I Love You, My Cursed Prince

The cold stung her ears and put an ache around them. That was one of her most hated things about winter, the pain. Muriel rubbed her palms on her ears and cringed at the protest her nerves' gave her. Then she got dressed and went to find her mistress in the dining room.

Princess Arya was drinking hot chocolate as she waited on breakfast to be served. She offered Muriel a cup with a bitter thinness in her red lips. "This weather is absolutely disgusting and it hasn't even snowed yet."

Muriel let the hot liquid fill her up and nearly giggled at the happiness that ensued.

"I think you should be allowed to monitor your own diet from now on," the princess said after taking her own hot sip. "You've been so calm recently. You should be able to make wiser decisions."

Breakfast turned out to be delicious. Pan fried slices of sweetened bread, drizzled with syrup and a bit of sugar. Omelets with chicken and vegetables that had been cooked in a waffle iron, giving them an unexpected shape. Two links of spicy and filling sausage. Muriel was so warm and happy by the end of it that she thought she might die.

"Goodness," the princess said at one point, "the weather is so horrible. Imagine the conditions when snow comes!"

"It won't be pleasant," Muriel said.

"We might need to prepare for the Capital Season early, before the snow comes. This year's snow might be much worse than the last." Princess Arya poked at her waffle omelet with a fork. She looked like she was angry at the food. "We'll need to find new wardrobes before it's too late."

"Hm?" Frowning, Muriel blinked down at her food. "Your Highness, I understand your d.e.s.i.r.e for new clothes. You have a reputation to maintain. As for myself, I have all that I need."

"Don't be ridiculous, Muriel." The princess cut a bit of her omelet away from the main piece. "You can't be seen wearing the same thing more than once. Now, I've already paid for your collection from last year. You've been paid well. Certainly, you can afford to purchase your collection this time."

No, not really. Muriel tried to calm her rising temper with a few shorts breaths. "Your Highness has been generous to me, but I must refuse. I'll gladly help you choose your own purchases, but I believe it's wasteful to go off and buy what you don't need, or rather, it would be wasteful for someone of my status."

"Hmmmmm?" An unexpected playfulness came over the princess' voice. "I'm wondering, Muriel, did you say that because you've been giving your money away?"

Muriel almost choked on her fried bread. She coughed into a handkerchief.

Princess Arya didn't look angry anymore. She looked like she was about to laugh. "Did you assume your room would be overflowing with excess clothing? No, Muriel. We'd have removed and stored the finest materials, for example, lace or golden threads. Then the garments would be donated to the poor. As for you, I can't have my companion boring people to death with a repeating wardrobe. I'll purchase your clothing again this year, but I won't do so next year."

"I'll live well with your decision," Muriel said after taking a gulp of water. "But I hope you will too. I won't be spending any money on surplus clothing. Next year, I won't donate as much clothing as you will."

"Is that so?" Princess Arya sighed. "Something will have to be done about that."

Muriel didn't say anything else about that issue, and neither did the princess. They went on in peace.