Page 5 of Fated to the Wicked King

My jaw dropped at the judgment in his tone. “In their defense, those flowers were starving. They couldn’t help their nature.”

Chez snorted.

Peering closely at the intricate mechanism in my hands, I resisted the urge to laugh along. “Besides, I accidentally poisoned them with that fertilizer I was experimenting with a few moons ago, remember? So, by my count, we’re even.”

“Hellooo!” A melodious greeting rang in the air.

Chez’s ears twitched, and his gaze darted around the lab. “Where is the mirror?”

I waved a hand carelessly toward the corner where the ornate silver full-length mirror leaned against the wall with a blanket thrown over it.

Popping over, Chez tugged on a corner of the throw with one paw to uncover the shiny mirror.

A petite, stocky woman in her puffy-sleeved, frilly dress with voluminous layers appeared in the mirror, sputtering and coughing at the dust, as if she herself had been cloaked with the threadbare blanket.

“Goodness! Has it been so long between calls you decided to bury me?” Her tone was a cross between amused and affronted. Then again, the Duchess had always been more sensitive than most beings on Wünder.

“Apologies, Duchess.” I tilted my head in greeting. “It has been quite a busy few weeks.”

She peered closer, her button nose and a puffy cheek flattening against the glass. “Darling, I can barely see you. Come closer, would you please?”

“I am right here, my lady,” Chez mewled, promenading before the mirror.

“Oh, Fluffy, I saw you a mere hour ago. I would like to catch up with Allie.” She fluffed her curly blonde hair, turning sideways to inspect her reflection.

I resisted the urge to shake my head. Since the demise of the Red Queen, who controlled her, the Duchess had become more and more accustomed to getting her way. I imagined it would be a fine day in Wünder indeed if she ever relented. Best not to dally.

Stuffing my hands in my lab coat pockets, I shuffled across the floor toward the mirror. “Chez has already told me. The river is still impassable.”

“Well, yes, and—” Stopping short, her big, blue eyes widened further. “Oh, heavens, whatever in the world happened to you?” Aghast, she put a hand to her mouth before casting the cat a chastising look. “I told you, Chez. We need to be looking after our dear Allie more closely. Look at her, living in neglect these past weeks. Why, she looks like she rolled around in the swamp waters bordering my villa.”

Pursing my lips, I swiveled on my heels. “No, I was merely having a disagreement with the unreasonable furnace.”

“Oh, my dear, you need to get out more. And not just to Tulgey Woods again, mind you. Those atrocious creatures are—” Her gaze drifted off to one side. “Oh.”

Glancing over my shoulder, I blinked twice to ensure I wasn’t seeing things.

The parchment invitation to the King’s Ball was shimmering on its own amid the mess on my worktable.

The Duchess lifted her hand in a slight wave. “What is this?”

Sparkling light trailed from the mirror toward the parchment, as if a gust of wind lifted the piece of paper in its grasp, floating toward her in response to the summons.

“Oh.” I tried to grab the parchment before the Duchess could read it.

But she barely needed to glimpse the embossed words before her eyes immediately lit up. “Oh, darling! You have an invitation to the Grand Ball tonight.” Already overly excited, she clapped her hands. “What a wonderful diversion!” Her tone all giddy, she bounced up and down on her feet.

Oh boy, here we go.

Eyes wide, full of possible scandal and gossip to be shared, the Duchess’s voice rose a few decibels. “This event has caused quite a stir across all the kingdoms. Not a soul on Wünder can keep their curiosity at bay. You know, since it is also the first time that they are opening the castle since Ra—ehrm… since His Majesty took up his position.” She covered up her slip quickly, but naturally, I noticed.

Scoffing, I wrinkled my nose. “I am not going to this ball. Honestly, I’m not even sure how any courtier could muster attendance given how their king has terrorized the lands these past moons.”

Chez shook his fuzzy head. “It is by fear that our king means to rule. And it will also be by this fear that they know they cannot refuse. We are all his lowly subjects.”

I smirked. “Does anyone else miss the Red Queen by any chance?”

The Duchess waved a dismissive hand, as if her statement were obvious. “They are both just as ruthless, only in different ways.”