AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I-I have class.”
He chuckled. “We’re skipping.”
I laughed. “The queen—”
“Has given us the day off tomorrow, and I was so excited that I stole these roses from her garden. Here, Eliza, so you don’t feeling jealous.” He tossed a yellow one at her, and it was only when a few chuckles arose beside me that I remembered we were still around other people. He gently handed the other yellow one to Sophia. Leaving him with just the single red rose. “So, Odette, will you spend your day off with me?”
“If you insist.” I grinned.
Leaning over, he kissed the side of my cheek. “I insist.”
“It’s a date.”
“Good. I look forward to it,” Gale whispered, giving me my rose and taking a step back from me. He glanced around the room. “Forgive me for the intrusion, ladies. Enjoy your lunch.”
With that, he backed out and left just as swiftly and almost magically as he had appeared. Slowly, I sank back into my chair.
“If you smile any harder, your face might crack, Odette,” Eliza teased me.
Let it crack, I thought, lifting the rose to my nose, sitting forward.
Across from me was, of course, Sophia. She smiled, but it wasn’t as fake as it was when she first came in.
And I took small comfort in that.
Chapter 19
––––––––
The next morning, I was so excited I was scared.
Scared about leaving the palace. Scared that I had chosen the wrong outfit. Scared of what the papers were saying about me this morning. Scared that Gale had changed his mind.
“Miss?” I turned to see Gelula waiting for me at the door. The look on her face did not ease my fears at all.
“What is it?” I asked, rising from the vanity to meet her. “Did he cancel?”
