"Thank you, Delilah."
"You're welcome, Your Highness." She dipped into a curtsy.
"You can leave now," I said. "We can see to ourselves."
"Yes, Your Highness." She curtsied again and left the room.
Rhi slumped back in her seat and sighed loudly. "I don't know how you do it."
"Do what?" I racked my brains for what she could be referring to and came up blank.
"Have the servants around all the time. I've only been here a few days, and it's driving me crazy already," she admitted.
"Oh, that." I let out a good-natured laugh. "You get used to them. But if you don't want them to do certain things, you just have to tell them."
"It's that easy?" Her eyes widened.
I picked up my teacup and blew across the top of it. "The staff is here to make everyone's lives easier, that means doing what you want them to, even if it's leaving you alone."
"Thanks." She picked up her own cup and took a drink before setting it back down. "And for inviting me here this morning. It's nice to just sit."
"The boys don't give you much time for that?" It tracked with everything I knew about them. Adam had been bringing Jake with him to the palace for years, and they were always all go, all the time. It was one of the reasons I hadn't spent that much time with them until this visit. I just didn't have the time to join them when I had all of my work to focus on. The crush I had on Jake hadn't been enough to tear me away from my duties.
"They never stop. I know Lyss is with them this time and while we were at university, but..."
"But?" I prompted. My heart pounded faster at the mention of the other girl. Should I tell Rhi about what I saw last night? From what she'd said, I didn't get the impression the two of them were close, but that didn't mean it wouldn't be dangerous to tell Rhi secrets like that.
"I don't know. She's changed. We used to be best friends before we went to university, but she's become someone different in that time."
"Different how?" I picked up a finger cake and took a bite to stop myself from asking more. I was intrigued to learn more about Lyss.
"I can't explain it. She stopped caring about her academic work and our friendship. All her attention switched to boys and how she looked. Just watch, within a week, she'll be the most fashionable girl in the palace." She grimaced, even thinking about it. "None of it will be anything like what you wear. You always look so good."
"Oh, erm, thanks." I glanced down at my plate, suddenly interested in the crumbs there. I wasn't used to people complimenting my clothing choices if they mentioned it at all.
"I wish I had the confidence to wear something black, It stands out so much. And I'm sure it looks more slimming than this." She gestured down at the lacy white dress she was wearing. Admittedly, it wasn't the most fashionable piece as far as I could tell,
"Why don't you?" If I could do it, then there was no reason she couldn't. I could lend her something of mine. Maybe a costume for the Fright Festival.
"I don't know. I think maybe I'm just too worried about what Lyss will say..." she trailed off. "Wait, why am I caring?"
"I'm not sure," I admitted. "I know you said she used to be your best friend, but I don't see it."
She grimaced. "I know."
"You can't tell anyone this, but I'm certain she's only dating Jake because of how close he is to the throne. A lot of girls at university are like that. They forget that you're the heir to the throne, and yet, they cozy up to Jake because he's best friends with Adam." Rhi's eyes widened. "But that's not why I'm interested in Adam, I swear, I couldn't care less that he's technically royalty. I promise."
"Don't worry; I know you're not." I wasn't sure why I was certain she was telling the truth, but I was confident about that. "Are you saying she doesn't really love Jake?"
"Love?" She raised an eyebrow. "I don't think she's capable."
"I may have seen some proof of that," I said quietly.
"You did?" She leaned forward, looking at me expectantly.
"I saw her kissing someone last night," I admitted, whispering the words.
"That doesn't surprise me." Rhi leaned back in her seat, an oddly satisfied look on her face. "They're as bad as one another," she added, crossing her arms over her chest.
"What do you mean?" She couldn't be suggesting that Jake was also going around kissing other people.
"Just that they're a good match. Both of them care more about what things look like than how they feel about one another. Lyss might be dating Jake to get close to royalty, but he's dating her because she's the hottest girl in our class. I'm not sure why Adam hangs out with them," Rhi continued. "Topher either. Though, I they wanted Topher to be their friend rather than the other way around. He just went along with it."
I perked up. Was this a chance to find out more about Topher. Despite all the time I'd spent with him yesterday, I still knew next to nothing about him. "What makes you say that?"
"He's the best at magic at the university. Jake wants to rule the school, so to speak, and Adam always goes along with him. I never understood why Jake was the ringleader...”
I could. There was something about Jake that attracted attention more than Adam did. It was one of the things I liked about him.
"Topher was one of those people who didn't seem to care about friends, but then Jake decided he wanted someone with power by his side. That's where Topher came in."
I nodded. A standard power play. If you made sure the people who were well known for something were seen around you, then other people who respected
