Chapter 6
The Second Day of the Month of Palefrost
The Town of Edgecraft.
It was the afternoon when Blythe hushed her gentle sobs, folding a completed garment into a neat little basket.
She straightened before shutting her eyes tight, willing herself to stop the tears that kept threatening to flow down her cheek again.
Calculating the money she would make that week, for the tenth time that morning, a sob left her body again and she crumbled to the floor as grief took over.
Several moments passed in the young girl crying her heart away in hopeless despair before she rose to her feet and walked to the corner of her room to wash her face.
Tidying up, Blythe walked back to her bed to count the baskets of orders she'd completed.
A walk in the sun would lift her spirits and distract her mind from her troubles but Blythe decided against doing it right away. She feared walking back into her cottage, still upset.
A knock on her door scattered her thoughts for a moment before she looked over at the wood.
Company of any sort would be appreciated as she would take anything over letting her brain go through her options again.
Walking over to the door, she pulled it open.
Prince Augustus cocked his head to the side to smile, "Hello, Miss. Gardenlight. I hope I'm not imposing."
He paused for a moment to scan her face, his eyes widening.
She looked worn and tired, her eyes red and face saddened.
"A-are you alright?"
Her face pulled into a smile quickly, "Prince Augustus, I- I have not yet, properly thought about your proposal."
"I hope my extending of this offer is not the reason for your present condition."
Blythe shook her head with a laugh, "Of course not."
Augustus frowned, wishing he had the power that now belonged to Cecil, "Hm."
The beautiful girl backed into the cottage to admit him.
The prince moved into the cozy room to see it much different from the day before.
Clothes no longer littered the floor and a few tiny baskets sat arranged across the wall under the window.
"I see your skill was not exaggerated. You are quick and efficient." He looked over to see her face.
The girl smiled quickly at the compliment, "Thank you."
She had closed the door and walked with him to the table, "I'm as quick as light at work!"
She beamed and the prince laughed, happy that his company seemed to cheer her up.
Sitting down, he glanced over again to see her genuinely smile at him.
"Any thought given to my previous visit's purpose, Ms. Gardenlight? You would help me immensely."
Blythe seemed to struggle with the response, "It's too vague, Prince Augustus. This isn't to say I'm not flattered, of course! It's just that-"
"My brother is guaranteed to be a fantastic husband to you," Augustus interrupted, "He's a very warm, understanding man and I, in turn, of course, will take care of your family in your stead."
Blythe's face had fallen at his last statement and Augustus scrambled his brains trying to pinpoint what he could have said wrong.
She sniffed, alarming him.
Was he making her cry?
"A-are you okay, Ms. Gardenlight. My apologies if I seemed to impo-"
"I will be declining your offer, Prince Augustus," her voice was soft and her eyes did not meet his, "I'm sorry for seeming so cold but there are matters I must take care of. I cannot give you hope that will not be upheld."
Her voice trembled in the end. Her tone still carried uncertainty in it.
Prince Augustus was silent before he spoke.
"Is that your final answer?"
There was a long pause before Blythe looked up to meet his eyes.
Augustus was shocked to see the full extent of the emotion in her face.
He had felt her sadness the moment she had greeted him but she had been hiding much more than she had shown.
She took a breath as her vision seemed to blur with newly forming tears, her face trembling.
"My mother's been taken gravely ill," her eyes had gone cold and defeated her voice distant and formal.
"Prince Augustus, I need your help. I will assist you after all." Her lips quivered and she burst into loud sobs.
The Second Day of the Month of Palefrost
Roads leading to the Royal Palace.
Aldith's carriage slowly passed the mansion of a wealthy noble.
There was a somber mood around the house and Aldith glanced over its exterior.
Well-kept lawns and large, strong pillars adorned the outside of the mansion.
The man of the house was no more alive.
Aldith sighed before looking away.
She would be upset for the family but it was difficult to when she had been the one to plot his demise.
Several weeks ago, when Aldith had decided to gain access into the inner circles of the Royal Palace, she had decided to use the assistance of someone who visited the Royals frequently.
Sir Waldorf was a high-standing noble in the kingdom. He seemed a respectable man for he kept his wife in happiness and took good care of his children.
He was a frequent visitor of the Palace because of his good friendship with the queen.
It was well-known that he and the queen were childhood friends and she still stayed in touch with him and invited him to join her for meals.
Aldith had decided to enter the Royal circles at any cost to gain access to the two Eldest princes and had slowly begun to frequent Sir Waldorf's place of work.
It wasn't long before the two started an affair.
Between her soft, flirtatious laughter and her plunging necklines, Aldith destroyed his resistance and he succumbed quickly to the seductress.
The two kept it a secret for days before Aldith started asking, gently, to accompany him to the palace when he had meals. She assured him that she would pretend to be the daughter of his acquaintance to protect his reputation when, in reality, she was protecting her own.
The pair frequented the Palace many times where Aldith would turn on the charm quickly to make friends like a cat clawing at whatever it could hold.
A few meals later, Aldith herself had made enough acquaintances at the Palace to warrant invitations to the Palace Balls at her own right and not having to depend on Sir Waldorf.
He had served his purpose.