Chapter 46 Great idea
SOMA
“My Lady?” Jade calls.
I snap out of my daze and clear my throat.
“Do you know how the Princess keeps Dianna busy?” I whisper. She shakes her head, and I add, “She makes Dianna attend classes with her.”
Jade sucks in a sharp breath, her hand flying over her chest. “That’s unheard of. We’re not supposed to be—” She cuts herself off, her gaze darting around like there’s anyone else here besides the two of us.
“To be what?” I urge.
“E-educated.” Seeing my shock, she hurriedly adds, “It’s for the safety of the royals, so we won’t leak any information outside the palace. We can’t leak what we don’t understand.”
“You can’t read?”
“Or write,” she answers.
“Would you… want to come to class with me? You don’t have to take notes, just listen. It’s fun. If Dianna can, maybe no one would mind you being there, too.”
Her chest heaves, and her hands twist. “My lady.”
“Just one class for a start,” I say. “If you want, I’ll teach you to write. It’s pretty easy. You just need to try, Jade. It’ll keep your mind busy instead of staying all day in the dorm, waiting until I’m done with my class.”
The silence stretches. She doesn’t want to say no, nor is she ready to say yes. I clear my throat, rescuing her.
“Maybe you can join me for one class on Monday to decide.”
Jade studies me for a moment, searching my face as if to know if I really mean it. Finally, she gives a small nod. “If that’s what you’d like, my lady.”
Doubts flicker in her eyes, but I ignore them. If she is to be more than a maid, education is her best way out of this life. Plus, if Sienna is right, no one will stop her.
“You know what? Let me give you a tour.”
“My lady, you should eat first,” Jade says. “No one will be at the dining table right now.”
A smile brightens my face. “Great idea.”
Brynne has avoided the dining room this week. Except for Tuesday, Tristan and Sienna have also been missing from the table. They must be eating in the garden or the annex Helga mentioned.
Without Kade’s rambling, the dining room is peaceful. I eat without rushing, savoring the quiet after a day that felt too loud and heavy. For fear of anyone showing up, Jade doesn’t join me, but we pack a plate for her to eat while I shower.
By the time I’ve changed into another attire, Jade is done eating. My reflection in the mirror looks fresher, and my cheeks have grown plump. I look the same but yet so different. If I keep up with my lessons, I might soon start looking and behaving like an actual princess.
“Ready for the grand tour?” I ask.
She exhales. “As you wish, my lady.”
Her hesitation isn’t lost on me, but I grab her hand and start for the door. “Let’s go.”
“My lady.” She laughs. “Someone might see us.”
I release her hand when we exit the suite, but no one is downstairs. It’s darker when we step outside, the campus grounds wrapped in a thick hush and the air cool against our faces.
Lanterns flicker along the pathways, their glow casting long, shaky shadows. Rings of smoke curl in the air, and my eyes find the guilty culprit. Tristan. He stands in the shadows, the butt of his cigarette flickering. When he puffs out another ring, Jade bursts into a coughing fit.
Her shoulders jerk, and she clutches at her chest. I pat her back, my eyes flying to the quiet prince. “Can you—”
The question doesn’t fully leave my lips before he stubs the cigarette against the stone and tosses it down. His jaw tightens as he steps out of the shadow, watching Jade.
Jade squirms out of my reach, lowering her head as if she’s ashamed of drawing attention. “I’m fine,” she says.
Her eyes dart to the discarded cigarette, and she slowly looks away. A few seconds later, her gaze returns to it. I’ve never taken her to be a smoker, but she’s acting oddly.
A grunt escapes her, and she hurries toward it. Her skirt swishes with each step, and she mutters, “Your Highness, I’m sorry, but it’s not… it’s not good to litter.”
Before her fingers close around the stub, Tristan steps forward. His shadow falls over her, and his hand brushes against hers as he grabs the stub.
“I’ve got it,” he whispers. “I’ll do better.”
Jade stumbles back, nodding shakily. “I’m sorry.”
Needing to break the tension that thickens the air, I clear my throat. Tristan shoots me a glare and tips his jaw at the empty street ahead. Most students seem to be indoors.
“Where are you headed this late?” he asks.
The question is directed at me, but I get the strange feeling he’s asking for Jade’s sake. His eyes drift to my maid for the briefest second before landing back on me.
“Nowhere,” I mutter. “I’m giving her a tour.”
Tristan nods. I drag Jade away from him, ignoring the stare that bores into my back. We have only been gone a few minutes when I finally relax. He helped me once, but I’m not sure I trust him. I point out some of the outdoor spots to Jade, reveling in her awe of the large environment.
Before long, Jade leans in, her arm brushing mine. “My lady, someone is following us.” She glances back and coughs into her fist. “It’s Prince Tristan. Should we stop?”
“What? No.” I look over my shoulder, and sure enough, he’s there. He’s not close, but he lingers near the edge of the path, his black clothes making it easier for him to blend into the shadows.
There’s something deliberate about the way he lingers that scares me. He stays a few paces behind, never too near, and never too far either. Did Brynne send him to torment me the way Kade did yesterday?
Still, we keep walking, but I’ve lost interest. We walk past the training yard and circle the library. When we reach the dorms, the night has grown quieter, replaced by the buzz of crickets.
At the door, Jade steps away from me before I can hug her. “I’ll see you in the morning,” she says, her voice a little too formal. She curtsies, and I understand why when I spot people in the dorm’s lobby. “Good night, my lady.”
I laugh softly, trying to lighten the stiffness.
“Good night, Jade.” I wave at her, but she doesn’t lift her hand in return. She dips her head and retreats inside.
There are too many rules when it comes to the palace. I turn toward the house. The night feels darker, and the lantern lights thinner. My steps echo against the stone path. I half-expect to see Tristan’s shadow trailing behind, but when I glance over my shoulder, there’s no sign of him.