“What happened there?” Bellaire asked. Grabbing a towel to help Aneira clean up the mess.

“I slipped.” Aneira said. Carefully picking up the pieces of ceramic and putting them to the side.

“Didn’t look like it.” Bellaire said, pushing the towel around the ice cold coffee. “Looked like you dropped it on purpose. Why? You were so worried about getting here to your sister and now you’re barely spending any time with her. What gives?”

“Is it your job to stick your nose in my business?” Aneira asked sharply. Cutting their hand on a broken shard.

“No, but it might be what a friend would do.” Bellaire said. She noticed Aneira bleeding and huffed. “Now look at what you did.” Aneira didn’t have any words. The air taken right out of their lungs as Bellaire took their wrist. She hissed and flinched at the touch of their skin but kept hold of them.

“You are cold.” She said, standing up and leading Aneira into the joined bathroom. Bellaire held Aneira’s hand under the water and flipped the faucet on.

“There’s running water,” Aneira said. Their voice feeling hoarse.

“Palace yes, city no.” Bellaire explained. “The engineers are working on getting hot running water in the palace as well.”

“Wow.” Aneira said. Breathing shallowly as Bellaire washed their cut and dried their hand. Bellaire bandaged up their hand quietly, until she broke the silence.

“Dumb question.” She said, “does Roskva know?” Aneira held their breath.

“No.” They said. Keeping their voice low, and their gaze lower. “She can never know.”

“She’s your sister, why can’t she know?” Bellaire asked. Aneira took their hand back, shaking their head and retreated from the bathroom. “Aneira.” Bellaire followed them and rounded them.Staring into their face, a realization coming over her.

“What did you do?” She whispered.

“Drop it.” Aneira said. Shutting the conversation down when they turned and entered the bedroom part of the guest suite and shut the door behind them.Bellaire sighed in frustration and went back to work cleaning up the mess left by the coffee. Aneira lingered at the door. Forcing themself to stop crying.

“Hey,”

Aneira froze, the ghostly girl was back. Peeking at them from within a wall. Aneira turned away from them and pretended they couldn’t see her. Going instead to the bed and crawling on top of the covers.

“Hey! You can see me!” The ghost spoke in a hoarse whispery tone that was only barely audible.But Aneira could hear her voice with her ears and inside their head. Aneira continued to ignore the child, even as she came around and leaned down next to Aneira to look into their face. “I know you can see me. You have been summoned to the Queen’s study. Her majesty wishes to see you.” Aneira’s eyes unwillingly opened, responding to the information they received.

“Her majesty? The Queen?” Aneira sat up. Looking at the ghost. “Starkon’s deceased mother?”

“I knew you could see me.” The ghost girl said smugly. “Yes, I can show you the way to the study. She’s waiting for you there.” Aneira shifted uneasily.

“I suppose,” Aneira said. She stood up from her bed. “But what am I supposed to say to the living? I can’t tell them I see you.”

“Why not? Why can’t you tell them you’re a Do’laeth?”

“Because I’m not.” Aneira said. “Do’laeth are a fairy tale. They aren’t real.”

“Then why can you see and speak to me?” The Ghost girl floated above the ground but still walked as if she were on it. “Obviously I can’t force you, but I do hope you’ll follow me.” Aneira started after but once they opened the door, they saw Bellaire cleaning the mess Aneira had left and they shut the door.Feeling too ashamed to face their actions.

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Morning came and found Starkon at the door of Aneira’s suite. He knocked quietly and let himself into the room. Seeing someone on the couch sleeping peacefully. He crept over to the sleeping form and leaned over them.

“Wake up,” he shook the bundle. “I know your secret.” The bundle turned with a jump. Revealing not Aneira, but Bellaire.

“What do you think you’re doing?!” Bellaire yelled. Starkon stumbled back. Aneira opened up the bedroom door at the commotion.

“What’s going on out here?” They asked. “Why are you here? Why didn’t you knock?”

“I did.” Starkon said, trying to round the couch but Bellaire was faster. Jumping the back of the couch and blocking him from Aneira.

“And yet I did not call for you to come in.” Aneira snapped, cutting off whatever response Starkon tried to offer.

“Neither did I.” Bellaire said just as viciously.

