Sabine

Light filtered across my face and I blinked my eyes open. The sun was up, which meant I overslept! My heart jumped into my throat and I sat bolt upright, breathing heavily and scrambling to grab my dress.

The moment my fingers touched the silky fabric, I paused. I blinked a few more times and fell back on the pillows. I wasn't in the slave house anymore. No one was going to beat down the door, kick me out of my cot, and nail me in the ribs for sleeping past sunrise.

At least, I didn't think so.

The prince made it clear he'd call for me if he needed me and he hadn't. In the meantime, I was to look after his quarters. He didn't give me any strict scheduling expectations.

I took my time getting up and looking over my new rooms. I'd never had so much space before. The bed was a real bed with a fluffy mattress, not a simple cot. It had sheets, nice blankets, and lots of pillows. I couldn't remember sleeping so well in my life.

The bedroom alone was twice the size of the slave quarters I grew up in. It had an empty bookshelf and a window that overlooked a palace garden. A thick velvet curtain and a gossamer curtain bunched up to the left of the window.

There was a small bathroom with a trifold changing screen decorated with a crane and river reeds and a bathtub with connected plumbing.

My private den, which I didn't think I'd ever use, had more empty bookshelves a cushy couch, a couple of reading chairs, and a table for dining. I wasn't altogether clear on how my meals were supposed to work but there was a covered tray on the table in the den.

I bit my lower lip and pulled the top off. There were several fresh fruits, some warm pastries, and a pot of steeping tea. I sat down and helped myself to the breakfast offerings. While I enjoyed another cup of warm, jasmine tea, the den door opened and a maid came in.

Immediately, I stood up and bowed my head.

"My apologies, Miss Sabine, I did not know you were still here."

I glanced up at her. She smoothed her hands over her red, silk maid's apron.

"I will come back when you've left." She curtsied, holding up her black maid's uniform skirts, and tried to back out.

"W-wait..."

She froze. "What can I help you with, Miss?"

I creased my brow. A maid was still free. She had more status than I did but she was acting like I was her superior.

"There are many things about my new position that I don't understand. Can you... educate me?"

She tipped her eyes up, her brown cheeks tinged with a dark blush. Her brow creased slightly and narrowed in on my neck. "Oh..."

I reached up and touched the collar. It was the only thing she could be looking at.

"It is my duty to bring you and the prince meals. I leave them on the table and clean them up when you're done."

I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. A maid bringing me meals felt... off. I was grateful she didn't tip her nose up at me or give me a condescending look.

"There are other maids that see to cleaning His Highness's wing of the palace. However, his personal quarters and the honeymoon suite are off limits to everyone but his personal attendant."

"Honeymoon suite?" The words blurted out of my mouth before I could stop them.

The maid curtsied again. "Yes, Miss. Prince Cole keeps it locked but on the king's request, it must be dusted and well maintained for when the prince needs it."

I nodded slowly.

"Other than that, the prince will call for you when he needs something."

"Thank you, very much." I bowed my head to her.

"Are you finished with your breakfast?" she motioned to the tray.

"Yes."

She collected the tray and hurried out of my room. Under the tray was a key ring filled with keys. Each one had a different symbol on it. They must be the keys to the rooms of the prince's wing of the palace. I imagined I'd need access to these places as his personal attendant.

A little brass bell above my bed tinkled. I returned to the bedroom and saw the bell was attached to a string that ran through the wall in the direction of the prince's suites.

I pocketed the keys and headed through the adjoining passage to his parlor. The door was already cracked open. I knocked once and let myself in.

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Prince Cole was waiting for me, arms crossed, lush lips pursed.

"Well, you figured that out. That's promising."

I bowed my head. "You're Highness."

"No doubt, you discovered the key ring I left you. It gives you access to every room in my wing, should I need you to run errands for me. The only door that you won't have a key to is the honeymoon suite."

I flicked my eyes to him, lifting my head slightly.

The prince caught my look. He held a hand out to me, giving me permission to speak.

"Might I ask, why?"

"I'm not married. There's no need for you to access that suite."

Sighing, I nodded. It wasn't the answer I expected and it contradicted what the maid told me. I wasn't going to question his reasons further. He didn't have to tell me anything.

"You'll probably have a lot of downtime. I'm away a lot and when I'm here, I like my solitude. When you do have downtime, you are free to spend it as you wish, as long as you remain in my wing of the palace. That includes the eastern courtyard and gardens."

"I understand, Your Highness."

"Good. You're dismissed for the day."

When I looked up, the prince had already retreated into his bedroom. The door clicked shut behind him.

I hadn't had a day off in my life. What was I supposed to do with my time? I headed back to my rooms, keys jingling in my pocket. My thumb ran over one of the raised symbols on the key.

I left my rooms and spent the morning matching each key to the door it belonged to based on the symbols on the keys. Each door had different embossed designs or engravings of magnificent scenes with dragons, birds, plants, flowers, and trees.

