Chapter 12

Arya

The ride back home is quiet. At some point, I fall asleep as Arthur continues to drive. I woke up just in time to see that we were back in the palace and that the sky was starting to darken.

“I’ll drop you off here,” he says. “Have a great evening, Miss Arya.”

“Drop the Miss,” I tell him, flashing him a smile. “Have a great night, Arthur.”

The sound of his name feels nice to say, and that makes him smile too. With a final little wave, he drives away and I watch him disappear before I run back to our quarters.

The maidens tell me that the King and Queen are still occupied with the meeting, so I eat dinner alone and spend the rest of my night in my room, watching the stars from the window and eventually falling asleep.

When I wake up, it’s already morning.

And I surprise myself by feeling so ready and so energized to have another lesson with Arthur.

I take a shower and get dressed in my usual workout clothes. I run down the stairs and head to the kitchens, where I see Queen Helena