AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She has no right to demand anything. Tell her she will either go back to her room and wait, or she will not be in this palace at all,” I muttered back angrily.
“Yes, sir.” He bowed and turned to leave when the doors opened suddenly, and in came Satan and fallen Eve.
This son of a bitch.
I immediately scanned the room to look for Odette, and there she was on the opposite side of the throne room beside Dema, eyes wide in full horror as her sister came in on the arm of none other than Prime Minister Hermenegild. I knew where he was going. Walking across the floor calmly, I reached her before they did. I put my hand on the small of her back, trying to remind her to breathe. To stay calm and breathe.
“Hey, big sis. Long time no see.”
Fuck.
Inhaling through my nose, I glanced down at the woman dressed in a very tight, nearly see-through black dress and her own crown on her head. She came prepared. But how prepared? How the hell did she know the prime minister?
“Ma’am, she was having trouble getting in, and so I brought her with me.” The prime minister smiled.
“How kind of you,” I said through my teeth while Odette stood frozen as I just stared at her sister.
“Odette, what’s wrong?” Augusta asked, about to reach out and touch her. I moved to stop her; however, I was beaten by none other than Dema.
“Before a queen, it is customary to bow or curtsy. You are standing before two, and you did neither,” Dema said with a gentle yet chilling voice. Like everyone could sense the drama brewing, the music seemed to dim as all eyes fell on us.
“Oh, I am sorry. I’m American. We don’t really do all of that—”
“This is Ersovia,” Dema reminded her. “When you come to a foreign nation, you must respect their customs and laws; it is simple manners. Do Americans not believe that?”
Augusta half laughed. “My sister wouldn’t want me curtsying to her—”
“You’re right, but a custom is a custom. And we respect it here. Isn’t that right, Mr. Prime Minister?” Odette snapped out of it to ask him.
“Yes, of course.” He nodded and looked at Augusta. “I do hope you enjoy all of our customs on your trip here, ma’am. I’m glad I could escort you.”
The bloody bastard was escaping. Leaving her standing there before returning to his circle. Evil. At his core, I was sure he was evil.
“I’m not very good at these. Odette was the pageant girl, but here I go,” Augusta said as she curtsied in front of Odette. “Did I pass?”
“Yes. Welcome, Augusta,” I answered and turned to Odette. “Will you join me for a dance?”
“Of course,” Odette said as she took my hand.
I led her away from her sister into the middle of the floor. We waited for the music to begin before finally starting, and then others joined us.
“She’s up to something,” Odette replied, checking in the corner of her eyes. “I knew it. I didn’t want to believe it. But—”
“Let’s not focus on her right now.” Even though I knew she was up to something as well, I didn’t want Odette worrying. “I should have told them not to let her out. But she’s out now, and we will do our best to stay calm. She is only going to embarrass herself.”
“If only…at the end of the day, she is my sister, whether I like it or not. Whatever she does…it will be on me.”
“Just focus on me.” It was all I could say to do. Though in the back of my mind, I was worried, and all of me was tense.
We danced two waltzes before Odette was exhausted, and I helped her back to her seat. I sat with her for a moment, and I watched her eyes lock on her sister, following her from side to side, counting every drink she threw back. Each time her fist tightened. I was grateful for Dema as she sat beside her, trying to take her mind off it by talking. Because of the fact that people knew Augusta was Odette’s sister and this was her first event here, there was no way anyone wasn’t focused on her. Which meant there was no way to escort her out without a scene or anyone watching.
We allowed her to freely drink and laugh loudly as she moved from one group to another. After about four drinks in, it became painfully clear that she was not okay and that she was the entertainment.
By the sixth drink, they were laughing at her…and not with her. When she went to grab the seventh drink, I wanted to close my eyes. She wasn’t a mastermind; she was a drunk who happened to be related to my wife. We should have left her at the damn palace gates…it would have been less embarrassing for us at least.
“I would like to propose a toast to my dear sister! Odette!” she yelled over the music, lifting her wine glass up to Odette, who inhaled deeply. “Who would have thought it, sis? Look at you seated on an actual throne. With a real crown on your head! In this palace. A real freaking palace. Ha! When we were little, you and I would play royals. You always let me be the queen, though! Did you know it was going to end this way?”
I nodded to Layland and Thelma, who were already coming in closer to her. I no longer gave a damn. She needed to go.
