I Love You, My Cursed Prince

The Capital Season was here again, and even though Muriel missed the castle already, she was happy to witness all the excitement. She was even a little bit jealous when she saw a woman walking a small dog in a park.

In the townhouse, Muriel and her mistress took a short rest and ate a light breakfast. Then they went to a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e garden so they could enjoy a small concert, and then a light walk through a world of nearly perfect flowers. Then, they had to go to some other woman's townhouse for a small lunch party.

The host was a duchess of some kind. Muriel thought that she might have been related to the royal family. She was an old woman with a gray hairstyle that likely had someone else's locks weaved into it. When Muriel was first introduced to the duchess, she curtsied slowly and deeply, and she tried to be polite. Then she heard the duchess say to Princess Arya, "I've seen this girl before. Last year, at Count Freyl's ball in the Raver's Hall."

"Oh," the princess said, "I didn't realize you were there. If I did, I would have greeted you. You must forgive me."

"There's no need," insisted the duchess.

A few days later, Muriel was at a ball with Princess Arya when they happened to see that duchess again. "Oh, you have that girl with you," the duchess said.

"Yes, Your Grace," said the princess. "She's my loyal companion. She's often with me."

"That's right, I suppose, but I'm wondering about something. This gown she's wearing, she had it on at the Raver's Hall, didn't she?"

Princess Arya smiled and told her, "Muriel's a frugal girl. She refused to purchase a spring wardrobe this year. She declared the concept to be frivolous. Recently, a young man tried to gain her favor by offering her enough money to purchase four times what I'd spend on my own wardrobe. What did this girl do?" The princess made a fluttering gesture towards Muriel as she laughed. "She asked what he would give her during their next conversation, his entire estate? Then she told him she'd never accept such an embarrassing gift."

The two older women shared delicate laughter and then they parted ways.

Muriel wondered why the princess had told the duchess such a story. It seemed to be obviously based on the issue with Prince Vidar, but with some notably different details. What was the princess' goal?

On the carriage ride leading them back to the townhouse, Muriel asked the princess about it.

"I was only making conversation, Muriel. Aside from that, it's good for you if I say those kind of things to everyone. Potential husbands love to know about a beautiful woman who won't spend money as if there are no limits."

"Hmmm, I suppose that's logical," Muriel said with a frown.

Some more days later, Muriel saw her family in a park. The princess let her have a few moments to chat with them. She was pleased to see that her father's face was pinker and fuller than before. It warmed her heart.

"Little Ferret," Glen Devin said as he patted her hair and stroked her hands, "we have fine news. Sarana's betrothed! Isn't that lovely? The good man's a count from the north."

Muriel went to Sarana and lightly took her hands. "That's fantastic! My sisters will both be nobles. We couldn't ask for a better outcome."

Sarana put on a doll-like smile that Muriel knew was false and true all at once. True, because she was happy. False, because there wasn't anything friendly there. "This was to be expected, wasn't it? Evelyn and I listened to Mama's teachings, didn't we?"

Feeling something snooty directed at her, Muriel put her hands to her lower belly and smirked at her older sister. "Now now, is my sister implying that I'm unwilling to listen to others? I listen very well, and that's how I know whether to follow advice or ignore it."

Turning away from the mildly disagreeable expression that grew on Sarana's face, Muriel said that she needed to return to her mistress. After all, money is linked to time, and the less time she spent with the princess, the less money Muriel would have.