“Help me find her,” I pleaded. I promised Arne I wouldn't cause trouble. Imagine if he found out I lost his daughter.

 Carlotta moved to the door. "She may be outside looking for her father. I'll check."

 But I had a feeling that was not the man Clara would be looking for. Carlotta left me here. Seeing that the other women paid me no mind, I walked through the door of the room. I went up the wooden steps to find the long hallway. It proceeded in two directions. That means Clara could be anywhere.

 I knew these walls, the cylindrical ceiling adorned in sculpted filigree. They were the freshest shade of red, trimmed in such a pale green it should be white. I’d run through these halls before, barefoot because I hated shoes. If I had time to reminisce, I would. But I carried on past the soft rectangle light of window after window, room after room. I came around a corner, calling Clara's name softly.

 I strolled by the pale green doors that opened to the dining room. The frames of Eric's parents sided the doors. I could see the long table over the marble floor inside. And the paned glass wall provided a panoramic view of the ocean this castle sat near. The ocean I nearly drowned in.

 I heard footsteps, and hid behind the wall of the dining room. The servant moved past. I sighed.

 With my head hanging low as memories of that night came flooding in, I focused on finding Clara. The hall took me by the kitchen. Righting further on from it was the second balcony hovering over the line of the cape.

 I came nearer to the arch pass the led to the balcony. My heart jumped when I noticed sight of a white wig. I quickly moved aside to not be seen.

 “What are you going to do when there are no more fish to be caught, your Highness?” The tutorial chatter most certainly came from Grimsby.

 “I don’t want to think about it now.”

 “You have to. You're the prince.”

 “As if I need reminding!” Prince Eric’s voice ripped out. I could hear him beat his fist on the stone rail of the balustrade. “What good is it? Prince or not, I am a sole fool. I am alone by my own doing. With no time to moarn. Can't a prince buy time?”

 I squeezed my eyes. My heart melted for him.

 Sir Grimsby spake, “Sadly, that is something a prince cannot buy.”

 I imagined him placing his freckled, bony fingers on my husband for a brief consolation.

 “Listen. When you father died, I hadn't a clue what to feel and no time to mourn him. But I had to move forward and care for his heir. In the same, my lord, you have a kingdom to care for.”

 There was a long silence. Then Eric said, “King Poseidon crossed a line by withholding our fish. I will give him a chance to be diplomatic. If he refuses to give us what we want, it will mean war.”

 “As you wish my king.”

 My heart thrummed. War? No. This is wrong. My father, would he really withhold the fish from the people? The idea the settled In, making more and more sense. He might. If this is retaliation. For me being here.

 “What are you standing around here for, girl?”

 I looked up, startled by the voice. Sir Grimsby’s hooked nose stared down at me. He raised his white brows at me.

 I didn't hesitate to run.

 “Wait! Gaurds! Somebody, stop her!”

 Before I knew it, multiple feet stormed after mine. But there is no way they could ever catch up to me. I thrusted forward through an archway, around the circular glass table and further into a green room. The room was an ornate circle, textiled with different shades of the pale green that reminded me of seaglass. Gold trimmed the walls, wrapping around to the section of red textile behind the gilded throne chairs; the throne room.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

 I was caught in a dead-end. The gaurds surrounded me, their muskets pointed my way. Then, in he stepped, parting through the men. Though not a soldier, he carried himself as one. You would think him fine by the way nothing seemed to weigh him down. But his face was the face of a man who couldn't be pushed any further; couldn't be bothered by a girl sneaking around the castle. He looked straight at me. I am graced by the sight of his ocean eyes.

 I waited for him to recognize me, to slander me, to decide on killing me for good. I waited for him to call me a witch. But he did not do any of those things.

 “Where is your keeper?” he said.

 I furrowed my brows.

 “Do you not understand?” he urged.

 “I am her keeper.”

 Everyone looks ahead at the large man standing in the door. His daughter at his side. He motions to me. “Freja. Come.”

 Eric stares distastefully at me as I walk over to Arne. “You, sir. What is your business here?”

 “I am a tree mover. I was doing business with the gardener.”

 Eric scoffed. “Well, from now on I want to know about all business conducted in my castle, is that clear? Does anyone hear me? Someone write that down!”

 He looked at Clara and I. “You should all know better.” Back at Arne, “Do you not know how to keep your women out of trouble?”

 Arne didn't flinch when he said, “From what I've heard, neither do you.”

 I sucked in a breath, stopping my gasp. Prince Eric gave Arne that same deathly stare he had given me. But Arne granted him no cower.

 “Get out of my sight. All of you.” We are escorted out by the gaurds. I did not look at Arne’s face. We did not speak all the way back to the cottage.

...

 Clara slept by my side. We shared the bed. I tried to sleep. I tried in vain. Out of all that happened today, there was only one thought plaguing my mind: He didn't recognize me. I know I didn't want him to. But nothing could make the truth hurt less. Carlotta knew it was me. The gardener had some idea, I'm sure. Even Grimsby seemed to consider it.

 But the man whom I knew better than anyone else, The man whose lips I kissed, whose bed I shared, he showed no sign of even notioning it.

 I couldn't keep the pain down. I left the bedroom with a candlelight to cry alone in the kitchen. I sat by the window, viewing the starry sky. I sat and cried as quietly as I could.

 Though somehow still, I awakened someone. I turned my head and wiped my cheeks as he came in. “Forgive me, sir. I hope I have not spoiled your sleep with my sentiments.”

 “Not at all. I was never asleep.”

 “You weren’t?”

 He came around the table to me. “I have my own demons that keep me up.”

 I lowered my head, understanding.

 “Look, Freja. If I have come across... cruel, forgive me for that. It has been a while since a woman was here. You have, in one day, brought to me all of those womanly issues to have to handle again.”

 “I didn’t realize I was such a problem.”

 “No.” He came to me. Crouched be my seat, one arm holding the back. “You are not understanding what I mean. This day has been a very different day. And I have you to thank for that. Clara, she needs a woman to look up to. Someone she likes and trusts. You will be good for her.”

 I lift my salty cheeks to grin. “Thank you.”

 His expression went serious, “But you have to promise me to learn to control yourself. Recklessness will not do well here.”

 I nodded, “I promise.”

 “Swear it on your father's life.”

 My throat constricted. “Alright. I swear it.”