Beautiful woke that morning, bored out of her skull. Why were people so dull here? She clomped down to the common room—no one to talk to, as usual. She hated that. Fine. She would go on an adventure today. Alone, if she had to.
Same old bread. But today, Miss Cheerful had left meat and cheese—almost like she knew Beautiful had plans. Beautiful slapped a slice of each between two pieces of bread. Make one for your husband. She spun. Who said that? No one. Just her brain, spitting nonsense. What an absurd idea. She was definitely too bored.
She found herself making a second sandwich anyway, fingers working on their own. She wrapped it in linen—neatly, too. The birds would eat it. They were her only friends here. Well… them, and Gracious. And Steadfast. Kind. Fair-Glance. And—
She wandered through the wheat fields, wondering where to go. To the stream? She had never been. The stairs looked dreadfully long. The birds were singing, and she matched them, tapping the stalks in time with careful fingers. When they paused, so did she, plucking grains and flicking them away between beats. Still bored.
She looked up and saw him. What was he smiling at? She turned, hair whipping into her face. There was nothing there. Then it hit her—he was smiling at her. He kept smiling. Well, now this was getting awkward.
She strode straight over and poked him in the stomach. Husband. The word blazed through her mind before she could stop it. What an utterly ridiculous idea.
“I’m Beautiful.” Why had her parents given her that name?
“Yes, you are!” he said.
Was he teasing her? She giggled anyway. She already loved his sense of humor.
“Do you want to see the stream?” he asked. “Maybe tomorrow?”
What was wrong with him? Didn’t he realize she was bored today? He was perfect for this adventure—she had seen him poking around the ruins. Well… after Companion left. Before that, he trailed after him like some lost puppy.
Tomorrow? He probably thought she couldn’t handle the stairs and didn’t want to say it. Fine. She would show him.
“What’s wrong with today?” She had no idea what he thought he was doing—but he was coming with her. Whether he liked it or not. “Try to keep up!”
