Now the princess slowly felt a little hope again and gained courage. "Very easily. I don't ask for much, just a simple room in your castle and that I can move freely inside the castle."
The king rubbed his beard thoughtfully. "Interesting. I have to give you credit for showing courage,
which I would not have thought you could do. As for the room, I'll have it made up for you. But you
will only be allowed to enter my castle if you are accompanied by me or my servants. Otherwise
you are not allowed to leave your room."
"That's only fair," she agreed. She tried to hold back her joy, but she still couldn't believe that she had actually succeeded.
"I will send someone to get you out for lunch and take you to your new room." Those were his last
words before the king left without further ado.
Lyana was very quiet for a while, then she let a little cry of joy escape. The guard was shocked for a
moment, but Lyana paid no more attention to him, she was so happy. It was crazy, you'd think he'd
told her to go back to her family.
But the time until noon passed very slowly. They almost seemed like days to her. But then the
servant who had been promised finally came. He took her out of her cell and went upstairs with her.
She recognized him as the man who had driven the sleigh, but didn't remember his name.
When they stopped in front of a room, Lyana was already very excited and was looking forward to a
real bed.
The double door opened, but instead of a bed, Lyana saw only a dining room with a large table in
the middle. Confused, she looked at the servant. "Shouldn't I be brought to my room?"
The man bowed slightly. "I was told to escort you to the dining room, Your Royal Highness."
Should the king have withdrawn his offer with the room?
"Please take a seat." He made an inviting gesture. Lyana was reluctant to sit down. She was far too
disappointed for that. However, she also had to remind herself that she was still just a prisoner. So
she went to the table and sat at the head end. Shortly afterwards, more servants came into the room
and began to serve food. Only now did Lyana notice how her stomach began to growl at the sight of
it. She had completely forgotten that she hadn't taken a bite since yesterday.
"Will the king join me?" She wanted to know from a young woman.
"No Your Royal Highness, he's eating in his study today," she replied curtly.
Lyana noticed how relief and disappointment spread through her at the same time. Of course he
didn't want to eat with her. He hated her. With his gracious gesture this morning she almost forgot
that.
Lost in thought, she stirred her soup. When a tear fell into it, she wiped her face vigorously. Now was no time to cry. There was nothing she could do about her situation, so she should just make the best out of it.
Full of vigor, she threw herself on the delicacies that were served to her and when she was finally
finished, she had the feeling that her riding dress would tear at any moment.
"Was everything to your satisfaction, Your Royal Highness?" The servant who had taken her out of
her cell suddenly stood next to her again.
"I don't know if it's because of my imprisonment, but that was the best meal I've ever had," she replied seriously.
"Many Thanks. I'll let the cook know. If you would follow me now."
Lyana nodded and followed him out of the dining room. They walked down a long corridor that was
adorned with beautiful white and blue flowers. But something struck her as strange.
"Why don't you see paintings anywhere here? There are so many in our castle, but I haven't seen a
single one here."
The man seemed clearly uncomfortable with the question. "Our King ... doesn't like paintings. They
have all been removed."
King Ulric was getting stranger and stranger. What was he hiding?
"We are here," Lyana was torn from her thoughts. The door was opened for her and this time she looked into a rose-colored room with a large four-poster bed in the middle. "This was the room that has been given to me?" She couldn't believe it. The room was absolutely stunning. Very different from what she expected. "It's magnificent. Are you sure that you brought me to the right room? "
The attendant nodded in confirmation. "I was instructed to take you to the former queen's chamber."
"The former queen?" So this was King Ulrics mother's room? "Is the queen ..." She didn't dare to
finish the sentence, but it wasn't necessary at all. "She died many years ago."
Lyana had already figured that out. She would have been interested since when, exactly, and whether King Ulric had any other relatives, but she assumed she would get no answer. So she just enjoyed the beautiful room that was given to her.