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Andromeda wasn't too terribly cold in her sopping wet clothes; just uncomfortable. Like all wet clothes did they stuck to her. When he asked if she had other clothes, she flinched. Of course she did but they weren't really presentable enough to wear in front of a Prince. Many of her dresses had patches sewn into them. Unlike the other servant girls she wore her clothes until they were just about to fall apart. She didn't feel the need to bother Queen Ruby with something as insignificant as that until she absolutely needed to.

Finally she shook that feeling away. She was a servant. He knew she was a servant. What did it matter if she looked more like one in front of him or not? Squaring her shoulders, she turned to look at him instead of the floor.

"I do but they're in the help quarters." she informed him. "I'll go and change very quickly. Would there be a place for me to meet you, only if you'd like."

Andromeda's eyes widened as she looked through the box. She had heard of some of the luckier servants getting to pick through the old clothes of the royals. The fancier dresses tempted her, that was for sure, but there was nothing she could wear them to. Instead she decided to pick out a rather plan brown and red skirt and a plain brown blouse. It felt odd to be changing in Nathaniel's room but she managed to pull off the change quickly.

She folded her clothes neatly and draped them over her arms. Throwing one last look back to the shower, she hurried out of his chambers and towards the garden. As she made her way towards her natural habitat many glares were shot her way from maids. All of those girls assumed that she had done something with him and were likely jealous. It was fine though.

"Sweet Andromeda has caught the attention of the prince," one of them said loudly to another.

The other replied with a bit on venom, "Surely someone like her couldn't attract his eye."

The brunette simply passed them by without giving the pair any recognition. What they wanted was a rise from her and she was not going to give it to them. Such unflattering emotions did not deserve to be noticed anyway. They were unbefitting of a servant.

The garden was beautiful though. She had put extra work into it that week as per request. The trellis that beckoned people inside had bluish green ivy climbing up. From this ivy sprouted deep purple and claret red blossoms. Beyond it flowers of all colors and types sprung up, though the majority of these were various shades of red.

As he approached she was reaching up to pluck a red flower from the trellis. Carefully she intertwined the stem in a curl right above her ear. There was nothing more beautiful to her than what was found in nature. When he spoke about the beauty of the garden she smiled and faced him.

"You really think the gardens are lovely?" she asked softly. "The caretaker isn't all that great, you know. I've heard rumors about her. She isn't really that well liked by the other servants. I think the way they're done is alright. They could be better. Much better."

There was that charm again. A grin crossed her face and she crossed her arms over her chest, leaning back slightly to observe him. It was great to hear that she was able to capture such things so well, even if she hadn't been around to experience them. Perhaps she was able to read the energy imprint of those events?

"I wonder what girl you could mean," she said dryly, though she knew damn well who he meant. She did not know why he thought she was so beautiful. Unlike so many other girls in the palace her hair was plain as were her eyes. Where everyone else shined with gemstone array, she simply faded into the background.


"But I am the one who tends to these gardens. It is the thing that I excelled at most so this is where your mother decided to put me... for the most part. The gardens don't need constant caring for."

Andromeda smiled softly at his remark. Perhaps he really did find her prettier than the other girls. Then again, the others were pretty common fair within the castle. However she decided to pay it no mind. Looks didn't matter anyway, though they were nice to have. A rare giggle escaped from her throat whenever he rearranged the flower resting in her hair.

She followed him to gaze into the reflecting pool that was closest to the mouth of the garden.

"I didn't know that your mother liked me or even knew about me. I mean, we have so many maids in the castle, it is shocking that she knows me by name."

Feeling his warm breath against her ear made the young girl flush darkly. The maids that were chatting between themselves shot glares at her for it and she could not help but smirk at Nathaniel's game. Normally she would have not dipped into that part of herself but all of that jealousy was grating on her.

"The maids? I think the best word to describe them would be nosy," she stated loudly enough for the girls to hear. "Its a shame that they can't worry about their own lives. I wonder how everything is for them, then... must be a rather boring existence if they put themselves in other's business."

Andromeda was offended by the comment and fought the urge to pull away. It was true for her; if it hadn't been for the kindness of Queen Ruby, then there was no telling where a six year old Andromeda would have gone. Even if she did fight it, however, her eyes still boiled with that line. Act or not that was a low blow. Still, she managed to pull herself out of that steam. After all, she knew it was just a ploy on behalf of the Prince.

Which worked on the maids. The anger on some of their faces was almost so hot she could feel the flame on her back. While still others appeared to be about to burst in to tears. There was a part of her that felt guilty. Was it really worth causing pain like that to give a smug sense of superiority? She didn't know. What she did know, however, is that they began to leave, murmuring between them.

When Andromeda was sure that they were out of sight, she put a little space between her and Nathaniel.

"Oh, dear, the rumors that will go around now."

((This is Fizz, by the way ^.^ ))