The arrival; of whom?

As I sat in my chambers, the dresser’s hands trembled slightly as she laid out the fabric of my new gown. Her nerves were plain to see, a direct result of our last conversation. This wasn’t just about the dress anymore; it was about the information Jannat had tried to pass on.

“My lady,” the dresser began, her voice unsteady, “I... I have something to tell you.” Her eyes darted to Lily, who stood beside me, as calm and solid as ever.

“Go on,” I encouraged, keeping my tone gentle.

She glanced around, as if someone might be listening. “Jannat approached me yesterday. She seemed... different. Angry, nervous, like she was backed into a corner. She demanded I pass a letter to someone outside the manor. She told me to hide it in the usual place.”

I leaned forward, my interest piqued. “Did she say who the letter was for?”

The dresser shook her head. “No, my lady. She just said it was for ‘the owner.’ I didn’t dare ask more.”

I felt Lily’s gaze on me, a quiet reassurance in her eyes. She gave me a small, supportive smile. It was her way of saying she had everything under control. I returned the smile, grateful for her presence. Despite the other maids beginning to warm up to me, a hint of fear still lingered in their eyes. But not Lily—she was the only one completely at ease around me.

“Thank you,” I said, turning back to the dresser, my tone calm but firm. “You’ve done well by telling me this. Now listen carefully. When Jannat comes in two days as she promised, act normal. Don’t let her suspect that you’ve told me anything.”

The dresser nodded quickly, relief washing over her. “Of course, my lady. I understand.”

“Good. Now, take your refreshments,” I added, gesturing toward the table where maids had placed the tray. “Enjoy them, and then you may go.”

As she nervously picked at the food, my thoughts drifted to the days ahead. The dresser would report back to me, and we’d see how deep Jannat’s schemes really went, what was the intention of her master in poisoning me. But for now, I had more pressing matters to attend to. The arrival of one of the princes.

Just then, a maid entered the room, looking flustered. “My lady, the prince is expected to arrive within the hour.”

I stood, feeling the weight of the moment. “Send Lusav to the door. He will escort me when the prince arrives.”

The maid curtsied quickly and hurried off. As she did, I noticed the other maids murmuring among themselves as they worked. They fell silent when they realized I was watching, but I had already caught enough to know that Jannat was no longer the subject of their sympathy.

“She’s been so careless, breaking those plates like that,” one whispered, her voice carrying just enough for me to hear.

“All that pity we felt for her, thinking she was overworked,” another chimed in, her tone dismissive.

“And poor Lady Helen,” the first added. “To think she had to endure such an incompetent maid for so long.”

Their chatter stopped abruptly as I approached. I said nothing, just let my presence remind them that their words would always reach me. With a nod, I dismissed them, and they quickly scurried off.

As I turned back to the dresser, my thoughts briefly flickered to Lusav. The maid had been quick to fetch him, and he was likely waiting outside the door by now. What was taking so long?

Unbeknownst to me, just outside, Lusav stood by the door, his heart pounding. He could hear the soft rustling of fabric and the quiet conversations of the maids as they prepared me for the prince's arrival. Each sound only fed the jealousy gnawing at him from within.

Why was she doing this? Dolling herself up for another man? The thought sent a sharp pang through his chest. He didn’t fully understand this overwhelming need to be the only one she looked at, the only one she smiled at. And yet, here she was, preparing for someone else—a prince, no less.

He closed his eyes, leaning back against the wall, trying to steady his breathing. She didn’t know, couldn’t know, what he felt. He wasn’t even sure if he wanted her to know. All he knew was that the sight of her in that gold gown was going to tear him apart.

Inside, the maids were busily dressing me, their hands gentle but quick as they adjusted the fabric, tied the laces, and pinned the last strands of my silver hair into place. The gold dress complemented my porcelain skin, making my red eyes stand out even more. The braids in my hair were intricate, a perfect blend of elegance and power.

Once they were done, I stood and moved toward the door, calling softly, “Lusav.”

The door creaked open, and there he was, standing there as usual. But something was different this time. He looked... stunned, as if he had never seen me before. His eyes widened slightly, and for a few seconds, he just stood there, frozen, his gaze locked onto mine. It was as if he couldn’t breathe, like the sight of me had taken all the air from his lungs.

Finally, he blinked, snapping out of whatever trance he had been in. “My lady,” he said, his voice steady but with an undercurrent of something I couldn’t quite place. “You look... beautiful.”

There was more in his eyes than just admiration. Respect, yes, but also something deeper, something darker. Was it love? Obsession? I couldn’t tell. All I knew was that the look he gave me made me feel like I was the only person in his world.

“Thank you, Lusav,” I replied, keeping my tone calm. I couldn’t afford to get distracted, not with the prince’s arrival so close. “Shall we?”

He nodded, still looking at me as if I were the most precious thing he had ever seen. “Of course, my lady.”

As we walked down the grand staircase, the only sound was the steady *clip, clip* of my heels on the marble steps. It was a calm, almost soothing rhythm, filling the silence between us. Lusav followed behind me, quiet and steady as always, but there was a tension in the air that I couldn’t shake.

Down below, the maids were busy with their tasks. One was arranging flowers in a large vase, making sure each bloom was perfect. Another was polishing a decorative vase until it shone. A third maid was adjusting the decorations on the walls, straightening tapestries and garlands to make everything look just right.

When we reached the bottom of the stairs, the butler was ready, opening the door just as we approached. The warm summer air flowed in, and outside, standing in the sunlight, was my father, the Duke. His stern face softened when he saw me, and his eyes, usually serious, lit up with warmth.

“Helena, my baby,” he said lovingly. “You are so beautiful, just like your mother.”

His words filled my heart with warmth. For a moment, I didn’t see the Duke, the head of the family, but just my father—the man who had always been there for me, guiding and protecting me. I smiled, stepping forward to greet him, but before I could speak, the sound of hooves on stone caught our attention.

Through the inner gate, a carriage appeared. It was beautifully decorated, the kind of grand display reserved for royalty. The horses, sleek and black, were magnificent, their glossy coats shining in the sunlight. As they came to a stop, the tension in the air grew. Lusav’s presence behind me seemed to sharpen, as if he was preparing for something. My father, too, seemed to tense up, his earlier warmth turning into something more guarded.

The carriage door opened, and a tall man stepped out—easily over six feet. He looked a lot like the Crown Prince, but something about him was different. His expression was softer, kinder, and as he looked at us, he didn’t have that cold, judging air.

This wasn’t the Crown Prince. It was his younger brother, the Second Prince. Unlike his brother, the Second Prince was known for being polite and well-mannered. A faint murmur spread through the staff as they realized who he was. The Second Prince was someone people respected, a man who treated everyone with kindness, no matter their rank.

My father’s tense posture relaxed a bit, though he still kept a serious look on his face. There was a noticeable shift in the atmosphere, a collective sigh of relief at the sight of the Second Prince instead of the Crown Prince. Even Lusav, just behind me, seemed to ease up a little.

The Second Prince approached us with a calm, respectful walk, giving us a polite bow. “Lady Helena, Duke,” he greeted us, his voice warm. “It’s an honour to see you both.”

I dipped into a graceful curtsy, my mind racing. This was unexpected. The Crown Prince was supposed to come today. What could this mean?