I can do this!

Isabella took a deep breath, mentally prepared herself, and then turned to face the young woman eating lunch next to her. “Um…hello.” A faint smile accompanied the movement and she did her best to maintain eye contact once the other woman turned in response. “My name is Isabella York. I don’t believe we’ve met…”

Okay, she managed to get the greeting out. Everything was going according to the plan! A plan that was carefully developed the previous night while she lay in bed with Violet. After so many weeks spent talking with her handmaiden exclusively, Isabella finally gathered enough courage to try with a stranger. She needed to practice conversing with the other students if she was to make it through the remainder of her time at school, and beyond. Today wouldn’t be anything serious, a simple chat during lunch with whoever sat next to her. That would put a very distinct time limit on the conversation and also give her a place to start. As an extra precaution, she sat at the end of one of the tables so she only had to worry about one other student. Of course, Violet would also be right behind her if Isabella needed rescuing. 

“Oh! Hello, it’s you!” The other woman’s eyebrows rose in a clear sign of recognition. “You had the misfortune of knocking water onto my dress a few weeks ago.” She turned to look up at where Violet stood then and offered a polite wave before turning back. “Besides, everyone knows the Princess-knight and her lady.” That last bit was followed by a soft giggle that soon settled into a broad smile. 

Of course, learning who she’d ended up next to caused Isabella’s stomach to drop. Not only had she knocked water on this poor girl, but she also ran away after getting too worked up. Mention of Violet caused Isabella to turn towards her as well, a look of pleading plain on her face. This was too difficult; she’d picked the worst person without even realizing it! However, the small smile and nod of reassurance Violet offered was enough to calm the rising dread. For now, anyway. So, she turned back and gave a sort of half smile while cringing a little where she sat. “That’s right, I remember now. I’m terribly sorry about that by the way.”

In response, the other woman brought up a hand and waived it between them, as if to brush away any concern. “It’s quite alright. Accidents happen. Besides, I was very popular afterward! Not everyone has an interaction with your handmaiden.” Again, a few giggles escaped her lips before the hand that was outstretched came to rest on her sternum. “I’m Dianne by the way. It’s nice to meet you, Isabella.” 

Continued reference to Violet had Isabella’s chest tightening a little, but when introductions finally came, she was able to push those feelings down. “It’s nice to meet you as well. Thank you for your understanding.” Was Violet so popular that such an incident would really make Dianne the talk of the school? And if so, what were they saying about Isabella when she wasn’t around? While she pondered that question, Dianne turned and resumed eating her lunch by dipping a spoon into today’s soup. 

“Oh, that reminds me. I was just curious how you were enjoying today’s meal?” Well, that brief, embarrassing detour had thrown her carefully prepared script off track but now Isabella could get back to it. Starting with a simple question.

“Mm,” Dianne uttered the noise while nodding until she finished and swallowed. After which, she indicated the soup with the spoon in her hand. “It’s my lucky day because I love the tomato soup they serve here. It almost makes me want to ask for the recipe to take home. What about you?”

Now this was something that Isabella could agree with. “Yes! It’s simple, but still so delicious. The way they balance the flavor of the tomatoes with the spices is impressive. Honestly, I haven’t had a single bad dish the whole time though.” 

Dianne must’ve agreed because the nod of her head was so vigorous that some of her brown hair fell from where it sat tucked behind an ear. “Right? I wasn’t expecting much for school food, but everything has been tasty. What’s your favorite?”

For a few minutes, the pair fell into easy conversation about the cuisine the school offered. Violet had been right, Isabella just needed to find something she had in common with these women. It wasn’t until Dianne indicated another student that their topic finally changed. 

“Oh, Katherine. You silly woman. She’s overloaded her tray again and is trying to carry her bag at the same time.”

Isabella turned her head and found the student Dianne was referencing. Sure enough, a shorter woman was walking past the ends of the tables on her way to find a seat. Her cheeks looked red from the effort of carrying everything and one loop of her bag hung from an elbow while her hands held the tray of food. The second strap dragged dangerously across the floor alongside her feet. Before Isabella even had time to realize the hazard such a thing possessed, the worst came to pass. 

After finally stepping on the end of the hanging strap, the young woman’s arm jerked down towards the floor. The tray and the food were suddenly catapulted forward and her body followed suit. However, though the tray hit the ground with an awful clatter, the thud of Katherine’s body did not follow. Instead, she remained clutched in Violet’s arms after the doll caught her in the midst of her tumble. 

“Miss, are you alright?” Violet looked down into the face of the shocked woman, her voice as even and calm as always.

After a few blinks, Katherine’s mind finally caught up to what was going on and her face turned a deep crimson out of embarrassment. “Y-yes, I’m fine!” The sound of the tray and dishes hitting the ground caused everyone in the dining hall to turn towards the commotion.

