Eva hurried up the stairs.
Megraye and her had awoken that morning to an urgent request that they go see Prince Augustus.
The two had hurried, glancing at each other in bewilderment.
What could the eldest prince want from them?
On arrival, early in the morning and outside an empty suite of rooms that had now been assigned to Blythe Gardenlight, the prince had stood waiting, seeming to be deep in thought.
The man had seemed pleasant afterward, explaining to the maids in detail what was to happen and what he expected of them.
The two had agreed, elated at being trusted by the dear prince.
Eva ignored the curious glances of the gossiping maids as she hurried to Blythe's room.
The lovely girl, Eva smiled as she reflected, was rather charming.
She had a beautiful quality.
A sweet smile, a calm expression and a friendly voice, Eva realized, made Blythe instantly likeable.
She hoped Prince Elliot would think the same.
They had only a few hours to spare before Blythe was to meet the second prince.
Eva wondered why she felt so nervous.
~
Prince Augustus sat in his chair watching Elliot and Xyla deep in conversation at another corner of the table.
He sighed, feeling the cool air at his eyes.
Sniffling, he smiled to himself.
He'd broken down moments before and now, felt extremely calm.
There had been too many uncertainties he had felt he had to tame and it had overwhelmed him.
Depending on someone you can trust, he reflected, felt extremely relaxing.
Letting someone else share the burden did wonders to the stress his mind had been struck with.
Augustus sighed as he watched the two whisper heatedly.
After consoling him, the two had listened to his fears and the plans he had concocted.
Augustus had shared how he had seen Aldith Everglower kiss Sir Waldorf when they would frequent the palace. The strangled gasp from Xyla had made him realize that the girl was probably good acquaintances with the noble.
The rest of the things that had bothered him came flooding out and the two had listened to it all, not interrupting him at all.
Augustus glanced around, thankful that none of the servants had been around.
The crown prince weeping, he was sure, would arouse a new breed of gossip altogether.
Trying to keep his head high and appear as cheerful as always had been extremely difficult after the blossom had rejected him and refused to give him an ability.
It had shaken him and caused him to question the purpose of all the years he had put into being a worthy ruler.
Glancing at Elliot's frame, he knew he had made the right decisions.
At the moment, the threat to the entire kingdom was an ill-prepared and arrogant Cecil taking the throne.
Cecil, of his own, although irresponsible and at times insensitive, could be trusted to slowly learn and grow out of his immature ways but Aldith, Augustus knew, was different.
She was not unaware of what she was doing.
She was a venomous woman out to get the throne by any means possible.
Augustus decided he would talk to Cecil at some point.
Distancing him from Aldith might be a good way to get Cecil to focus on what was really happening in front of him.
The immediate problem was the matter of the four tests that remained.
There was no specified timing.
After the test of the Power-imparting blossom, the rest of the tests would be held at any time.
From the records Augustus had been shown when he was younger, he knew that at some instances all four of the tests had been held the very next day and in others, each test had taken place a month apart.
Augustus had decided.
Although at first, it had been expected that he would be the only prince that took all five of the tests and then the throne, Augustus was asking for Elliot's help in the matter.
Prince Elliot would join Augustus in each of the tests.
Augustus wondered why his heart soared in relief at the thought of his brother joining him.
All through the years, it had always been Elliot and himself studying and learning, struggling to keep up with the mountains of work that was heaped on them.
Thinking of Cecil, Augustus felt a trickle of sadness.
He had always felt anger after Cecil's sudden outburst but after his own emotional subsiding, Augustus realized that there was a growing worry in his heart.
Cecil was the baby of the family.
He was pampered and taken care of and adored.
Augustus understood why his mother had asked for his company at tea.
The family was grieving.
They were afraid.
In all honesty, they were more frightened for Cecil and a potential permanent parting from him than what would happen to the throne.
~
"Ms. Gardenlight, you look absolutely radiant."
Blythe glanced at the mirror, her breath catching.
She really did look stunning.
Her heart fluttered at the notion of being seen by Prince Elliot.
Blythe's dark hair had been pulled up into an elegant bun. Soft tendrils curled down to frame her face. Her lips had been reddened to match her dress. The garment hugged her till it flared out at the hips. Gorgeous lace stuck to her hands and her beautiful skin shone through the sleeves.
Doing a small twirl, Blythe giggled at the cries of approval from her maids.
Her heart stilled in dread when she thought of her family.
What were they doing when she was so carefree and happy?