God, the Princess sounded so young, so vulnerable like this. If Eden thinks her heart hasn’t been broken at hearing the girl’s cries, it feels like her heart was breaking all over again into pieces.
 
Instead, Eden smiles a soft smile, never mind how her face feels like crumpling, a hand reaching to card over the girl’s hair gently, “Of course… let me just get your brush for a second. I haven’t dared to miss a night combing your hair and I most certainly wouldn’t start now, your highness.”
 
The Princess reluctantly releases her.
 
Eden briskly walks over to the girl’s vanity mirror and just as her gaze meets the girl’s eyes from her reflection, she suddenly remembers what Sir Ainsworth said.
 
What the Queen said.
 
 
(“Are you injured? Did you hurt one of your ankles?”
 
“…why was she injured in the first place?” the Queen demands, crossing her arms, “Were you not watching over her? Why did you even allow such a thing to happen?”
 
“Does it still hurt?” Eden had asked.
 
“…Not as much,”)
 
 
 
Oh God.
 
Oh God, what does that even mean?!
 
Eden’s stomach suddenly churned with a wave of disgust and sheer loathing as she began to put two and two together almost instantly despite how much she tried to will away the picture that was already forming in her head quite vividly.
 
Because she... she doesn't really want to know more about what had happened. Does she even want to know? Should she even know what really happened?
 
Could she even stomach it?
 
She doesn’t even want to think about how hurt, how terrified the girl must have been, and the Queen was just sitting there, enjoying the show, this slow descent to madness.
 
“…Miss Brighton?”
 
Eden was so certain the Princess is not going to open up to talk about the details any time real soon, let alone tell anyone considering her already secretive nature. Because the Princess, she’s... she's not ready.
 
And Eden knows for sure now that if she attempted to pry, to force the whole truth out of the girl, right into the open, she–
 
 “E-Eden?”
 
She grabs the brush and returns to the Princess.
 
“C-Can you,” the Princess swallows, looking embarrassed as she stares at her fidgeting hands, “…do you know any lullabies?”
 
…she’ll fall apart.
 
“I know some,” Eden nods, sitting down next to the girl who immediately scoots closer to her, “… but this one isn’t really a lullaby. It’s more of a hymn. Would you like me to–?”
 
“Yes, please.”
 
“But I–” Eden clears her throat, suddenly feeling ridiculously shy, a helpless laugh escapes her, “I… I’m not really much of a singer.”
 
“…I don’t care.”
 
The handmaiden smiles, glad to see her highness sounding more like herself. Eden beckons the girl closer before she opens her mouth to sing:
 
 
 “The stars, they said goodnight
So sleep till morning light
Someday, I'll stay
And dream for eternity
With you…
O beloved from above
Until then
It's only a matter of when
When he draws near
To take thee away
O beloved from above
Your hymns, I shall sing with love
Until time passes me by
So don’t kiss me goodbye
Grant me another chance
Spare me a second glance
Let me… be with you again
Beloved…”
 
 
 
As she brushes the girl’s long hair and continues to hum under her breath, even after the song is finished, Eden knows that there will be a conversation for another day come hell or high water because this one is far from finished… not by a long shot.
 
Her highness isn't okay.
 
Talking and crying about it is just the start of it all–it’s not okay, it’s not good enough and it’ll never be good enough even if the Queen burns and die because it won’t make them go away.
 
 
Eden doesn't even have any idea what to do now, to make the Princess feel the slightest bit okay…. or… or to feel safe.
 
Is it even possible, at this point?
 
Knowing just how traumatizing it had been, the girl will probably never be okay again or at the very least… be in any way similar to how she was before all of this even happened. As if her highness was alright before.
 
And Jin had specifically asked her to–
 
Eden’s hand stills.
 
This is my entire fault.
 
The Princess suddenly leans into her arm, blinking up at her with wide eyes and without a word, without thinking, Eden gathers the girl in her arms again and buries her face in the girl’s hair.
 
I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Eden had wanted to say, I couldn’t protect you, instead, the only sound the handmaiden could make were quiet sobs as the girl holds her just as tight, as if to keep her together, I failed my duty, I broke my promise to your friend too. I failed as someone worthy of you and your trust. And now, this happens… you’re hurt, you’re broken and traumatized beyond belief, and I didn’t even know. I had no idea until it was too late.
 
 
Eden tries to will the tears away, to compose herself as she presses her face into the girl’s hair until she can see nothing, but darkness and her heart physically hurts just thinking about it.
 
“…Miss Eden,”
 
She blinks and leans away to look down at the girl who looks up at her with tired, half-lidded eyes, “…Thank you for brushing my hair every night and… and for taking good care of a freak of a brat like me even though it is definitely not what you signed up for,”
 
Eden’s eyes widened.
 
Where is this coming from?
 
A faint chuckle escapes her highness’ lips, it sounds almost self-deprecating, “You know… out of everyone in this godforsaken castle, you are the only one who has the nerve, who cares enough to tell me not to spoil my appetite. You were truly the best of us all.”
 
Eden can feel tears pooling in her eyes again.
 
“So… thank you… for being here.”
 
A wave of warmth and compassion flooded through Eden’s very being as the girl gently cupped her face, resting her forehead right against her’s.
 
 “It is an honor to serve you, your highness.”
 
And that was the truth if nothing else.
 
 
Those eyes glows red when they opened.
 
“…Honor your promise.”
 
The handmaiden smiles sadly, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind the girl’s ear as the Princess leans away… but on the inside, Eden’s heart violently twists and turns in remorse while the grandfather clock chimes.
 
It’s already midnight.
 
“…Happy fourteenth birthday, milady,”