"W-what?" Caroline gasped, looking down at the purple cloak. "As a Maiden!" she hissed at Iyana. "Why—"

"Your mission as a Belle also extends to spying on other Belles, my lady," Iyana explained. "And tonight, Lady Sasha wishes you to follow Lady Delaney into the Palace."

"But Delaney is—" she paused, realizing something. "Sasha provoked Delaney earlier."

Iyana just smiled. It was the knowing kind. As if this had been planned all along. And perhaps it may have been.

Caroline moistened her lips. Indeed, she had entertained the idea of going into the Palace to find out who the High Priestess was. But to enter now was different. She did not have Fatima or the others here with her. And how was she to know that she could trust Iyana? Or Sasha?

The Mistress clearly had her own agenda. She wanted to know who Delaney had been in contact with while she was outside Belcourt. The reason for that, Caroline could not ascertain. Sasha may hate the fact that she was being left in the dark while Delaney was taking on a mission that did not go through her. It may be something political. And Belcourt was indeed not spared of the politics. Caroline was aware of what Sasha had done to gain the position she was in now. This could merely be an internal conflict.

Would she even dare be a part of it? She was planning to leave soon. If she ever got involved in Belcourt's political schemes, would they spare her? Or would they prosecute her if they found her out?

But this might also be her chance to find the High Priestess.

Trent's voice echoed in her head. Do not be too reckless, Carol.

And so she asked Iyana, "Why? Why would Sasha want me to do this?"

Iyana's patient smile did not waver. "Lady Delaney has been getting orders from someone in the Palace. Lady Sasha wishes to find out who."

"Why?"

"Because this person may be planning something against Belcourt. Lady Delaney is the sister of a former Belle who is married to a suspected member of the Royal Circus. If Lady Delaney is double-crossing Belcourt with someone inside, then Lady Sasha wants to be aware of it."

"But Delaney has been seen meeting with the crown prince who, as I was told, is a good friend of Belcourt."

"Yes, but he is not from Belcourt. He and Lady Delaney are working together with someone from the Palace as the latter claims. If that is true, she will go to the Palace anytime tonight or on the morrow. If that is the case, be there to find out who and if you can, why."

Caroline swallowed.

"Lady Sasha told me to assure you she will take full responsibility should you ever be discovered on this mission. You are only doing the mission she has given you."

"I have read Belcourt's rules, Iyana. I know that to do the slightest thing against Belcourt will send me to prison. Or worse, Sinhold."

"Not if you have Lady Sasha. I assure you, my lady, that you can trust her."

"I do not know, Iyana. This may be just one of her ploys to gain more power."

Iyana's face hardened. "You do not talk about my mistress in such a manner, my lady."

Caroline sighed. She stared at the purple cloak. "Very well, we might as well just get this over with."

Iyana nodded. "You know the way to the Palace?"

"Yes."

"The Tea House closes at six. Be there after that time. I will wait for you there."

"And if someone sees me—"

"No one will ever look at you if you wear this cloak," Iyana cut in. "That is why we chose this cloak."

⠒♣◆♣⠒

While alone in Iyana's bedroom, Caroline had more time to think everything through.

She did not care what Sasha's motives were. If the woman was doing this for the same reasons Iyana said, then Caroline had no qualms doing this mission. She was only following a Mistress' order. There were enough grounds for Belcourt to suspect Delaney, after all.

But Sasha could also be doing this because she was the Belcourt rat, and she was working for the Circus. If it was so, then Caroline was in awe. And she would gladly do this for the lady. Yet it was highly unlikely Sasha was working for the Circus. The woman was used by her former flower who was the Royal Master. Why would she want to work with the man? Why would she risk her life as a Belle for this dangerous game? Had Blackwood been able to fool the woman? Manipulate her? Or was he the one being manipulated?

She shook her head. She was letting her imagination run wild again. It was good to make up theories, but it was unwise to run wild with them.

Sasha could be anything. She could be working for Belcourt or the Circus. Or for herself.

And Caroline could be a pawn here and might walk into a trap.

There was a chance Delaney would not go into the Palace and she wished the woman would not.

