Coralina loved every second she spent on Maelyn's throne. Well... not every second. It got a little tedious sometimes. But this was right where she belonged. Above them all.

She couldn't give it much time today, however. The play was tonight. She hadn't planned to sit here at all, but Arialain had pestered her after breakfast about a small crowd waiting outside the castle. The early hour suggested it was probably old peasants with a list of petty grievances. The knights never came until after midday.

She was partly right. A few aged noblewomen had come up from Merridell to ask for the use of an empty building for the creation of what they called a 'healing house' for young women who'd been attacked by bandits. Coralina had never heard of such a thing. Uncertain how she should answer, she wrote down their request, figuring she'd consult Maelyn later.

"Just need to check some things first," she said to save her pride. To her relief, the women accepted this and left without further questions.

The next visitor was just what she feared, an old farmer who spent twenty minutes complaining about every one of his neighbors before asking her to intervene in a dispute over a shared road. Coralina sighed and said she'd look into the matter, though she had no intention of doing so.

Willow came next-thankfully! He presented his sister, who he introduced as Lady Maple of Grunwold. Coralina liked her looks. Pretty-without being too pretty-and dressed with taste and elegance. She complimented the play's script, which she claimed to have read twice.

"I'm so glad you liked it!" Coralina grinned. "And since your brother has a prominent role, you should be seated in the front row. I'll have Briette mark a place for you."

Maple smiled. "How kind. I'm very eager to watch the play. Willow told me you're playing the Fair Maiden?"

"I am."

"Well, if I may say... the part could not be more fitting for you."

Coralina's grin widened. What a sweet sister Willow had! She seldom liked girls her own age, but she liked this one. After a few minutes of pleasant conversation, he asked permission to introduce her to the other princesses. Coralina directed them to the ballroom, where most of her sisters would be setting up for the play. And where she would be, soon as this nonsense was over.

"Morning, my lady," said her next visitor and Coralina almost jumped at seeing Gord. She'd taken a moment to put her head down and fluff her curls, raking them over the back of her head. Hence, she wasn't prepared to find him standing in front of her when she flipped her hair back again.

"Oh!" Coralina covered her embarrassment by laughing. "I didn't hear you come in!" It always amazed her how quietly he moved. He had Pipsy beside him, and in her free hand she held Arialain's doll.

The doll made Coralina uneasy. She shouldn't bring that here, not with the way Arialain had been carrying on. She didn't want her upsetting Pipsy by taking it back. And possibly angering Gord.

"Came to make a suggestion," Gord said. "And check on how you're feeling, o'course. How's the foot?"

Coralina poked out her bandaged foot from beneath her skirt. "Hurts when I step on it. But not as much as yesterday. Would my hero be willing to help me down the steps?" She picked up the crutch Ivy had loaned her, but getting down the marble steps from the throne still felt treacherous.

Gord offered his hand, which Coralina clasped as she limped down each step. His hand never wobbled. The warmth of his fingers seemed to travel up her arm and into her bosom, giving her a feeling of security that only seemed to come from him. The sense of being right where she should be.

Once on the floor, he released her hand. "All set?"

Coralina tucked the crutch under her arm. "All set!" She smiled sweetly. "Don't need to be carried this time."

"Sure about that?" Gord asked with a playful smirk.

Coralina tilted her head to one side. "Why? Are you offering?"

"Well... I've done it twice." Gord's smile was so gentle it was barely there. All the warmth came from his brown eyes, which held Coralina in place. "Let's save the third time for something special," he said.

Something special. Coralina couldn't imagine what that meant, but it gave her chills. He would carry her again one day. In his arms.

Gord stepped back, putting a proper amount of space between them. His face went solemn. "I came here to suggest having a few guards tonight. Lots of folk expected to come, right?"

Coralina nodded. "Maelyn took care of that. Six knights from Lumen Fortress, so I think we're safe." She gave him a teasing smile. "Let's hope no one gets their head bashed tonight."

Gord gave a sheepish smile. "Poor fellow. Would've apologized if I saw him. Did he heal up good?"

