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“What did she say?” I repeated.
“She said during your carriage ride over to the abbey, you were most likely faking emotion because deep down, you’re very cold. Then when you were in the church, and everyone saw your dress, she said, ‘Does this look like a woman who doesn’t want to be the center of attention?’ There was much more contrary about how you had no other family but your mother present because both of you were selfish—”
“Okay, that’s enough.” I inhaled slowly now, sort of regretting asking.
“Ma’am, if it is any consolation, there was a lot of backlash against all the stations and reporters who brought her on. Many said it was disrespectful and tasteless to do so on the day we coronated a new king.”
But not disrespectful and tasteless on any other day because they were interested in that drama. They just wanted their fairy tale first.
Knock.
Knock.
“Enter,” I said, turning back, expecting it to be the timely reminder, Wolfgang. However, instead, my mother entered, dressed in a black cocktail dress with a cinched waist, several strings of pearls, elbow-length gloves, a heavy wool coat, channel heels, and to top it off, a beret with lace hung over her face dramatically. She even had on large sunglasses.
“Good morning, Your Majesty.” My mother curtsied elegantly and so low it was almost funny, but wasn’t, because it only solidified how everything was different now.
I glanced over to Gelula, who also curtsied once before leaving.
“Mom, please don’t,” I begged once Gelula was gone. All-day, I’d be getting that from everyone else. I, at least, wanted her to treat me the same. Like regular old Odette.
“Why? It is who you are now, and everyone else is going to do it,” she said, not understanding that was my point. “I need to listen to the rules here. Also, more importantly, what do you think of my outfit?” She spun once slowly for me to see every inch of it.
I couldn’t help it—I chuckled a bit. That was normal of her, at least. “As always, Mother, you are a showstopper.”
“What can I say? I was born with it.” She shrugged and then looked me over and nodded. “And so are you. I like it simple and elegant. Very queen-ish.”
“Thank you, it only took me seven outfit changes.” Despite the fact that we had already agreed on what I would be wearing, once I put it on, nothing felt right but it. Thank God I’d woken up early. But even then, Gale was able to get dressed at the speed of light and said he’d finish up some paperwork before we had to leave. I was ready now, with only a few minutes to spare.
“We should head down—Mom?” I jumped slightly.
She cupped the sides of my face, holding my head steady and facing her. She leaned in close, like she was trying to find something on my face. “What?” She smiled. “Your eyes are still sparkling. Everything was great last night then.”
“Mom!” I gasped. “I’m not answering that.”
“Your face already did,” she replied, squeezing my cheeks. “But I can see a little anger? What happened? Gale—”
“No. And please let go of my cheeks; you will ruin my makeup.” I wasn’t sure what she was going to add; I was going to cut it down quickly. Gale was…perfect, still annoyingly charming, and whatnot.
“You are smiling again. So, what made you upset before?” How did she always do this? Know exactly when something bothered me, even the slightest things. “Well?” She let go of my face, crossing her arms.
Yep, this was my mom. I was a queen, and she was still the queen.
“Augusta,” I muttered, gripping my gloves. “Did you see what she said about me—”
“No, I did not. I’ve told you a thousand times, swans do not pay attention to the squabbles of chickens,” she replied, adjusting the coat on her shoulders. “Honestly, that’s what has you down? The ugly stepsister?”
“Mom! Don’t call her ugly—we are half-sisters!”
“Her personality is ugly; therefore, she is ugly. Also, half-sister, stepsister—it is all the same difference to me.” She waved her hands over her face as if she were waving off a bad smell. “That little girl is running her mouth because she can’t do anything else. And she wants you to see her, she wants you to reach out to her, beg her. She wants to get at you. And you are allowing it. Just because she is family to you doesn’t mean she deserves anything from you. You know me—any toxicity, I cut it out.”
My eyebrow rose as I looked at her. “Really? And Yvonne? Dad?”
She glared and linked arms with me. “Let’s go. You can’t be late on your first day.”
I bit back a smile. She was great at giving me advice and so bad at taking it. “One day, you’re going to have to tell the full story about what happened, you know?”
“I don’t know why you bother with me when you have so much more to worry about,” she said before knocking on the doors, reminding me that she’d taken to the palace rules faster than I had. She’d only been here for a few weeks, maybe a month in total, and yet with no training—she picked up on everything.
