by Ashenden, V.
"Get upstairs, and I don't want to hear a peep from you for the rest of the day."
"Yes, ma'am."
Sienna rushed upstairs, glad to be away from her uncle and Mrs. Crockery for the rest of the day. She gathered her cleaning supplies and went to work, starting with room number one, Court's room. She moved through it slowly, looking in the wardrobe. He only had one other set of clothes. There was also a breastplate and chainmail in here, as well as a sword. On the desk, she found a small family portrait, showing a king, a queen, and two princes, him and his brother. She smiled as she looked at it.
She came over to the bed next, the covers askew, and sat on it. She took a nervous glance at the door and then lied down. She grabbed the blankets and pulled them up to her chin, cuddling them. Then she turned over, her face in his pillow, taking in a breath from her nose.
"Mmm."
She climbed out of the bed and then made it, tucking in the edges and making sure the blanket was perfectly straight. She ran her hand over it so there were no creases. Next was the chamber pot; it sparkled by the time she finished with it. Then she took her broom and duster and crawled on the floor as she swept, from the corners of the room to behind the door and under the bed. When she picked up his trash bin, she found his black and silver jacket inside. A hole the size of her fist had burned through. She gathered it up and took it with her.
Chapter Thirteen
The Croquet Challenge
The steward stepped forward. "Announcing his royal highness, Prince Court Cornelius Cross."
Court took a deep breath, making sure the mask was firmly over his face, and then he stepped into the state room. The queen was standing. Beside her was Celeste. She too was wearing a mask, her golden hair falling down her shoulders, her dress large and poofy around her body. She seemed a little different in the daylight, though he could not place the change. He bowed at the waist when he reached the queen.
"I am honored to return again, your majesty."
"And we are so honored to have you with us again, Prince Cross," the queen returned, bowing her head. "May I present my daughter, Princess Celeste. Please, princess, your mask.
Celeste took the bottom of her mask and pulled it away, revealing her face. Court's eyes spread open. She was indeed beautiful, yet for some reason, he was underwhelmed. He did not know what he had expected, but he had surely built her up in his mind into something she was not. Nevertheless, he was sure any other man would be falling over himself merely to kiss her hand.
"Good morning, Prince Cross," she said in a lovely, tight voice, not a hint of casualness. She sounded different, somehow. She bowed her head. "I am so pleased to see you again."
He took the bottom of his mask and pulled it away. Her eyes brightened immediately and a smile formed on her thin lips. He caught her eyes, squinting at them. They seemed different as well, as if they were not quite as bright as before. Nevertheless, he bowed his head to her.
"The pleasure is all mine, Celeste," he said, raising his head. "And if I may, I have brought you a gift." He motioned for Wellington who was carrying the bouquet of flowers. Court took them and presented them to Celeste.
"Flowers?" she said.
"Wild flowers," he said.
"What an...interesting gift," she said, her lip curling. "Betilly, do take these."
"Shall I put them in water, your highness?" Betilly asked, taking the bouquet.
"If you want," Celeste said. "Thank you, Prince Cross."
"The smile on your face is my reward," Court said.
Celeste raised an eyebrow.
"The gesture is thoughtful, Prince Cross," the queen added.
The queen took her seat with Celeste beside her. Court sat across from them, feeling his shirt stretch under his jacket, the buttons threatening to pop off. Wellington remained standing over his shoulder, a little underdressed. Vrine was to the queen's right, wearing all black, looking like a ghoul. Betilly took up a place to Celeste's left. She placed the vase of flowers on the table between them.
"Tea, Vrine, if you please," the queen said, waving her hand.
Vrine poured the tea, placing cups on the table.
"How does his highness take it?' Vrine asked.
"I believe I will trust your best judgment, thank you," he said.
Vrine bowed her head and added cream and sugar. "Would his highness care for any other refreshments?"
"This will do." He took a sip of tea, glancing at the queen. "Your majesty, may I say your lady-in-waiting is an exceptional barista."
Vrine did not smile, but the queen did. "Thank you, Prince Cross. Truly, it is the only reason I keep her around."
"Indeed," Court said. "The only reason I keep Wellington around is to carry my luggage."
Celeste and the queen chuckled.
"Thank you, sir," Wellington added, with just a hint of a droll.
Court smiled. "And do tell me, Celeste, where is your lady-in-waiting, Homa? I did want to thank her for her pleasant disposition last night."
"She is engaged in other matters. My new lady-in-waiting, Betilly, has assumed her duties."
"I see," Court said.
"Do tell me, Prince Cross," Celeste said, "what inspired such an odd gift of flowers?"
"Odd?" he said. "Perhaps I misunderstood you. You seemed to show a keen interest in flowers last night."
"Oh, yes," she said. "I do rather enjoy flowers."
"Prince Cross," the queen said, "we, the princess and I, would like to formally apologize to you for your mistreatment last night."
"Mistreatment?" he said.
"Princess Celeste was ill yesterday, a minor cold. Her behavior was representative of one acting under the influence of a potent healing potion."
"I did not realize you were ill, Celeste."
"Ahem," she said. "Yes, I was rather struck. And forgive me, but I believe it would be more appropriate to refer to me by my proper title of princess."
Court was stunned. Her behavior had changed so radically. He glanced at Wellington, who was now smiling and nodding, looking immensely pleased. Court returned his eyes to Celeste. "Pardon me, Princess Celeste."
"Quite all right," she said. "But do accept our apology for my behavior. I take full responsibility for my silliness. I am afraid I was rather not myself. I can assure you, it will not happen again."
Court nodded. "It's fine."
The queen smiled. "Now that that's settled, do tell us, Prince Cross, how you have found our kingdom."
