As well as one could in a palace full of strangers," I replied with a faint smile.
A small laugh escaped her.
"Yes… I suppose that is true," she admitted. "I do not think I slept much at all."
Her fingers lightly touched the edge of her cup.
"Everything feels so sudden," she continued. "Yesterday morning I was still at my family's estate, and now…" she gestured lightly around the grand chamber, "…I am here."
I nodded in understanding. "It does feel unreal," I agreed.
Lady Charlotte studied me for a moment before tilting her head slightly.
"You spoke very bravely last night," she said.
I nearly choked on the breath I had just taken.
Brave?
"That was not bravery," I said quickly. "It was merely… speaking before my mind could stop me."
Charlotte smiled at that. "Well," she said softly, "I still admired it."
"I suppose, Lady Charlotte, her bravery is not something for you to admire… because it can get one killed." Lady Beatrice said from across the table.
I looked up at her with a raised brow. Even Lady Charlotte turned, glancing between the two of us.
For a brief moment, the room grew still.
Beatrice sat perfectly straight in her chair, her posture as flawless as ever, though the sharpness in her gaze was impossible to miss.
Lady Charlotte shifted slightly beside me, clearly unsure whether to continue the conversation or pretend she had heard nothing at all.
I, however, held Beatrice's gaze. "Well," I said calmly, "then I suppose we should all be grateful that none of us were executed last night."
Lady Margaret let out a quiet sound that sounded suspiciously like a suppressed laugh before quickly lowering her cup to hide it.
Beatrice's lips tightened.
I reached for the cup placed before me and took a slow sip, pretending the conversation had not unsettled the entire table.
"If speaking honestly is dangerous," I added lightly, setting the cup down again, "then perhaps we should all practice whispering."
Beatrice's lips pressed into a thin line, clearly displeased that I had not shrunk under her remark.
"How amusing," she said coolly. "You speak as though wisdom belongs to you alone."
She leaned back slightly in her chair, folding her hands neatly before her. "Tell me, Lady… Adeline, was it?" she continued, her tone smooth but edged with condescension. "Do you always speak so freely? Or do you simply enjoy drawing attention to yourself?"
The table fell quiet again. I could feel Lady Charlotte glance nervously at me from the corner of her eye, while Lady Isabella suddenly seemed very interested in the arrangement of fruit before her. But lady Eleanor seem to be into the conversation, and it also looks like she is on lady Beatrice's side.
I met Beatrice's gaze without raising my voice.
"I do not enjoy drawing attention," I said calmly. "If that were the case, I would have said far more last night."
Her brows twitched slightly.
"I simply answered the question that was asked," I continued. "Just as you did."
I paused for a moment before adding gently,
"The difference, perhaps, is that we chose different words."
Beatrice tilted her head, studying me as though deciding whether I was worth further effort. "Be careful, Lady Adeline," she said after a moment. "Palaces are not kind to those who speak without caution."
I gave a small nod. "That may be true," I replied evenly. "But I believe silence can be just as dangerous." Then I gave her a smile that reached my eyes. It vanished the moment I looked away.
The table fell quiet once more, the earlier tension settling into a thin, uneasy silence between us.
Moments later, the large doors of the dining chamber opened.
Every maiden at the table stood up instantly as the prince walked in.
His presence alone seemed to command the entire room. Tall, composed, and carrying that same cold indifference I had noticed the night before, he entered as though the world simply made way for him.
"Your Highness," we greeted in unison, lowering our heads respectfully.
I kept my gaze lowered as well, though I could feel the faint weight of his presence moving further into the room.
Somehow, even without looking at him, I had the uncomfortable feeling that his eyes had already found me… waiting for me to raise my head so he could behead it.
The prince walked to the head of the table and sat down without acknowledging anyone.
We all slowly returned to our seats.
I kept my gaze lowered, focusing on the plate before me. I did not dare raise my head to meet his eyes.
"Your Highness, I hope you slept well?" Lady Beatrice's eager voice rang across the table, barely able to contain her excitement.
For a long moment, the prince said nothing.
The silence stretched long enough to make the question feel almost foolish.
Curiosity got the better of me. I lifted my head just slightly, hoping to steal a quick glance at him.
Unfortunately, at that exact moment, his eyes lifted as well. And, they met mine. I immediately looked away.
"I did," he finally replied. "How about you, Lady…"
He paused. It was very clear he did not know her name.
The pause lingered just long enough to become awkward.
Lady Charlotte, seated at the first chair on his right, stiffened as though she were trying very hard not to laugh.
"Lady Beatrice…" she corrected quickly, though there was a faint embarrassment in her voice.
Beatrice herself looked momentarily flustered. Though, truthfully, she should not have been. After all, the prince had only met her yesterday. There was no reason he should already know who she was.
Still, the small slip seemed to bruise her pride.
The maids began moving around the table, placing dishes before each of us with quiet efficiency. Fresh bread, warm porridge, fruits, and tea were set neatly in place.
No one reached for anything. Not until the prince did.
Once he lifted his spoon and began eating, the rest of us followed shortly after.
For a while, the only sounds in the chamber were the faint clinking of utensils against porcelain and the soft movements of the servants.
No one seemed eager to speak again.
I kept my attention on my plate, carefully breaking a small piece of bread between my fingers.
When suddenly I heard. "Adeline."