Greta insisted on washing Janessa's hair that night.
"I am a lady-in-waiting, after all," she teased. Janessa chuckled and let her old friend take care of her. Though she did have to rebraid her hair. The main skill Greta had picked up from her time in the harem was makeup, not hair dressing. Which was why Janessa suggested Greta's role for Lilia be to do the princess's makeup in the morning.
"So," Janessa said while she rebraided her hair, "what is the plan, Greta? Surely, you did not run off without any plans. That would not be in your nature."
"I stopped to speak to Anya and the other leaders of the Royalist movement before going to the port, yes," Greta confirmed. "That was why it took me a few weeks to get to you."
"What did they have to say?"
"First, for me to remain in my disguise. It makes more sense for Greta to go looking for you than Gareth," Greta said. Janessa bit back some disappointment that apparently, there was no immediate plan for her guard to return to Gareth. Big, strong, handsome Gareth...
Janessa quickly shook away those thoughts and tried to pretend they didn't just happen. She refocused on the conversation with Greta.
"Second, you are to stay here until the war is won," Greta continued. Janessa let out an aggrieved huff. "What?"
"I need to be on the front lines!" she said firmly. "Karagot is my kingdom, I need to be involved in taking it back!"
"You are the only valid heir of the royal family," Greta reminded her. "Princess Jade, Prince Jet, they are from your father's concubines. To ensure the kingdom falls in line, we need the King and Queen's child. That is you. And that means you need to stay safe. Here, you are safe." Greta stroked Janessa's arm. "I am here to make sure you remain safe."
"But Greta, Lilia and Vidar are trying to match me with a nobleman!" Janessa protested. When helping Lilia earlier, she had seen some correspondence between the royal couple and a high-ranking nobleman, a distant cousin of the royal family.
"Really?" To Janessa's worry, Greta seemed interested, not upset. "Good."
"What?!"
"It helps your cover," Greta said firmly. "No one would expect your true self to be involved in wedding talks to a Northfjord nobleman. And, should worst come to worst, it adds a layer of protection. A man will do anything to protect his wife."
"But..."
"I have a method to communicate with Anya," Greta said. She held up her finely shaped leg and shook her ankle, making her anklet jingle. "I can speak to her at any point. For now, we stay here, in hiding, safe, and do not do anything that may blow our covers."
"And when this is all over, we send generous gifts to thank Northfjord for their help," Janessa murmured. Greta nodded.
"Exactly."
There was a knock on the door of the room the two former concubines shared. The women turned. The door opened, revealing Lilia, who smiled at them. Janessa looked worriedly at Greta, nervous that the Princess had overheard their conversation.