Waking up before Brin was a treasure. It allowed to do all the morning activities that I preferred doing without supervision. I threw sothing on and decided to check out the place without a chaperone, letting her sleep longer.
Even a few days in, the stonework still blew away. I couldn’t fathom how long and hard it must have been to build such a place. Large stones stacked like bricks atop one another, thick, dark grout keeping them all in place. Even the tapestries hanging from the walls, lining the hallway and large stairs that I found myself on, were attracting my attention, with their various depictions of village life, monsters and warfare.
At the bottom of the stairs, the duke passing by surprised , “Oh! Albian. Good morning. How are you today?”
He started, straightened up. “Princess Cayce, good . . . good morning.”
As I walked down the stairs, a woman ca into view, trailing the duke by two steps. She wore a white gown. “Ah, begging your pardon. I didn’t an to intrude. I was just exploring.”
“Of course. And it’s no intrusion. You are a guest here and have run of the place. This,” he gestured at the lady, “is our head nurse, Millicent. Princess Cayce.”
She curtsied, looking at the floor, “Your Highness.” When she looked up, she gasped quietly, quickly putting her hand over her mouth as she t my eyes. Then looked imdiately away.
“Is sothing wrong?” I wondered if I wore my hair improperly or perhaps was walking around in what passed for my underwear again. I pulled at the clothing. It was thick cotton and not shear at all.
“No, nothing, excuse ,” she left abruptly.
The duke’s gaze followed her exit along the stone floor. His fists clenched, knuckles white until he turned to , breathed in once, relaxing, and smiled. It only went so far up his face. “She, ah, has work. Where are you headed? And where is Brin? She should be with you.”
“Don’t be angry, I let her sleep in. I know it’s strange, but I value my privacy in the mornings.”
“Sothing I very much understand. Why don’t I walk you to the morning tea hall? Then you can eat sothing. It’s this way,” he held out his arm for and I took it. We continued down the hallway.
“You’ll be joining ? I wanted to talk to you about our previous discussion. And perhaps so other details.” I wanted to narrow down commitnts from him, consider in more detail the marriage proposal, especially to discuss my new counter offers. He seed as reluctant as I was for marriage, which would make for an easy pairing. At least, for the first four years.
“Oh? Unfortunately, I have much to do today and little ti for leisure. Perhaps this afternoon, after dinner?”
“Sure. Certainly. That will be perfectly fine.”
“Excellent. We can start with a tour of the tapestries. They’re not just images, you know. Many of them are historical pieces, celebrating great victories in war, notable achievents from our ancestors.”
“I had no idea. I would love to learn more about them.”
We ca to a small hall near the great hall. It was the sa length as the great hall, but narrower and boasted windows along the opposite wall, opening to the courtyard. Running down its center was a long table, food spread along it.
“This is where the servants prepare for our dinners and suppers. In the morning, it’s a place for tea and eggs and toast.”
“It’s charming. Very nice to have a view in the morning.”
“Only if you sit on the side facing the windows. Otherwise, you’re looking at the wall.”
“True, yes. Thank you for the escort. I’ll find you after dinner”
“Be well, Cayce. Enjoy tea.” He nodded and left.
Entering the room, I felt like I was leaving darkness. No idea why, it was morning and daylight, but this room was brighter than most places in the castle. Large windows opened to a courtyard garden, sunlight pouring in, brightening the beige stone behind and giving everything a joyful afterglow.
I felt good. Finally felt like I could go on the offensive rather than the scrambling defense I’d been thrust into. Having sothing to offer gives you sothing to demand.
Various foods were spread along the table. Cheeses, ats, a colorful variety of bread and fruit. A few different teapots. I looked around for a platter and, having not found one, tracked down a serving lady. “Excuse , I’m looking for a platter so that I can take so of this up to my room.”
“Oh, I can arrange that for you. Where are you staying, Lady . . . ?”
“Princess Cayce. I’m not sure how to explain where I’m staying. I don’t think it has a room number-”
“The princess?! I know where you’re staying!” She curtsied low and long, “Forgive , I had no idea.”
“Please, not a problem. Just, I don’t know, arrange a platter of morning tea for five girls and bring them to my apartnts, along with, uh, tea. The drink, tea. Not tea the food. Well, both I guess.”
“Yes, m’lady! As quick as I can!”
“Thank you.” She rushed off. I could have, I guess, sat and enjoyed the space, but guilt set in, and I thought of the girls waking up. Might as well arrange for their breakfasts, too. I sighed and headed for the doorway.
“Princess!” Tread and Morry walked in, Tread rushing over then stopping himself short of giving a hug.
I gave him a quick and light one anyways. “How’s assistant captaining treating you, Tread?”
“The big guy’s running hard but teaching lots of stuff. Not too different from being a farm boy. Lists of weapons, lists of chickens.”
