Page 48 of Lady Knight and the Thief

“No need to apologize, My Lady.”

“Really, you needn’t call me Lady,” Cypress said, unable to shoulder the weight of that title. Not here, where her minuscule claim to nobility felt like an insult to the grandeur of this place.

“Is that not your title?” Athima asked, brow furrowed as she led Cypress up a short set of wide stairs. Even they had gold running through them, tiny veins of precious metals.

“In some circles, I suppose so. But I’d prefer you just call me Cypress.”

That seemed to be the simplest explanation. Cypress was still keen on keeping the true nature of Captain Cy a secret.

“But, Prince Torren-”

It didn’t matter what was about to come out of Athima’s mouth next.

“Prine Torren will call me what he likes, but I’d prefer to be just Cypress, if you please.”

Athima snapped her jaw closed and bowed her head slightly. “As you wish, Cypress.”

Cypress returned the nod with a quiet, “Thank you.”

Athima led on, gliding down a hallway to the opposite end before coming to a stop before an ornate purple door, indicating to Cypress to enter first.

Cypress opened the plum colored door, noting the ornate crystal doorknob and knocker attached to the middle.

The room was grand– grander than even Cade’s rooms, not to mention her quarters at the Keep.

The walls were the same white and charcoal bark as the throne room, and the floor had the gorgeous gold-veined floor, but the leaves and flowers adorning the windowsills and ceiling were a deep plum that perfectly matched the door.

The barest scattering of pink blooms complemented the plum decor perfectly.

A large bed was placed near the window with voluptuous pillows and silky bedding in the same shades of pink and plum purple.

Cypress explored behind a thick tangle of branches that erupted from the wall to form a partition, presuming to find the bathing chambers. Athima was only a few steps behind.

She let out a gasp of surprised delight at what she found behind that partition. There was a delightfullyenormousbath made entirely of amethyst crystal.

The outside of the bath was uncut crystal, and the innumerable facets caught and reflected the light from the windows.

The inside was smoothed to an almost mirror finish, with a wide edge that would be the perfect perch for a glass of wine, or something stronger.

The bath was supported with thick branches cradling the bottom, veins of precious metals encircling the wood.

On the wall next to the bath was a pair of faucets and a spout. The handles on the faucets were also made of amethyst crystal, though they were uncut.

Caelith’s Keep had running water in select areas of the sprawling castle, but not all. Cypress had not anticipated being given a room with it here, let alone a room that was as grand as this.

Torren had been placed in little more than a cell during his stay at Caelith’s Keep, down to the guard stationed just outside his door.

“Is everything to your liking, Cypress?” Athima asked.

Cypress couldn’t help but smile at the hesitation of using her name, the instinct to refer to Cypress by her title rearing its head.

“This is all beautiful, thank you.”

Athima nodded. “Something will be brought up for you to wear to the evening's celebrations shortly. Please, make yourself at home,” she said, then bowed and closed the door behind her on her way out.

Cypress looked around the room once more, debating for only a single heartbeat.

That bathtub was calling her name.