Thea

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- Mom, you misunderstood everything. - Giselle’s voice echoed in my ears. - It’s true that she became friends with Amanda, but you know how kind she is, she always tries to help the infirm. And now the choice has fallen on her, an ordinary maid whom she sometimes walks. So, stop this performance already and let go of her hand.

Squeezing my hand even harder and grinning, Serena finally let go of me and hurried to wipe her hands with a handkerchief, as if she had touched something dirty.

I couldn’t figure out what just happened? Why did Giselle stand up for me, why did she lie to her own mother? Of course, I was grateful to her that it was over before it started, but I had a bad feeling that not everything is as simple as it seems at first glance.

From the surging anxiety, I tightly clenched the hem of my white apron in my fists and froze, groping for something in my pocket and while attention shifted from me, I quickly looked inside, finding there a curled fur ball of a small fluffy hamster.

What? Where did he come from there?

Keeping a straight face on the outside, I was indignant inside. No, not that I was against the company, but it completely deprived me of any independence. It’s like I’ve put shackles on my hands again, and my mouth opens only when I’m allowed to speak, not when I want to do it myself.

Of course, in my mind I was indignant, but I also felt a slight reassurance that now I am not alone in this infernal hellhole and at least if I am killed here, then I will have a witness.

- Is that so? - Serena’s harsh, hissing voice brought me out of my thoughts.

It didn’t look like she believed this ridiculous story at all, but I chose not to debunk the myth that Giselle had launched.

- I am very sorry that I misled you. – bowing my head low, I reported. – The princess is immensely generous and sweet to everyone, I could not reject her offer.

- It’s not like you’re that sorry about jumping over your head. - The Adamanian Queen remarked even more maliciously. – In any case, everything will be over for you soon and you will fly out of the castle with a bang when my daughter becomes queen. Write it down on your subcortex.

Giselle didn’t get involved in our brief discussion, but out of the corner of my eye I noticed the corner of her lips twitching, being pleased with her mother’s words.

- Mom, you shouldn’t be so rude. Although the servants are the lower class, but we can afford to show all our generosity, as Lady Amanda did. She is truly an example for everyone. - Giselle chirped.

Fortunately, they didn’t pay any more attention to me. Even to try on a dress, Giselle called her maid of honor, forcing me to leave her chambers. But just before the door, I froze, catching her cheerful exclamations about how wonderful Raphael’s warm hands would feel, compared to the cool fabric when will he take off her dress on their wedding night.

The nervous heart rate seemed to freeze with me at this moment.

Click.

Creak.

And I open this heavy door to leave this stuffy company as soon as possible and breathe a sigh of relief.

Already in the corridor, I pulled out of my apron an animal that had become a free passenger and, frowning, scolded him about the need for personal space.

- What am I supposed to do with you now? I was going to find Jen and chat with her, and you’re clearly going to be in the way. You know, girls sometimes need to be alone, gossip...

- The unstable situation in the castle should bother you more than the fact that I might accidentally hear your girly conversations. You can see for yourself that they’ve got you hooked, the harder you flounder, the faster you’ll die. And with me, it will still be calmer and safer.

–Oh, o-o-of course, just a couple of moments ago, I perfectly felt the security of the situation while you were hiding in my pocket. I remarked sarcastically, curling my lips.

- They’re ordinary human, just like you.

- ...

- The less they know about our abilities, the better. And you yourself refused to take me in my human form. Bring him back?

I took a deep breath.

- Okay, you can help me find Jenine, and then you have to promise that you will leave us and give us the opportunity to chat without strangers. – I said ultimatum.

- I agree. She’s in the stable. – Skars blurted out.

- And why didn’t you tell me right away? - I was indignant.

If I only knew, I wouldn’t have caught the housekeeper’s eye and this whole situation wouldn’t have arisen.

- You didn’t ask. - he croaked, reincarnated as a bird. - Come on.

Yet this appearance of his has already become so familiar.

It is worth paying tribute, thanks to Skars, I did not meet strangers on my way and it was a surprisingly great ability. Perhaps it is not necessary to keep him aside so categorically.

The yellowed grass underfoot and the cold wind, despite the bright sun, already announced that winter was coming. I didn’t like winter. I was saddened by the sight of fading nature. It was as if, like myself, everything around me was slowly dying. Such feelings were engendered in me by the approaching cold.

I opened the already familiar stable doors without knocking and immediately screamed, slammed the door and turned away, pressing my back against it.

- You shouldn’t rush in like that when people are indulging in passion. - raven cooed, as if pleased with my dumbfounded state.

- Did you know??? You, you... - I pointed at him with my finger, clenched my fists and looked sooo furious. - How could you do this to me? - I hissed, flaring my nostrils and frowning.

The door swayed behind me, pushing me a step forward, and an embarrassed Oliver followed, holding the hand of a laughing Jen, who was adjusting her skirt. The chaos on her head and their clothes said that I had come at a very bad time.

