Come let us haste, the stars grow high. But night sits monarch yet in the mid sky.
-John Milton (Milton's Comus)
–
Ysabel could hear the chirping birds from outside. Fresh air blew past her delicate skin as her eyes slowly fluttered open.
The first thing she saw was a red dot above her. Thinking it was blood, she scrambled to get up, her heart pounding rapidly against her chest.
Memories slowly came back, flooding Ysabel's mind in an instant.
"Your Highness!" a familiar voice pulled her out from the rising panic.
Ysabel watched as a figure came running toward her; echoes of her screaming helplessly and her frantic cries caused Ysabel's breath to quicken.
Reis' familiar face appeared in Ysabel's line of vision. She kneeled beside Ysabel, giving her body a once-over, checking for any visible injury.
"Your highness!" Reis exclaimed, gathering the basket beside Ysabel. It was brimming with red apples.
Realizing she was sitting below the apple tree in the palace garden, Ysabel put a hand to her mouth, hiding the gasp that would have escaped her lips.
Gradually, everything returned to Ysabel—the mysterious stranger and his clocks, watching the flashbacks of her mother's death, the party she never attended, and her demise.
"Do you wish to make everything right, Ysabel?"
The man's voice rang in Ysabel's ears, bringing her back to the present. She blinked and looked at Reis.
"Reis!" she exclaimed, only then understanding that she was truly inside at the palace.
The latter blinked in confusion, not understanding the expression displayed on the noble lady's face.
Fear gripped Reis' heart, thinking that the lady had fallen from the tree and had hurt her head, thus the indescribable expression on her beautiful face.
"Are you—oof!"
Ysabel pulled Reis into a hug, surprising the palace maid with the gesture.
"You're alive," Ysabel murmured. "You're alive!"
"Your Highness!"
Reis' eyes widened upon hearing a familiar voice, forcing her to gently push Ysabel away, pulling the noble lady to her feet before lowering her head to greet the head of the palace maids.
Three other servants followed behind, their heads lowering into a bow as they stopped before Ysabel.
"Your Highness," Dorothy, the supervisor for the palace maids, bowed, greeting Ysabel.
Knowing that Dorothy witnessed Ysabel hugging Reis, Ysabel stepped in front of Reis.
It was deemed improper for a palace maid to have that close contact with any Monarch. Whether they were initiated by the royalty, it was no excuse to let it happen.
Dorothy had been working in the palace before Ysabel was even born and was one of the most reliable servants on the castle grounds.
Her greying hair was proof of her long-term service. The stern look on her face was enough to scare every servant to defy her or make any fault.
That left Ysabel to wonder where Dorothy was when her mother had frantically rushed to get to her chamber.
As the head of the palace maids, she must have been there after her mother's death had been declared among the servants but shushed from general knowledge.
Refusing to give anything away, Ysabel silenced her doubts and looked at Dorothy. She didn't offer a smile, a contrast to what she had wanted to do and how she usually addressed the people around her.
"I was having a difficult moment, and Reis was the only person who could offer emotional support. I'd appreciate it if you let it slide this one time."
Ysabel observed Dorothy's reaction. The head of the palace maids lowered her head, giving nothing away.
"As you wish, your highness."
'These people are well versed in dealing with monarchs like me,' Ysabel thought bitterly. 'They're experts in hiding their motives.'
"What brings you here?"
Ysabel eyed the other two maids behind Dorothy.
She was not confident she could pull off the act when she knew nothing about what was happening.
Other than finding Reis alive, coming back to the palace, and people calling her 'Your highness,' Ysabel was somewhat lost.
"Prince Hinrik has arrived."
Ysabel felt her heart skip a beat at the mere mention of Hinrik's name. The heat spread from her chest and climbed its way to her cheeks, getting her flustered without needing to see his handsome face.
Yet, flashes of her dethronement and death gave her thoughts about the young Prince a pause. She couldn't let her feelings for him make her forget about her aim.
"Do everything you must to fulfill what you were destined to do, Queen Ysabel of Eyeris. Do you accept the challenge? Will you rise to meet these demands no matter what it takes?"
The man's voice echoed in her thoughts once again.
Determined to stick to the promise she made, Ysabel vowed to process the rest of the events later, when she had a better grasp of her situation.
"Prince Hinrik?"
Dorothy nodded.
"His Majesty invited him to discuss some matters. The Queen wishes to see you."
Gulping back the tears threatening to give Ysabel away, she tilted her head, raising her chin as she held Dorothy's gaze steady.
"Take me to her then," The palace maids bowed, gently ushering Ysabel to proceed. "Kindly bring the basket to the pantry, Reis. And tell Dante to make an apple pie. I wish to enjoy some during dessert."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Ysabel watched Reis pick up the basket and left to heed her command.
'First order of business: save Reis.'
Ysabel didn't know how long Simeon had been abusing her friend.
She had no idea when it even started.
But she wouldn't let that disgusting man touch Reis again.
Idly following Dorothy's lead, Ysabel followed the maids to the east wing, knowing the path that led to the Queen's chamber all too well.
But was she ready to see her mother or step inside the room where her nightmare began?
Hiding her discomfort, Ysabel hurried her steps. She cannot have anyone suspect that something was going on with her.
If she were to fix the things that had gone wrong, she must be resilient in finding the root cause. Her success depended on her and how she will play the game.
Lost in her thoughts, Ysabel failed to see the person before her. The inevitable collision caused the palace maids to gasp.
But with both royals before them, they didn't know who to address first.
Lifting her head to see the person she collided with, all the color from Ysabel's face had drained, her heart coming to a stop as the world around her froze.
His deep-set eyes held Ysabel's gaze. An arm gripped tightly around her waist.
He had done his best to help Ysabel keep her balance. But the result made them stand face-to-face, making Ysabel forget how to breathe.
"You are looking more and more beautiful," Prince Hinrik mumbled, keeping the conversation to themselves. "You keep stealing my breath away, Your Highness."