Just as he said he would be, the Prince is there to escort Zerena back to the library. She bids Clara farewell, offering a small wave as she steps through the golden doors held open for her by Tristan.Just as before, the first few moments of their walk is carried by silence. The descent of the curving staircase is by far easier than the climb. Zerena is finding herself growing tired of all these stairs and ladders, though she knows it will only get harder from here. She allows the prince to walk a few paces ahead of herself, as is proper for a servant and a royal. But she has to wonder at what Princess Clara had told her only minutes before.

Could Tristan truly be choosing a bride? Looking at him, it's hard for Zerena to imagine that someone who seems so innocent could come up with a clever plot such as this. Her lips purse, and it's at that exact moment his highness deems it necessary to peer back at her. She tries to clear her confused expression, but she is not quick enough.

"Is something bothering you, Lady Zerena?" He questions, a golden eyebrow lifting slightly. His eyes glint like jade as he smirks at her. She turns her face in an attempt to hide her blush. "You seem troubled. Did my sister tell you anything concerning?"

Zerena simply shakes her head, deciding it would be best not to mention what she and the Princess had discussed. She isn't sure how the prince might react and understands that the true reason of the competition is meant to be kept secret. Yes, she would keep her word to keep their conversation between them. She wouldn't even tell Rosale, though she knows it would hurt the elder woman if she found out Zerena had been keeping things from her.

"Oh, nothing of importance. She wanted help with her wardrobe," Zerena lies - feeling only slightly guilty about doing so. Hopefully, Princess Clara would be able to cover for her if Tristan asks his sister about it. The prince merely shrugs, accepting the answer, much to Zerena' s relief. It seems the prince isn't done conversing however, his gaze turning into that curious stare the woman was becoming accustomed to whenever she saw him. She just hopes whatever question he's about to ask won't be too personal.

"Zerena, I know you've come from Anaheim - but it's a pity I know nothing else about you." Ah, how was she to answer something like that? She didn't feel like rehashing the same stories she told the Princess - and really, she only told Clara about them because she had wanted to share them. Telling them to the Prince would feel . . . strange, not to mention they weren't close. This was the first time she had even spoken to the royal highness since he had chosen her from the farmhouse.

"What is it you wish to know, Your Highness? I'm not very interesting." She says with a small laugh, hoping he would sense her discomfort and just drop it. But he doesn't. He seems adamant on getting information about her life from her.

"Well, for starters, what's your favorite color?" Zerena halts at this, blinking at the Prince in surprise. He stops as well, giving her a wide grin, as if knowing the question would catch her off guard. "What? Is that . . . too personal of a question for you?"

"N-No!" A real laugh escapes Zerena this time as she shakes her head. "Of course not. I suppose I haven't really given any thought to it." Her favorite color . . . The question truly did catch her off guard. She never gave it any thought before, she never really had the time to ponder it. Though she supposed as a girl, before she was sent away, she always preferred blue tones to anything else. "I suppose it would have to be blue . . . not like the color of my hair, but deeper - more like how I imagine the depths of the ocean to be."

Of course, she hasn't ever been to the ocean herself. But she's seen illustrations of it in the few books her mother would read to her as a child. Before she can hold her tongue, she finds herself asking, "Have you ever been to sea, Prince?"

Tristan shakes his head, his blond curls bouncing with the movement. It surprises her how similar he looks to his sister, though he doesn't seem to be as rambunctious. "I unfortunately have never had the opportunity. My uncle has made my sister and I focus on our studies, so we haven't had the time to partake on any adventures." There's disappointment in his tone, and before he turns his face from her, Zerena didn't miss the hint of sorrow laced there as well.

"I'm sure you will someday, your Highness."

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By the time Zerena and Colette were finished dusting the books and had left the library, the sun was already beginning to set. In the hall, she watched as the sky erupted into salmon pink, blood orange, and deep violet. Normally, it would have been a beautiful sight, but right now it cast a sense of dread over Zerena. They hadn't even started on the windows yet. A sigh leaves her as she turns towards the other maid, who was also watching the sunset.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"I'm sorry Colette. If the princess hadn't called for me, we might have been finished by now."

The blonde maid reaches out as if it put a reassuring hand on Zerena's arm, but then quickly thinks better of it and clasps her hands in front of the skirt of her uniform.

"Do not blame yourself. It is an honor to be summoned by the princess - besides, it would have been extremely rude had you declined." Colette states matter-of-factly, though her tone is still soft as she speaks. "We should start on the windows before it gets dark, I shall fetch buckets for-" She stops mid-sentence, her head snapping to the right. Zerena was about to ask what was wrong, but then she heard the sound of hurried footsteps rushing towards them.