“Huh. That’s interesting. I think Brin misses you, sotis.”
His face lit up, “I hope to see her again soon!”
“I’m sure you do. I’ll pass that along. I’m just going to talk to Morry for a sec, ok?” Tread nodded, headed to the table, looking for food. I took Morry’s hand, leading him to the far corner. “I’m to see the duke tonight, to discuss, ah, marriage concessions and all that.”
“You’ll rember to pin him down about heirs.”
“Yes. I realized sothing yesterday. That I have a position of power, what with all the mages our army has, the ideas of improving our weapons, and so on.”
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“Princess, you’re playing a very dangerous ga.”
“Well, I-”
“With the duke, I an. Rember, on the battlefield you were desperate to save the lives of enemy soldiers whereas he easily slaughtered children and then enjoyed a banquet later. No, shush, you don’t understand.” It was the first ti Morry had exerted power over and I cocked my head, listening. “A man who can kill so easily and later entertain guests with an entirely different façade is not a man whose outward appearance betrays him. You do not know what he wants, even when he tells you so. Trust on this, Princess.”
His large hands resting on my shoulders, protectively, I looked up into his worried eyes, “I understand. I don’t know what else to do, Morry.”
“This castle is a trap, no less dangerous than the battlefield. I will find a way out of it, Princess. In the anti, stay away from the duke. Do not be alone with him. Putting your n on the walls, integrating us into his troops, he’s isolated you.”
“How badly? Can you still contact the cavalry outside the castle?”
“Yes, daily. I have them train in the midmornings and late afternoon, between my duties here.”
“Oh, that’s a relief.” I pulled his hands off my shoulders, stepped back a bit, still holding them, each one bigger than both of mine, “I have to see him today, though. More discussions, try at least to negotiate a marriage of convenience – don’t worry, he’s not interested in romance and neither am I – discuss how the suitors’ courtship should be held over winter.” I shuddered at the thought.
He shook his head, “You’re not listening.”
“But it’s not just him. Brin’s parents, everyone I talk to, you think he’s fooled them all and just wants to get alone to kill ? Don’t you think that’s a bit strange?” I wondered then, for the first ti, did Morry have a crush on ? Maybe it was clouding his judgent. “I an, yeah, he’s extrely distasteful, but I won’t actually be living with him or sharing his bed. A marriage to bind our armies. Maybe I can negotiate a later date, like well after we’ve reconquered the kingdom.”
“Cayce . . . carry a dirk. Here, take this one. Under your skirt, any way you can.”
“Would Tread’s be smaller? Maybe I should get his.”
“No, I had this one made for you.” He passed over a small dirk, with a small leather strap.
“How’d you get this made? I’ve been trying since I got here!”
“Since you got to Castle Bechalle? It’s unwise to reveal your hand thusly.”
“No, no, not what I ant.” Wow, what an idiot I was, speaking like that, “I an, in the encampnt.”
“You be careful, alright?”
“I will. You too! No more crucifixions.”
He smiled, squeezed my little hands, and headed to the breakfast table. I watched him a Tread for a mont, then went back to my rooms. Probably, our food would be there already, though I hadn’t noticed anyone leaving with trays.
***
“Cayce, you have to stop running off like that!” Brin said, hands on her hips, as I entered the apartnts. “We have to go for morning tea.”
“I had to stretch my legs.” I was holding the dirk behind my back, its strap wrapped around my right wrist. Turning to go to our rooms would keep my right hand against the wall, more difficult for them to see.
A loud knock at the door. I guess they watched and waited for to head back up before bringing the food.
“Brin, could you get that? I’ll just be a mont.” Knowing Brin, she probably had so dress picked out for today, so I couldn’t strap this onto my leg right now. I’d have to wait until after the girls did their thing. I therefore placed it in the best hiding place in the world, under my pillow.
Returning to the main room, I said, “Oh, morning tea! Look how it ca to us.”
“Thank you, Cayce,” Brin was all smiles now. “I guess if I had to have the shock of waking up without you, at least you made up for it by bringing this.”
I sat down, suddenly hungry, started dishing myself various morsels, “You’ll be delighted to know that I’m eting with your uncle later today to further negotiate marriage.”
“Oh, that’s great news! Have you co around on that?”
“Kind of. He, I’m not sure if I can tell you this, but he said he wasn’t interested in romance.” I was hoping and hoping he actually ant ‘Hey, I have no interest in sex.’
“And you’re ok with that?” Brin looked shocked, even stopping to eat for the mont.
“Brin, I barely trust your uncle and I simply cannot, cannot imagine romance with him.” The ladies in waiting giggled. “From him! I an him being romantic, it’s not going to happen.”
