Lyana was really touched by her maid's confession. It must have taken a lot of courage and Lyana
really appreciated that. "Just because you argue doesn't mean there aren't any feelings other than
anger involved. Baridi is a smart man and should know that. Still, you have to tell him how you feel. As clever as he is, he seems a bit inexperienced when it comes to love."
Her maid sighed loudly. "I know. But I'm so afraid of being rejected."
Lyana understood that only too well. "Unbelievable, is not it? How much a few little words can scare you. Once they have been spoken, there is no turning back. Neither for him nor for you. It's like your feelings are only getting stronger."
Alisen put the brush aside and looked at the princess in shock. "Have you ... have you confessed your feelings to the king?"
The sun princess nodded. "In a way, you could say that I even did that twice."
"But .. how did he react?"
Lyana slowly looked at the floor and gave a small laugh. "Well, the first time he threw me in the
dungeon. So not that good, I guess."
Alisen clapped her hands over her mouth, but Lyana tried to soothe her directly. "It's all right. I was
also surprised myself. He hasn't treated me like a lady in all that time. I don't know how that happened myself."
Her maid looked at her sadly and the princess was sure that she was trying to fight back her tears. "I
know why you fell in love with him," announced Alisen in a halting voice. "Because you have a good heart and were able to see behind his cold facade. You may be the only one in this castle who knows what it looks like inside of him."
Alisen probably had no idea how right she was with that statement. Lyana was now aware that at
this one evening in the garden through the tree spirits she was able to feel what the king felt. Except
that she only had to deal with it for a brief moment. King Ulric had been living with this pain for almost 50 years. Day after day.
To the princess it was inexplicable how a person could be able to endure such pain. Just thinking
about it was too much and all she wanted was to hug him and tell him that she would be there for him. "He suffered from pain that would be enough for several lives," Lyana breathed with a heavy heart.
For a brief moment the two women were silent while they held each other's hand comfortingly. That
ended the conversation for the time being and her maid took care of her hair again. She braided it and pinned it up. Lyana decided on the ice blue dress that she wore to her first meal with the king.
She remembered using it to show him the bruises on her neck. Absentmindedly she touched it now.
The meals were now completely gone, but the memory was still fresh.
"You look beautiful, as always," enthused Alisen when she was finished. Lyana had to agree with her, but it seemed a bit wasteful to dress up when it was already evening. But Alisen had explained to her that she wanted to use every opportunity to dress up the princess while she still had the opportunity. In addition, it would have offended her pride to send her out of the room in a different condition.
The two women used the remaining time to talk a little more. Alisen seemed to be careful not to
choose any topics that could be too sensitive. However, this also made it easier for her to interrupt
the conversation as soon as Baridi knocked on the door to pick her up.
"You look lovely, Your Royal Highness," he complimented greeting.
"Many Thanks. I owe that mainly to Alisen. She has really skilled hands." Lyana winked at her slightly blushing maid.
The valet smiled in their direction and nodded in agreement. "As a matter of fact. A very talented
young woman."
Since Alisen had turned away from them in the meantime, Lyana could not see the expression on
her face. But she was still sure that her maid must have enjoyed this compliment very much.
As always, Baridi gallantly offered his arm to the princess and Lyana accepted with thanks.
Together they left their room and went to the dining room, probably for the last time. "I suppose I'll
have dinner alone." Lyana purposely didn't phrase it like a question, as she thought she already knew the answer. Baridi also agreed immediately. "I suppose that will be the case. The king has hardly eaten anything for a few days."
Besides, he surely didn't want to see Lyana again, she guessed. But Baridi would be way too nice to tell her something like that openly.