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I was glad for the distraction, it took my mind off of everything that had happened that past day. I pushed all of the thoughts about the King aside, focusing on the baking. However, I found that again and again, my mind kept drifting back to them. I shook my head, opting to make conversation with Anne.

"So, how long have you worked at the palace?" I questioned.

"Since before George became King." she laughed.

"Really? So you knew him as a child?" my lips curled into a smile.

"Indeed. He was quite the adventurous one, always getting into trouble around the palace." she reminisced.

"Truly? He doesn't strike me as the type..."

"He changed, as per his parents' request, after becoming King." her smile faltered.

"And the two of you, you're close, yes?"

"A long time ago, we were. But as I said, his parents gave him ideals that they saw as proper for a ruler, namely not to associate himself with the help. And he abided. He still has a soft side to him, though, he allowed for my children to live in the palace, and treats his servants fairly."

"I wouldn't have guessed that the King had a soft side at any time in his life." I rolled my eyes.

"Really? You're the one he shows it to most, Miss Alcott." she said, pausing from her task, and turning to face me.

"What? That isn't at all true!" I replied, my brows furrowing.

"But it is. The way he looks at you, talks to you, and treats you. We've never seen anything like it before."

"He enlisted me as a mistress to toy with me when he got too bored with the war, how is that benefiting anyone other than himself?"

"Well I think, and this is only a guess, that he wanted you in the palace to protect you. If only you saw how hard he tried to track down Christain after what had happened. He spent months trying to find him, to no avail. He ordered that the guards watch you closely while he wasn't with you, and he stayed up night after night searching, plagued with a fear that Christain might return and harm you. After some time, he gave up, and opted to bring you to the palace, where he knew you would be safe." she explained.

"A-Are you certain?"

"Not entirely, but fairly." she responded, returning to her task.

I took in a deep breath, thinking over this new information. Was it true? Did the King take me to the castle to keep me safe, or to toy with me? As I continued on with the baking, I tried fruitlessly to differentiate truth from falsity. I supposed I would have to ask the King himself, if I was to get a real answer. As noon bled into evening, even baking couldn't distract me from what Anne had said. Had the King truly moved me to the palace to protect me? But, why? He hardly knew me, and we never treated each other civilly. And it wasn't as though he cared for me, as he'd said time and time again, he thought of me as a toy, a simple pass time that could be easily replaced. The truth was, Anne had probably fabricated that story, she wanted so badly to believe that the King, whom she'd known for so long, was becoming kinder. He wasn't, and though Anne might not have been able to see that, I could.

Satisfied with my conclusion, I continued baking, pushing thoughts of the King out of my mind. After a few more hours, Anne and I decided that we would take a break, and finish the baking the next day. After she finished thanking me profusely, we parted ways. Making my way back to my chambers, I sighed, realizing that I hadn't attempted to escape that day, as I had each day prior. As I turned the corner, I nearly collided with someone I hadn't wanted to see, the King. He raised an eyebrow, looking me up and down, noting the flour dusting my face and clothes.

"I was helping Anne." I said shortly, hoping to evade any questions.

"You bake?" he inquired.

"Yes, what of it?"

"You don't seem like the type of woman who would, is all. Did your mother teach you?"

"It matters not who taught me." I said, pushing past him.

"I suppose it does not." he grabbed me by the arm, whirling me around, "Anyways, you know that there is to be a ball in two days then?" he asked, a smile slowly curling his lips.

"Yes..." I replied hesitantly, skeptical of his smile.

"Good. And you are aware that you are to be in attendance?"

"Dieu... Are you serious? I, a lowly French prisoner turned mistress, at a ball with your sophisticated rich and royal companions?" I scoffed.

"To call them companions is a stretch, and to be truthful I can't stand their company, which is precisely why you shall attend. I've got a feeling you would make it more... Interesting." he smirked.

"Joy. And it did not occur to you that I might use this ball in order to escape?" I asked, trying to free myself from his grasp.

"My dear, I think we've already established that I am stronger than you, so you can stop trying to free yourself." he began, his grip tightening, as he brushed some flour from my cheek, "And if you must know, there will be guards posted at each exit of the ballroom, and furthermore posted at each exit."

"Of course." I rolled my eyes.

"I've noticed that you haven't taken it upon yourself to escape today." he observed, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"No, I didn't." I said flatly.

"I think the palace, or more specifically, I am growing on you."

"You couldn't be further from the truth, your highness. Might I go now?" I asked.

"If you must. Goodnight my Rose." he said, releasing me.

After a short walk, I came upon the room. Inside, I changed into a nightdress, before sinking into the soft embrace of the bed. I still hadn't grown accustomed to the luxury of sleeping in one, after having been deprived of one for months, and I welcomed the mattress' comfortable surface. As I drifted off to sleep, I once again found myself thinking of the King. And try as I might, I couldn't shake the thoughts from my mind as I drifted off into a restless sleep.

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused as I stood at the doors of the family bakery.

"You are to come with me to your new home with your previous caretaker's sister, Miss Elise Dubois." the man said, standing in between the doors and me.

"Previous? What are you talking about? Marie is alright, I saw her just this morning!" I said, a sense of dread sinking into me.

"Dear, you mean to tell me you don't know?" he asked.

