“I have no wish to disturb your work, Miss O’Sullivan. But if you would care to converse while about your business…I would be grateful.”

The young Irish woman frowned. That wasn’t an order. She hesitated. The crown and Seraphel annoyed her still. She jerked her head as she pinned a mostly-clean strip of linen to the length of rope.

“If you have time to talk, I could use a hand.”

For response, Princess Seraphel picked up a towel, found another spot on the line, and attached it. Cara blinked. Seraphel raised her eyebrows at Cara in a pointed way.

“You don’t seem to think much of me, Miss Cara. I may not be a [Washer], [Maid], or so on, but I can do something as simple as hanging up linen. Although I admit someone has to show me how.”

Awkwardly, Cara avoided Seraphel’s gaze. She kept working as she spoke.

“Sorry. It’s just that I’m not used to royalty doing anything so—mundane.”

“Like putting healing potions in crates? Someone has to do it and since I have very few useful Skills to the situation, I might as well.”

Cara dropped a bandage over the balcony and cursed. That had been her thought. She studied Seraphel out of the corner of her eye and realized the [Princess] was giving her the same look. Cara hesitated.

“Healing potions. Funny. I thought there weren’t many of them. Dalius told me that.”

“Your ghost friend?”

Seraphel’s voice made Cara realize how stupid that sounded. The [Singer] hesitated.

“He was real. I don’t know about this Gravewarden thing, but—”

“I believe you. Ghosts do exist. The Thronebearers of Calanfer used to be experts at hunting them.

They’re rarer than they were, but one haunting a tomb makes sense. Him not knowing about potions is equally logical; it wasn’t until Sage’s Grass became widely cultivated that healing potions became so cheap. Well, that and Eir Gel.”

“I see. I mean, yes. Obviously.”

Seraphel’s eyes flickered.

“You mean, ‘of course’. Because you knew that already.”

Cara fumbled with the wooden pin. The [Princess] raised her brows. After a second, Cara gave her a flat look.

“—I’m not an expert at alchemical things. And I don’t use healing potions that much.”

“Well said. If I couldn’t tell you were lying, I’d believe that.”

The [Princess] saw Cara’s face go blank and tapped a flashing ring.

“Magical artifact and Skills. I can read your aura like your face and you’re lying. I may be useless for anything like washing clothes, but I’m quite good at social events. Move the basket over.”

Silently, Cara did. She wasn’t sure if she should be worried; Seraphel’s tone was far from accusatory. If anything, she was frankly curious as she regarded Cara.

“May I ask a question?”

“Go ahead.”

“You seem to detest me and I can’t fathom why. I thought for a while that you had some grudge against Calanfer, but I don’t think you’ve ever been to my home. So what is it?”