The guards looked confused but let Cat go. “Ok but stay in the castle we might still need to question you,” one of the said as Cat stepped away. She nodded as she avoided looking at Aurelie. He turned to Aurelie. “Your highness we’ll catch the thief outside right away!” He gave his men some orders and they ran out.
“What was that about?” demanded Aurelie as soon as the guards were gone. “Don’t tell me you actually were trying to steal something. I asked you to leave.”
“I was leaving! I was just going to return a few things first. They must have been tipped off by someone,” she explained looking up at the princess.
Aurelie sighed. “I’m not sure I believe you,” she admitted softly, her forehead resting on her hand. “But whatever the case, I do believe that you’re trying to be better, and I would hate to see you hurt.” She looked at Cat with a once again carefully neutral expression. “Though I suppose you can’t leave now.”
She nodded. “Yeah I don’t think I could sneak out…” she agreed.
Aurelie glanced at Cat again, careful not to let her frustration or hurt show. “I guess we’ll just have to wait here then.”
“Yeah we probably should,” she said looking away from her.
Aurelie frowned at Cat's inability to look her in the eyes, thought she had to admit that it was difficult for her to look Cat in the eyes. She said nothing more as she stood in wait, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I don’t think they are coming back any time soon and I do have some things to return..” she admits.
Aurelie sighed. “Give them to me and I’ll do it, because if they catch you again they may not listen to me,” she replied, holding out her hand.
Cat took a small bag out of her pocket and handed it to Aurelie. It was filled with random valuables. Teacups, silverware, and jewelry but nothing directly from the princess.
“You gathered yourself quite a stash, didn’t you?” she asked accusingly. “I suppose that I’ll have to go and put these back now. They wouldn’t dare to accuse me of stealing.”
“I would of had more if I wasn’t distracted,’ she admits leaning against the wall.
"So good to know that I was a distraction to you," Aurelie bit out, turning around. "I'm going to go now. So help me god if you're still here in a few hours."
Cat bit her lip. She didn’t mean for it to come out that way but she was kind of happy it did. She’d rather her be mad than sad.
Aurelie walked off then, her heels clicking against the castle floor and her dress swishing as she walked. She had changed out of her more plain dress into a cream-colored gown with 3/4 sleeves and a square neckline, her hair now hanging in loose curls that bounced as she walked away.
Cat watched her leave blinking the tears out of her eyes. She planned her escape knowing that the princess won't be able to cover for her for long.
As soon as she was out of sight from Cat, Aurelie paused, taking deep breaths to calm herself down and trying her best not to cry again and mess up her makeup covering her last sobfest. After a minute or two of that, she continued on to replace the stolen items.
Cat looked around the hall and sat down on the floor leaning against the wall. She could just tell the truth. Let them arrest her. At least then she won’t have to worry about stealing for a while.
Aurelie continued to put the things back, thinking about Cat the entire time. She wished that she could just get over her, but with her birthday coming up soon, the options looked grim. Cat probably wasn't her true love anyway, what if it was someone Aurelie had never met?
Cat thought back to the whole true love thing. The whole point of taking her into town was to let her meet people and of course Cat had to ruin that too.
Aurelie was overtaken with apprehension for her birthday. It was only about a week now, give or take. She wasn’t ready for the date to be approaching so soon.
Cat stood up deciding that sitting here was getting her nowhere. She wondered around hoping to find Aurelie.
Aurelie was returning the last item, setting down a fancy vase in the same place it had been a few days ago with a sigh of relief. She took a deep breath to calm herself, trying to not to think of the looming deadline.
Cat found the room poking her head inside. ”hey…”
Aurelie started, turning around abruptly. “Hello..” She arched an eyebrow, seeming annoyed.
”Sorry to bother you but umm, ” she really wasn't sure what to say as she stood there looking down at her feet.
“What is it?” Aurelie asked, gentler this time. She looked more tired than anything now, feeling guilty about being mean towards Cat, even if it was in self defense.
”I'm just really sorry. The whole point of taking you to that festival was to get you to meet people for well you know but of course I messed that up. I'm really sorry, ” she rambled finally looking up and at Aurelie.
“It’s not your fault,” Aurelie responded, disappointed. She supposed some part of her still wished that Cat would be her true love, but Cat definitely was pushing her towards other people, and she had lied to Aurelie. “It’s fine.” Her words rang hollow.