Arian hurried on her way with a stiff jaw and determination in her eyes. She crossed over bridges and under blooming trees, her gaze ever forward toward the faraway island that harbored her hope to save her friend.

“Lady Arian!”

Arian froze and her heart skipped a beat. She turned to see Prince Yushir strolling toward her with a smile on his lips and a twinkle in his eyes.

“You are out rather early, are you not?” he mused as he stopped by her side and studied her. “All the shops are closed and will be for quite some time.”

She whetted her dry lips and managed to crack a smile. “I-I was merely on my way to, um, place an order with Lord Buhelm.” She leaned to one side to look where he had come. The imperial palace stood at his back. “You were visiting the king at such an hour?”

Some of Yushir’s good humor faded but he rallied himself. “Yes, I thought to have breakfast with my uncle and the family of my cousin, but I was scolded and told I had to wait for quite some time.” He nodded in the direction she was headed. “Would you like some company on your journey?”

Arian blanched at his proposal. “I-I do not believe that will be necessary, Your Highness.”

His crooked smile widened. “Are you sure? We both know the reputation of Lord Buhelm. He is eager to help everyone, especially beautiful young ladies such as yourself.”

The maidservant blushed and dropped her gaze to the ground. Her fingers fidgeted with each other against her front. “I-I do not deserve such praise, Your Highness, nor such attentions.”

“Nonsense,” he objected as he stepped up to her side. “I would be honored to accompany you and keep that rascal from performing his usual bad habits.”

Panic began to set into Arian’s mind. “I would not wish to keep you from breakfast, Your Highness.”

He laughed. “You are a stubborn one, Lady Arian, but I will not be deterred.”

More the pity for me Arian thought to herself even as she sapped a smile on her face. “Thank you, Your Highness. I appreciate your willingness to help me.”

“No need to thank me,” Yushir assured her as they walked down the deserted road. “I am always here to help.”

Arian bit her tongue to keep her thoughts to herself.

They had not gone far when Yushir resumed the conversation. “I hope you have not been too lonely without your mistress.”

Arian tried to keep her voice calm and her expression stoic. “I have managed.”

“Perhaps you would not wish to leave Fanshe Hall for another palace?” he suggested. “You may come and work in my palace. There are many rooms that need to be cleaned ahead of, well, visits.”

She shook her head. “I appreciate the offer but I will remain there until her ladyship returns.”

He wrapped one hand around the ring on his digit and studied his companion. “And if she does not return?”

“I am sure she will and an explanation will be forthwith,” Arian insisted.

A faint smile graced Yushir’s lips. “I admire your loyalty, Lady Arian, but perhaps you are a little too hopeful.”

Arian jerked to a stop so quickly that Yushir stumbled as he put on his own brakes. He turned to find her facing him with her eyebrows knitted together.

She spoke in a firm, even tone as she lifted her chin. “She will return, Prince Yushir, and everyone will see that her disappearance was not what it seemed.”

He cocked his head to one side and stopped fidgeting with his ring. “Will she? That sounds like a rather interesting tale. Do you have some foreknowledge of the event or do you speak from your heart?”

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Arian opened her mouth to reply a little of both but she clamped her mouth shut. It wouldn’t do any good to give away any of what she knew, even to the kindly Prince Yushir. “I speak from the heart, Your Highness, and if you insist on bringing up this subject then I will venture to Lord Buhelm’s home alone.”

Yushir smiled and swept his arm in the direction of the tailor’s home. “Lead and I will follow.”

The pair continued on their way through the streets and eventually reached a wide bridge which crossed onto another island. The first palace on that floating ground was a palace surrounded on all sides not with stone walls but with heavy fabric. A gentle breeze came along and ruffled the cloth, revealing a building shaped into a square ‘u’ and with no garden to speak of except a courtyard in the center of the three wings.

A wide covered porch surrounded the courtyard and freshly dyed fabrics hung from the rafters. The scent of oils and herbs filled the air as they passed through a gap in the fabric wall and arrived in the courtyard. A huge bell hung from a wooden support situated near the entrance.

Yushir’s twinkling eyes fell on Arian. “Shall you or I?”

“At this hour?” she reminded him.

“He has hung it to be alerted to the presence of a customer,” Yushir countered as he strolled up to the large bell. He grabbed hold of the thick cord with both hands and gave it a mighty yank.

The bell swung to and fro, and the heavy ball inside slammed against the interior walls. A loud ring rang out that bounced around the courtyard before escaping into the wilds of the streets. Both Yushir and Arian winced as the noise traveled far and wide, and more than one window was flung open. The occupants stuck their heads out and glared at them.

“What is the meaning of ringing that accursed bell at this hour?” one of the lords shouted.

Yushir sheepishly smiled and bowed his head. “My sincerest apologies, my lords and ladies.” The locals growled and grumbled as they slammed their windows shut and returned to bed. Yushir returned his attention to his companion who had a disapproving look on her face. “Why such a look? I apologized.”

Arian tamped down her ire as the front door of the residence opened. A man of forty stumbled out, his bleary eyes casting a look of hate over his abode.

He leaned against one of the upright posts of the porch and squinted into the bright sunlight. “What is wanted at this hideous hour?”

“Clothes for this young lady, Lord Buhelm,” Yushir spoke up as he used a hand to gesture to his companion. “And a waistband for me.”

Buhelm wrinkled his nose. “Could you not wait until after breakfast, Your Highness?”

Arian’s heart skipped a beat and she hurried over to the grumpy lord. “This is very urgent, Your Lordship. I would dearly appreciate your help.”

Her close proximity allowed the lord to get a good look at her. A smile spread across his face and he puffed out his chest. “My my, such a lovely creature. I do not believe we have met.”

Arian cast a look over her shoulder at her companion. “We have not met, Lord Buhelm, but your skills precede you and so I desire to have you make a dress for me.”

He opened his arms wide. “Of course! Anything for a pretty little thing like you! Come in, the both of you! Come in!”