"Know what!? What has happened!?" I demanded, tears spilling from my eyes.

"Is this her?" a peeved voice asked from behind me.

I turned to see a woman who vaguely resembled Marie, standing behind me, her arms folded, and a disapproving glare on her face.

"It is." the man nodded.

"How cruel a fate, that I must take on the child responsible for what happened to my sister." she scoffed.

"Responsible? I've still not heard what happened!" I turned to the man, who had a disgusted look on his face.

"It matters not, child, what's happened has happened, and we've no one to blame but you." he said.

"Its entirely your fault." the woman said.

"How could you have done this to our aunt?" two children emerged from behind the woman.

"To my mother?" another man, Marie's son Lucien, asked, coming out of the bakery.

"It's all your fault." they said in unison.

"I cared for you, loved you as my own, and this is how you seek to repay me?" a voice shouted from inside my head, Marie's.

"It's not my fault! I did nothing! Nothing! Please!" I screamed, covering my ears from the outpour of insults and accusations coming from all around me.

"It's all your fault, your fault... Your fault...." the insults turned into a chant, and even my screams couldn't drown them out.

I awoke with a start, finding myself drenched in a cold sweat, my entire body trembling. After what had happened to Marie, I'd had dreams like that almost every night, and by now, I'd begun to believe them. I'd let her down, after all she'd done for me, I'd let her down. I sighed, getting out of bed, knowing I would have to clear my head. As I walked into the dim hallway, I frowned, catching the sent of something burning. I made my way to the kitchen, at which point the smell had gotten very strong. There, I found Dot and Darwin, kneeling in front of the oven, inside, was something being burnt to a crisp.

"Dieu, what are the two of you doing!?" I shouted, opening the oven, releasing a puff of smoke.

"We're so sorry Miss!" Darwin apologized, lunging for the pan.

"Non!" I grabbed the pan before he could, sending a sharp burn shooting through my fingers.

I threw the pan into the sink, sucking in a deep breath, before turning to the twins, my arms folded.

"We... Um..." Darwin looked to his sister for help.

"We only wanted to help Mama. She's so busy with her baking, and its making her not happy. We were going to finish for her." Dot said, looking at the floor.

"Oh... That's very sweet of you, but you must promise never to do this again. You might've hurt yourselves." I rested a hand on Dot's shoulder, "Tell you what, tomorrow, you may come back and help your mother and I, we can teach you to bake without burning down the castle. Deal?"

"Deal." they nodded in unison, the smiles returning to their faces.

After sending the children back to their rooms, I washed my hands with cool water, numbing the burning sensation. Then, I finally left the confines of the palace, and was greeted by the cool night air of the garden. I closed my eyes as the breeze gently caressed my face.

"The evening is serene, is it not?" a voice from behind me called.

"Who's there?" I whirled around, only to be met by a familiar face, "Oh,"

"Oh? Don't you think you should greet me more endearingly?" King George said, falling into step beside me.

"Good evening, my one true love, the purpose for which I live." I responded facetiously.

"Very good." he replied, "What brings you out here? Have you found yourself missing me?"

"Yes, I've found myself longing to look upon your exceedingly handsome face." I joked halfheartedly.

"My my, someone is certainly affectionate tonight."

"My my, someone is certainly having trouble recognizing blatant sarcasm." I laughed.

"What's the matter?"

"What? Nothing is the matter." I responded, refusing to meet the King's gaze.

"Not true. Tonight you seem dispassionate."

"Aren't I always?" I said, to which the King raised a brow.

"I'm only tired." I shrugged.

"Then what has you out here?" he persisted.

"I... Felt ill." I lied, not wanting to reveal my past to the King, or the nightmares that plagued my sleep each night.

"Alright, I'll pretend as though I believe that obvious lie, if it pleases you." he smirked.

"What are you doing out here at this hour?" I asked.

"The same as you, I suppose, clearing my mind."

"What troubles it?" I inquired.

"I might be persuaded to answer you, should you answer a question of mine."

"You misunderstand, I was simply making conversation, I have no interest in learning more about you."

"If you insist then." he said, walking away.

"Wait." I called, "I can ask you anything at all, in exchange for answering a question?"

"Precisely." he didn't face me, but I could tell he was smirking.

"Then, tell me, what was the reason you moved me to the castle? The real reason."

"Love, I don't know what you want to hear, I moved you so that I could use you to amuse myself. And that is all." he answered.

"Oh," I knew that Anne hadn't been right.

"Anyways, now it is my turn to pose a question." he turned to face me.

"Get on with it then."

"Have you ever loved anyone?" his tone was serious.

"Love has many forms. I loved my mother and father..." I trailed off, hoping he would not catch on to my lie.

"A blatant lie. You had no parents... Did you?"

"How did you kno-" he cut me off.

"I didn't, but now I do." he smirked, "You must have an affinity for telling lies, Miss Rosalie. Leads me to wonder what else it is you lie about."

"I'll return to my room now." I turned away.

"Why so eager to leave my company?" he pouted.

"I thought I'd made it clear that I am not fond of it." I gave the King an irritated glare.

"My dear, the more you say it, the less genuine it sounds." he turned, making his way back to the palace.

And then, the strangest thing happened. I found myself missing his company, wishing he would not go. Was I beginning to go mad..?

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