I sit drinking tea with Rue, Elsie, Layla, Millie and Isbeth. Pretending to have a conversation. Well I'm pretending to have a conversation. Mostly I just smile and nod as they talk about the different lords and ladies they have met.

I couldn't match the faces with the names they used. Were these the lines I needed to rehearse? Paying attention when I dance with lords, remembering their names. I wouldn't make a very convincing actor if I couldn't remember their names.

"You've spent time with each of the Princes Daella, care to share what you know about each of them?' Isbeth asks making me blink trying to think of her question, something about the Princes.

"I haven't spent that much time with them." I reply, setting my tea cup on it's little gold rimmed plate and holding it steady.

"Still, you must have learned something, what they are like?" Isbeth insists and I look at her, her black hair always reminding me of the ravens that used to hang around the house.

"I know Prince Demwyn has magic, he can manipulate the air." I say thinking its really the only thing I've learned about any of them and no idea what else they would want to know.

"Of course he does, all of the princes have magic, they are high fae." Isbeth smiles at me like it is common knowledge and maybe it was I just hadn't been paying attention, too worried if I was sipping my tea correctly, or chewing my meals like a lady. "Demwyn can manipulate air, Alvaryn has a type of mind magic, he can tell when someone is lying or telling the truth. And Aeris can manipulate fire. They are all extremely powerful, among the most powerful in the kingdom." Isbeth explains, the other girls nodding along with her.

"I didn't know." I say quickly. But it explains why Prince Alvaryn was so adamant I hadn't been telling him the whole truth, how he just seemed to know.

"What about Prince Alvaryn? What did you speak about with him?" She asks eagerly, sipping from her cup.

"He likes reading books." I answer with a shrug.

"He is the smartest one out of the three of them, I suppose that would require reading a lot of books. I danced with him at the ball, he complimented my dancing, said I danced like a true fae." She smiles.

"You are the best dancer among us." Elsie smiles. "I spoke with Prince Alvaryn at the garden party, well, Layla and I were there and we were introduced, he is very quiet compared to the other High Lord's"

I sit and listen as they continue talking about the Princes and High Lords, sipping my tea slowly.

"Is that why you spend so much time at the library?" Rue asks me quietly.

"What?"

"You always go to the library in the afternoons, is Prince Alvaryn there as well?" She asks excitedly.

"He's been there a couple of times, but it isn't the reason I go there. It's just nice and quiet and a good place to read." I explain.

She nods and smiles joining in with the other girl's conversation.

As our afternoon dance class comes to its end I let out a small sigh of relief. I had only been corrected twice during the lesson and while I could feel her eyes still watching me, the Mistress hadn't resorted to calling me useless.

"Ladies, there will be a formal dinner tomorrow evening with the High Court and the Royal Family, another event that will allow you to spend time with the High Court." The Mistress announces before letting us go for the day.

I had been waiting to go to the library, not knowing if Alvaryn would be there, but hoping he would be. I had thought about what it would be like to have a friend here, I didn't know what it would mean considering he was a prince but he was right when he said we had things in common. I think it was more than just a like for the same books. He had genuinely tried to understand why I was so angry, that he had never stopped to think about what the Offering meant to the humans. I had made him question his own beliefs. I wanted to believe that meant being friends would mean I would have someone I wouldn't have to pretend with. Not that I was very good at pretending whenever I was with him, or Aeris if I think about it.

I feel someone loop their arm through my elbow and find Rue smiling at me. "I thought we could go to the library together, I bought my sketch book with me."

"Okay, I was planning on getting a new book." I smile back.

Why did it feel like the real reason Rue wanted to go to the library wasn't to spend time with me?

"Wow, there are so many books. I didn't think there would be this many books in the world." Rue gasps after I open the door and we walk in together.

"I usually sit here," I say stopping at the chairs. "But we can find a table if you prefer."

She looks at the two chairs and smiles. "Maybe a table would be better."

We walk down the aisles where a small round table is set with four chairs around it.

"I'm going to find a book to read." I tell her before heading back to the shelves.

"You've made a new friend." His voice is quiet at my side as I stand searching the titles. I jump, hand on my chest as I turn and find Alvaryn smiling down at me looking far too amused at my reaction. I curtsy.

"Your Highness, that's Rue, she wanted to join me today." I answer, not sure if I would call us friends, friendly I suppose.

"We're friends now, you don't have to curtsy every time and just call me Alvaryn. Are you choosing a new book? Have you finished the other one already?" he asks as I turn back to the shelf scanning the titles.

I nod. "Last night."

"And?"

"And I prefer the first two you recommended, the last one dragged and there was so much in the middle that was completely unnecessary to the story line." I answer honestly.

"It wasn't unnecessary, it was important political information that was crucial to the story and explained the reason the kingdom had become the way it was at the beginning of the story." He replies.

