MARIGOLD POV

At last—at last—the maids curtsied themselves right out of the chamber, backs straight, heads down, probably rushing to tattletale every single one of my “refined princess comments” to the king like good little parrots. The heavy door clicked shut, and I froze, listening.

Silence. Blessed, golden, life-saving silence.

“THANK HEAVEN,” I announced, kicking my jeweled heels halfway across the room. “I can finally eat in peace. If I had to ‘delicately nibble’ one ...