Another week of work went by quickly for Lila and Daphne, and another gold coin was earned. So after work that night they both headed straight to the post man again, ever eager to send home another week's wages. Lila paid to send another letter, where she told her father of the past week's experiences and once again assured him all was well, in case the first letter had not put him enough at ease. She also thanked Maryann for her help and said she loved them both very much. But Daphne once again refused to pay for a letter to her family, in order to send back as much money as she could. Lila took one of her remaining copper coins for dessert that night, and gave it to her instead.

"Here, now you can send them a letter." She said gently.

Daphne gasped. "Oh Lila, you do not need to do that! You are supposed to treat yourself with this!"

Lila shook her head. "Come on, desserts and treats are not as important as family. Go ahead, let your siblings know how much you miss them."

Her friend eyes welled up with tears as she nodded. "Thank you Lila! You are far too kind..."

"No need to thank me, we are friends after all." Lila replied.

Daphne smiled and nodded again. Then she paid the post man his fee and wrote out a very long letter on the piece of paper provided. Afterwards, the man took their packages and loaded them onto his horse.

"No need to worry ladies, I can get these back to your homes in about two days if I ride fast."

"Thank you so much for your services." Lila said with a small curtsy.

The man smiled. "Just doing my job. Now go and enjoy what is left of this fine evening.”

She nodded and then turned to leave. Then for a while Daphne and she wandered around the marketplace again, curious to see what new merchants and trades were here today. The tantalizing aromas once again engulfed them as they passed by one bakery and smoke house after another.

"Oh Lila, you cannot even buy yourself something tonight even though you have waited all week." Daphne said sadly.

Lila laughed. Technically she had one coin left, but since it was not enough to buy something to share, she decided not to spend it at all.

"I will be just fine. Besides, there is always next time." She replied.

"I think I should buy you something next week then!" Her friend said.

Lila shook her head. "No, I told you not to worry about it. Your siblings need that money."

Daphne wanted to protest, but she seemed unable to respond.

Lila smiled at her. "How about you promise to invite me over to eat when we got home to visit everyone? I am dying to try your brother's cooking."

Her friend's face lit up. "Okay, that sounds perfect! He will be more than happy to, I assure you!”

They walked around for a bit longer before returning inside the castle. Then they ate their supper and headed to their rooms for the night. But as the two of them entered the hallway that led to their sleeping quarters they met a small group of people who were blocking the walkway. Two of them were maids whom Lila recognized, and three of them were young guards. They were all standing there and talking in what looked to be an inappropriate manner, with one guard even embracing one of the maids closely. But as soon as Daphne and she arrived they all seemed to stop what they were doing to notice them both.

"Why, hello ladies." One of the men said with a wide smile.

"Excuse us, we just want to pass." Lila said politely.

The two maids cast her vicious glares.

"Go away!" The girl being embraced snapped.

"Yeah, mind your own business!" The other threatened.

Lila crossed her arms. "Look we are just tired and want to go to our rooms!"

Suddenly, the smiling guard left the group and came towards them.

"Why not spend a little time with us first?" He said, gazing at Daphne from head to toe.

Lila puffed up her chest and glared back at him as her friend hid behind her.

"We are not interested. Now let us pass." She said with annoyance.

"Knock it off Daven, you are supposed to be over here speaking with me!" The second maid snapped angrily.

The man chuckled, and Lila suddenly realized that he smelled like alcohol.

"Oh come on, if you stay I promise you will both have a good time." He said, yanking her aside and exposing Daphne.

The other two guards whistled her way and began laughing.

"She sure is easy on the eyes!" One said.

"I bet she would make a good wife!" The other who was embracing the other girl said.

Daphne just stood there frozen in fear as the man came even closer to her. He smiled and suddenly grabbed a lock of her hair.

"Why not smile for me girl?" He said.

Lila came over and pushed the man away.

"Back off, you ugly wench!" He snapped.

Lila flushed with anger. "Leave us alone or I will inform the head guard and head maid of these activities!"

The man snorted as he grabbed her arm roughly once more. "Maybe I will not let you inform them then."

This wasn't good. Lila knew there was little good in trying to reason with a drunkard!

“HEY!” A voice suddenly shouted.

Everyone jumped and spun around to see a young man standing there, clothed in a dark green vest that belonged to teachers and tutors. He was tall, with curly blonde hair pulled into a ponytail and the bluest eyes Lila had ever seen.

“Is it normal for men on the King’s clock to harass servants?” The young man asked.

Daven scoffed. “And who are you to judge us?”

“Bartholomew is my name sir, and I am not here to judge anyone. However, this conduct of yours is rather ill fitting for men in your position.” He replied sternly.