"He healed up fine. I even invited him to come tonight, though he didn't write back to me. I'm sure he's well." Coralina had not even thought of Prince Luxley for weeks. She'd sent the letter not long after he left, worried he was angry with her. And then she had just... stopped thinking about him. Too busy with the play, she supposed.

"Coco...." Arialain walked into the throne room from the archway on the side. Coralina instantly positioned herself to block Arialain's view of Pipsy. She did not want her seeing that doll.

"What, Ari?" Coralina snapped.

Arialain glanced at Gord, then at Coralina. "The front door won't open more than a foot. The bottom corner scrapes the floor and gets stuck."

"Let me look at it," Gord said. "Could be the heat-makes the wood expand. I can check the hinges too. But I'll need you to be eyes for me."

Arialain nodded vigorously. "Of course! I'll show you. We need to fix it before the crowds get here."

As she led Gord away, Coralina reached for Pipsy and held her back. "I'll be along in a minute! I haven't talked to Pipsy in a while." If she let Pipsy go with them, Arialain would certainly see the doll.

Gord looked back over his shoulder. "You need her for something?" His expression looked uncertain.

"No, no! But she'll get bored watching you fix the door. I'll keep her here and we'll have a nice talk. Then maybe I'll show her what we're doing in the ballroom. Ari, don't allow any more visitors."

Arialain nodded and left the throne room with Gord. Coralina sighed with relief. She seated herself on the steps in front of the throne and patted the place next to her. Pipsy sat with a timid smile.

"How are you, Pipsy?"

"Good."

"Enjoying that doll, I see." Coralina smiled. Pipsy had the doll wrapped in a small blanket and cradled it like a baby. Only the doll's head peeked out and a bit of her white cloth body. Coralina noticed something.

"Did you take off her dress?"

Pipsy nodded. "I can't put it back on."

"Why?"

"I need Grenna."

Meaning Pipsy knew how to undress the doll, but needed help dressing her up again. And Grenna was probably often busy. Coralina smiled and patted Pipsy's back. "You know what? My sister Lace is very good at sewing. Maybe I'll ask her to make some dresses for your doll. She could have a different outfit every day. Would you like that?"

"Yes!" Pipsy grinned, showing her tiny teeth. She nudged herself closer to Coralina. "Ones that are easy to put on her."

"We can do that. But listen, I think Laina wants to sleep now. Why don't you cover her head so the lights don't bother her?" Coralina reached over and folded the blanket over the doll's face. If Pipsy could just keep her covered until she left, Arialain would not see it. "And when you come for the play tonight, I think you should leave Laina home. All those people might scare her."

Pipsy looked confused. "Her name isn't Laina."

"Oh! I'm sorry. Have you given her a name?"

Pipsy nodded. "Her name is Coco."

Coralina froze. She didn't know how to respond, but her heart stirred. Pipsy shifted again and leaned on Coralina, resting the side of her face against her arm.

Coralina looked down at the little girl resting so trustingly against her. A motherless child. She felt a surge of overwhelming sadness and pity, and a fierce desire to protect her. Not knowing what to do with these emotions, she carefully straightened her posture until Pipsy took the cue and stopped leaning on her.

"So you gave her Laina?" said a new voice.

Coralina whipped her head to one side. Jaedis stood framed by the archway in the wall. She must have been in the corridor.

"Please don't tell Ari," Coralina said quickly. "It wasn't on purpose."

"You mean... unlike what you're doing with her father?"

Coralina stiffened. She looked down at Pipsy. "On second thought, sweetie, why don't you go watch them fix the door? But leave the doll here with me. I'm going to... take her measurements so we can make dresses for her. I'll bring her back to you when you leave."

Pipsy looked reluctant but obeyed, walking out of the throne room on quiet feet. Her loose braid hung over the back of her cotton dress.

Coralina glared up at Jaedis, who now stood in front of her. "Were you watching me?"

"Shamelessly. And I know what you're doing." Jaedis' dark eyes were cold flames. "You called him your hero. You never say that unless you're flirting. And I won't, won't allow it! Not with him!"

Coralina shrugged. "I meant it. He's been helping me."

