Catherine jolted awake, her heart pounding in the twilight stillness. She moved quietly, careful not to wake her mother, and slipped into the corridor where the first rays of dawn slipped through the frosted glass.
She found Isla already preparing tea in the pantry, hands deft, but her eyes were swollen with lack of sleep.
"Cathy, I thought you'd never come out." Her voice was hushed, urgent. "Did you do what I said with the earring?"
Catherine shivered, clutching her own arms. "It's hidden for now. Isla, what if they search everyone? If they find it-"
Isla pressed a reassuring hand over hers. "They won't, Cathy. I'll help you think this through. We keep our heads. No one knows but you, me... and whoever put it in your bag."
Catherine forced a tight nod. Then, Isla's gaze drifted past her, to the kitchen's far corner. Mr. Alden, the King's junior royal secretary, loitered there, charming a row of maids with clever smiles and low jokes. Catherine saw the glimmer in her friend's eyes and followed her gaze.
"Ooohhh... someone's swooning," she teased.
"Uhh.. no," Isla quickly put her head down. "Well, maybe... I just think he's cute."
Catherine looked back at the secretary. "Why not go talk to him then?"
Isla's face turned red, trying to change the topic. "Why not we get back to work before Mrs. Harrow meets us here."
The girls laughed, and Catherine felt a bit relieved, but fear still lingered in her mind.
- - -
By midmorning, King Edward stormed the palace, his cloak billowing, demanding an audience with King Arthur, who quickly ushered him into a private office.
"Is this what you call security?" Edward's voice boomed as soon as he saw King Arthur. "A guest is invited into your house, and a priceless jewel is stolen?"
The King was shocked. "I seem not to understand what you are talking about."
"My daughter's diamond earrings. She is missing one of them. Surely, someone at the gala took them."
King Arthur's expression tightened with both embarrassment and fury. "I can assure you, Edward, nothing like this has happened before. I will not tolerate such insults to your family. I promise you, we will get to the bottom of it here and now."
Queen Charlotte, who was beside them, inclined her head, lips a pale line. Quietly, the Chief of Staff and the palace manager were summoned, and then Mrs. Harrow soon after.
Before long, the cry echoed up the servants' wing: "Princess Katarina's earring is missing!" The news travelled fast. Maids, footmen, even the cooks stopped what they were doing to pass along the details. The palace seemed to tense as a single body.
An investigation immediately followed: Servants stood in lines, every bag was upturned, and pockets were checked. Catherine's pulse quickened with each inspection, nausea roiling beneath her nervousness.
One of the maids, Beatrice, with her smug little smile, glanced over at Catherine and murmured, "They say the prince's favorites always get bold sooner or later."
Another maid, Lucy, joined in, taunting, "If you're hiding anything, you'd best come clean now, Catherine."
Isla bristled, moving protectively closer. "Keep your nose out of other people's business," she snapped quietly.
The Chief of Staff's search was thorough, but Catherine was still nervous. The earrings were buried deep beneath a large stone in the larder, exactly as Isla had suggested.
By noon, Catherine couldn't stand the heat in the kitchen and made her way, pale and shaking, to the laundry. Her mother found her halfway, pressing a cool cloth to her forehead.
"You can't keep running yourself ragged, dear. This stress isn't good for you," then quietly added, "...or for the baby."
"I'm trying, Ma," Catherine whispered. "Really."
Elizabeth drew her close, worry seeping into every gesture. "If it gets worse, you'll need to go home to rest. I'll talk to Mrs. Harrow to make certain of it."
Later that afternoon, George finally found Catherine in the rose garden, tending the winter plants.
He came up behind her. "I've hardly seen you all day," he said, voice gentle.
Catherine, startled by it, turned immediately, brushing dead leaves from between her fingers. "There are eyes everywhere, Your Highness," she said softly.
Your Highness? Why does she sound formal when it's just them in the garden? He thought, but let it slide.
"That's not what I meant. Catherine... you look unwell. Is something wrong?"
She hesitated, searching his face. If only she could confess, but too much depended on her silence. "I'm just tired. I haven't been sleeping well, that's all," she lied, twisting her hands until her white knuckles ached.
George instinctively reached for her, but stopped just short. "We're friends, right? If something is going on, you can trust me."
Catherine's barriers crumbled. "I know that," she said quietly.
George waited for her to say more, but she didn't. They stood in uneasy silence, longing and words half-spoken hanging between them, before a clatter at the far path forced them apart.
"I have to go now," Catherine said and hurried off.
Later that night, just outside the garden gate, Isla and Catherine stood by, laughing with Mr. Alden, whose banter drew a wider circle of young staff. Isla was blushing at something he had said.
As George turned the corner with his friend, David, he saw how close Catherine was with Alden and something twisted in his chest. He watched them for a moment too long, jealousy mingling with confusion.
"Hey," David tapped his fingers in front of George's face, bringing him back to reality. "Did you hear what I said?"
"W-What?" George asked, turning to his friend.
"You've been brooding, mate," David observed. "Since the pub... Is this about your dad and his persistence on you getting married? Or is it about Catherine?"
George swallowed, his gaze distant. "It's like every time I see her, she's further away. I can't stop thinking about her, David. Something changed that night. I find myself caring for her...more than I had ever done before."
David grinned. "Maybe you should stop thinking and start talking, George. Personally, I'd say you should f***k what your parents and tell her how you feel... before someone else does for you."
George didn't answer, but the words lingered in his mind.
- - -
By midnight, when the Eldoria's Palace was completely quiet, a figure slipped from the shadows, their cloak drawn tight. They rode their horse until they arrived at Drakonhelm.
The figure then continued onto the palace where King Edward, Queen Charlotte, and Princess Katarina waited in the throne room, their eyes sharp as glass.
The figure removed their cloak and bowed, presenting a folder.
"I bring new information, Your Majesties. Eldoria Palace is already in turmoil with the missing earring, and everything is going according to plan."
Katarina smiled, turning to her parents. "You see, Father, I told you it would work."
"There's another situation I am monitoring. About a relationship with Prince George and a maid. I will give a report as soon as I am sure of my findings."
Everyone gasped.
King Edward's smile bloomed slowly and cold. "So even palaces built on marble have cracks in the stone. Good. Secrets are currency here, Mr. Alden. We'll put yours to use soon enough."
