"It seems Prince Magnus has chosen a new...favorite," Sophie commented, sitting at Jia's dresser and poking through the head maid's collection of lip tints.

Usually, Jia wouldn't let anyone touch her belongings, but she knew and trusted Sophie enough to make an exception. Sophie always did her job well and abided by Jia's rules, so Jia never had an issue with her in that respect. Jia had offered to promote her to a higher position on multiple occasions, but Sophie opted to remain in the background, doing jobs that didn't require her to be seen by most people.

"I noticed," Jia replied with a frown. "I just hope it doesn't end the same way as Cleo. But what are the odds of that?"

Magnus had had only two personal attendants since his mother died. The first was Annette, a kind older lady who cared for the young prince like he was her own son. Unfortunately, after a now infamous incident involving the king's cruelty against Magnus, Annette took it upon herself to try to sneak the prince out of the castle in an ill conceived plan to protect him. She and those who aided her were all caught and stoned to death for treason. Magnus spent the next ten years with the company of no one but his personal guard Sylvan. Everyone was afraid to get too close.

The second was Cleo, who worked in the castle for almost two years, but barely attended to the prince for more than a month. She was young and beautiful with a voice like an angel and a smile bright like the sun. She was too perfect to be true. Jia learned not to make that mistake again.

Sophie shrugged, selecting a color she fancied and attempting to apply it to her broken lips. "It's hard to tell. Mina doesn't seem to particularly like him, yet always seems to find excuses to talk to him."

"He did stick his neck out for her," Jia reasoned.

"I guess," Sophie murmured. Deciding that she didn't like the color now staining her lips, she scrubbed it off with a handkerchief. "But that doesn't explain his interest."

"I'm more worried about her than I am about him. You know it's not in his nature to try anything."

"But is it in hers? Do you think she'd try anything?"

Jia was quiet for a moment, thinking back to all the times she had interacted with her newest hire. "Hard to say. She seems to have a knack for getting herself into trouble, but I highly doubt that's on purpose."

"Unless she actually does it for attention," Sophie murmured.

Jia frowned. "Oh, Sophie, I doubt that. Considering everything that has happened..."

"No, you're right," Sophie replied, discarding the handkerchief and continuing to poke through the drawers of Jia's vanity. "I wouldn't wish that upon anyone. Well, except maybe..."

"Sophie."

"What? Some people deserve every bad thing coming for them."

"I don't believe that."

Sophie snapped a small held mirror shut. "So you think His Royal Majesty King Malchus Domitian Cyrus Dufort deserves anything good?"

"Hush," Jia warned. "And be careful. It's not good to wish ill upon anyone."

"Even the most wicked?"

"Even them," Jia asserted. "They'll get their punishment, whether in this life or the next."

Sophie just shook her head. "If that's true, it's certainly not fair for the rest of us." She paused, coming across a black scarf tucked into the corner of one of the drawers. "Hey, I remember when I used to wear this," Sophie commented, turning what she had used as a makeshift mask over in her hands.

Jia's gaze softened. "You've come a long way, dear."

Sophie sighed, letting her eyes fall shut. "I told Mina about it."

Jia frowned a little. "Did she ask?"

"No, but I just felt like telling her."

"And?"

"It wasn't as tough to recount as usual. I could distance myself from it to a degree."

"That's good."

"Yeah, but not fully." Unable to help herself, Sophie held the cloth up to her face, hiding her mouth and nose from view so that only her blue eyes were showing. As she stared at her reflection in the mirror, her hands clenched the cloth tightly.

Jia touched her shoulder. "Sophie?"

Tears welled up in Sophie's eyes, and she tore her eyes away from her reflection.

"I still think he's right," she whispered, furiously trying to scrub the tears off her face. "He's really ruined me for everyone. I try to tell myself that he's wrong and that he can't hurt me anymore, but he still does."

Gently, Jia took the cloth out of Sophie's hands and used it to wipe her tears. "Hey, hey, shhh I know it's hard. But you can't let him do that to you. It's just words. Words said in anger to scare and hurt you."

"Jia, let's face it," Sophie sighed, still sniffling. "It's still true. I'm not pretty. Maybe I was at some point or maybe I could have been, but nothing will be able to erase this mark off my face. And no one can look past it."

"The right people will. They'll love you regardless of superficial things like appearances."

"But more would if I didn't look like this."

"Not necessarily," Jia sighed. "Sophie, dear, there's no use thinking about what could have been. All you can do is make the best of what you have now."

Sophie's eyebrows knitted together and more tears escaped her eyes. "I can't help it. If I wasn't so stupid—"

"Sophie," Jia cut in, her voice stronger this time. "It's in the past. Yes, it can hurt and yes, you can grieve for as long as you need to, but you cannot spend the rest of your life fixated on what has already been done."

"So, what?" Sophie asked, her voice soft. "Just keep waiting for something that might never happen?"