Or perhaps that was a lie. Perhaps she wanted to get inside the Palace, too.

She groaned. Trent would kill her.

⠒♣◆♣⠒

"She is in her bedchamber, but we must hurry and get to the Palace before she does," Iyana whispered behind her as they walked, the hood of their cloaks up and covering their faces.

"Do we really have to walk this way?"

"No Service woman walks before or beside a Maiden, my lady. Now, if you could hurry along, please."

The Village was in the middle of Belcourt and it had access to all other Courts through its four gates. The path they are taking was toward the Palace and so far, they had encountered no one, but before they reached the gates of the Palace which Caroline knew was guarded by two Soldiers, Iyana pulled her to the side and behind a line of trees. "This way," the woman whispered.

And the woman led her into the woods that surrounded the place.

"There are watchtowers all over these woods. It will not be uncommon for a Service lady to pass through this path because we cannot enter the Palace through the front gates. But it will be uncommon for a Maiden to pass through here."

Caroline noticed that they were walking beside a tall wall. Behind it was the Palace. On the other side was a woodland. Suddenly, she was back to that day Jade left her in the middle of the forest. She shook the memory away and focused on the task at hand.

"Forgive me, but what are you doing here?" a woman's voice asked behind them. They came to a halt. Caroline closed her eyes, her heart pounding against her chest as she heard footsteps coming toward them from behind. Twigs broke against the woman's feet as she walked and Caroline imagined them to be her limbs.

"Her ladyship wanted to enter the palace through the Service door, my lady," she heard Iyana say.

The Soldier, wrapped in a green cloak with the hood down, stopped just beside Caroline.

"Is that so?"

"Yes, my lady."

"I am not aware of any Maiden taking this route. And without the company of an Elected?"

Caroline silently took in a breath and prayed that she would sound just like her mother as she spoke, "That is because you have not been doing your job watching this side of the Palace, Soldier. I have been through this path many times and this is the first I am caught. And why would I be bringing my Elected outside the Palace? Are you daft?"

But the Soldier did not step back. "Forgive me, my lady, but I am only doing my task. If you could—"

"I will not pass through the gates, Soldier."

"Then I will need proof of your—"

"Lady Arielle and I had a slight squabble earlier, Soldier. After that, I had to go out for a walk to clear my head. I am taking this path so I can avoid another banter should I encounter Arielle in the halls." Her tone had risen with each sentence, giving her a boost of confidence. Good Lord, she indeed sounded like her mother. "Now, is that explanation enough?" The Solder took one small step back. But that was not assuring enough. "What is your name, Soldier?"

"Martha, my lady," the woman said, voice now gentler than it was before.

"Should this sighting ever make rounds in Belcourt, I will know the name to call for." She moved her head a little to say to Iyana, "Come. I am tired."

She dared take a step and only when she managed three without the Soldier stopping them did Caroline let out a sigh of relief.

When Iyana opened the door that led into the Palace, Caroline tried her best not to look behind them. A dark path led them across a lawn before Caroline saw the familiar stone walls of the Palace. Another door and they found themselves in the kitchen.

She wanted to scold Iyana, but the woman was only doing this because of Sasha. If there was anyone she ought to have a chat with, it would be the Mistress of the Court of Flowers. But that woman was not here now. She was somewhere in the Flower Garden, probably sipping tea, scheming her way wherever.

And here she was, risking it all. And not even for the bloody Circus!

"This is as far as I can go," Iyana finally spoke in the darkness of the kitchen.

No one was about. Good Lord, what time did these ladies sleep?

But then she remembered that each Maiden had an Elected assigned to them, women or children handpicked by Belcourt out of the general population to serve the Maidens and the High Priestess. And also to replace them in the future, in the expense of keeping them inside the Palace from the moment they were plucked out. Their only chance of getting out was by becoming Maidens or High Priestess.

Caroline faced Iyana. "What if she doesn't come?"

"Then you come back here and we return to the Village."

"And return on the morrow?"

Iyana nodded. "And return until she does."

"Good Lord," was all she could murmur under her breath. "If I do not return, Iyana, then I just pray you survive."

Iyana only nodded.

