We had been eating the evening meal in Dominic’s room while he was still recuperating, but that night we were back in the dining hall. The prince made no mention of our interaction in the garden, talking calmly throughout the meal about our latest book. But I noticed his eyes seemed to hold additional warmth whenever they rested on me.

When he escorted me to the door, I dreaded what I knew would come next. When he asked if I would agree to marry him in the morning, his eyes glowed as they bore into mine. I grimaced.

“I don’t know why you insist on asking a question to which you already know the answer. When you break the curse, we will set a wedding date.”

I expected anger, the curse was a topic we always carefully avoided, but not the flash of pain that crossed his face, as if I had slapped him when he expected a kiss. His face settled into lines of cold anger, and it was the first time I realized how much his usual expression had changed since my arrival. This was like the Beast I had seen then.

I sighed and left the room. There was no point talking to him in such a mood, and I preferred to leave without a fight.

The next morning, he wasn’t in the entryway at our usual meeting time. I waited several minutes and then hurried to his room, afraid he had suffered some sort of relapse. But his chambers were empty.

For a moment, I glanced longingly at the curtain that covered the mirror, but I resolutely turned away. I was determined not to make the same mistakes twice. I returned instead to my room, hoping that I would find Tara still there tidying and could send her out on a reconnaissance mission. I was certain she could find information in much less than half the time it would take me.

But when I reached the room no one answered my calls. Even Gordon had apparently disappeared from his usual post outside my door. I frowned and crossed over to my window, wondering what I should do next. Had Dominic said something about not walking today that I had forgotten? Or was this because of our interactions the day before?

As I gazed outside, not really taking in what I was seeing, I noticed a flash of movement. Looking more closely, I saw a familiar figure riding along the front of the castle on Spitfire. I should have guessed he would go riding, now that the doctor had finally cleared him to do so. But why had he not invited me to join him?

I watched him until he disappeared around the corner of the building. Why did I feel hurt? When had I started desiring Dominic’s company? I stopped, catching myself on his name. When, in fact, had I stopped calling him the Beast in my mind?

After wandering listlessly around my chamber for nearly an hour, I gave myself a good shake. This castle still held many unanswered questions, and I wasn’t going to find any answers here. If the Beast had found other activities to fill his day, I could certainly do the same.

I headed straight for the kitchen, hoping to find Gordon and possibly to requisition a sticky bun. The servants knew by now that I liked them to announce themselves in my presence, so I was greeted with a round of cheery good mornings when I entered.

Princess Sophie, I’m sorry, were you looking for me? Lottie sounded contrite.

We wouldn’t have both come down here except that we thought you meant to spend the morning in the gardens, chimed in Tara.

It was quite thoughtless of us, said Lottie. It won’t happen again.

“Oh no, you’re both fine,” I replied. “There’s no point you sitting around all day in my chamber doing nothing when I’m otherwise occupied. I was actually looking for Gordon. Is he around here somewhere?”

That scamp! Gilda sounded flustered. I hope he hasn’t taken to hiding from you now, Your Highness. I’ll be sure to give him a piece of my mind when I see him next.

“Oh goodness, please don’t do so on my account,” I smiled in her direction. “I dare say I gave him the morning off and then forgot all about it. He has been extremely diligent, I assure you.”

Oh. Well then. In that case, I’m glad to hear it. He’s a well-meaning lad, with a good heart, but he can be mighty thoughtless at times.

He’s probably out regaling the stable boys yet again with the story of your fight with the wolves. I could almost hear Tara’s eye roll. He’s been getting excellent credit off that one.

Gilda sighed. Those boys! They’re nothing but a bad influence. But I can hardly keep him away, not when they’re the only lads his own age.

“No, indeed,” I agreed. “It seems quite wrong to keep a child of his age locked up in a kitchen.”

It was a fortunate day for us all when you arrived Princess Sophie, said Gilda, apparently overcome by my sentiment. A fortunate day, indeed.

“Well thank you.” I laughed. “But you all seem to have been managing tolerably well without me, so I dare say you would have continued to do so.”

Aye, for now, said a voice I vaguely recognized. But time’s running out, isn’t it?

You hold your tongue, Connor! snapped Gilda, allowing me to place the voice—the surly footman who we all agreed would not do for Lottie.

Tara quickly jumped in. We can help you, Princess Sophie. With whatever you wanted Gordon for.

Oh yes, of course! said Lottie.

