Chapter 73

Valerie

The garden was everything I’d read about in the books.

I’d only ever seen it in photos taken from above, and once I was actually inside of it, it felt like I’d stepped into an entirely different world.

It was large—a labyrinth of wild, beautiful flowers the likes of which I’d never seen before. Lush, colorful things that bloomed larger than the size of my head.

I walked with the princess as she led me to the lake. She seemed keen on disguising herself when outside of the palace—though it was not difficult to tell who you were looking at when you took in her appearance.

She was petite and slender, her cheeks rosy and her lips full. She fit all the boxes a princess would require. However, she hid herself in a thick coat, her face half-veiled by lace.

I wondered who she might be hiding from. Or if she simply didn’t want to be seen at all

It was a silent and awkward walk through the roses and to the lake, where Alyssa led me to a bench and gestured for me to sit.

We stared