not raising her properly. She wanted to give him a better life.

"You won’t!" Oriana’s voice was firm. "I won’t let you, Madame Rosalie, your father, General Malcolm; all of us. We won’t let you be pushed to that level."

Madame Rosalie patted the space beside Oriana. "Come here," she gestured.

Freya wiped her tears with the back of her hand, going to sit beside Oriana. As soon as she sat down, both women pulled her into a warm embrace. At that moment, Freya felt her worries and fears melt away. They made everything seem easier. They were her true family. She had lost her real mother, but life had given her two, and they were holding her right now.

"We won’t ever let anything happen to you, okay?" Madame Rosalie said, stroking Freya’s hair gently.

When they all pulled back, Oriana snapped her fingers. "I can get Adric to threaten Rowan... or wait, no! Threatening won’t work. We’ll get him abducted and arrange a wedding for you two." She nodded, seemingly satisfied with the idea.

Freya chuckled, touched by how far they were willing to go for her. "No... I don’t want to get married that way," she said, though appreciating Oriana’s care. She didn’t want to rush things with Rowan anymore.

Madame Rosalie, who had been silent, raised her face, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I know of a festival! It’s for maidens who’ve lost their husbands or want to marry again after a failed marriage. They gather and select any man of their choice to—"

"No!" Freya interrupted, frowning. "I don’t want to live with or marry some random man I pick at a festival."

Madame Rosalie hit Freya’s back, causing her to wince. "Shut up and listen! It’s a festival where women are allowed to choose any man they like. You don’t marry him right away. You live with him for a few days, watch how he takes care of you, and see if he pleases you. If by the end of the festival you’ve fallen in love, you can marry him. If not, you can walk away."

Oriana folded her arms across her chest, intrigued. "Interesting... How do you know about this festival?"

Madame Rosalie rubbed her neck awkwardly. "Well... I heard about it and decided to join- don’t look at me like that. It gets lonely sometimes being alone." She shrugged, looking away.

"The men gathered would probably be old rejects," Freya muttered. "No, I don’t want that."

Madame Rosalie scoffed. "You’re not wrong, but haven’t you heard of eagles rising from rubble? Once, I met a handsome man there who was so kind and cooked everything I wanted, but..." She trailed off, noticing the two women waiting for her to finish. "Anyway, forget it. Just know it could really work to your advantage, Freya. You tell the man what you like and don’t like, and if he breaks the rules, he’ll be banned from the festival."

Freya pressed her lips tiredly. "I don’t want to live with a man I know nothing about," she sighed.

"Think of it as a fresh start. Who knows, you might find the perfect gentleman to make you forget Rowan, or understand what exactly you feel for him." Oriana added. "Looking on the bright side, you have nothing to lose. You have the Queen and the King’s advisor on your side. No man would dare cross you."

Freya ran her hands through her hair. It didn’t sound like such a bad idea. Maybe falling in love with another man would help her forget how Rowan made her feel. This time, she would focus on a deeper connection, not just the physical. "So when is this festival happening?"

"I can take you tomorrow evening," Madame Rosalie said, turning to Oriana.

Oriana nodded. "Yes, tomorrow evening works. Since she can’t stay in the palace with Rowan, it’s just the right time."

Freya nodded, exhaling deeply. "Choosing a man... it’s not really that hard, right?"