Reyna didn't know what she was expecting, but she found herself being disappointed when her mother didn't show up at dinner. When she'd sat down, she'd glanced around for her mother, but of course, Mira didn't show up. She didn't want to be pestered by her curious daughter. That was one of the things about her mother that frustrated Reyna to no bounds. She didn't know how to let things go and didn't like talking about those things. 

Thankfully, a few of the more talkative maids that Reyna had made friends with when she was little were the ones who served her dinner. One of them had something to do, but three of them sat down with her to keep her company. 

The first, a young Elf named Birdie, who was four years older than Reyna, was the kindest Elf Reyna had ever encountered. She was a shorter, plumper Elf with blue eyes and silky, straight blonde hair and pale skin. The first time Reyna had even talked to her, Birdie was coming by her room for a quick clean-up. Reyna had only been nine, and her father's death had been more recent. Reyna had questioned Mira about Aron, which stung her mother's emotions, which made Reyna feel bad. She had been curled under her blankets when Birdie had pulled them back and sat down beside her, asking what was wrong. Birdie was like a spare mother to Reyna, always listening to her problems and caring for her when Mira wasn't around (or had one of those mental shutdowns that she had every so often.). 

The second Elf was a newer maid, only fourteen years old, but Reyna had made friends with her the day she'd arrived, which was a few months ago. The Elf, Ember, was kind and gentle, but when she was passionate or angry, she got very fiery. She was a very tall girl, which made it even scarier when she was angry. Her eyes were such a bright brown that they looked almost red, and her hair was in orange ringlets that brushed past her chest.

The third was a shorter girl, and Reyna had known her since she was a baby. Her name was Jayde, and although she was twenty-two (Reyna was eighteen), she was like Reyna's sister. She was short, stern, stubborn, sarcastic, and dry humored. Her hair was cropped short past her ears and a dark brown, while her eyes were a bright green. She was hilarious in Reyna's opinion, though some of the things she said Biride thought were rude. Jayde didn't care what people thought of her - she even admitted that she was an idiot and super weird. 

While Reyna picked through her food disappointedly, her three friends joked with each other and conversed with her to keep her spirits alight. 

At one point, Jayde must have noticed the necklace Reyna had forgotten to take off when she'd arrived. "Ooo, Reyna, what's that?" she asked in a eccentric tone, pointing to the pedant. 

Birdie tipped her head like a curious puppy, eyeing the moon with confusion and awe. "Is that new? I've never seen it before. Where did you get it?" She raised her eyes and stared straight into Reyna's.

Reyna clenched her fists under the table in attempt to keep her cheeks from turning pink. Apparently, it didn't work, because Jayde raised her eyebrows with a wide grin. 

"No wayyyy," she teased playfully. "You got it from a boy, didn't you?" She laced her fingers together, propped her elbows on the table, and put her chin on the back of her hands. "Who was it who was it?" 

Reyna frowned at her, but lifted one hand to touch the smooth stone gently. "Ace gave it to me today. It's not like that!" she added hurriedly when Jayde almost fell backwards out of her chair laughing. 

I think, her mind added without her permission. 

Birdie tipped her head to the other side with a quizzical frown. "Ace gave that to you? When 'today'?" 

"Twenty minutes ago?" Reyna guessed with a shrug. "I went for a walk after lunch and sat down farther into town. He came across me and decided to give it to me." She twirled the pedant in between her fingers unconsciously. 

"Really?" Ember piped up. "That was sweet of him. I did notice that you were a little frowny today." 

"Yes," Reyna said, pointing one finger at Ember enthusiastically. "That's all it was, Jayde. He was just making me feel better." 

"Didn't he go trading a few days ago?" Jayde retorted with a pointed look at Reyna. "How would he have known that you would have been upset this certain day and decide to get that for you?" Her tone and face implied that she was cornering Reyna. 

And it worked. Reyna was stuck opening and closing her mouth for a moment.

A long silence stretched on.

"He SO likes you, Reyna!" Jayde laughed, leaning back in her chair again. She crossed her arms and smirked at the princess. "You're in for it, girly. I haven't known Ace for long, but he's quite a guy." 

Reyna flung her hands up at her sides. "You guys assume things too quickly! Maybe he just wanted to get that for me, or he was going to give it to someone else and just decided to give it to me because I was 'frowny'." 

"But why would he give it to you if he'd planned to give it to someone else?" Ember countered a little shyly. 

"I- Well- I don't know!" Reyna shouted exasperatedly. "Maybe because he was just being a nice friend?" 

"But if he liked a girl other than you and planned to give it to her, why would he back out of that plan?" Jayde said, and Ember nodded. Birdie was frowning, being unusually quiet during this conversation. 

"Because... Because I'm the princess?" Reyna said, and hated that she ended the sentence in a questioning tone. "It's ... his duty to make royalty happy." Reyna realized she was clutching the stone in her palm and gently let it bump against her chest again.

"When was that a thing?" Jayde giggled, and Ember shot her a look that said Well, I do that. Birdie simply gave Reyna a small smile that hid the same message. 

Reyna shook her head. "You guys are ridiculous. I think he was just being nice. Maybe he saw me previously and noticed that I was upset, then got that for me just... because." 

Birdie ran her hands through her silky hair. "Reyna, I know you're eighteen now... But I want you to be careful with men. They can be... handfuls. I'm not saying Ace isn't a bad Elf, but I still want you to approach cautiously, if he does like you." 

There she goes, Reyna thought with a small grin. Straight into mom-maid. "I know, Birdie," she said quietly. "But... I'm not even sure if I like him back. I... I've just known him as a friend this whole time. What has he seen me as? What am I supposed to do? Just... like him back for him?" 

"No," Birdie said sharply. "If you don't love him, that's up to you. You aren't being forced to love him, Reyna. It's your choice." 

"Hang with him more," Ember suggested. "Now that you know it's possible he likes you, try to see things from his angle. Make an effort to get to know him better than you already do. Give it maybe a few months. If you don't like him after all that... Then he's not for you." 

Reyna couldn't stop the smile that spread onto her face. "Thanks, guys. You're all awesome." 

"You literally just called us ridiculous forty-five seconds ago," Jayde said with a hearty laugh. "But thanks anyway." 

Reyna giggled. "None of the negative things I call you guys are actually true. I just say them in the heat of the moment." 

Birdie rose out of her seat with a delighted smile. "Same goes to you, Reyna. Now that we're finished with our dinner, we ought to be off. The girls and I have things to do." She gave Reyna a quick hug, which Reyna glady returned. "Remember, Reyna, if you go out, be back by nine sharp!" 

~

Whaddyaknow, another chapter! 

I know I know...

I should have updated Escape...

But my brain isn't feeling it in that book! 

I know what's gonna happen later in the book, but I just...

Don't know how to get there. 

Sorry, y'all. 

Hopefully there will be a chapter soon. 

But anywho, I hope you enjoyed this chappy! 

I'm probably going to start on the next one... 

Peace!!~~