Page 36 of Quest for her Knights
“As for interacting with them, try to keep your hands to yourself. You can converse, of course, to get to know them. You should be less casual with any of the staff, though, including us.”
“What do you mean?”
“You thanked Edger several times; you don’t need to do that. Keep your interactions with him and us, to a minimum. At least in front of the lords.” She looks at me a moment as if she’s trying to understand my words, then she slowly nods her head.
We spend the next hour telling her what we can about how to act. Everything from what cutlery to use, to topics of conversation. When Draven and Arrow return, Blaze braids her hair and we head downstairs for the musical demonstration.
“Princess Elora, you look well refreshed,” Donald greets as we enter the large sitting room.
“Thank you, you have a wonderful home.”
“Please take a seat wherever you like, we were just tuning our instruments, if you’re still interested in a demonstration?” Archie asks. She smiles and nods as she takes a seat in the single armchair so none of them can sit beside her. I don’t know if she did it on purpose, but it makes me smile. She sits with her back ramrod straight and her legs crossed at the ankles, her hands clasped together in her lap.
Her appearance makes me frown. It’s exactly how I had told her to sit, so why does that make me unsettled?
Because it’s not her.
This isn’t how our Elora sits, or acts. It’s as if she’s playing a part, which I suppose she is, the part of an interested Princess. I frown as they start to play an upbeat tune for her. I expected them to play something a little more romantic.
After a couple songs, I notice her starting to fidget. Sitting like that is probably uncomfortable for so long. We expected them to play one song then talk to her, not a full concert while she sits there uncomfortably.
As soon as the song ends, I speak up. “Perhaps the Princess would like to stretch her legs? I’m sure she would enjoy a tour of the garden.”
“Yes, of course, we would be delighted to escort her,” Archie says, smiling at her as they all put down their instruments. Elora offers me a thankful smile. I dip my head in response and soon the group of us are heading out the attached doors to the garden.
Byron walks beside her, the other three trailing behind, with the four of us at the back. I don’t like having so many people between us, but there’s nothing technically wrong with this arrangement, so I bite my tongue.
Byron motions to a few of the plants we pass, telling her what they are and their origin.
After a while, Archie speaks up. “We have some business to attend to before dinner. You are welcome to continue strolling the gardens. We will see you at dinner, Your Highness,” he says with a bow.
“Oh, of course, thank you for the informative tour,” she says with a smile. We stay with her as the four men say their goodbyes and leave. “Was it me, or was that a rather abrupt departure?” she asks in confusion.
“That did seem a little weird,” Arrow says, narrowing his eyes in the direction the men left.
“Did I do something wrong?” she asks as her concerned eyes lift to mine.
It takes everything in me not to reach out and stroke her cheek. “No, Princess, you were perfect.” A small blush touches her cheek as she smiles and averts her eyes. “Would you like to keep exploring the grounds?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Not really, can we go relax in our room?” I try not to smile at the way she calls inours, even though we have been given our own accommodations down the hall.
“Of course.” I motion back the way we came.
After a few minutes of walking in silence, she suddenly exclaims, “Oh!” She squats down and starts touching the plant in the garden beside her. “Blaze, is this that herb you used to make me tea a few days ago? Umm… what was it called again?”
He smiles, crouching down beside her and running a finger over a leaf. “Yes, this is dragon's breath. Good eye, Princess.”
“You don’t want to take any?” she asks, making him laugh.
“I don’t think it’s wise to pick plants from their garden. Though, they probably have a variety of tea available in the kitchen. We could go and see what they have, if you’d like?”
“Okay,” she says happily, then they stand and we continue towards the castle. When we get inside, it takes a few tries to find the hallway that leads to the kitchen. The two staff members seem surprised and nervous to see us there.
“Oh, is there something you need, Your Highness?” the older man asks nervously, his eyes darting to the back door as he wrings his hands.
“I was hoping for a cup of tea, for the five of us.”
“Of course. I’ll bring it up to your room shortly.”
