"This must be mine,"

Freya glanced down at her dress and couldn't see anything wrong. If anything Isabella should have been named but of course, her identity and family's influence wouldn't allow that.

Her lips parted as though to say something but before she could utter a word, Matron Dour snapped her fingers. Soon two maidservants approached her and grabbed either side of her arms before dragging her forward.

"Matron this," said Freya before she was forced to kneel on the gravel and told to raise her hands in the air. She understood what this was. They failed to disfigure her and now they were going to wear her down.

"Stay put for thirty minutes. After that change into the right clothes before coming to the kitchen," said Matron Dour before turning to the other girls and continuing, "This is what will happen to you if you fail to listen to instructions. Now follow me."

Freya was left kneeling there with the two maidservants watching her like a hawk. Freya had been through a lot growing up but kneeling on the gravel wasn't one of them. She was forced to kneel with her upper legs forming a straight line with her erect torso. A minute or two in it was bearable but soon the pain became excruciating.

The pain caused by the sharp stones digging into her knees made remaining upright quite difficult but Freya fought through.

The resentment and anger in her eyes grew as she knelt there with her arms raised. This was the longest thirty minutes in her life and she almost thought it wouldn't end.

When the maidservant told her that time was up, Freya struggled to get up. Her knees were weak and her feet felt numb that she almost fell forward. She staggered back to her room and the two maidservants followed her in.

"Miss, you only have ten minutes to prepare otherwise the matron won't be pleased," said a cold unfeeling voice behind her.

Freya ignored them as she picked a new dress before walking behind the thick curtain and changing out of her old clothes.

Because she was made to lift her skirt and kneel directly on the gravel it wasn't dirty at the knees but the hem. She applied medicine to her bruised knee before the urging from the two women started again.

Exactly ten minutes later, Freya entered the kitchen and the matron didn't even spare her a glance. The other girls were struggling to mix the dough in bowls. It was a trainwreck for some and perfect for others.

Everyone seemed to be working seriously. Freya took the only remaining workbench and the matron glanced at her condescendingly.

Freya could feel her gaze piercing through her soul but she ignored it as she proceeded to read the recipe on the table.

It seemed they were making mini custard tarts as part of their training to become the perfect queen. Freya almost rolled her eyes but she didn't say anything. She bit her lips enduring the pain in her knees and remembered what her aunt taught her.

Forty-five minutes later, the mouthwatering scent of pastries filled the passageway towards the royal dining room.

When the door was opened the people sitting at the table looked up curiously but the person the girls wanted to see wasn't there.

Sitting at the main seat was the king and to his right was his son Prince Kian and the Queen to the left.

The person the mini custard tarts were meant for wasn't even there. Their faces fell in disappointment. If the way to a man's heart was his stomach then how were their mini custard tarts meant to get there if their person wasn't here?

"Come come sit. We will be the tasters for the day. It seems my son is a bit busy," said King Kian in a jolly mood like he was enjoying this a little too much.

Meanwhile, Prince Kian's gaze was sifting through the group of girls looking for a certain person and when he saw her his eyes brightened as he lowered his head shyly. It seemed the lesson from yesterday hadn't quite sunk in.

Seeing her son's smitten appearance Queen Rhea clenched her fist underneath the table. Her son was traumatised by that beast all because of that vixen yet her son was still fawning over her like his brain was damaged.

Queen Rhea glared at Matron Dour and the matron understood. She signalled a maidservant over. Two minutes later sounds of dishes crashing to the floor filled the room.

Someone had bumped into Freya causing the tray they were carrying to fall to the ground and spilling the contents on Freya. Freya's reflexes were fast. She had managed to raise her hands and the mini custard tart in her tray was saved though her steps were unsteady.

She was about to set the tray down when the matron reprimanded, "You can't serve that anymore. Go change your clothes."

When Freya turned to leave, Prince Kian subconsciously got up to follow but his hand was held down tightly forcing him to sit down. Prince Kian turned to his mother only to be met by her warning glare.

Freya strode off the dining hall her head bowed with an aggrieved look but a few feet away from the royal dining hall she straightened her back with all the grievance from before gone. She changed her face so fast that you would think she was a professional actress.

She made this mini tart and she was more than happy to eat it herself. Unfortunately, the universe had other plans. When she turned the corner for the third time she was met by a group of men one of which was the crown prince giving out instructions.

Thinking she hadn't been seen yet, Freya stepped back and made herself invisible like the maidservants in the royal palace.

The group of men soon passed and as expected they hadn't noticed her. After the sound of footsteps died down she released her caught breath before raising her head with a slight smile at the corner of her lips.

But that beautiful smile stiffened when she met the crown prince's mocking gaze. Freya's heart dropped to the pit of her stomach and her knees softened like she was going to fall.

"This must be mine," he said while picking up the plate from the tray.

Freya who had plans for that tart almost cried out. Recalling this person's status she bowed her head trying to act as docile as possible.

Crown Prince Roan raised her chin and said, "It needs more practice but it's not bad. Here, try it."

Freya glanced at the small piece left in the plate and hesitantly reached over to take it but before she could touch the plate, the crown prince dodged.

His different-coloured eyes flashed with a mischievous light. He picked up the small piece that could barely be considered a bite and brought it to her lips.

"Eat," he said and Freya's body froze her eyes wide in shock.