He turns to place his hand on Mia but finds an empty space instead. Instinctively he opens his eyes calling her name in worry. He then sees Caramel walking into the room. "Say, you have not seen Mia have you?" He asks.
"Oh, you just missed her. She was picked up about an hour ago by the ladies society carriage." She says.
"I was not informed." He protests.
"You were not supposed to. Bare in mind that you will not be allowed contact with her whatever the case." She adds.
He rakes his hair as he gets out of bed and finds robes set aside for him for the week. Smiling, he exits the chambers checking if anyone is seeing him and retreats to his own chambers.
***
"This week will be hard on you my dear." Says lady Margarette.
"Why so? Haven't I trained enough?" Asks Mia.
"You have. Congratulations on your success so far by the way." She adds.
"Whatever do you mean Lady Margarette?" Asks Mia.
"You defended the prince quite bravely these past weeks. The attackers did meet their deaths quite justly." She answers chuckling.
"That was you? It was all a test?" Asks Mia now furious with herself.
"Oh yes. And you passed quite remarkably." She says. Her expression then turns grim. "I have tidings of your affair with your mission. I am not in the least pleased but even I cannot stop the heart from its destiny. All I ask is that you maintain caution." She adds as she walks away.
The final phase of Mia's training was commencing. It was indeed going to be the hardest week of her life.
She was being taught how to be a lady. That meant learning how to do her make up and style her hair. In her head, she had no time for all of that. The torture of sewing was enough for her.
She is then drawn out of her thoughts as she is escorted to the main hall to be taught how to eat like a lady. Eating. It was the only thing she could do to stop herself from going insane.
***
It had only been two days since he was with her but the loneliness he felt was quite foreign. He had skipped meals and only taken soup.
His father had been observing him all this while and his mother was boiling over inside spitting all kinds of threats of fury when Mia returned.
The castle was only bearable to live in because Caramel was there to make sure no maid crossed with the royals and to make sure that the castle had all the silence it required. It was becoming quite evident that he had his heart elsewhere, the young prince.