Rose dipped a curtsey and followed Rabert into the hall. After descending the stairs from the tower, Caitlyn and the captain flanked the princess on either side while the two guards fell in behind them.
The two men behind her reminded her of the two soldiers Rose had lost. She was suddenly filled with regret. "Captain Rabert, my heart is quite heavy. I am sorry--"
Sensing her intent, Rabert coughed loudly. "Sorry? Ah, you noticed that I seem to be coming down with a bit of a cold. Do not worry, I did not get it from you. When we are both well, I do hope to make a social call as you requested."
The princess nodded. Rabert had saved her from letting the guards hear her impromptu confession. "Yes, well, I do hope you recover quickly. I had quite a struggle, you know."
"I am very glad to see you are well now,"Rabert said genuinely.
After that, they fell silent. The halls they entered were filled with nobles who were attending court that day. Rose did her best to seem composed yet frail. The more reluctant she appeared, the less questions people would ask her.
"It is wonderful to see you, Your Highness," one young lady ventured as they came into the large gathering outside the throne room. The lady curtsied deeply.
"It is good to see you too, Lady Theodora. I do hope you have been keeping busy while I have been indisposed," Rose knew how eager the other woman was for any kind of scoop. The princess would not oblige. She dipped her head indifferently.
"I do hope you are feeling better. Heartache can be such an insidious disease." The curly redhead seemed very sympathetic.
"I am most sorry to hear you have been suffering from heartache." Rose coughed lightly as Caitlyn produced a handkerchief for her mistress. "Your condition sounds much worse than the cold which plagued me."
Theodora's pleasant mask did not show her disappointment. She obviously thought she could trick Rose into revealing something but had failed. "Thankfully my line of suitors has no end, Your Highness. I have no need for heartache."
"I am most glad to hear it. Please do inform me when you have selected your match so the rest of us may at last have a chance." Rose moved past Theodora amid silent snickers.
"That was harsh," Caitlyn scolded, bringing a fan to her face so only the princess could hear.
"She started it!" Rose whispered, but she would not meet her friend's eye.
Behind them Theodora let out a musical laugh. "Your Highness's wit knows no bounds. Though I think you have no need of suitors. I know His Majesty has made you an excellent match! I hear that Prince Callan of Lakyle will be most honored to wed at the appropriate time."
All the air in the outer court was sucked from the room. Even those who had not heard the comment were quickly apprised of the words Theodora uttered.
"I take it back, she deserves what she gets." Caitlyn took a step away as the princess turned to face her accuser.
Rose leveled her gaze at the presumptuous member of the court. "I was unaware," she began, "Of how close you are to the king. How kind of you to let me know of his plans! I will make sure my father knows that you broke the happy news to me personally."
Theodora blanched. "There is no need for that honor," she answered, the smile on her face slowly fading.
"There isn't? I see. Well if you had wished to avoid such royal attention, you should have been aware of the rumors you spread. His Majesty has time and again told me he will let me choose whom I wed, so neither you nor anyone else should know the man before I find him out myself."
"Yes, Your Highness," Theodora looked suitably humbled.
Rose felt a little bit of guilt. She did not usually dress down courtiers in such a manner, but this redheaded lady often tried to show off her wit at the Princess's expense.
'Still, it is never nice to be publicly humiliated…'
"I shall not mention this matter to Father this time. Please watch your tongue in the future or I do not think your line of suitors will remain quite so lengthy." Rose was both extending compassion and making her a promise.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Theodora curtsied and lowered her head. While the princess did not think it would stop the young woman's wagging tongue forever, it was likely to give her pause for at least a little while.
No one else dared to approach the King's daughter. She entered the throne room with her head held high. When she was clear of those who had witnessed the scene, Rose at last exhaled a deep sigh.
"I do not envy you young ladies," Rabert said to comfort her. "Always having to be on your guard so that some scandal doesn't trap you. And even then someone can make up a scandal just to make you miserable."
"The sad part is I don't think that she made it up," Rose's face was taut. "Most rumors have a hint of truth somewhere in them."
"I wouldn't say most." Caitlyn could already guess at what the princess was thinking. "King Rhodri would never make such an agreement without your consent."
"It would explain why Father was so quick to agree about Sir Samberg. He has another in mind entirely. But it could not have been his plan all along, I don't think. Something must have happened." Rose's mind raced. What could have caused such a sudden shift?
Rabert tensed. Caitlyn looked away. The princess noticed both actions. "You both know something that you aren't telling me."
"It is best you talk to your father, Your Highness." The brunette lady answered.
The princess's cheeks burned. "Tell me what you know." Seeing that she could not get information from her lady-in-waiting, she turned on the Captain.
Rabert cleared his throat. He could face a hundred foes, but the piercing gaze of a woman was far more intimidating in his books. "A messenger from Lakyle came two days ago and left in a rather angry huff. That can only be good news for you though. Right, Your Highness?"
Pursing her lips, Rose was inclined to agree with the captain. An angry messenger was unlikely to bring his master pleasant news. But she would refrain from closing the matter until her father had come forth with what was happening. Perhaps it was not what she thought at all. Or perhaps it was much worse.
Rose opened her mouth to express her thoughts, but was suddenly cut short. The sea of people in the throne room who were seeking an audience with the king suddenly parted.
On the throne, Rhodri had just finished with a peasant who had submitted a petition to expand his grain field two-fold. The move was opposed by his neighbor, who was worried that the price of grain would plummet for both of them. In the end, the first man decided to span his increase over two years to lower the impact.
Happy to have the matter sorted, Rhodri looked up and spotted the person he loved most in the world. "My dear, my dear!" he called, waving his hand for her to approach.
The trio moved as one with their two shadow guards falling to the sides of the throne room to watch for trouble. Rose approached the dais and curtsied before the King.
"Your Majesty," she said respectfully. "I would like a word in private. It will only take a moment because..."
Rhodri beamed a smile and nodded, but then his attention was suddenly pulled from her to the back of the throne room once more. Rose wondered what could possibly draw the king's attention in such a way.
Then she looked.
It was Sir Samberg.