I agreed, figuring I would have a better chance of getting an explanation for Connor’s strange comment if I interrogated them alone rather than in a kitchen full of servants. As we all made our way out of the room, I stole a sticky bun from a nearby tray, calling out a thank you to the general hubbub since the staff seemed to have taken my exit as a cue to resume their usual chaos.

I munched as I walked along, following Tara and Lottie’s voices as they debated which part of the castle to show me next. They eventually decided on the theater, and we started off down one of the wings. I licked the last of the sweet icing off my fingers, as I tried to come up with a strategy. No brilliant ideas presented themselves.

“What did Connor mean? About running out of time?” I asked eventually, hoping to surprise them into an answer.

But from their silence, I guessed they had been expecting it.

What does Connor ever mean? said Tara after a long pause. He’s always looking for a reason to be sour.

Her attempt at prevarication was so blatant that I could see there was no point in pursuing the matter directly. “What were you both doing in the kitchens?” I asked instead. “I didn’t know you spent much time there, Lottie.”

Tara giggled. She didn’t used to. But then I let her know that Samuel always spends his mornings there if he isn’t on duty. I dragged her along with me because I have this brilliant plan to—

Embarrass me. Lottie sounded glum. You know that’s all that’s going to happen, right?

Don’t be so pessimistic! You’re nice and you’re pretty, too. I’m sure Samuel would like you if you gave him the chance.

“And if he doesn’t, he’ll have to answer to me.”

I peered around in confusion. “Is this the right way?”

Oh, no, sorry we were supposed to take that corridor back there. Tara’s voice was moving away, so I followed it.

“You know I should make you both carry a candle or something, so I know where I’m going,” I said.

That’s a good idea! said Lottie. Two candles detached themselves from the nearest sconce and floated to a spot just ahead of me. One of them dropped slightly and then moved away from the other.

We started off again, and I watched the bobbing candles in fascination. “This really is one of the strangest things I’ve ever done.”

Only one of? Tara sounded amused. If this castle isn’t the strangest thing you’ve ever encountered, your Arcadia must be a very odd place indeed!

“You’re forgetting that competing in the Princess Tourney was what got me here in the first place. And I don’t know if anything could top some of the things that happened there.”

What was it like?

It must have been terrifying!

I shrugged. “I had my sister with me which helped. As for what it was like…” I looked down. “We’re forbidden to talk about it.”

We know what that feels like. Lottie’s quiet words sounded sad.

I bit my lip. It wasn’t really fair of me to be trying to coax the servants into talking about something that might get them into trouble. But I was helpless, lost in the dark without information, and I didn’t know how else to get it.

I cast around for something I could say to brighten the mood. “You know, something has just occurred to me. When you carry candles, or bowls or blankets, I can see them, floating through the air. Why can’t I see your clothes?” My eyes grew wide. “Please, please tell me you’re not all naked in this other realm?”

What?

No!

Tara dissolved into giggles. Oh, can you imagine! She drew a deep breath and then went off into another round of laughter.

Definitely not, said Lottie in a more dignified tone. Our personal possessions, like our animals, came with us. Only the communal items belonging to the castle remain with you, able to be touched by either of us.

“It was a rather ingenious solution,” I murmured quietly to myself.

Solution, Your Highness?

“Never mind. Are we nearly at the theater?”

Yes, it’s just here. Both candles stopped outside a nearby door, and then the door itself swung open. Stepping inside, I saw a reasonably sized room with several rows of tiered seats. A small platform at the front of the room was framed by red velvet curtains, and gilt statues lined the edge of the room.

“Goodness!” I blinked several times.

It is a little gaudy, isn’t it? said Tara.

It’s certainly not much fun to dust.

“What use is there for such a room in a castle that hosts so few guests?”

Oh, that’s just Prince Dominic. Apparently, some crown princes in the past used to like to bring large groups of nobles down here with them. They would have readings and recitations, and even small plays on occasion.

I certainly could not imagine Dominic sitting in one of the spindly chairs. It would probably collapse beneath him. I walked down the series of broad, shallow steps and stood on the platform facing the chairs. I tried to imagine them full of brightly dressed nobles and had to blink again. If the room was overwhelming now…

Still. “It seems a pity for the room to sit unused.”

Oh, it isn’t unused, said Lottie. The servants use it all the time. Some of the maids can recite beautifully, and the pastry chef can sing the most incredible opera. Even the stable boys sometimes put together humorous routines. I must have looked shocked because she hurried to reassure me. Only on our half days off, of course. Usually we all have different days off, spread across the week. But once a month we have an extra half day all together. The kitchen leaves out a cold meal for the prince, and they clean up the scraps the next morning. I suppose you would have missed it since the last one happened while the prince was ill. Naturally the medical staff would not have considered taking time off in such a situation.

