White Hair, Part 2

Amy rested for several days in Castle Ashe, as she recovered from her death experience. The Empress came to visit her a few times, but she was being practically smothered with love by Princess Verka.

"Verka please, you still won't give me a mirror. What's got you so worked up?" Amy asked, fed up with Verka's evasiveness.

"It's your beautiful blonde hair, Amy." Verka finally relented.

"My hair? That's what got you so worked up?" Amy answered, exasperated. "Is that why I had to keep kicking you out of my bed every night? I am married you know."

"And why can't you have a mistress?" Verka said with a wink. She really was her mother's daughter, sometimes.

"You're a Princess, you're supposed to be the one with lovers. Stop stalling and give me a mirror." Amy insisted.

"Oh you're no fun. Fine." Verka said with pout, reaching into a drawer and tossing Amy a hand mirror.

Amy carefully looked at herself in the mirror. All of the hair on the left side of her head, from her ears up to where her hair parted along the left side of her head, was now a brilliant white. The rest of her hair was still the same blonde it always was, which intrigued her. Just what had happened? She wished she could remember.

"Verka, I look wonderful." Amy said, shaking her head. "Sure I stand out quite a bit now, but this is beautiful."

"You like it?" Verka asked, overjoyed. "Oh I'm so glad!"

"I have a question, Verka." Amy said, getting back to what had been on her mind. "Do you... like me?"

"Of course I do! You're my best friend outside of the castle." Verka replied, slightly confused.

"No, not like that." Amy said, shaking her head. "Rather, do you love me? I've seen the way you've look at me when you think I'm busy, you send me flowers, and I know that anonymous love poem I got wasn't from Edwin, he can't rhyme to save his life."

"Yes." Verka eventually said, looking away. "Do... do you?"

Amy hesitated to answer no right away. She really did like Verka, but did she love her? That question was difficult, but based on what she'd heard from the guards and from Rebecca, Verka's reaction to finding her unconscious on her laboratory floor was nothing short of heartbreak.

"I know it's selfish of me but can you wait for me, until I'm ready to answer that?" Amy asked, placing her hand in Verka's.