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Keeping my mouth shut, I approached, buttoning and zipping up the back for her. The moment I was done she snapped her fingers toward the jewelry drawers.
“Any of the light pink colors or blues will do.”
Again, I stayed quiet. Simply obeying the witch and grabbing the pieces she requested. I held them out in front of her one by one until she finally decided and demanded I put them on her.
At this point, I was sure even running back to my room to grab the dress the queen had for the staff and sprinting to the dining hall would result in my tardiness. I fidgeted as I waited for my dismissal, wondering how I was going to pull off sneaking in. But Vanessa was oblivious to me.
“My lady, I will adjourn now and prepare for your party.”
I curtsied and moved toward the door, attempting to get away as quickly as I could.
Vanessa had other plans and grabbed my arm more fiercely than I’d expected.
“Hey!” I cried out, shocked she’d put her hands on me.
She cocked her eyebrow before narrowing her deep hazel-green eyes at me. “There’s no time. And besides, you’re just a servant. It doesn’t matter what you wear.”
“Not to be rude…” The words came out very rudely, but I didn’t care. “The queen herself instructed that I wear what was selected. She decided what all the staff would be wearing, I really don’t think it’s appropriate for me to—"
Vanessa brought a finger to my lips. Rage boiled inside of me as she leaned in closer. “You will follow behind me now and we will be going to dinner. And if you argue, I’ll be sure to tell the queen about your—" She paused. “Insubordination.”
Leaning back, she flashed me a fake smile before turning toward the door and pausing, waiting for me to follow as ordered.
This was not going to go well. Dread coiled inside of me in anticipation of the shitstorm that was going to hit me from the queen. At this point I didn’t know which would be worse, pissing off the queen or pissing off Lady Vanessa.
I followed in silence as Vanessa swished through the halls like she owned the castle.
It was less crowded than normal. Everyone was gathered in the dining hall waiting for her. And the grand entrance she was sure to make.
Clenching my teeth together was the only way to keep my mouth shut, and it was starting to make my jaw sore from the force I was using.
She held her hand up as we stood before the double doors that would lead us inside. Back to not speaking to me apparently unless she was hissing nasty things in my face.
The doors opened and Vanessa waltzed in. A few fae close by audibly lavished her with compliments as the queen moved across the room with her arms outstretched.
Noah and the king were both missing, so at the moment there was absolutely no buffer here for me. And I was sorely aware of how badly I stood out at the moment.
Every staff member was dressed in the beautiful garments the queen had ordered us to wear. Even Nicole, who was standing across the room giving me crazy eyes like she was silently asking me what I thought I was doing here dressed inappropriately, was done up more than I’d ever seen before. Everyone seemed excited, there was a buzz in the air. A chance for the staff to feel like a part of the event.
And then there was me.
The queen was still hugging Vanessa. “You look stunning. Truly, there is no greater beauty in Faerie than you, my dear. We are so lucky to have you staying with us.”
She finally glanced my way as she kissed Vanessa’s cheek.
Her smile, beaming for the duchess, turned the opposite way. If the queen were able to shoot fire at me like the dragon on the rooftops had a few months ago, I was sure I’d be burned on the spot.
Queen Eleanor walked slowly, her chin high as she looked down her nose at me. “My son went out of his way to make sure you looked decent tonight. Why aren’t you dressed, feeder?”
Remembering the last time I stood face-to-face with the queen and the punishment she’d given me for my callousness with her, I lowered my head, though only slightly, in respect. My eyes bored into Vanessa’s though. Looking pointedly at her and arching an eyebrow in question, I waited for her to step forward and explain her logic in not letting me get ready.
“I asked you a question.”
Frowning at the silent duchess, I stammered, “Y-your Majesty, I did want to—"
Vanessa’s sharp tsking noise drew the queen’s attention from me, and I let out a small sigh of relief. The last thing Vanessa would want is for the queen to know she went against direct orders. A spectacle with her lady’s maid at the center wouldn’t look great for her to the Unseelie court, too.
“How dare you lie to me, feeder.” Vanessa’s glare was almost as bold as the queen’s and I lifted my chin, staring open-mouthed at the bitch spitting at me. “The prince and your queen demanded something of you and you refused. Your worthless, insignificant human body should be living on the streets, and yet they’ve brought you in. Clothed your scrawny and ill-adept self, fed you, and made you a royal feeder, and to thank them when they’ve asked one thing of you, you insult them by ignoring their wishes. And lie to me in the process?”
