Chapter Five
1490 Words
The curtains were ripped open, light pouring over me.
“Get up,” Stepmother commanded, “You are having breakfast with his Highness.”
“Ugh. Go away,” I mumbled.
“Excuse me?”
“I said, go away,” I sat up, glaring at her. “I’ll not be having breakfast with him. He’s awful.”
“You will do as you are told. Now, up!”
Opening my trunk, she picked up a bright yellow dress and tossed it on the bed. I stared at it like it was a wild cat. “I said I’m not going.”
“Get out of that bed Adira, or I swear-“
“What? What more could you possibly do to me?” I spread my arms.
Her grey irises flashed; Storming over, she pulled me from under the covers. “I am tired of you fighting me on this. How selfish can you be? This marriage will benefit the whole Kingdom! The Prince will finally be able to put an end to those wretched Keepers. Yet you are only thinking about yourself!”
“I am considering this Kingdom. Not all Keepers are monsters. Some humans are though.” I looked at her pointedly.
My head snapped to the side from the impact of her slap. Grabbing my hair, she dragged me to the bathroom, picking up the dress on the way. Tossing me in, I narrowly avoided hitting the claw foot tub. “I am sending a guard to make sure you arrive on time. Do not test my patience anymore today Adira.” With that, she slammed the door closed.
Rubbing my red cheek, I drew myself a bath, slipping beneath the water. If only I could survive underwater, like the Murrow; I’d leave this place without a backward glance. Living among sharks sounded better than the future that was planned for me. I dressed mechanically, not bothering to do up my hair. Opening the door, I was surprised to see the kind guard from the day before.
“Hello my Lady,” He smiled.
“Uh. . . Hi.”
“I am to escort you to breakfast. Shall we?”
Down the grand staircase, I wondered how anyone knew where they were. The Palace was massive, with the best paintings adorning the walls and the finest rugs on the floors. We passed more than a dozen doors and even more people.
“I didn’t catch your name,” I spoke up.
“You may call me Nicholas, as everyone else does my Lady.”
“You may call me Adira.”
“Ah, such a thing is not proper. Only your husband and your family may call you familiarly.”
“I see,” I said, grimacing at the word ‘husband’. “May I ask you something, Nicholas?”
“Anything my Lady.”
I touched his arm, making him stop. Lowering my voice, I asked him, “Do you think I will be happy here? Tell me the truth.”
He hesitated. His face said more than words ever could, but he still answered my question. “I believe. . . you will have both happy and unhappy times here my Lady. If you indeed want my honesty, then here is my honest advice; Avoid the Prince when you can and be sensible when you cannot.”
The warning was clear. Nodding my thanks, I blinked away the moisture in my eyes. Crying would get me nowhere. At the end of the corridor, Nicholas opened a door, standing aside so I could enter. The King sat at the end of a long table, the Prince to his right. Steam wafted into the air from the many platters, all piled high with meats, bread, fruit, and cheeses.
“The Lady Adira, your Highness’,” Nicholas announced my arrival.
“Good morning my Lady!” The King beamed. “How did you sleep?”
“Well, your Grace, thank you.”
“Come, come!” He gestured to the seat on his left. Nicholas pulled the chair out, and I nodded my thanks, arranging my skirts.
“You’re late,” Prince Rialóir snapped.
I bit my lip. “I apologize your Highness. My stepmother came to see me this morning.”
The King frowned at his son. “Not to worry, we haven’t been here long.”
Servants came to make our dishes. I thought it was a tad silly when everything was within reach. Across the table, Prince Rialóir already had three sausages speared on his fork. How would I ever eat when dining with him made me lose my appetite?
“What would you like to do today, my Lady?” The King asked conversationally.
“I. . . I’m not sure, your Highness,” I said, “What would you suggest?”
“Hmm,” He scratched his beard, “Aiden could show you around the gardens. They are lovely this time of year.”
It took me a second to realize he referred to the Prince. “I would love that,” I smiled.
The Prince, however, was looking at his father irritably. “I’m going hunting this morning.” He complained.
The King waved his hand. “You can go hunting anytime. Spend time with Lady Adira.”
“Yes, Father,” His jaw was clenched, and he stabbed another piece of meat violently.
The rest of the meal was awkward. I was grateful to Nicholas, standing behind my chair, and making small talk with the King. It saved me from having to further converse and pretend that I was eager to spend time with his son. Truthfully, I wanted the day to end already so I could crawl into bed and forget everything, even for a few hours.
“Nicholas, accompany my Lady and Aiden,” The King dabbed his mouth with a napkin.
“Where is Boler?” The Prince barked.
“His wife went into labour last night. He is with her. Nicholas will take his place for now.”
“Labour,” The Prince scoffed, “The only thing a woman is good for.”
“Aiden!”
My face was pale as he knocked back his chair and stalked out of the room. King Rialóir shook his head, turning to me with an apologetic face. “I am sorry my dear. My son can be temperamental.”
Not the word I would use.
Aloud, I said, “It’s fine your Grace. I understand.”
He sighed. “I’m afraid he’s been in a foul mood since we first got wind of this trouble with the Keepers. He aches to go to war but. . . I’m not sure war is the right path.”
One brow raised. “You don’t?”
“No. I think we could negotiate peace with them. Aiden is young; he wants to prove himself on the battlefield. He doesn’t have the experience in running a Kingdom like I do. Sometimes. . .” He trailed off, mouth turning down. Then he shook his head, “Never you mind. It’s nothing for you to worry about. Go enjoy the day.”
I stood as he did, emitting a curtsey. I followed Nicholas out of the hall, exhaling the tension in my body. The Prince waited for us at the entry to the garden, his face sour. I walked to stand in front of him. “Shall we?”
“Whatever.”
He walked ahead, not waiting for me. The gardens were gorgeous, filled with white and red roses, ponds, and beds of shamrocks. It was the kind of place I would enjoy spending an afternoon with a book. We’d been walking silently for a while when abruptly, the Prince rounded on me.
“You should know that I want no part of this marriage. It is happening only because your stepmother and my Father agreed on it. I find it beyond disgusting that I am forced to marry a commoner.”
I bristled. “My family is a noble one,” I argued, then wondered why I was defending myself. I didn’t want to marry him either!
“It was,” He retorted, “You have no parents. Your status lowered when you became an orphan.”
Tears brimmed on my lashes. Nicholas stepped forward, bowing his head. “My Lady looks tired your Grace. Might I take her to her room, and you would be free to go hunting, as you had planned?”
“Yes. And find Boler, will you? I am deprived of good company.”
He left us, but not before eyeing me with utter contempt. Nicholas placed a hand on my shoulder, guiding me back the way we’d come.
“I am sorry, my Lady.”
I looked at him, taking in his pity. Mrs. Farley was right; This was no life for me.
- Writer
