“Where all Prince Men go!” I flash a cheeky grin. “To the castle.”

I grab mane and lean forward, bracing myself as we clear the fence. I hear the idiot burbling behind me, struggling to mount a horse.

He calls out as I race down the road toward her.

“You know, this would make an amazing song!”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three

Idalia

Six Years Previous

Nurse Lydia rests her large, wrinkled hands on my shoulders and leans down to meet my eyes in the mirror. She saw my grimace; she knows what I’m thinking.

“He’s going to think you’re beautiful, Idalia. He always has.” Her smile is soft and warm, and despite my nerves, some comfort finds me.

“How can you be so sure?” I ask, rubbing my face. “The last time he saw me was in the middle of a massacre. I’m not sure his first thought will be how pretty I am.” Then, I take a deep breath, pick up a small brush, and gently stroke powder on my cheeks. “He probably resents his father for making him come here, and he’ll leave as soon as he gets the chance.”

Nurse Lydia clicks her tongue and straightens. “Nonsense, child. Prince Lachlan would never do something so rude.” She turns towards the bed and holds up one of the dresses she laid out for me. “Now, that Theodore girl, on the other hand.”

I run to my bed with a dramatic whimper and collapse onto the fine outfits.

“Up! You’ll wrinkle them!” She swats at me.

I ignore her and groan loudly. “It’s hopeless. I’m doomed to become an old spinster. No man will ever want my hand in marriage.”

She rolls her eyes, pushes me, and frees a frock. “Believe me, not being tethered to a man your whole life is more of a blessing than you could know.”

“Well, if I were a servant, I wouldn’t trouble myself with marriage!” I roll onto my belly and prop myself on an elbow. “Unfortunately, that’s not how it is for a princess. We’re raised from birth to marry royalty, forced to move to an entirely new land with an entirely new castle! All my servants will be strangers one day!”

She stops smoothing the dresses for a moment and sends me a cynical gaze. “How tragic for you.”

“Hopefully, my new handmaiden will be more charming than my nurse.” Nurse Lydia’s expression doesn’t change in the slightest, of course. “I guess I’m not that upset at the prospect of moving somewhere new,” I admit. “Anything would be better than being here, buried in the snow.”

Nurse Lydia grunts a half-hearted agreement of sorts.

“Besides! I’m an adult now! I shouldn’t have to count a nurse as my closest friend!”

Finally, she stops and faces me. “A closest friend wouldn’t make my job so difficult. Have you even brushed your hair today?”