Annette was in a properly rotten mood the next morning and it was rubbing off on Isabelle who still was pale and cold from the night before.
They sat down to a tea when Annette looked at Isabelle with a frown.
"Your hair is very dark." Annette pointed out. Unnecessarily, of course. Isabelle knew well that her hair was dark. It was an almost bluish sort of black that reminded many of the raven's feathers. "No Ariadna born person has hair as dark as this."
"His highness has dark hair." Isabelle noted.
"Yes, it is well known that his blood line is not purely from Ariadna. He took after his mother who is also a foreigner."
"I see."
"We could fix it." Annette thought deeply on the solution to her newly found problem. "I think I know an alchemist who might be able to help."
"Oh." Isabelle wasn't sure what to say.
"A wig, perhaps, could be a good option too. Everyone knows that you're a Galborian. You don't have to remind them."
Isabelle bit her lip and nodded in agreement although on the inside she was agitated. Yet another fault of hers that she could not control over.
She spend the morning nodding at Annette and agreeing with whatever she said. She had no voice, as the night before made her realise.
Both breakfast and lunch were more quiet than usual. Even Annette wasn't as talkative as usual.
After lunch Isabelle was in her chamber to get Samuel's cape that she washed in the morning. It was already dry as she placed it by the window where the sun shone.
She walked out of the room to see Annette walking into Cassian's room. Without much thought, Isabelle walked back in to her room. She furrowed her brows as she tried to work out Annette's intentions. Cassian wasn't usually in his room at his time, she was quite sure.
It were mere moments before Annette walked out and rushed down the corridor looking around. She was acting suspicious.
Isabelle felt all the emotions from the night before return. Her mind went straight to the worst possible scenario. Perhaps Cassian was in his room. Perhaps he was seeing Annette in secret.
She did a lot to suppress the urge to parade into his room as she was passing but she resisted and instead she carried on walking towards servants' quarters.
"Jane." She called for her maid.
"Yes, Adeline?"
"Can you accompany me, please?" She requested. One thing was for her to be seen with Samuel in a corridor or out in the garden, and another would be if she was caught alone with him in his quarters.
"Of course." Jane agreed and followed Isabelle. "What is it that you need?"
"I need to see sir Asselin." Isabelle grumbled. Her mood was already broken and now she was getting more angry than upset.
Jane looked at Isabelle curiously but hasn't said a word and obediently followed. Something about Isabelle's firm steps made Jane go quiet.
Isabelle knocked on Samuel's door and waited. She was tapping her fingers impatiently.
"Good afternoon, your highness." Samuel answered the door and opened his eyes widely.
"Good afternoon, Sir Asselin." Isabelle's voice was stern and her eyes showed something that Samuel has not yet seen. "I came to return your cape. And I wanted to say thank you. I should have been more prepared for the weather."
"Would you like to join me for tea?"
"I do not wish to infringe on your time too much."
"You won't. Please, come in. I'll send for a pot of tea."
"Thank you, Sir Asselin." Isabelle bowed her head as she walked into the living room. The light radiated from Samuel's study making it apparent that she just disturbed his work. Samuel pointed at the chair where she sat down. He placed the cape carefully on the side and rung the bell for the tea which arrived promptly. He poured it into a cup as he watched Isabelle with curiosity.
Jane silently stood to the side, just out of the immediate earshot of their conversation.
"Something troubles you." Samuel pointed out.
"I wouldn't say it troubles me." Isabelle sighed and her face relaxed.
"You didn't come here for the chitchat."
"Yes, I did. Annette is too busy sneaking around Cassian's chamber to teach me right now."
Samuel stopped pouring the tea and looked up at Isabelle in surprise.
"You can't say things like that so casually." He grumbled as he placed the teapot down. He forgot to pour tea in his cup as he flopped onto the chair. "What do you mean?"
"I've spotted Annette leaving Cassian's chamber just as I was coming down to return your cape."
"Are you certain?"
"I saw her leave his chamber." Isabelle repeated as she picked up the cup and started sipping the tea.
"Did you?" Samuel sat down opposite her.
"Only this afternoon." Isabelle nodded.
"But…" Samuel furrowed his brows. "Cassian wasn't in his chamber since the morning. He is in the gathering hall as he was requested by the official from Valerie in regards to some oddly specific trades."
"Was he not?" Isabelle asked even though she knew the answer. "Maybe I saw wrong."
"I do not doubt you. I'm just curious about the situation and what business Annette has."
"Or perhaps it is you who covers up after your best friend?" Isabelle furrowed her brows as she threw the accusation.
"No. Absolutely not. I'm loyal to you as much as Cassian. I won't hide something like that from you."
"And vice-versa?"
"Well, yes. I won't hide your affairs, princess. But I haven't told him about the whole Isabelle mishap so don't worry. I don't think that to be particularly harmful to anyone." Samuel stood up and turned away to look out of the window in thought. "We need to work out what she's planning."
"Maybe." Isabelle shrugged.
"What are your thoughts?"
"No matter what we do, this will eventually reveal itself."
"Are you not worried?" Samuel asked curiously.
"I suppose I am not." Isabelle answered after careful consideration. "If it warrants me a stay in the castle, I am not concerned. If it only makes Cassian happy…"
"Oh for goodness sake." Samuel was disgruntled with Isabelle's nonchalant tone. "Do not dare to tell me that you do not care."
"That is not what I've said." Isabelle scowled at him. "I've said that I do not condone it if it makes Cassian happy."
"I'll have someone look into this. I have a bad feeling about it."
Isabelle looked down into the cup.
"Is he happy?" She asked suddenly.
"Who?" Samuel was confused. He was devising a plan on how to work out what Annette was planning that he didn't realise what Isabelle was talking about.
"Cassian." Isabelle spoke quietly and with worry.
"I suppose." Samuel shrugged. It wasn't something he really asked.
"That's good." Isabelle nodded and then she stood up. "Thank you for a tea and a conversation, Sir Asselin." She spoke louder so that Jane heard her.
"Pleasure is all mine, your highness." Samuel bowed his head and then he led Isabelle and Jane out.