Satisfied, Violet nodded once and then stood tall, helping Katherine up as well. Once they were upright, she removed her arms from around the woman and bent to pick up the bag. “Miss, please be careful carrying too much. It’s very dangerous.” 

“Yes, I will be more careful.” Katherine hastily nodded in agreement before reaching out and taking her belongings. “Thank you!” She still looked humiliated at what happened and Isabella couldn’t blame her. She might’ve died if the same thing happened to her. In the meantime, school staff began to emerge with cleaning supplies to remove the mess. After arriving on the scene, they shooed away the two women for their safety and so they could get to work.

Katherine took the opportunity to excuse herself and scurry off while Violet returned to where she stood only a few moments ago. Of course, almost every pair of eyes in the room was now on the doll. Like with the water before, a pang of jealousy sprang up in Isabella’s mind. However, this time, other emotions surfaced to drown it out. The first was amazement that Violet even managed to catch the girl at all. Her reaction time, and speed, must be incredible! Second, and the biggest of all, was the pride in knowing her friend had done such a thing for a stranger. It seemed she really did want to help those around her. 

“Thank you, Violet. Well done.” Isabella offered, with a smile and a nod of her head. After Violet’s lips formed into a smile of her own, she nodded back but otherwise remained silent and observant. After Isabella turned back, she was met with the wide eyes of Dianne after she also managed to pull her gaze away. “She’s unbelievable! You’re so lucky!” 

In response, Isabella’s smile widened and she couldn’t help but nod her agreement. “Yes, she is, isn’t she? And I really am.” Lucky that Violet came to the school, lucky she didn’t get frustrated with her antics, and lucky she had accepted Isabella’s friendship.

Once lunch was complete, Isabella and Violet exited the dining hall and followed a line of girls toward the second floor for the afternoon’s dance practice. Now that the debut was only a few weeks away, the girls were practicing almost every day. However, before the pair reached the stairs, Katherine began to wave them down from off to the side. Or she began to wave Violet down, judging by where her eyes fell. After Violet noticed her, she turned towards Isabella with eyes that seemed to seek permission to head over.

“She probably wants to thank you for earlier. Go ahead, I’ll wait for you here,” Isabella said before Violet even needed to ask. 

“Very well, I’ll be right back.”

Isabella came to a stop and then moved out of the way so the other students could continue. She watched Violet go then and subsequently waited as the two conversed. After a few moments, she could see that Katherine handed something over before inclining her head and rejoining the line herself. Whatever it was fit snuggly in Violet’s hand, obscuring her view. After Violet returned, she opened her fingers to display a small vial of deep purple liquid and a small brush. 

“You were right, Miss York. She thanked me and gave this nail polish as a token of her appreciation.” 

Isabella smiled before reaching over and taking the little glass container from where it sat on the leather glove. In hand, she held it up to a window to allow it to catch the light and bring the color to life. “It’s a pretty color. That was very nice of her.” After asking, Isabella replaced the vial in Violet’s hand and then began to move towards the line once more.

Today’s plan for their practice time was to start cleaning up some of the more fanciful steps that rarely appeared in their routines. One such maneuver was a simple spin initiated by Violet. Made easier by the handmaiden’s few inches of additional height. Isabella had kept pace so far in the dance so far and seemed to be enjoying herself more and more during these sessions. Not only had dancing become more pleasurable as she got better, but being close to Violet like this never failed to have her heart soaring. 

Now that they were warmed up, Violet signaled the upcoming twirl by raising their hands higher and increasing pressure on Isabella’s back. Isabella subsequently took a step and tried to position her foot for the pivot. However, after placing it down, she immediately knew something was off. It was too late though, and she found herself twisting awkwardly as pain shot up her leg from the momentum.

“Oh!” A sharp inhale followed the gasp and her eyes slammed shut from the pain. The only reason she hadn’t gone crashing to the floor was Violet’s grip and quick reflexes. 

“Miss York, are you hurt!?” Isabella felt Violet’s arms pull her closer so she could bear more of her weight and, when she opened her eyes, she could see the look of concern on her partner’s face.

Isabella took a moment to gather herself and offered a shaky smile before trying to set her foot back down. “I’m alright, it was just a–” As soon as she applied weight to the ankle, the pain came back and Isabella winced again. “Damn it, I think I twisted it…”

Before she could speak further, Isabella felt her body lift from the ground, and her world go from vertical to horizontal in one swift motion. Another gasp of surprise escaped her lips, and her arms shot up to loop around the handmaiden’s neck out of reflex. “Oh! Violet!” 

Violet had her in a full princess carry now and began walking towards where the teacher stood watching the scene unfold. In addition to everyone else in the room. “Miss York, please relax. I will take you to the nurse so she can inspect your ankle.” After Violet took the time to explain what happened to the teacher, she turned and headed straight for the stairs. Unfortunately, or fortunately considering her earlier envy, it seemed that her own “Princess-knight” moment hadn’t been long in showing up.