I Love You, My Cursed Prince

Both Princess Arya's and Muriel's birthdays were in autumn and a few days apart. Muriel didn't say anything about her own birthday, however. She didn't think anything would be done for it.

For the princess' birthday, there was a very luxurious yet small dinner with a very expensive trifle dessert. Layers of sponge biscuits soaked in alcohol, fruity jelly, candied fruit bits and and ginger. A top layer of piped whipped cream with edible flower petals and more candied fruits. It was served in a glass bowl, and Muriel was grateful to be given a portion. She adored whipped cream. She took her time when eating it, closing her eyes and quietly humming her p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e.

Muriel had made a gift for the princess in advance. It was a framed piece of fabric with an embroidered image, a calm bird with bright red feathers perched inside a silver cage.

"This is a lovable little piece," Princess Arya said as her dark brown eyes glided over the stitches. "I appreciate that you thought to give me a present. I imagine giving someone accustomed to the best anything at all would be highly intimidating."

Muriel lowered her head. "I assumed my mistress would be kind enough to acknowledge a gift from me, and I was correct."

The princess rolled her eyes at that, but she said, "What matters is that I'm happy on my birthday, and I am."

"Your Highness," the butler said as he approached with a new box, "there's another gift for you."

"Hm? My son has one for me?" the princess said as she gingerly laid Muriel's gift on the table.

The butler put the box into her hands. "Yes, Madam. He sent men to the city again."

"A good little boy, indeed," Princess Arya said as she opened the box. Her eyes widened and she grinned. "What a beautiful trinket!" She pulled said trinket up. It was a necklace of three stands of pearls with a single pendant in the center, a smooth dark opal stone.

Muriel clapped her hands. "It's almost too fine, Your Highness. Your son is very grateful to you."

"Almost too fine?" The princess c.a.r.e.s.sed the opal with her thumb.

"Yes, Madam. I'm nearly frightened as I look at it. That's how fine it is."

"Then I should wear this at the Royal Court," the princess said as she put the necklace away. "This has been a wonderful day."

Some days passed on after this, including Muriel's birthday. She went to visit her family. They were benefiting decently from the money she had been sending them. Her father was beginning to repair the cracks in his business, but he was able to get a present for her. It was a pair of black satin ribbons. Muriel kissed her father's cheek and thanked him. She imagined that he had wanted to give her something much more expensive, but these gifts were perfectly wonderful.

"People have been asking about you," her father said. "You're already very popular."

"Hm? This is the first I've heard about it."

"Truly? Well, perhaps your mistress didn't want you to be bothered."

Letters, which meant invitations. Single men and doting mothers had been asking the princess if they could go to their events specifically to show Muriel off.

Princess Arya apparently ignored them, or even refused them, which wasn't technically rude, but it did poke Muriel's brain into a muddled state for a while.

When Muriel was back at the Vantrim Castle, she tied one of her new ribbons around her blonde doll's waist, making a sort of belt. She thought it looked nice.

Then she fiddled with the other ribbon, tugging on it, stretching it, as she wondered if the princess was secretly angry with her. But why? Muriel had been a loyal companion, hadn't she? She hadn't even hinted to anyone about their oh so dramatic secret. She hadn't done anything wrong.

Or maybe ... the princess was afraid of something?