“Even if I do, that doesn’t change anything,” Lucien argued. “I can memorize books—who cares? That won’t help me make a decision in this Summit! Knowing the name of all those in my service does not help me decide whether to raise or lower taxes.”
Ariane stared down at Lucien and felt her heart break for the crown prince. He could hate Severin—by all rights he should. He’s illegitimate, yet respected, and Lucien thinks Severin is better than him. But he still loves him. Which means I was wrong about him. Yes, he is maddeningly arrogant, but he’s not selfish. He has the incredible ability to love deeply—no matter what the rest of the world thinks.
But how can I make him see that he has just as much to offer the people of Loire as Prince Severin?
“Has it ever occurred to you that Prince Severin needs you?”
“He does,” Lucien said. “But in a very different way. I can shield him from the worst of the courts, so I do. That is why the way I act is necessary. The things I’m good at have very little application in real problems. I’m better off setting the bar low and snapping at anyone fool enough to challenge Severin.”
“But Lucien…he wants you to be happy.”
“I am happy.”
Ariane shook her head. “You’re pretending to be something you aren’t. How can that make you happy?”
“I have everything I want and live a relatively carefree life.” Lucien shrugged. “There is no need to change the status quo.”
Ariane pressed her lips together.
Lucien puffed his chest. “What? You clearly wish to say something. You might as well say it.”
She almost sighed. “You might think you are happy now, but one day you will miss out on something you long for because you are afraid to take the risk of reaching your true potential.”
“That day will never come,” Lucien said. “What I have now is enough for me.”
I hope not…for the sake of Loire’s future. Ariane shook her head. Imagine…what would Loire be like with Prince Severin leading our military and Prince Lucien leading the country?
Late the following evening, Ariane made the trek from Lucien’s quarters to her temporary room after dropping the prince off. She intended to retire early, but she paused when she passed a maid carrying a bucket and a mop. My rump hurts from all the sitting, and there was a cobweb on a candelabra in the ballroom that has been mocking me for two days now. Surely I can do a little cleaning—it’s why I was brought here after all.
Ariane switched directions and instead headed for the nearest supply room where she would be able to swipe a cleaning cloth or two.
“Ariane?”
Ariane turned around, then smiled. “Marcelle!”
The grinning maid swept down the hallway at a brisk pace, carrying a broom and a small, rolled up rug. “I haven’t seen you since the first day of the Summit—though I heard you had been chosen to escort His Highness about.” She nodded at the simple yet elegant gown Ariane wore.
Ariane self-consciously smoothed her skirts. “Yes, it’s been going well.”
“I hope you weren’t involved in the incident when those rogue mages tried to jump the prince?” Marcelle asked.
“I was; I was there with His Highness.”
Marcelle gasped and fumbled with the rug so she could put her hand over her heart. “You weren’t hurt, were you?” Her eyes skirted Ariane, searching for injuries.
“Not at all. Prince Severin and Princess Elle broke into the room before the mages were able to lay a hand on me,” Ariane said, omitting the two times she had nearly been strangled.
Marcelle shook her head. “May His Highness and Her Highness be blessed,” she murmured. “But it is positively awful you were caught up in it! What were you doing?”
“I was delivering His Highness to his quarters. His valet did not greet us as usual, so I stepped inside his room,” Ariane said.
Marcelle winced. “That was terribly brave.”
“Not really. Lucien is a frog—he’s not going to paw at me,” Ariane said.
“No—I mean your willingness to accompany Prince Lucien,” Marcelle said. “A position like ours is supposed to be a safe thing. I’m sorry you were caught up in it.”
Ariane tilted her head. “Weren’t you with Prince Severin when his household was cursed?”
“Yes, I was—but that is different. We servants stood with His Highness—we always will—so it was proper. But to have a rogue magic user come after you with the thought of killing you?” Marcelle shivered. “As I said, you are very brave to take on such a task.”
Ariane blinked, surprised by her fellow maid’s words. She’s right. Normally, as a maid, I would never have been involved so intimately with Prince Lucien. I had nearly forgotten. Lucien’s complaints and willingness to converse have lulled me into informality. But he’s a prince, and I’m a maid.
Since she had been asked to shepherd him around, Ariane’s estimation of Lucien had greatly changed. She liked him now and respected him more. But she hadn’t really connected this new version of Lucien with the Crown Prince of Loire. After all, he was a frog. His temporary form made it easy to forget what he really was.
I’ll have to be careful. Though I don’t believe there is harm in being friendly with Lucien, I will make a giant fool of myself if I grow any fonder of him. Ariane winced when she realized she had even occasionally slipped and refrained from using his title. Yes, I’ll have to be more careful. I’m happy I have this chance to interact with my future monarch, but it won’t do me any good to start giggling over him.
“In any case, I am glad you are safe—and I am proud of the way you’ve been conducting yourself. Some of my friends have served you during lunch and dinner—they said you give great credit to us in your actions,” Marcelle continued.
Ariane forced a smile. “Really I just sit there and carry Prince Lucien whenever he is needed. It’s not particularly taxing—though occasionally I want to tweak one of His Highness’s feet when he starts snoring.”
Marcelle giggled. “That’s our prince—as cool as ice.”
“Yes,” Ariane hesitantly agreed.
“I would love to chat more, but I’m afraid I must be off. You be safe, you hear? I don’t want to learn that you’ve fended off another assassination attempt with His Highness!” Marcelle eyed her and purposefully shifted her grip on her broom.
Ariane laughed. “I’ll try.”
“Don’t try—succeed,” Marcelle insisted as she began up the hallway. “I shall see you again!”
“Farewell—take care,” Ariane said. She waited until Marcelle was gone before she continued down the hallway with new resolve. Yes, it’s even more important to clean tonight than I thought. It would do me some good to remind myself what my real role is—and whom I serve.
Ariane was surprised when, on the morning of the twelfth day of the Summit, she received a summons to report to Prince Severin and Princess Elle before breakfast.
Are they going to give Lucien-escort-duty to soldiers now? It would be the safest precautionary measure.