Caroline sighed, eyes on the door that led to somewhere.

"Where do I even go?"

"There is only one way. It leads to the main hall."

The picture of the main hall with its marbled floors came to her. "Iyana, that hall leads to countless corridors."

"Which she will take should she come."

Caroline closed her eyes.

Trent would kill her twice for this.

⠒♣◆♣⠒

Caroline saw Soldiers by the door and she stepped back into the darkness of the corridor that led back to the kitchen.

"No, I did not see which Maiden," she heard Martha's voice talking and her heart ran amok once again. She cursed in her head.

"Perhaps we can ask the Maidens," suggested one Soldier.

"She sounded like one of them, but I cannot be certain. She hinted that if this ever gets out, I will be in trouble."

"Did you give her your name?"

"No, of course not. Do you think an idiot?" the woman who was not Martha after all replied. "But what if she saw my face? What if the Service woman saw my face? They will still find out. And I will still be in trouble."

"But you were only doing your task. I'm certain she was only concerned about the gossip, one we do not do. I suggest you ask the Maidens now. This is a matter of security, Margot."

"What do I tell them?"

"We should go to the Mistress now. She will know what to do."

The two Soldiers left and disappeared into a corridor while one Soldier remained.

Caroline was ready to dash and return to Iyana, but then she showed up.

Delaney, in her red cloak, walked through the doors. "I am here for the High Priestess. I was summoned."

"The High Priestess?" the Soldier asked.

"Yes."

"Again?"

"Yes," Delaney replied, voice etched with impatience. "This is a matter of importance. Please, send an Elected to guide me to the High Priestess at once."

The Soldier sighed and called another Soldier from outside. Soon, the Soldier arrived with a young girl of about fifteen, cloaked in purple. The girl seemed to be familiar with Delaney because she only curtsied and guided Delaney through a corridor.

Caroline hesitated. She truly had to get back to the kitchen before Martha, who was really Margot, found out that the Palace had been trespassed.

But as the Soldier at the door turned, Caroline just found herself rushing to the corridor where Delaney and the Elected disappeared into. Her heart was at her throat, but it was mingled with relief when she saw Delaney and the child turn to the right at the end of the corridor.

Careful not to make a sound, she adjusted her hood over her head and rushed forward.

When she reached the other end, she took a deep breath and poked her head out. She frowned. The corridor led to the garden.

And there, across the garden, Delaney and the girl in purple were entering a hidden passage hidden behind the vines that covered the garden walls.

"Lord, help me," she murmured before looking over her shoulder and briskly walked out into the garden and across it. She found the door, but did not enter. She chose to be a little wise and hide behind the tall shrubbery nearby.

And then she waited.

Sure enough, the Elected exited the door and walked back into the Palace.

While she waited, Caroline pictured Margot and the other Soldier knocking on doors asking Maidens if they had been out of the Palace and if they ever used the service entrance. Her heart still racing, Caroline thought this was her only chance.

And so she rushed to the door behind the vines, half-hoping it would be locked so she could flee to safety. But it was not, and so she entered.

And it was another garden.

There was no one there. But where did—

She stopped, her eyes following the path that led to a mound of dirt. She followed it and there it was—a door. Right on the ground.

The High Priestess was underground! Bloody tarnation!

She bent down and slowly tried the door. Surely, if the High Priestess lived underground, then it would not be in a room directly under a door. And she was right.

The stairs did not lead directly into a room, but into another corridor.

The floors were carpeted, muffling her footsteps.

Trent would definitely kill her if she ever came out here alive.

She was faced with two corridors. Biting her lips, she chose the right one because it led to one giant door.

Of course, she did not mean to enter. She only meant to press her ear and listen and that's what she did.

But there was no talking.

There was just—

Caroline covered her mouth with her hand.

Delaney was gasping for air. And then she was whimpering. A deep growl came as the sound of the creaking bed came faster.

The man was groaning, panting. Delaney's gasping and crying for more. Harder. Deeper.

Delaney was begging, crying for more, but please, she wanted it now. Harder. Please.

Caroline stumbled back.

And then she fled, heart racing, her flesh quivering.