Before she can stop herself, Zerena darts towards the sound, her curiosity forcing her to figure out the source. She turns the corner and lets out a sharp gasp when she nearly bumps into the Head Mistress. She throws an arm out to keep herself from stumbling into the older woman.

"Lady Zara, my apologies! Is . . . Is everything all right?" Zerena can't help but be surprised at Zara's strangely disheveled appearance. The Head Maiden always seemed so put together, but now strands of her hair had fallen from her tight bun, the silver and black strands framing her face - making her cheekbones seem less sharp. Her apron, which had been crisp and white just this morning, was now rumpled and crooked, the ties around her waist loosened. Suddenly remembering who she was talking too, Zerena lowers her head, not wanting to appear disrespectful.

"What are you doing out here? You and Colette should be back in your chambers," Zara says in a sharp voice, causing Zerena to look up at her in confusion. The Head Maid looks around the hall, as if making sure they were alone, before saying, "One of the new servants has gone missing. They never showed up to their first assignment this morning - myself and a handful of the guards have been searching all day."

A sinking feeling settles in the pit of Zerena's stomach at those words. Exactly which servant had gone missing? Before she can open her mouth to ask, Zara answers.

"Your friend is still here, calm yourself."

Relief washes over her at hearing that, but then she turns to where she had left Colette standing in the hall - to find that the maid had disappeared. She starts to frown, briefly wondering where she had gone off to. Had she gone to fetch those buckets after all?

"I was called away to tend to Princess Clara earlier," Zerena finally states, realizing the Head Maid was still waiting for an answer as to why they were still here. "The library took up most of our time - we were just about to get started on the windows."

When she faces Zara again, she catches her rolling her piercing blue eyes.

"Never you mind the windows. Get back to your chambers, the king is not pleased to have a servant missing. I expect there will be changes made tomorrow morning." Another pause, and then, "I'll have dinner brought up."

Changes? Like what? Would their schedule become more strict?

Zerena did not voice her questions aloud however. Instead, she gave Zara a quick nod before moving to walk past her, back towards the direction of the servants' wing. Her mind was racing. Lady Zara had not made it sound as if the servant could be injured - instead, it was as if she suspected they had escaped somehow. Well, she supposes that would be simple enough. It's not as if their movements had been tracked at all, and they were allowed to roam the palace freely. Perhaps whoever it was had escaped.

But where would they go? Who even was the missing servant? She would have to pay attention tomorrow morning while Zara handed out the assignments. A pang of guilt hits her for not paying more attention to the others - her main concern had been Rosale, and now with the Water Goddess and the Princess . . . she hasn't had the time to really speak to the other half-bloods.

That would have to change.

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Back in her room, Zerena was eager to begin removing her uniform, when a rush of arms around her causes her to stiffen in surprise. She relaxes immediately as soon as she realizes who they belong to. A smile plays on her lips as she returns Rosale's embrace. Due to the slight height difference, Zerena's head rested against the other woman's chest. She didn't mind, though. It was comforting to have someone who cared about her, and the embrace reminded her so much of the ones her mother would give her before she was shipped off.

Tears suddenly pricked her eyes at the memory, but she swallows hard to fight them off.

"I thought it was you, when you didn't return right away." Rosale murmurs, pulling back and gripping Zerena's shoulders. "Where the hell were you?"

"Still working - the library took us all day to clean."

She felt a bit guilty for leaving out how she had met with the Princess, but maybe it was better for Rosale not to know. She was already so suspicious of everyone in this palace, it was better not to add to the older woman's worries. The corners of her eyes were wrinkled with worry lines, her mouth a firm line. It was an expression Zerena was all too familiar with.

"I only just found out about the missing servant - do you know who it is? Lady Zara seems to think they've escaped." Zerena keeps her voice low, just in case.

"It was the young one with the horns, poor girl." Rosale says, her voice still worried. "How could anyone think she's escaped? I think..." She stops then, as if unsure if she should continue. She grabs Zerena's hand then, pulling her over to the table, away from the door.

"What?" The question had sounded more demanding than she meant it to, "What is it?"

"Well, you know I don't trust these people," Rosale continues finally, setting both hands flat on the table's surface. "But I think something happened to her. I was speaking with her just this morning, she was with the House of Treasure's group. She seemed so innocent, I don't think she was capable of escaping. Besides, I saw her leaving with one of the maids."

Zerena's brows furrowed in confusion, "What do you think happened?"

The silence that followed was almost deafening, Zerena's heart began to quicken at Rosale's dark expression.

"I think," She pauses again, and Zerena wanted to yell at her to spit it out already. "She was kidnapped."