Lila’s jaw dropped. She had no idea why a scrawny man like him was daring to go up against two drunken guardsmen! Was he crazy!?

Luckily, Daven’s friend suddenly came over and grabbed him. “Shut up you fool! Do you not recognize him!?”

“What? Why are you-”

“Pardon us sir! We will be on our way now!” The second guard said, quickly pulling his friend away.

Lila watched them disappear with surprise. Then she noticed both maids also seemed to have gone, as if they were frightened by this new stranger.

“Are you both alright?” The young man asked, coming over to them.

She nodded and gave a quick bow. “Yes sir. Thank you for ridding us of those scoundrels!”

Honestly, if not for his intervention she might have had to fight them off by hand! Which in turn, could have gotten her into trouble or even kicked out of the castle. A fate Lila would have been very cross about…

The young man laughed, a nearly musical sound that made her want to blush.

“Very glad to be of help! But please ladies, be more careful in the future.” He said, looking truly concerned.

She and Daphne both nodded again as he then turned and left. Lila watched him for a moment, noticing as he entered down the male servant hall. He was dressed as a teacher, but he must also be staying with the hired help by the looks of it. Luckily, it was an honorable stranger who had come upon their incident! The two of them were truly in the man’s debt.

"Oh my...how frightening..." Daphne suddenly said, looking to be in a state of shock still.

Lila let out a long sigh. She supposed Daphne was not used to such inappropriate advances despite being so beautiful. But perhaps that came from have so many brothers around her back home. Lila for her part had a father who would never let any man so much as look at her inappropriately without some kind of confrontation, but she still knew how dishonorable men could be at times.

"Come on Daphne, let us get some rest already." She said.

Once they arrived at their room and shut the door behind them, it was then that Lila realized where she recognized the two maids from earlier from. They were in fact roommates. The two of them were already inside it seemed, talking with all the other girls present. As soon as Daphne and she entered everyone stopped and looked at them. Obviously, the current gossip had been about them.

"Well, well, if it is not the lovely Daphne and her horse faced friend." The girl who had called out to the young guard from earlier and whose name Lila remembered was Tam, said with disdain.

"Are you here to ruin another party?" The other maid who had been in the embrace of the other guard, and whose name she thought was Luo, asked.

All the other girls giggled and watched the scene with interest. Lila just folded her arms and scoffed.

"None of this would have happened if you had just let us pass earlier!" She snapped.

Tam scowled and approached them with her hands on her hips.

"If you or your friend ever go near Daven again you will be sorry!" She declared menacingly.

Lila rolled her eyes as Daphne whimpered behind her back.

"I can assure you we have no intention of making advancements on your precious guard friend." She said sarcastically.

The girl giggled. "Oh Lila, I was not talking to you silly. The only man you could attract is, well, no one actually."

All the other maids burst out in laughter, and Lila felt herself blush with embarrassment. She knew quite well she was no beauty, but surely such comments were just plain cruel. Not that she was about to let it to get the better of her.

“Just make sure you stay out of my way. If not for that pesky tutor we would have been forced to teach you both a lesson!” Tam growled as she rejoined the group.

Lila turned and rolled her eyes with frustration.

"I am so sorry Lila…" Her friend whispered.

“Do not fret, you have done no wrong. Come, let us get some sleep.”

Daphne nodded, though her face still looked full of shame and guilt. Lila decided to get into her night gown and prepare for bed, since she was far more tired now than previously. But before she got in bed though Daphne tapped her shoulder.

"Hey, do not listen to what those girls said. You are very pretty Lila, even more so than they." She said softly.

Lila snickered. "Do not worry about me having hurt feelings. I know very well I am not that lovely, but I tend not to care about such things. I do not need to be beautiful in order to be myself.”

Daphne smiled. "And I like you just the way you are, lovely and all."

Then her friend shrugged. "Besides, beauty can feel more like a curse than anything else sometimes."

Lila giggled at the joke and watched her return to her own bed. Just a few minutes later the maids put out the candle, and the whole room became quiet. She lay awake for a while thinking of many things, even of the mean comments made to her that night. What she had spoken to Daphne was true, and she really did not care about such trivial things like beauty. But still, it was not easy to hear other people call her ugly.

Just then, the image of their savior, mister Bartholomew, passed through her mind. She certainly had not expected such a chivalrous man to stand up for mere servants. His blonde hair and blue eyes brought a bit of pink to her freckled cheeks…

Lila scowled and shook such irritating thoughts away for the night. She really didn’t have time to worry over such things as boys or pretty looks!