"That's the problem. You shouldn't base your worth on whether or not someone else loves you, especially in that way. Romantic love, relationships, marriage...it's not meant for everyone. Just look at me."

"Yes, I know but I still want it. So, so bad. I want someone to love me in that way, the way he never could."

Jia sighed. "I know, dear. I know. It's normal to want it. But you need to find other things to live for. Find something else that gives you purpose."

"Like what?"

Jia tucked Sophie's hair behind her ear. "Well, for me, it's caring for all of you. You're like the daughters I've always wanted but never had, and I wouldn't give this up for anything."

Sophie smiled a little through her tears. "Oh, Jia."

"Take heart. You're still so young and you have so many wonderful years ahead of you. You'll find that spark."

Sophie nodded. "I hope so."

Jia smiled and kissed Sophie's forehead. "I love you, dear. Never forget that."

~*~*~*~

Micah reached up to wipe the sweat off of his forehead as he groomed the horses. Onix, a beautiful black mare and one of Micah's favorites, was especially jittery today, shuddering every time he ran the brush along her coat.

"Easy, girl," he murmured, trying his best to be gentle. "What's got you in a fuss today, hm?"

Onix whinnied in response, and Micah liked to take opportunities like these to imagine the animal responding to him. Oh, the knights are just being rowdy again. Can't get much rest with all that awful noise.

"Yeah, I don't blame you," Micah responded with a chuckle. "Knights aren't exactly expected to be soft spoken. But I promise you, when I become one, I'll make sure you get your beauty sleep."

Onix nudged him with her nose and he nudged her back playfully. Their singing isn't even good. All rough and off-key.

Micah smiled. He often liked to sing softly while he worked which the horses thankfully didn't seem to mind. Sometimes the knights and other stablehands made fun of him for it, but he didn't care enough for that to get him to stop. He was used to the ridicule from his older brothers, so he already knew how to roll with the punches.

I'll pull back my hood and I'll face my fear,

And find the comfort I need is with me right here.

So no matter what happens, through sadness and pain,

I'll take it in my stride, and I'll dance in the rain.

Onix seemed to relax slightly at the sound of the familiar tune but perked up again at the noise arising from the knights and guards nearby. Peeking around the horse, Micah noticed a grey clad maid struggling to carry some buckets of water. She has spilled some on herself, but none of the onlookers made any attempt to help her. Instead, they continued to talk and laugh amongst themselves, some even making taunting and unsavory comments in the girl's direction. Micah shook his head.

"I'll be back," he muttered to Onix before tossing the brush aside and wiping his hands on a rag.

The girl glanced over when she heard him approaching, his old boots squelching in the mud.

"Here, let me help you with that," he said, taking the handles of the buckets and hoisting them off the ground. "Where to?"

Now that he was up close next to her, he found himself struck by her beauty. Her long brown hair looked so soft and almost appeared to have streaks of gold in the light. She had full, unbroken lips, unblemished skin, and her rosy cheeks were dotted with freckles. Her almond shaped eyes were the perfect mix of green and brown, and they were lined with long, luscious lashes.

"Well, aren't you a dear," she said with a smile. "I need it just over there where we're washing clothes. I've had to make so many trips back and forth already that I seem to have grown rather weary."

It took a moment for Micah to gather his thoughts. "Glad I could help, miss. I-I'm...my name's Micah."

"I'm Ivy. Pleased to meet you, Micah."

Micah wished he had a free hand in order to straighten out his appearance, or at least push the messy hair out of his eyes. "Oh, um, please excuse the smell. I try to keep the stables clean, but you know how it is."

She laughed, a sound that was almost as fair as she. "Oh, no worries at all. You're just doing your job."

Micah couldn't help but stand up a little straighter. "Forgive me for being so straightforward, but I think you're beautiful Miss Ivy. One of the fairest maidens I've ever seen."

Ivy laughed again, making Micah feel more at ease and confident with himself. "Why, that's awfully sweet of you! Where have you been all this time, hm? You seem to be quite a fine young man."

"Oh, I spend most of my time working out here with the horses. I've become good friends with them, but I don't really get to talk much with anyone else."

"That's a shame." They stopped once they reached another maid who was busy scrubbing dirty clothes in a basin. "If you want, I could come visit you. Maybe at night when I'm done with my work."

Micah felt himself blush a little. "I-I'd like that very much, miss. If it's not too much trouble, of course."

The other maid scoffed loudly, but Ivy waved her off. "It's no trouble at all. I'd love to."

Micah grinned like an idiot. "Okay! Well...have a good rest of your day Miss Ivy. I'll see you soon."

Ivy returned the smile. "You too, sweet Micah. I'll look forward to it."

Micah left in a dazed stupor. The smile didn't leave his face even as he continued grooming the horses. Onix gave him a look, but Micah just patted her on the head.

"Do you think love at first sight exists?"

Onix neighed. You're unbelievable.

"Well, I didn't until now."