"I will be careful. "

Freya soon fell back to sleep and when she woke up again the sun had already risen with the soft chirping of birds outside.

As she lay there, lost in thought, Freya heard a soft knock at the door. She called out, and Amelda entered the room, carrying a tray of food and a fresh pitcher of water.

"My lady!" she exclaimed excitedly almost dropping the tray. "You are finally awake, my lady," almost wailing like it was a funeral.

"How are you feeling today? Does it hurt anywhere? Miss, should I call the physician?" she said thoroughly checking her up and down and with good reason.

Freya managed a small smile in return. "I am okay. It's not so bad. Don't panic," she said, as the maid set the tray down on the bedside table. "What day is it?"

Amelda raised the pitcher and poured out some water while responding to her, "It's the third day of spring, my lady. You've been unconscious for two days."

Freya nodded, feeling a wave of fatigue wash over her. She took a sip of water and then picked at the food on the tray, feeling a little appetite. As she picked it up she noticed a small bulge underneath the white cloth covering the tray.

From Amelda's behaviour, she probably didn't even know that this thing was there. She looked at her and said, "May you please get my bath ready? I feel very uncomfortable."

Amelda glanced at her dressed knees and knew she couldn't put the wounds in water until they healed.

"Miss, about that," she said only for Freya to say,

"I will be careful."

The girl nodded her head and turned to leave. As soon as she was gone, Freya picked up the cloth and took out a folded paper from underneath.

When she unfolded it, she saw it was from her aunt. She had heard what happened and folded in medicinal powder for her wound. From the familiar scent, she knew this was her uncle's doing. She redressed her wounds by herself and by the time Amelda came back she was already done.

While she was bathing in the wooden tub, Amelda began to spill her guts out about what had happened while she was passed out for the past two days.

It turns out that Crown Prince Roan dragged Queen Rhea's niece over and punished her alongside the nobles for breaking one of the family laws.

Curious, Freya pushed her damp hair back and asked, "Which law?"

Amelda who was standing behind the folding screen to give Freya some privacy thought for a while before saying, "I think it was the one for seducing men and bringing harm to families. The men she engaged with in those acts were equally punished and the nobles have been making a fuss since. They are demanding an apology for being wronged but his royal highness hasn't been seen since. His royal highness refuses to see anyone."

Hearing this Freya narrowed her eyes wondering if this was all a coincidence. How could that be that the day after she was punished for the same offence she didn't commit, Queen Rhea's niece would be exposed and punished?

A small thought that crown prince Roan did this to avenge her crossed her mind but she quickly shook off this dangerous thought.

Having been given the go-ahead she returned to her classes but her mind was a little distracted. She didn't even care to retort when Isabella mocked her in the morning for being a vixen.

Her crocheting skills which were horrible from the very beginning became even uglier to the point that she was scolded by the instructor.

In etiquette class, she was yelled at so much her ears almost burst. After an exhausting day of having power-hungry women demonstrating their might the last person she wanted to see was the one she got punished for.

Prince Kian had been pretending to pace in the garden for the past hour. Unable to conceal his anxiety he would constantly check the path to see if she was coming. When a few girls passed he ignored them when they greeted him.

His attendant who had also been punished by the queen for letting Prince Kian meet up with Freya was standing on the side his face swollen. When he tried to stop Prince Kian he was beaten and couldn't fight back. He could only follow him here.

"Your Highness," he muttered softly and Prince Kian acted like he hadn't heard him.

He paced slowly across the garden's trail, his hands clasped tightly behind his back. Despite the beautiful blooms of roses, lavenders, and daisies surrounding him, he couldn't seem to take his eyes off the pathway that led to the women's quarters waiting for her.

Although she was one of his older half-brother's suitors, Kian couldn't help but feel drawn to her. His feelings intensified even further despite his mother forbidding him from seeing her. He couldn't function properly unless he saw her and after he heard what his mother did he couldn't help it anymore. He snuck away just to come and find her.

As he continued to stroll, his heart leapt when he finally saw Freya. She was walking down the same pathway. He quickly composed himself, pretending to admire the flowers as he anxiously awaited her approach.

As she drew closer, Kian's heart raced with excitement, but then she passed him without even a nod in his direction. He couldn't believe it.

Kian tried not to show his disappointment, but his frustration became evident on his face. He felt upset and rejected. He didn't know how much longer he could keep pretending.

Suddenly, he noticed a maidservant trailing Freya. He quickly rushed forward and grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop and draw Freya's attention.

"Miss Freya," Kian said, bowing his head. "I I heard what mother did."

Freya turned towards him, and Kian's heart leapt again when he saw a smile form on her lips. "Prince Kian, what a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect to see you here," she said, her voice sweet as honey.

Kian took a deep breath, all his doubts and fears seemed to disappear. The girl of his dreams was finally talking to him and from the looks of it, she didn't seem as upset about what happened.

Kian felt the chemistry and connection growing stronger between them. He knew that this would be a battle as he should listen to his mother but he couldn't help himself.

At this moment, in the garden, with the delicate scent of flowers and the sun shining down on them, Kian felt like anything was possible, well, that is until Freya threw a bucket of ice-cold water dampening his emotions.

"Your Highness, for both our sakes I would appreciate it if you would keep your distance. I am still recovering and will not be able to endure a second punishment," she said before bowing her head and walking away.

Prince Kian, "..."

He gazed at her disappearing figure at a loss. He was so dumbfounded that he even forgot the gift he had brought for her. He took the small velvet box from his attendant and with a loud thud he threw it into the flower bed out of anger.