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and laughed awkwardly with my friend, although at that moment I wanted to sink through the ground with shame.

- I’m really sorry. – that was all I could squeeze out of myself, eaten up by embarrassment.

Clearing his throat, Oliver nevertheless took the floor and assured me that it was solely his fault that I caught them in such an intimate moment and that I had nothing to apologize for. And then he hurried away, leaving us at the same barn.

- My God, this is such a fiasco. I didn’t mean to bother you at all. - I laughed, rolling my eyes and rubbing my forehead with my hand. – Well, it looks like he’s... veeery good?

Succumbing to the fun, we both burst into laughter, and Jen even wiped away the tears that appeared on her eyelashes every now and then.

- I missed you. – finally, hugging me, my friend whispered. – Where have you been?

- Ah, it’s a long and not particularly interesting story. - I waved it off. -But I missed you, too.

- Let’s go to the paddock, chat and look at the horses. – Jenin pulled me along, although I understood that she would definitely not look at the horses.

The sun was high, brightly illuminating the glossy glossy coats of noble horses. The jet-black Berkoot was especially magnificent and strode majestically, emphasizing the muscles and broad neck. All in his master. I grinned, drawing parallels.

I leaned my hands on a small wooden fence, enjoying the serene state and ease at the moment, until Jen’s worried voice sounded from the side.

- How are you, Thea?

I looked at her as if I didn’t understand what she was talking about, but deep down I knew that my friend saw right through me.

- You don’t need to show off next to me. Even though you’ve been silent like a fish all this time, but I’m not a fool not to understand that something was going on between you. - her warm hand gently stroked my back. - I just couldn’t imagine that he would suddenly decide to get married. And on whom? On this nasty adamanian girl.

- She has all the advantages to conquer a man. - I replied blankly.

- Are you serious? You can’t hook a man with your tits alone!

-Ooof course, - I drawled. – You look at how Oliver looks at your charms, but he doesn’t even try to hide his lustful eyes.

My answer made her laugh again, but at the same time, Jen adjusted her cleavage, making it more decent.

- I don’t know, Jen. I don’t know what I really feel, what he feels. All these can only be words. It seems to me that I am head over heels in love with him, but it can only be a fleeting crush, because he is beautiful. In general, I’m afraid that my eyes are lying to me, that my feelings are lying to me. I’m afraid of being trampled by him, afraid of crumbling into dust from the pain he can cause me. - I blurted out in one breath. – But at the same time, I can’t help but fly to him like a butterfly to a fire. It’s such a strange feeling, every cell of my body is trembling next to him, it’s like I stop breathing, freeze, and if he leaves, I’ll die. Are there such strong feelings?

- My silly, I told you so much about him, he still has that reputation, and you managed to fall in love. - Jen wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tightly, almost squeezing me. – And what are you going to do now? I don’t even want to think about what Giselle will do to you if she finds out about your relationship. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

- There was nothing between us. – my answer stunned my friend.

- What do you mean?

- In direct... He didn’t do anything to take my virginity. And I’m even glad of it. Although, Giselle already knows about all these rumors that are hovering in the castle. Most of all, I am surprised by her calmness, for a reason this is all. What would you do in my place? - I asked, making Jenine frown.

- I would have left him as soon as possible if I wasn’t ready to bite Giselle’s throat and take her place. You don’t want to be an eternal lover, do you? You deserve more, darling.

- Who knows... I’m definitely not ready to kill her to take the place of the queen.

It’s funny, but even thinking about this option for a second, I realize that this cannot happen because of everything that has been happening to me lately. The detached image of his father, the jealous Marquis of Stonberg, the bewildered Terrence, the late Xana, the haughty Madeleine and Lilian, the Queen of Riliya, radiating chilling evil, immediately flashed through my mind. And then there are all these mythical creatures that suddenly fell on my head. The memory of a broken cup flashed by, more precisely, how hot water turned out to be there?

Yes, perhaps Raphael’s wedding to Giselle is the least I need to worry about if I’m ready to close my heart from him. Or should I accept the fight that the future Queen of Abion is preparing for me?

- All we can say for sure is that the King doesn’t treat you lightly. It doesn’t look like a short affair, because then he wouldn’t let the rumors spread around the castle and tarnish his reputation, as well as jeopardize the marriage. Don’t you think so?

- I don’t even know what the king is thinking about, his head is a solid darkness. But you’re right, I’m not ready to be an eternal lover, along with the fact that I’m not ready to kill Giselle either. There’s only one way out of here. - I looked pointedly at my friend.

- It will be extremely difficult to do, do you understand that? And if you fail? What if he gets angry? What if he executes you? - Jen almost screamed, excited.

- That’s why I need your help so he doesn’t find out. - I smiled at her, although the cats were scratching at my soul.