Hidden within the designs, I found the symbols that corresponded to each key.

How much money and labor had gone into making the palace doors when there were so many commoners that didn't even have doors to separate the rooms within their houses?

The palace walls and floor were made of white marble. The natural light spilling in made it feel otherworldly as I moved down the extended corridors. Other than oil lamp sconces on the walls and gold and red curtains draped around the windows, the halls were mostly empty.

Now and then, I crossed paths with a maid or a soldier, but they ignored me.

I ran out of inside exploration and had a sudden desire to go to the garden I could see from my bedroom window. Finding a door outside was easy. I hurried across the eastern courtyard, ignoring the raised cobblestones under my thin, sandal soles.

The courtyard was empty too, except for a few guards on patrol. There was a gate to the garden on one end of the courtyard. I pushed open the gate and gasped as the floral fragrance surrounded me.

I stared at the beautiful blossoms. Well-manicured paths wound through the garden, showing off the most extensive array of flowers, grasses, herbs, and decorative trees I'd ever seen. I heard trickling water, indicating a fountain or stream nearby.

Birds dipped and swooped, singing their happy songs, and insects buzzed around.

My heart sang and I couldn't help smiling. It was truly a paradise.

I went to the nearest patch of white lilies and stuck my face in the blossoms, inhaling the sweet aroma. Sighing, I walked along the paths, running my fingers along the flowers and grasses.

My heart grew heavy. I loved plants but with the slave collar, I felt like I couldn't feel them the same way I could with my magic. They didn't feel as alive when I couldn't access my magic.

I returned to my room while the sun set, the sky turning orange and deep blue.

Immediately, I sensed someone had been in the room. I could smell a faint scent similar to what the prince's bathroom smelled like with those fragrant soaps. I scanned the room and found a note on the table in my parlor.

{Sabine,

I am leaving the palace for a few days. In my absence, the adjoining door between our rooms will remain locked. You do not have a key to that door. To clean my quarters, you'll have to use the main entrance.

You'll find that your closet has been well stocked with clothes and shoes.

I expect you to maintain my quarters in my absence.

Prince Cole.}

I tipped the note to the side and read it again. It sounded so awkward and disjointed. I guess I shouldn't expect the War Dragon to write heartfelt letters.

The doorknob behind me jiggled and I stuffed the note in my pocket. I turned, thinking the maid was bringing me dinner.

Instead, Dulcey strode in, swaying her buxom hips. She flipped her dark hair over her shoulder and roamed her eyes over the room. She wrinkled her nose up before her big, doe eyes finally settled on me.

"Isn't this... intimate," she sneered, nodding to the door adjoining my room to the prince's.

I bowed my head. Whatever she came to say, I had to take it. Dulcey seemed like the type to report any insolence straight to the prince and I didn't want to incur his wrath.

"I can't figure out what it is about you that made the prince dismiss me. You must be very kinky in the bedroom."

I bit my tongue and clenched my fists in the folds of my dress. A flood of comebacks whipped through my mind, but I swallowed them quickly.

"Do you speak at all!?" Dulcey demanded, throwing her arms in the air. Her fancy dress glittered in the lamplight.

I didn't know anything about this woman, other than that she was formerly Prince Cole's concubine. But judging by her clothing, she had to be noble. A member of the royal court and a regular fixture at the palace.

Slowly, I motioned to the collar on my neck.

Dulcey scoffed. She grabbed the collar and lifted it. "What is this? Some kind of game the prince likes to play with you?"

I gritted my teeth. For a moment, I let my eyes lock with hers. My blood boiled just under my skin and I narrowed my eyes at her.

Dulcey's eyes widened. She turned her back on me with a "huff." She seemed more upset that she wasn't getting a rise out of me. Yet, all she had to do was give me permission to speak.

She shot me a sharp look over her shoulder, her lips curling into a sly grin.

"So, tell me, do you think the prince will make you his wife, his queen? If he didn't think I was worthy, what makes you think you are?"

"I don't think I am."

Dulcey's jaw dropped. "Oh, she speaks. I don't want you thinking the prince will make an honest woman out of you. There's a certain type of woman he likes and you... are not it." Smirking, she motioned to herself.

"Is that why he dismissed you instead of marrying you?" I clamped my hand over my mouth. The words were out before I could stop them.

"You little tramp! How dare you speak out against me. You're a filthy slave!"

I bowed my head and composed myself, ready to take whatever she threw at me.

"I'm not going to let you get away with this!" Dulcey pranced to the door. She slammed it shut and I heard something grind against the door.

I ran over and tested the doorknob. It turned and caught. I turned harder but the handle locked in place. She must have shoved something against the door to hold the handle in place.

"Prince Cole won't be back to the palace for days. Don't worry, I'll let the maids know you aren't in need of their meal deliveries, either." Her cackle drifted into my room and slowly faded as I heard her footsteps carry her down the hall.

"Scales!" I swore and slammed my palm against the door.