Page 17 of Unbetrothed

The starlit sky domed over us. We used our trunk as a bench. I massaged my temples. Why did I let them take all our clothes and money? On the positive side, they left us the food, waterskins, and dishes.

“Princess? Do we sleep on the grass or take turns sleeping on the trunk?” Laude’s voice trembled.

“I don’t know.” I scratched at my forearm, and moonlight caught the metallic color stretching further along the spiral designs. I unfolded my rolled-up sleeves.

“If you don’t mind, Princess, you can sleep on the picnic blanket, and I’ll sleep on this old thing.” She bounced off the trunk and lifted a glowing finger to see the latch. “The grass is fairly springy, and Princess Beatriz of Giddel—”

I shot to my feet. “Laude, please don’t use my name.”

“Why is that?” She flipped the trunk open.

“Call me by any other name but my own.” Shadows shifted in an oscillating motion, reminding me of a snake, so I slid closer to Laude. She grappled with whatever she had packed in the trunk, sending clinks and clanks ringing through the air.

“Like a secret name?” She squeaked as she rose with the blanket in hand. The cringe-inducing noise she made was, most likely, accompanied by an exuberant expression. At least her face remained in shadow.

“Yes, a name that does not include princess or Beatriz.”

“Won’t people notice your clothes?”

My sleeves felt petal soft against my fingertips. Then I reached for Laude’s dress skirt. Hers scratched against my skin. “My outfit could pass for one worn by a townsperson, so long as no one touches it.”

“Your Highness, I’m not too sure about that.” She whipped the blanket, spreading it over the grass.

I rolled my eyes. “We don’t have a choice. And call me something like Serilda or Vera or Aldanca or anything but my real name and title.” I sat on the blanket, holding my knees tight to my body while Laude rummaged through the trunk.

Between Laude shuffling items, cricket chirps filled my ears, and the hoot of an owl sounded nearby. Just as I began to enjoy nature’s waltz, Laude whispered, “Did you hear that?”

My pulse quickened. I tilted my head, straining for a growl of danger.

Nothing out of the ordinary. Frogs singing. An occasional rustle of leaves.

“Sorry, it must have been my imagination, Your Highness.” She clapped the lid shut.

“Laude!”

“Sorry, Prin—” She stiffened. Her voice rose an octave. “I mean MissCicadas?”

The strange name hung on the night air. “Have you ever heard of anyone who goes by that name?” I turned toward Laude. Even in the dim lighting, I could see her hesitant grin.

“It’s the first word that came to mind.”

“Call me ehh … Cypress.”

“Cypress?” Laude cleared her throat. “Miss Cypress.”

“Just Cypress.”

“I can’t do that. It feels too strange.” She settled on the trunk. “You know that Cypress is a plant? Isn’t that kind of the same thing as an insect?”

I shook my head. I breathed in the cool night air and rested on my back. Pressing my eyelids shut, I pictured Lux next to me. How I wished I could be traveling with him. Really, anyone would have been a better companion than Laude. Even Duke Marden would have sufficed. Mamá said that I needed to be more kind to Laude.Mamá must be blind when it comes to her.

“Miss Cypress does have a nice ring to it.”

Her words softened my frustration. Laude lay atop the hard trunk and brought her knees high to her chest to fit on top of it.

I turned toward the empty space beside me, guilt gnawing my insides. “You may sleep next to me.”

“Excellent idea, Miss Cypress.” She bounced over and nestled on the blanket.

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