Jaedis shook her head, dark hair swishing. "You've done this before. It's how you punish any man who wrongs you. First you conquer his heart and then you crush it!"

Coralina crossed her legs and swung her bandaged foot. "And you think that's what I'm doing to Gord?"

"It's cruel, Coco!" Jaedis clenched her thin hands. "He's a poor man, a blind man, a man who lost his wife. If you ever had a broken heart, you couldn't do this. Truth is, you like to be kissed and cuddled, but you've never been in love in your life!"

Coralina almost laughed. "Don't be a toad. I've been in love hundreds of times."

"Who was the first?" Jaedis snapped.

Coralina's brow furrowed. "The first?" She rifled the pages of her memory but no one lover stood out among the volumes. "I... I think...."

Jaedis shook her head. "You would know."

Coralina smirked. "So what will you do? Run off to Gord to expose my villainous plan?"

"I wish I could," Jaedis said with disgust. "But it's too late for that. Anyone can see he already loves you."

Coralina gasped. Her blood became golden light that gushed joy through every vein. She lunged forward to clutch Jaedis' sleeve. "Does he? Do you think so? Did he say something to you?"

Jaedis spun away and sailed out of the throne room.

Coralina sat in her chamber, resting her foot on a stack of pillows. Six hours had passed. She'd put weight on her foot too many times as she had set up the ballroom and stage with her sisters. Arranging the benches into rows. Dragging props into place. Making sure torches and candelabras were stocked and ready to burn. Rehanging a torn curtain. Organizing the costumes backstage. Deciding where Uncle Jarrod was going to sit and who would sit beside him. That proved to be among the most stressful decisions.

She had done too much and her wound throbbed. "I told you to keep off it!" Heidel had yelled as she marched Coralina to the kitchen. After re-wrapping the wound, she had ordered Coralina to elevate the foot as long as she could. But she couldn't rest it for long. In one hour, she had to appear on the stage.

Two ways to end the play. Coralina held them both in her lap. Outside her bedchamber, daylight had shrunken out of the sky, overtaken by a balmy dusk. Soon the peasants would start arriving, eager to claim a good seat. It was for them she performed-they never failed to show enthusiasm.

She read the happy ending first. The third knight defeated the monsters in the tower, declared his love for the fair maiden, and carried her off to live in bliss. Simple. Pleasant. Predictable.

The second ending was known to no one but herself. Coralina picked up the parchment.

Fair Maiden: Noble Knight, do you love me?

Third Knight: Truly, I do! Thus have I bested the beasts of this tower, to prove my unconquered, unquenchable love. Say you will be mine forever!

Fair Maiden (laughing scornfully): Foolish knight. Do you think I have need of your heroics? I built this tower, not to win you, but to be rid of you! I seek neither your heart nor your hand. Depart from my sight, and trouble me no more. I never wanted you.

This had been her plan. To speak those words to Gord, in such cutting tones as to give him no doubt they were meant for him alone. To reject him, humiliate him, before the whole kingdom and then walk off the stage in triumph.

Coralina grimaced. She raked back her hair with her fingers, turning to check her reflection. One entire wall of her chamber was a mirror. It had cost piles of gold and Maelyn never stopped foreboding it would break. But she loved it. From any corner of the room she could see herself.

Her twin in the mirror gazed back as she sat cross-legged on the purple coverlet, her dark curls like ink spills on her violet gown. She looked pretty and delicate. Not cruel.

Her hand slid beneath the pillow and withdrew the owl carving. She cradled it in her palm, her thumb stroking its wooden belly. Poor Gord. He had not meant any harm to Luxley or herself. He had made a simple mistake and she planned to break his heart for it.

She imagined what Gord would have felt as she spoke those words, what she'd have seen in his gentle brown eyes. An unfamiliar pain squirmed in her chest and she twisted away from the mirror.

She felt ugly.

A single candle burned on her bedside table. She held out the parchment until a corner caught the flame. As the fire crawled across the page, she hobbled to the fireplace and threw it on the unlit grate. Too sore for standing, she sat on the floor and watched the flames eat through the mean words she would never say to Gord.

Jaedis was right. She had never been in love.

Until now.