PRICE OF ROYALTY

9. Handmaids

CHAPTER NINE

Leon’s heart in my control.

Pleasing kings was easy but having them in your control was almost an impossible task. Controlling a king’s heart would make him susceptible to you and that was just about enough power for any queen. Many queens had tried before but very few had succeeded. From what I’d heard about the King of Varci, was that he was quiet the independent man. He loved having his way around a woman and not the other way round. Wining his heart would be difficult and so many things stood in my way, including the fact that I was a bastard from an enemy kingdom.

“We have arrived at our camp in Nagra Princess. Good luck, you’d definitely need it,” He smirked and there was no man who was openly hateful of me like he was. He may have been blessed with looks as good as the gods themselves but the arrogant attitude woven around him like a second skin, was quite off-putting.

“I don’t need your luck Prince. I’m now a queen-your Queen to be exact. You could show me some respect instead,” I spat, giving him the same arrogant smirk. Someone needed to put him in his place and if by the will of the gods I won his brother’s favor, then I’d be the one to do so. I’d make sure he understood his place and shut his mouth when he was talking to me.

I stepped off the carriage into the open land. Soldiers dressed in red armor stood in two straight lines leading to my tent, leaving space in between. I could not read their expression because of their face helmet but I knew they were my enemies. With a light smile on my face, I walked through the gap with Theo right behind me, obviously swimming at the height of his fury. Clearly no one had the nerve to shut him up before but I was going to teach him a lesson he’d remember at every dawn break when he opened his eyes.

“Your Grace,” Three handmaids, dressed in fine embroidery chorused the moment I walked in as they bowed in acknowledgement. I nodded once.

“These will be your handmaids; Gretchen, Mary and Barbara,”Theo pointed them out and I made a quick note, matching their names to their faces. I had to be careful and remembrance of people was one of the key measures in doing this. Gretchen had a freckled face that would very much easy to memorize. Mary’s abnormally small right index finger and Barbara’s tall frame were quiet the outstanding features.

“They will all be at your service. Now, I’ll take my leave while you rest for a while then we’ll resume the journey and be it the will of the god’s, we’ll reach Mel, the first village in Varci. We’ll camp there for the night and then start out journey afresh at first light. By last light, we would have reached the palace,” he explained then walked away without waiting to hear my input or at least see my reaction. Either he was really learning or he just found it useless to antagonize me.

“Well, for starters, I’d like my bathing water prepared and make it warm enough but not too hot,” I ordered.

“Yes, Your Grace,” They chorused then went ahead but not before I stopped Mary.

“Mary would please stay behind? I have something else I want you to do,”

“It will be my honor, Your Grace,” She said, her head slightly bowed. There was something about her that made her easily distinguishable from the other two handmaids. I could quiet put my finger on and I sure hell did not fathom whether it was vice or virtuous.

“Your Grace?” Her voice pulled me back into reality, making me realize I had stared at her perhaps for too long. I did not want to scare her off at first meeting. First expression, especially for someone like me were quiet important.

“I would like for you to rearrange my beddings before I rest. Change them to something plain royal Blue if you don’t mind. The glittery in these is too distractive for me to sleep and I really need my rest”

“Yes Your Grace,” She said as she proceeded to do what I had instructed of her.

Still, I could not help the curiosity inside me. It was hard to tell what it was exactly but her entire demeanor peeked my interest. One way or the other, I would figure her out.

“Your Grace, we have prepared your bath,”

I nodded and followed them to the make-shift tent where a tin tub sat majestically in the middle. Not wanting to take any chances, I looked at them even though none of them was meeting my gaze.

“Would you please test the water for me Barbara?”

“I do not understand Your Grace,” She replied hesitantly.

“I doubt there is anything not understandable about my statement but if you really didn’t get me, then I’d like to put it a simpler language. Dip your elbow inside my bathing water,” I ordered. You could never underestimate the power of an enemy kingdom. One moment you would be innocently enjoying your bath and the next moment you would be dead.

She gave me one hesitant look but still did what I asked anyway. After confirming the water was safe for me to bath in, I dismissed my handmaids with orders of preparing my food. I was starving but now I knew I needed to be more careful.