“I thought I heard-” Starkon laughed nervously but again Aneira cut him off.

“You did not.” Aniera paused and took a breath. “I apologize for my curt tone and behavior. I have only just woken up and I wasn’t ready to receive visitors yet. If you don’t mind, I will speak to you more at breakfast.”

“I… You’re dismissing me?” Starkon asked in disbelief.

“Yes.” Aneira said simply. “You are dismissed. We will speak later.” Starkon nodded, still in shock. He left the room.

“Everything all right? What did he do to you?” Aneira asked, leaving the bedroom to inspect Bellaire. “Did he hurt you?”

“No. I’m fine.” Bellaire said, “But he did say ‘I know your secret.’”

“Your secret? What secret is that?” Aneira asked. Bellaire shook her head.

“Not mine. Yours.” She said “He thought I was you.” Aneira felt icy fear welling up in their chest. A light icy mist lingered over the ground.

“Calm down.” Bellaire said, taking Aneira’s hands and making them flinch back. Taking their hands away. “There’s no way he could know.”

“Right,” Aneira looked at Bellaire. “You should really spend your time protecting Roskva. She’s the real heir. I’m just about done here. After her party, I’ll probably return back to the farm.”

“Right. Yeah.” Bellaire agreed. Playing with her long hair. “But until then, I should keep you safe. I mean. Roskva has herself handled.”

“I don’t think she does…” Aneira said, then they let out an eye watering yawn.

“Did I wake you?” Bellaire asked.

“No, I just didn’t sleep much.” Aneira sighed. “I’m going to try a bath.”

“Do you need help?” Bellaire asked. Then her face turned bright red. “With the hot water, I mean.”

“N-no.” Aneira said, equally red in the face. “I think I can manage.” Aneira skirted around Bellaire and into the bathroom. Bellaire bit her lip. Feeling a bit giggly. Her hands were still icy cold from the brief touch she’d had with Aneira. She fell onto the couch, hearing the water start in the bathroom. A thought suddenly popped into Bellaire’s head. She hopped off the couch and went to the double doors of the suite.

“Excuse me?” Bellaire flagged down a passing page. “Tell the kitchen to send up a coffee tray if you would be so kind.”

“Yes Ma’am” the page said with a short bow and ran off for the kitchens. Satisfied with herself, Bellaire went to the sofa and started cleaning up her bedding. Folding up blankets and putting them to the side. She looked up at a knock on the door.

“That was fast.” Bellaire said to herself. Opening the door to see not a maid with a coffee tray but Roskva.

“Oh! Good morning, your majesty.” Bellaire bowed to her. Roskva laughed so hard she snorted.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to that.” Roskva said, getting her giggles back under control. “I came to see if Aneira’s awake yet! I was thinking we could have breakfast in the sunroom and then get a jump on planning that party!”

“Come on in and I’ll see if they’re available.” Bellaire stepped back and let Roskva into the room. “They were in the bath last I checked. I am expecting coffee, help yourself if it arrives.”

“Thanks but no thanks.” Roskva grimaced. “I’m not the coffee type.”

“Fair enough,” Bellaire said. She knocked on the bathroom door, still hearing the water run. “An- I mean.” Bellaire looked at Roskva and cleared her throat.

“Your majesty? Your sister is here,” Bellaire called. Remembering her professionality. There was no answer, so Bellaire knocked again. A feeling of panic hit like a strike of lightning. Did she remember to check the bathroom before Aneira entered? “I’m opening the door!” Bellaire made sure she called loud enough she could be heard over the sound of the running water. Roskva stood up in alarm. Bellaire opened the door to the bathroom. The bath running but not plugged. Sitting, completely and peacefully asleep, was Aneira. Bellaire placed her hand to Aneira’s cheek. Feeling their cold breathing.

“Is everything all right?” Roskva looked in. “Oh.”

“I guess their majesty has trouble sleeping in unknown places.” Bellaire said. “I don’t suppose you’ll take a raincheck on breakfast?”

“I suppose so.” Roskva smiled weakly. Hiding as much of her disappointment that she could. “Maybe lunch in the sunroom?”

“I’ll pass the appointment along. Once they wake up, of course.” Bellaire said. Another knock drew their attention from the bathroom. “I’ll get it. Then I’ll get her majesty into bed.”