“But Princess,” said Drex, whom I thought of as the little one, “don’t you want love in your marriage?”
“Not with the duke!” rushed out of my mouth before I could stop it. I put a hand to my mouth, “Sorry Brin, hahaha, sorry!” I couldn’t stop laughing. The girls, save for Brin, laughed with . She sort of smiled.
“Cayce,” Brin reached across the table, petting my knee, “we learn to love the man we marry, even if it’s an arranged marriage. As you get to know them, you grow more fond of their presence, their person.”
“That really sounds like it should be coming from a woman much older than you.”
“Yes, well, that’s how it is for us nobles. How it’s always been.”
I sighed. “I hope you’re right. Anyways, what are we doing until the afternoon?”
“Since,” she smiled mischievously, “you’re eting with uncle after dinner, we should head to the hot springs and have a good, long soak, then, what did you call it? Doll you up!”
“Oh my god. Right. Right, of course.” I finished my al, looking forward to the soak but not entirely to not quite asuring up as a woman to these girls, and I had absolutely no idea why such insecurities rose up. I sighed.
***
We decided to first stroll the garden, then headed to the springs. After, the girls dressed, perfud and put make-up on . A boy had co bearing a letter from the duke rearranging our eting to be over dinner and into the afternoon. That suited fine as it’d be easier and less awkward over a al.
The dress, rather than being simply puffy, ran off my body in pleats looking like little valleys and hills. It was a salmon color, almost rusty instead of bright, with white flowers cascading down the sides. The top made uncomfortable, tight to my waist and upper body, open where it shouldn’t be, revealing what little cleavage this body possessed. They’d done my hair in little braids falling from my head, almost like a Rasta, but with pink ribbons trailing alongside. Atop my eyes, dark red make-up, lighter under, streaking across to my ears as if I were wearing a mask, little droplets of lighter and lighter red sprinkled down my cheeks. It had taken hours.
My lips were full and glossy and as I stared in the mirror, I was stunned at the transformation. “Brin! This is too much!” I felt queasy with butterflies in my stomach and almost shaking knees. I was cute, hot, stunning even. It felt so wrong! “Your uncle isn’t even interested in romantic seduction! Why can’t I just wear a normal dress?” How I yearned for the dress I wore when I escaped this morning! I put my hand over my cleavage in between, I didn’t think about it, no, no, no, my breasts.
“Cayce, you’re gorgeous! A true princess.”
“Can we please cover up my skin here?” Wearing all this and still I felt naked.
“I’ll get you a jacket,” said little Drex. Of all the girls, she probably understood what I felt like, having similar girl-like and not womanlike proportions, despite that the girls had done a good job changing that appearance.
“No, that doesn’t match. Not that one either. Ok, yes, the black one.”
Drex brought a half jacket that, when I put it on, wouldn’t close. Style over substance. I sighed, yearning for the simple life of the military train. That reminded of the dirk I also had to wear, though had no idea how I’d reach for it, buried under all this dress. Hopefully, if I was attacked, it’d be with plenty of warning and very slow.
“Ok, girls, give a mont. I have to . . . think. About what I’m going to say. Ok? Out!”
Brin narrowed her eyes, suspicious. “Can I help with anything, Cayce?”
“No, I’m fine. I just want a mont to reflect, ok?”
“Yeah, for sure.” She left.
I waited, listening. When I knew they were in the living room, by the fire, I headed for my bedroom. There, I pulled the dirk from under my pillow, put my right leg on the bed, and strapped it to my lower leg. I’d imagined it on my thighs, but it wasn’t feasible with so much cloth.
A weapon I could barely use in a hard to reach place. I felt safe now. Sigh.
I didn’t know if the duke was asexual or perhaps into n, but I hoped we could work sothing out. I didn’t personally care what his sexuality was, if he had one, as long as I could use his troops to retake the kingdom. As for the rest, heirs and all that, I’d figure that out when I had to.
Hopefully, Morry was wrong, and he wasn’t a murdering lunatic or, if he were, hopefully he’d appreciate all the work the girls put into tonight and hold off for later. Unfortunately, I knew he was a murdering lunatic. I just hoped he wasn’t going to direct that at , tonight.
I found another mirror and put my face into it. Lavender eyes and full, rose-colored lips, almost pouty, almost hinting at more. No wonder Maitlan tried so hard.
Entering the living room, Brin got up, heading my way, “A sprinkle more perfu. Here, let daub this on your neck.”
“Don’t you think I’ve had enough?” She opened the bottle, “Oh! That slls lovely, what is it?”
“Sandalwood. I figured if uncle really isn’t into romance, maybe he’s into lumber.”
I laughed, “Brin! That’s really funny. Alright, wish luck.”
“Oh Cayce!” She hugged , “good luck.”
And I set out on my own, like how I’d co into this world.
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