"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched...but are felt in the heart."

– Helen Keller

Odette's POV two days later (Lady Williams leaving for Italy) -

It has been quite rough these past two days, ever since that pitiful picnic I-I have been very self-conscious. Sabastain spoke so cruelly I can't help but replay the venom-filled words over and over again till my thoughts bleed with agony. I slam dress after, dress, blouse after blouse into my suitcase tears shaking down my skin as they touch my uniform leaving dark streaks in its wake. I zip my worn ash brown suitcase and turn on my heel to face Eli. Her eyes are teary and her hands shaking.

"Odette you cant go! Not because of some shit head prince who doesn't know good help if it hit him in the face!" she shouted, taking a deep breath I held her cool palms in my hand comforting her. I resigned from my position as the prince's maid and I took the position as the maid who will accompany lady Williams on her trip to Italy. I discussed this with the king and he seemed overjoyed that I was leaving for the trip, something about new experiences.

"Eli listen, Sabastian said it himself I am not good enough to be his- his maid, I don't listen I am too casual their is nothing I do that is enough to satisfy him so I shall leave and give him the space he wants," I took a shaky breath as Eli grabbed my hands even tighter as if her grip would hold me there forever.

"No! You can't leave me here you are our head maid we need you and who will be the prince's maid and who will eat lunch with me who will do some of my chores when I am sick and-" I placed my finger on her lips shushing her as one last tear slipped through my lids.

"I will still be the head maid but I will be sending letters and other things to keep this place running I already have an assistant who has all my plans for the next two months with him you should be fine," I brushed one of her kinky black curls behind her ear and smiled weakly.

"I will miss you but this is not goodbye Eli, no of course it's not goodbye, I will be back in a month that is not much time," I wiped my eyes, holding my suitcase I went towards the door. As I open the door I see Lucases' body curled against the frame of the door, his eyes bordering mine as he stared cooly. It has been a while since I have seen him.

"Mr. Campbell?" I tilt my head.

"I wanted to see you off, I couldn't let the loveliest girl in the palace leave without kissing her goodbye now could I," he chuckles as he eyes me, Eli is behind me waiting for me to go so we can walk to the gate together.

"Lucas, if you are here to see me off then please hurry, her ladyship is waiting," I grin, yet his grin falls as I bring up Lady Williams, his stance becomes rigid and his muscles tense.

"Tell Belle- I a mean her Ladyship that I say goodbye and tell the lovely and hardworking Odette that I send my condolences that she has to leave so soon," he smirks as he steps out of my way, he offers his help with my luggage but I decline knowing he would probably run away with it.

"Well, Odette says that she is happy that she is leaving in the spring and not the fall since dandelions only grow in the spring, goodbye Eli and goodbye Lucas," I giggled as I made my way to the throne room. I step down the lengthy hallway dragging my suitcase behind me, I am almost there when I hear a desperate plea. My name being yelled over and over again I turn to see Sebastian dashing towards me.

"Odette! Wait there!" he shouts as he finally makes it, he glances at me then at my suitcase his eyes are flaming with anger and other emotions I can't quite grasp.

"My lord what is it that you need-"

"What is this poppycock about you leaving, and resigning from being my maid?" he asks as he suddenly grabs my gloved hand, the one carrying the case.

"It is not 'poppycock' it is all true your highness I am to leave right now to join her ladyship in the throne room," I gaze at him my icy glare and plain voice revealing nun of what is going through my head at this moment. I should not feel the heat from his hand on mine, I should not yearn for him to hold my other, yet I catch myself praying he will never let go. I am truly pathetic.

"You are not leaving, I need you here, you are my bloody maid!" his grip on my hand tightens causing me to drop the case, he notices my pain and instantly let's go. I finally notice his features and clothing, he is still in his nightwear even though his hair is messy and unkempt, his feet are covered by some velvet slippers and socks. He just woke up! Did he come this far to tell me not to leave?

"hmm, 'You are replaceable' 'you just do what I damn say' does that sound familiar, sir, why would you worry your royal head about some lowlife like me when you could replace me so easily," I smirk, I haul my suitcase from the ground but not before throwing a dirty look at Sabastian.

"I shall leave now hopefully her ladyship finds me of some use-" suddenly I get cut short by two large strong arms cradled around me, the impact of his male scent sending warmth through me, I gasp as his grip tightens around me. Sebastian began to speak quietly near my ear as he held me, his body tense and his voice trembling.

"please - please don't go Detta," he pleads, yet my mind goes foggy as I hear that name escape his lips 'Detta' it almost sounds foreign. The play name he gave me when we were kids is finally back, but is he back? I highly doubt it.

"Detta I beg you don't leave," he whispers breathlessly as he holds me near his chest, my body feels like crumbling over as this sudden affection almost throws me off my balance. A tear escapes my eye as I rip myself from his kind and nurturing arms.

"Why didn't you write?! Why didn't you read any of my letters?" I cried, tears are escaping my eyes yet they do not console these buried emotions that have haunted me. My eyes sting as I try and see through the blurriness of the salty tears.

"I-I," he gawked at my teary expression, my broken words and his face went soft, all signs of his anger erased. But instead of furry his sunken eyes hold years of unexplained emotions and trauma.

"Why didn't you tell me you were leaving? Why did you have to go and get a fiance?" my tears swelled from my deepest and darkest emotions my hatred my jealousy my own self-deprecation. I felt his cool hands yank my wrists bringing them in front of me as he stared deep into my eyes. His expression cold yet soft, his touch rough but still warm against my skin.

"I didn't know I could inflict such emotions in you Detta, for god sake I would tell you everything but I can't its too... I just want you to know that anything I say to you that is cruel is never my intention to hurt you," he bit his lip as he glanced around as if scanning the area for others once he finished searching he placed his hands on my cheeks cradling them in his intimate touch.

"Odette I-"

"Odette I care about you very much and I am truly sorry I hurt you, you are no low life you are the most extraordinary and enchan-"

"Son," the sound of a gruff ordering voice makes my head turn. I feel the air in the room become tense and heated, Sabastains body stiffened as he saw the KIng make his way towards us.

"Father, is there a problem?" Sebastian asks fidgeting with his thumbs.

"Well, we have been waiting for this maid for quite a while lady Willaims is leaving soon, and let's not forget you're in your sleepwear," he grinned as he noticed my red cheeks and my teary eyes, Sabsatain seemed frozen as he glanced at his father his mouth wide and his stance rigid.

"Your highness I have chosen to stay, I have another maid that would be much more suited for travel," I bit my lip as I scanned my brain for some maids name I could say on the spot.

"Oh, and who may that be?" he asked cheekily.

"Casandra James the new one I think she would learn a whole lot if we sent her with Lady Williams," I sighed as a wave of relief slapped me.

"Hmm that does sound like a good idea. I guess you are free to go Odette, but not your son please follow me. We have some business to attend to," the king began to walk ahead leaving me and Sebastian behind. I glanced at Sebastian any sign of kindness or any true emotion was wiped from his face.

"I won't be seeing you for a couple of days Detta," he deadpanned, he gazed at me as he slowly brought his head closer to my ear, his warm breath tickling my neck making me shiver.

"What do you mean-"

"Oh how I wish," he backed up and began to follow his father leaving me confused and worried, what type of business? Why does he seem so... scared? 

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