[Music Recommendation: Partners in Crime ~ Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen]
As Oriana got closer to her room, she met the young prime minister she hadn’t seen for a while. Oriana held her dress, trying to hide the wetness.
"Lord Nicholas," she bowed.
Nicholas bowed to the princess, noticing her dress but looking away. It was rude to stare at a woman who wasn’t fully clad. He removed his jacket, handing it over to Oriana, but she declined.
"No, I’m fine. My room is just here. Thank you for the kind thought." She smiled. Nicholas was a man who gave hope to women like her, who thought chivalry was gone. Compared to Adric, this man was an angel.
"Please get changed so you don’t catch a cold," Nicholas said with a soft voice.
Oriana nodded. "I will. Thank you once again." Then she ran inside her room. Oriana entered her room, where she met Freya, who was standing by the door.
"Princess Oriana, I was looking for you," Freya bowed slightly as she spoke. After helping the princess, she had gone to remove the candle wax used the previous night. Freya’s gaze dropped to Oriana’s dress, where water droplets trailed on the marble floor.
"What happened to your dress?" she asked, rushing to the bathroom to fetch a dry towel.
Oriana took the towel, slowly removing her gown until it pooled around her feet. "I was outside, trying to prepare for tomorrow," she said, her voice laced with a mix of frustration and anxiety. Everything was going so well until Adric walked in, Oriana thought to herself. These days she always met Adric everywhere she went. Was he following her or something?
Freya helped Oriana out of her gown, holding it up so it wouldn’t wet the floor. When she raised her face, she replied, "I heard about the king’s birthday too. Also, someone had died during one of the hunts."
Oriana nodded. "I heard that too. Is it that serious? Do you know what killed the person?" She remembered the maid talking about it earlier.
Freya shook her head, going to drop the gown inside a basket, getting scent stones and soap to draw a bath for the princess. "Someone said it was a wild animal, but I don’t know how true it is," she replied, changing the water in the bathtub.
Oriana followed the girl inside the bathroom, packing her hair up before she entered the bathtub.
"Every member of the family is expected to participate, and tomorrow is the horse-riding event," Oriana sighed, resting her head on the bathtub. She wasn’t even prepared for anything at all. "Do you think I can skip tomorrow and not do any of the activities?"
Freya stopped what she was doing. "I don’t know. Maybe the crown prince could help you with that."
Oriana sighed. Adric was the last person she would ask about that. She shook her head slightly. "How’s your father now?"
"He’s doing much better. He was able to stand on his own today." Freya replied, adding more scent stones inside the water.
Oriana nodded. "I’m glad he is doing okay. I’ll visit him tomorrow then," she said, using her hands to scoop water and blowing it with her mouth. She was excited for the king’s birthday. With the activities mentioned, it sounded like it would be fun, only if she didn’t have to participate herself. She sighed.
. . .
Adric walked towards the royal stable where his horse was being cleaned. He threw the dandelion on the floor, stepping on it with his shoe. Adric continued looking at his horse, noticing some changes in the way his horse now behaved.
The stable boy stopped what he was doing the moment he saw Adric and bowed. "Your Highness."
Adric acknowledged his greeting with a small nod. "Let me take it from here." He took the brush. "You can go change the water."
"Yes, Your Highness." The servant bowed, taking the bowl with him. He left the prince alone.
Adric touched the horse gently, checking if it was fit for the next day’s event. He noticed from the corner of his eye that Rowan had just entered the stable.
"Kato doesn’t look good," Rowan said from behind, looking at the horse.
Adric nodded in agreement. He stopped brushing the horse and just touched its back. "Someone has been feeding something strange to her. It’s that time of the year, and it’s the horse race tomorrow, you know."
Rowan sighed, going to rest his back on the stable door. "They always try dirty tricks." He shook his head. "Your family fails to upgrade. Don’t you think it’s time I betray you and join their camp? I can do better with great ideas that would lead to your downfall."
Adric turned to look at his personal guard, who had a stoic expression on his face like he had not said anything wrong. "Rowan, did I not increase your pay?"
The guard shook his head. "Not enough. I want to buy two horses."
Adric raised his finger. "Two? Chief of organized crime should be your position and not my personal guard." He shook his head slightly.
Rowan shrugged his shoulders. "I can’t help it.You know, I’ve been thinking... your mother," he paused when Adric glared at him. "Your stepmother’s offers are pretty tempting. Maybe I should really betray you and join her camp."
Adric raised an eyebrow, playing along. "Oh, really? And what makes you think you’re worth her investment?"
Rowan chuckled, his grin widening. "Well, I’m a valuable asset, of course! I mean, who else can put up with you and still manage to remain sane?"
Adric laughed, shaking his head. "You’re not a true friend, Rowan. But I think I’ll keep you by my side, even if it means increasing your pay... again. Also Seeing my handsome face every day should be enough."
Rowan scowled, rolling his eyes, "What did they give to Kato?"
Adric replied, "I can’t really tell, but Kato is a strong girl, she’s going to be fine."
Rowan twitched his lips. "Do you think she can ride tomorrow?"
Adric nodded. "I’ll get her medicine ready tonight. Yes, she can." Adric paused. "You weren’t talking about Kato, were you?"
"I was talking about the princess," Rowan replied, moving to the side for Adric to pass.
Adric dusted his hands before slipping them inside his trouser pockets. Oriana had no knowledge of horse riding. It wasn’t news to him or to anyone in the palace after the scene she had caused with Walter a few weeks back.
"She can always ask me for help," was the only thing he said. When he noticed his guard was looking at him with his eyes narrowed, Adric raised his brows. "What?"
Rowan shook his head. "Nothing, nothing at all." He replied. "You’re a cheapskate, Your highness. But I’ll stay loyal... for now."
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