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Andromeda was in a good mood that day. Wonderful things had been happening for her. Things that she never had expected. Firstly she had started to be around Nathaniel again, her friend since she had since she was a little girl. Secondly the Prince was interested in her. While she knew of his reputation he swore that with her it was different and she believed him.

While she worked her hand went to touch the crystal shell that he had given her upon returning from his trip. It rested right below her mother's orange crystal sliver and sparkled beautifully in the sun.

That day found her in the vegetable and fruit garden again. It was time to harvest the plants that had not ripened the day prior and there were certainly a lot of them. As she worked she sang a song, hitting sharps more often than the right notes.

"The Sun, whose rays are all ablaze
In ever-living glory
Does not deny his majesty
He scorns to tell a story!
He won't exclaim
"I blush for shame,
so kindly be indulgent."
But, fierce bold
In fiery gold
He glories all effulgent..."

She wasn't exactly sure what 'effulgent' meant but it was something that her mother had sung when she was alive and it was a bit of something that she remembered from her childhood. It seemed to fit her mood, too, as it was a song about satirical vanity. That day she felt beautiful and thought the idea rather comical.

Dusting off her hands on her apron she stood, carrying a basket full of fruits and vegetables back into the house. Not after, of course, she took a strawberry for herself and popped it in her mouth. It was delicious and she sighed in contentment. Before she reached the kitchen she kicked off her shoes. There was no need to get muck everywhere and she was just going to go outside and get them dirty again. Why spend the time to get them clean in the middle of the day?

"Rena you have to know your attitude is ugly," Andromeda replied with a sigh. "And Princess is nice but only what Nathaniel calls me, thank you."

It was true. Nathaniel had called her 'Princess' as a nickname a few times. She had always rolled her eyes at it. That was the name of his horse but, perhaps, if it rankled the jealous woman's feather it was worth bringing up. She did not even look up to acknowledge Rena's behavior with sight. Instead she unpacked the beautifully ripened vegetables. Andromeda rarely had plants that went bad on her and since she had been put in charge of the gardens, they were constantly turning out fresh produce.

"Prudence. These all need to be washed. There were so many good fruits and veggies this week that I have to go out and get more. Do you think Queen will be pleased with all of pastries that cook will make?"


The old lady shook her head and chuckled. "That sounds more like what you would be pleased with, young lady."

She blushed and nodded her head.

Andromeda rolled her eyes. Nathaniel had warned her that most of the maids would be this way in regards to the pair. Why, even if she wasn't dating him, she would have gotten the same flack.

"I will do better to watch my tongue," she replied simply. "As you should mind your own business. I know he's gotten other maids trinkets and he's given other maids nicknames but why should I care what he's done with other people? I don't stick my nose where it doesn't belong."

Though it did bother that he would give away something as precious as diamonds she knew that he had relationships before her. That he had used other girls. That he had even loved one that had committed suicide.

"Shouldn't you be working anyway? I am sure that her highness didn't save you from whatever gutter she found you in just to pay you for loafing about."

She grabbed her wicker basket and turned to head out back into the sun and heat.

Andromeda disliked the other women in the castle. This was something she couldn't help. Before the Prince had given her attention they had been mean to her because she worked out in the gardens. The servants who worked inside of the castle were pampered and thought they were better than the others.

"You know how the outside servants are," Florence told Rena when Andromeda was outside again. "They don't get breaks and they don't think its fitting that we inside do. Have something to eat while you rest."

The old kitchen hand was a well mannered and generally liked woman. She had spent years working outside until she was injured to the point where she could no longer to care for the horses. Instead of being thrown out she had been given a chance to work prepping ingredients for the meals served at the palace.

"Though, you know, I've known Andromeda since she's come here. The attention from the prince is the only bit of attention she's received. Let her indulge a little bit."

"Men are fickle creatures," the woman said with a nod of her head. "Its hard to tell what they'll like from one day to the next. I wouldn't worry too much about it. You're a very pretty young woman, beautiful even, so I don't think its what you lack that's the issue."

The woman picked up one of the strawberries that Andromeda grew and let out a whistle. The thing was almost the size of her fist. "Though with the way she is in the garden, it makes you almost wonder if she's got some magic to her. Maybe she's bewitched the prince?"

The maid groaned and rubbed her face. Women were dangerous creatures when they felt as if they had been wronged. Florence knew that Rena was going to tell the Queen about Andromeda's 'magic'. Stopping the youth would be impossible but she would inform the gardener of what the house hand intended to do.

Leaving her post and strawberry behind, the kitchen hand limped out towards the garden. Beneath her skirts was a clearly mangled ankle; an accident from when she worked in the stables.

"Andromeda!" she called from the doorway. The young woman was bent over a patch of turnip and was having difficulty getting one out.

She looked over her shoulder while still yanking at the stubborn vegetable. "Did you find a worm in one of the strawberries?" Clear concern showed on her face at this. The youth prided herself on her work. The flowers had never looked more radiant, the vegetables grew quickly and stayed fresh longer, and her fruits were abound in delicious sweetness. "No worms have touched my fruits in ages."

"No. That one girl, Rena I think, plans to tell the Queen you're a witch."

Amusement crossed the dark haired girl's face and her brownish golden eyes sparkled. That was too rich! A witch, really? What nonsense was that maid spewing? "The Queen will know idle prattle when she hears it."

"You're not concerned?"

"Why should I be? This whole place is protected by the equivalent of witches anyway. Even if I were one, which I'm not, I don't see her highness being far too worried with it. After all, she does go on about how lovely her gardens are tended to."

"What if the prince finds out?" the old woman asked.

Andromeda rolled her eyes and shook her head, waves jumping at the movement and catching the light in a manner that was stunning. As the girl aged she became more and more lovely. It was no surprise that she had caught the eye of the prince, now that Florence actually had a chance to look at her.

"I am sure he'll care just about as much as the Queen." Andromeda remarked.

Andromeda had easily filled another basket of fresh fruits and vegetables by the time Rena had finished speaking with the queen. Instead of instantly going back out into the sun, the young woman instead stayed inside to help Florence clean and prep the produce. It a little hot out for Andromeda's liking and by the time she had finished with the second basket she was feeling light headed and woozy.

A glass of water was beside her as she worked, humming to herself lightly. There wasn't much else to do outside either. Almost all of the ripe fruits and vegetables had been plucked and all of her gardening work had been finished a little bit after the sun had risen. Truth be told she was exhausted and just wanted to be able to see Nathaniel again before she had to go to sleep. Since she rose so early she had to be in bed early as well or else she would not get any proper rest.

"You shouldn't work yourself so hard," Florence told her. "You looked like you were about to faint out there."

"I just want to get all of my work done." Andromeda replied back with a smile.

"To see the Prince?"

The girl flushed and she nodded her head.

"I am sure he wouldn't like to see you work yourself to a near faint. Listen. There is only a small patch left to pick, right? Why don't I do that for you?"

"But, Flor, your leg! You possibly couldn't!"

"I insist. It won't hurt that much and you've already prepped most of the produce for me. Why don't you run off and get clean so you can see your prince."

"Oh! You're just too kind!" Andromeda hurried a quick kiss to the woman's cheek and hurried out of the kitchen.