Jewel

I had the servants bring up my jewel collection yesterday. The Countess of Avadone's second son sent me a pair of sapphires, and I spent an hour deciding where they would go in the long, velvet-lined case. Eventually, I set them between my mother's rubies, red offsetting blue. With that, I sent the servants back down and spent the rest of the day staring out the window again.

It has been 118 days since I've been kidnapped. I spent most of those days staring out the window, through a set of steel bars.

The bureaucrats claim that I'm being held for political reasons. After all, my father won't bring his armies against this place as long as one of his heirs is at risk, even if I'm only third in line for the throne. But from the first day they locked me in this nobleman's tower, I knew I was being lavished. Allowed extravagant favors, even beyond what captured royalty are given, save that I am never allowed to leave this room. My warden, the duke, has kept his distance, granting my requests through his cavalcade of retainers. But today, he held my cheek for a moment and tenderly looked into my eyes. "Jewel of my heart," he whispered. Then he closed the door and left me in this cage.

I shall retrieve my jewels tomorrow. I have a diamond brooch that will refract the window's sunlight beautifully. I'll use it to burn this place to the ground.