I scoff. "It was dull, I didn't need to know why Lord So and So decided to decree that the citizens would pay a certain tax, I didn't need to hear about all the intricacies and hidden meanings between all the High Lords that made up the council. How one was mad because he believed he had been cheated by the other one into a bad deal and now plotted revenge but never actually doing anything to get his revenge."

Alvaryn laughs. "You cannot be serious, each of those details only added to the story and made the ending have even more meaning."

"Oh, I thought I heard voices." Rue's voice interrupts us, I turn, finding her at the end of the row smiling. She curtsies. "Your Highness, so good to see you."

"And you, Miss Rue." He smiles with a formal nod.

"Have you found a book to read?" Rue asks me, I turn back to the shelf and pick one at random.

"You're going to hate it." Alvaryn says quietly. I ignore him turning and heading back to the table.

"You clearly don't have as good a taste in books as I thought, why would I listen to you about this one." I reply quietly as he walks at my side before reaching the table.

"Won't you join us Your Highness, Daella was going to read and I was going to sketch." Rue asks standing behind her seat.

"You sketch?" He asks, brow raised.

"Just a little," She answers. "Perhaps you could be my muse and let me draw you?"

He shakes his head. "I don't know if I would make a very good muse."

"Nonsense, you won't even have to do anything, just sit wherever you like and I will draw." She insists.

"Alright, I was going to read in here for a while anyways." He agrees setting his book down. Rue waits behind her chair and Alvaryn moves to pull it out for her.

She smiles up at him before taking her seat. He looks over at me with his brow raised in question. I pull out my own chair and sit down. He smirks, again looking too amused at my reaction before sitting in his own, picking up his book.

I tried to ignore the fact Rue was here as I open the book and start reading, I mean he had said he had intended to read as well so maybe we wouldn't have spoken at all. Why did that make me feel disappointed? Would this be a common occurrence now that Rue had found out where Alvaryn spends his time? And the library, my safe place, when my rooms felt too small, when the gold and ivory furnishings were too much I came here, would it not be my safe place anymore?

I struggle to follow along with the story as I read, not only because Alvaryn was right and it was terrible but I could hear the quiet scratching of Rue's pencil as she drew, constantly looking at Alvaryn and returning to her sketch.

Anytime I caught Alvaryn's eye he would just smirk back at me and it irritated me to no end to not know what all his stupid smirks meant.

After what feels like years have passed Rue lets out a happy sound and smiles.

"All finished. Would you like to see?" She asks Alvaryn. He sets down his book as she holds up her sketch.

The drawing is perfect. An exact replica of Alvaryn. I don't want to think about what it would have ended up looking like if it had been me trying to draw.

"Wow, you definitely have a gift Rue." Alvaryn smiles, Rue grins at his compliment.

"Thank you Your Highness, I knew you would make a good muse." Rue says still smiling ear to ear.

"I stand corrected." Alvaryn agrees.

I felt restless and irritated and like I shouldn't be here, with them, what if Alvaryn genuinely liked Rue? Rue's interest in Alvaryn was clear but maybe Alvaryn was interested in the same way.

"Oh, it's almost time for our evening meal. We should get going." Rue says interrupting my spiralling thoughts. She stands up and starts collecting her things. "It was such a pleasure to spend time with you Prince Alvaryn, I look forward to doing so again." She smiles and curtsies.

He stands quickly and nods. "And you as well."

"Are you coming Daella?" Rue asks as I sit watching both of them.

"Yes, I'm just going to grab another book. I'll meet you there." I say standing quickly and heading to the aisle I had found this miserable book.

"Will she be joining you every time now?" Alvaryn asks coming up behind me, always too quiet.

"I'm not sure." I answer softly almost wanting to ask if he wanted her to but I stop myself.

"You hate that book, don't you?" He asks, nodding at the book in my hands.

"It isn't my favourite." I reply putting it back and searching the others.

"You should read this one." Alvaryn says reaching above my head and then handing me the book. "I am almost absolutely certain you won't have anything negative to say about this one."

"I'm not sure if I trust you after your thoughts on the last one."

"Well we're not going to enjoy every book the same but this one is different." He insists.

"Why?"

"Just read it, you'll see." He smiles.

"Alright, I need to go."

"It's a shame Rue was with us this time." He says stopping me in my place. "I was hoping to get to talk to you more. Maybe we will have to find another place."

I don't know what to say. "I don't know of any other places." Is all I can think of.

"I'll figure that part out." He smiles. "See you next time Daella."

"Just Dae is fine." I blurt out then quickly turn away from him and hurry out of the library.

Only my family had called me Dae. But if Alvaryn truly was my friend now then it felt right if he wanted to call me Dae. Hearing it again, having someone here use it might help me remember. I didn't want to forget the real me, so even if one person called me by it then it would be better than no one.







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