Freya managed to speak to Marissa and Justine the night before. They'd sensed a sadness, but she assured them it was exhaustion. Things at the office and the studio seemed to be running smoothly. She only had the conference she needed to call in for and could take the rest of the time truly off without checking emails, reviewing budgets, or worrying about the temp agency as she'd defined the needs for the position she'd be filling, along with the contract.

As hard as she'd tried to shake off the look Magnus had given her when she'd fetched his parents, she couldn't. It hurt. The disdain and disgust. It wasn't at all what she was going for. It wasn't her place. What was I thinking! She anxiously rubbed her forehead.

A tap at the door indicated that her breakfast had arrived. Which meant Estella would shortly follow, and she'd have to get her day started, when all she wanted to do was stay in bed, alone, without a soul in the world bothering her.

"Come in," she said as she carefully tucked the fluffy down comforter around her waist. The curtains to the bed were still down. The chambermaid typically pulled one side up as soon as she placed the tray of food on the table, but Freya didn't notice the gentle tugging.

She got out of bed, not even bothering with her robe, only to find Magnus standing beside the fireplace.

Freya gasped, feeling his eyes carefully passing over every inch of her body. Her silk teddy didn’t leave anything to the imagination, so she immediately hid behind the curtain, reaching for her robe, unsure of what to say. Nervous as heck.

"I came here to apologize. I'm sorry for reacting poorly when all you were trying to do was help. I don't know what got into me. I suppose it was just a jerk reaction. Literally." He smiled. "And I'm sorry, not sorry I caught you off guard like this."

Freya tightened the robe at her waist and resurfaced.

"Look, I get it. That was kind of a lot to deal with last night. And you are correct; I was only trying to help." She was glad she'd already found her way to the bathroom earlier and brushed her teeth; how embarrassing if she still had morning breath. She walked up to him. "I accept your apology. But don't let that happen again, please. It was kind of hurtful."

Magnus reached down and gently pressed his lips against hers as she willingly welcomed this.

"Thank you for understanding. I've got a lot to learn. Just don't give up on me. Please?" he said as he continued kissing her, causing every fiber in Freya to be on the fritz.

Another tap on the door was an indication they were no longer alone.

The chambermaid made her way to the table, not noticing Magnus and Freya standing by the fireplace. She placed the tray down and scurried toward the bed to pull the curtain back. "Good morning, Miss Sinclair...oh!" She started when she didn't find Freya in bed, immediately turning and seeing her and the Prince quietly observing her.

"Your Royal Highness, Miss Sinclair, I apologize. I didn't know. I'll be back a little later." She quickly curtsied and left the room before giving Freya a chance to thank her.

"You know, this looks bad on many levels. You in my room." Freya smiled.

"Oh, you have the best staff. They won't be talking. Most of the staff is great and know how to keep things to themselves. The few who I worry about I just do my best to avoid."

"Well, Estella will be in here soon, and I need to get ready. So, if His Highness doesn't mind? Unless he'd like to join me for breakfast?" She teased.

Magnus kissed her once more. "I'll give you your privacy. The King has me handling a few things before you and I depart for Spain. I'll catch up with you later. Just don't miss me too much."

"What? I already miss you a ton!" Freya joked as she walked him to the door. "Get out of here and get to work. No one wants a slacker as their future King."

Magnus turned back before he walked out and said, "You know Freya, you are amazing." He squeezed her arm before he left.

Freya clung to the door handle, just a little longer after she closed it, thinking about Magnus' lips on hers. She was thoroughly enjoying the memory of the moment when another tap ensued.

Wow, she thought, I've got a popular room today.

She carefully opened the door, believing it to be Estella, but to her surprise, it was Princess Cossette.

"Your Royal Highness. I'm sorry, I didn't know you were coming to pay me a visit. If you don't mind I'm still in my pajamas, then please, come in." Freya blushed as she curtsied.

Cossette smiled, walking in and closing the door behind her.

She walked toward the breakfast tray and made herself comfortably at home.

"Don’t waste formalities on me. Do you mind if I share? I'm always hungry." She laughed.

"Please, by all means. I can't possibly finish it all myself anyway." Freya moved about. "Your Highness, to what do I owe this visit?"

Cossette was nibbling on a scone as Freya waited for her to finish her bite.

"I wanted to personally thank you for your support last night. I know this all may be super awkward for you, and trust me, far from what anyone expects in a Royal family, but what can I say? We are people. Regular human beings like everyone else. With happiness, weakness, strife… Some of us with lots more issues than the others." Cossette looked past Freya out the window.

"I don't know what got into me. I think I needed to feel loved. I ran into Santiago when I was visiting friends in France. We hit it off and the next thing I know he was proposing to me. Caught up in the moment and swept off my feet, I idiotically said yes. He was headed to Geneva, and I went with him. We eloped.

"Santiago decided on the way there that it was best if we didn't immediately say anything. That should've been my first clue. But he was very persuasive and made good points. It was his idea to set up my brother. Of course, I'm the one who followed through with it, so it's not like he was twisting my arm. It was like someone finally understood where I was coming from with Magnus. All that I could allow myself to eat, sleep, and breath was pushing my brother to abdicate.

"We saw each other a few times. I thought we'd been careful, but I suppose I didn't really care at some point. I was happy. I really thought I'd found my other half." Cossette stared at the scone, seemingly no longer hungry.

Freya was thankful Cossette felt comfortable sharing, but she was sad for her. Such tremendous heartbreak and so publicly. None of it could be easy.

"Princess, I meant everything I said to you last night," Freya affirmed.

"I know. That's why I'm here, to say thank you. My parents really like you." She smiled. "This business of being Royal isn't for the faint of heart. But I'm cheering you on."

Freya smiled at the Princess. It was kind of her, but she wasn't letting her guard down just yet. Cossette was right, anything that happened in the Royal family mostly took shape on a public stage where every step was scrutinized. It reminded Freya that she, too, would be in the mix. Tread carefully, she told herself.