“Has everything been set in place? I trust that you’ve chosen our best people to do the job. I want to know everything about her, everything she does while she’s here, from the moment she wakes up in the morning…”
“About that, the crown prince did not choose any of the people we sent to watch her…”
“What? How could he know…?” Her look, made my stomach ache in that now familiar way it does when something is not going to be to my liking. And when she started wringing her hands I was doubly sure. “What is it? Tell me!”
“She wasn’t in her palace when the chosen maids were sent over.”
“Where was she?” I stopped with the goblet halfway to my lips in confusion.
“It seems she slept in his bed last night…milady don’t panic.” She rushed over to soothe me but the damage had already been done. What little joy I’d just felt was now gone.
I knew they had already consummated their union, who didn’t, what with the monarch making such a big deal about it. But that was there, on earth, away from everyone here. Here is where the people we knew would be watching. If it’s known that they share such closeness as to be sleeping together in the east wing of all places…
I flew up from the table and ran to the bathroom to lose what little I’d just eaten. “Why? I don’t understand why.” I’ve seen her now, and though she’s pretty enough, there was nothing outstanding about her. She was certainly no match for my unblemished golden beauty.
She looked like any other fairy in that flowing gown they’re so fond of and her hair tied up in knots with flowers strewn throughout it. There was nothing remotely overwhelming about her looks.
Whereas I, when I looked in the mirror now, saw the incomparable beauty in my own face. But he’d kept her in his bed, even here, where he didn’t need to. Here where it was customary for men and women to sleep in their own chambers.
“It’s nothing milady, maybe she was scared to be alone her first night here. You know our crown prince he’s always been kind and thoughtful. And it’s early days yet, who knows what they’re truly like with each other, it could all be for show.”
Her words pulled me back from despair once again. It’s one of the reasons I keep her around, she always knows just how to keep me from losing faith in my abilities. She’s the only one over the years who I’ve allowed to see the real me, who I’ve shared my inner wants and dreams with. Now we were close, so close to achieving all that I’ve ever wanted.
“Don’t forget that the only reason he’s been paired with her is to mend the breach between the kingdoms. If he treats her poorly her first time here and it gets back to the others think of what that would do. The uproar it would cause. And look, he’s already left her side their first day here.”
“Yes, you’re right, I’d almost forgotten.” It was my own reasoning sure, but what else could it be? There’s no way Lucien would’ve chosen of his own free will to marry a fairy, not when there were so many of us among his own kind to choose from.
And she was right once again, what man madly in love with his new love could bear to leave her so soon and this early in the day? The time when lovers should be wrapped in each other’s embrace before getting ready to face the new day.
I got to my feet feeling a little bit better but the constant rollercoaster of the past few days is beginning to wear on my nerves. The constant up and down of emotions have left me weak and unsure of myself more times than I can count, something I’m not accustomed to.
But now that I have her measure, now that I’ve seen first hand how easily intimidated she is, there’s nothing stopping me from eliminating her. I felt great pleasure as I imagined pushing her from elimination tower, but wouldn’t it be so much more satisfying if I could lead her to do it herself.
Yes, I can make her feel so unwanted, so unwelcomed and most especially, unloved by Lucien, that she would see that as her only recourse. And all I’ll have to do is make her stay here unbearable. Something that this morning’s run-in has already proven would be easy to do.
Lucien
Grandfather was more longwinded than usual. It’s been hours since I left her and I was nervous about her being on her own. I hadn’t had time to teach her about our ways before having to leave her so soon after we arrived.
For the fifth or sixth time I reassured myself that she should be fine and that I was worrying for nothing. Everyone here knows she’s mine no one would dare cross her. All they need to see is my mark on her neck and that should be enough to keep them at a distance.