“How considerate of Prince Dominic.”

Oh yes, agreed Tara. Several of the maids started out working in the capital, and they said they never got an extra day like that there. But it’s been the way here for several years.

“But he always seems so…well…”

Terrifying, you mean? asked Lottie.

I nodded, but my mind flew back to the time when Dominic had been ill in bed. I had wondered then if despite his brusque behavior to them, the servants had a reason to be grateful to him.

His ill-humor was bad enough before…well, you know, before, said Tara. I’m sure I couldn’t speak to him without my knees knocking together. But he always makes a point to set up systems for his staff that are more than fair.

Lottie murmured her agreement. As long as you stay out of notice, you don’t get roared at, and then he’s an excellent master.

“What was he like before?” I asked, following Tara’s lead in not mentioning the curse. “I can’t imagine it.”

Well…Usually Lottie was the cautious one, so Tara’s hesitation made me dread what was coming next. He was a little less angry, I suppose.

I stared in their vague direction. “That’s it? A little less angry? His parents die, his kingdom is cursed, and he’s transformed into a beast, and he only becomes a little angrier? What in the kingdoms was he like before?”

Tara giggled. When you put it like that…

It’s true that he was angry and proud and rude before the curse, said Lottie, surprising me with her honest speaking. But he wasn’t nearly so bad. My family has worked at this castle for generations, and they told me about the good years here after King Nicolas was crowned. After he became king, Queen Ruby used to come down here alone, except for the children, for long visits to work on her rose garden.

None of us servant children were allowed to play with them, but they used to have a merry enough time together apparently. The prince never minded playing with his sister, even though she was four years younger. My older brother said he sometimes used to spy on them, and the prince always let his sister win when they played games together.

Only they stopped coming after a few years. And then His Highness grew old enough to come alone. As the years passed, he came more and more frequently, and he seemed more and more ill-tempered. She hesitated. I know it is none of my business, but I’ve always felt as if he came here to escape the capital. And whatever it was he wished to escape, it was having a bad influence on him. I’m glad I have never had to live in the capital.

The portrait of Dominic’s father loomed in my mind. I would have attempted to escape such a man, too. I only wished I knew what had happened to Princess Adelaide. I could no longer imagine Dominic would have done anything to harm her.

I wandered over to one of the chairs and sat. The last time I had spoken to my sister, Lily had called Dominic a monster. And I had even agreed with her—mostly. In the weeks since then I had started to question that assumption. But then something would happen to cause him to revert back to his beastly self—like he had the night before.

Each time it happened, I was forcefully reminded of the trials and terrors of the Princess Tourney, a competition shaped by his twisted nature. And of the way he had ordered me here alone, without the least consideration, and proceeded to treat me contemptuously.

And yet then I heard stories like this from the servants, which confirmed the picture of him I had started to build in my mind. A picture of a man who was more prince than monster. But was I fooling myself? What was the truth?

I wished desperately that I had some way to discern his true nature. I would have called my godmother and begged her to tell me, but she had yet to respond to either Lily or me in these lands. Apparently, the brief but earth-shattering appearance of the godmothers in Palinar had not opened a door to their return.

I had come to the conclusion that our godmother had already gifted us in preparation for these adventures, knowing she would not be able to reach us here. But, then, perhaps Lily had been more successful in Marin since I had left. After all, they had defeated the darkness there already, and done so with the assistance of a godmother.

If I could only discover why Dominic had been made into a beast. What evil had he committed to deserve such a fate?

Would you like to continue the tour? Tara’s question interrupted my musings, and I agreed to move on, knowing the answers I needed didn’t lie in my own head.

“What happens to you all when the prince travels to the capital?” I asked them as we made our way through a series of unused guest chambers. “Do most of you travel with him?”

Back to the capital? Tara sounded confused. The prince never travels back to the capital.

“Surely he does not stay here all year round? He must make at least short trips back now that he is the only remaining royal.”

But he cannot.

Tara! Lottie whispered, warningly.

I stopped. “What do you mean he cannot?” Both girls remained silent. “Tell me!”

Lottie sighed. Prince Dominic cannot leave the castle grounds, or he will die. It is part of the enchantment, and why he nearly died after he went out after you.

I leaned against a nearby wall, my head spinning. So that was why his injuries had resulted in such a severe illness, and why it had progressed so strangely. He had not merely responded to the attacking wolves in the heat of the moment. He had left his sanctuary alone to come find me, knowing there was a good chance he would die.