"I find your people very friendly and welcoming. Why, just this morning a friendly girl helped me pick these flowers for you, Princess Celeste, and she was so honored to learn they would come to your hand. In fact, so pleased was she, that the center lily—" He motioned to it. "—was actually planted in memory of her late mother. She so swiftly sacrificed it with her compliments to you."
Celeste made a face. "How ghastly! What a morbid thing to do." She chortled with her hand covering her mouth. "Peasants are ever so strange in their behavior, aren't they, Prince Cross?"
"I did not think it strange, so much as honorable, princess."
"I think we may have a small disagreement on honor, Prince Cross."
"Speaking of honor," the queen chimed in, "we have just received word of your own heroic actions, Prince Cross. Is it true, did you defend a peasant boy from a dragon attack?"
"Yes, I did."
"Oh, how heroic," Celeste said. "But who was this boy you saved?"
"The boy, as it turned out by my surprise, was a girl, the same girl who so willingly offered me her mother's flower. When I came upon her, she was near tragedy, but I sprang into action and was able to save her."
"But how did you think her a boy?" Celeste asked.
"Only by the length of her hair. It was dark when I came upon her and so assumed her a young man."
"I see," Celeste said. "And how did you fend off this dragon?"
"Not alone, let me assure you of that," he said. "I was scorched and Wellington here, as well as my k
nights, drew swords and bows and so held it back. We lost three of our company to the monster before it took flight."
"How terrible," Celeste said.
"We are so sorry for your loss, Prince Cross," the queen said. "The dragon has plagued our lands for three decades."
"I have learned this," he said. "However, I do intend to make it my mission to slay it."
"Truly?" Celeste said. "Do you think you can fulfill such a task?"
"Yes, princess. I will not permit it to live after it has slain three of my knights."
"But might not you die in the attempt?" Celeste said.
"A fate I so willingly risk if I may purge your land of this scourge, and may I say, it would please me to give you its head, Princess Celeste, as a demonstration of my devotion to you and your kingdom."
"Prince Cross," she said, almost breathless, "your bravery honors me."
"And pleases the queen," the queen added. "Prince Cross, you are indeed a fine upstanding man. To do this thing for us is a gift beyond compare, and to do it in the name of my daughter is not a gift I shall ever see forgotten."
"Your daughter means a great deal to me, Queen Friora," he said, and then he looked at Celeste. "I will speak the truth and tell you I was reserved in asking for your hand before I met you last night, but after our encounter, I saw you to be a fascinating, honest woman, and I did decide that night that our union would be a blessed and happy one, so long as I shall live."
Both the queen and Celeste looked stunned.
"I had no idea I had made such an impression on you, Prince Cross," Celeste said.
"Nor did I," the queen said. "When you left last night without announcement, we thought we had offended you."
"The offense was only in the princess' refusal."
"Refusal?" Celeste said.
"For your hand."
The queen's neck snapped to Celeste. "Princess, did the prince propose marriage to you last night?"
Celeste looked around the room. "I...I..."
"It's all right, princess," Court said. "I do not mean to pressure you for an answer. I will wait upon your invitation. Perhaps by that time, we will grow together and your answer will change. But I believe I shall ever be chasing after another kiss."
"Another?" the queen echoed.
Celeste looked away. "Pardon me, Prince Cross, but I do not think such things are appropriate to say in front of the queen."
"Forgive me, princess. I only meant to illustrate the passion of a man struck by your beauty."
"And what beauty is that?" Celeste asked angrily. "You have not seen my face until this day."
"The beauty of your spirit, princess, of your drive and excitement for life. It moved me beyond words. I think I shall never forget the wonder in your voice at the mere sheen of the floors you walked upon."
Celeste held a scoff. "The floors? Prince Cross, please remember that I was ill last night, and so said things that perhaps I find more embarrassing then endearing."
"I understand perfectly, princess. I do hope your mind was not so clouded that you find yourself ill-taken with entertaining me. Do you wish for me to leave?"
"Of course she does not," the queen said. "The princess is honored to be courted by a man of such upstanding lineage and grace."
"Thank you," he said, bowing his head. He took another sip of tea.
"Regarding the dragon," Celeste spoke up, "why do you suppose it attacked this girl on the road?"
"I have not the smallest hint to its reasons. Hunger may well have drove it from its den, and so found the first one upon the road. The shocking irony is that the girls' mother, if you can believe it, was carried off by the same dragon just five years prior."
"How dreadful," Celeste said. "And when did you learn this information?"
"As it happens, she is a stable girl at the tavern where I am lodging and she relayed it to me."
"I see," Celeste said. "I do believe I know this tavern and the girl you speak of. In fact, I recently brought her to the castle to work in the kitchens for a few days."
"Yes, she did mention she had worked here for you, and she mentioned how indebted she was for the opportunity. She is truly a humble girl, and so honored to have served you."
The queen coughed. "We are not in the habit of bringing in maid servants, Prince Cross. She was an exception."
"Yes, I had heard Avelot Castle only kept elderly female servants."
"We find it reduces distraction," the queen said.
"I will have to suggest that to my father," Court said.
"Well," the queen said, "let us take lunch."
"Please."
Court, Celeste, and Friora left the state room and came to the royal dining table. It spanned the length of the entire room, with ten windows lined along the wall. Friora sat at the head and Court sat across from Celeste in the middle. The courses were served, and during them, Court shared the history of the Cross Kingdom, adding to it the recent war with the neighboring kingdom of Krenlien.
"Was the Krenlien king hung when your army took the castle?" Celeste asked.
"That is an interesting question," Court said. "My brother gave the king a choice. The first choice was to allow the king to fall upon his own sword, and in doing so, his wife and daughter, the queen and princess, would be made commoners but live comfortably as an example to the people of Krenlien, or the king could accept banishment, but his wife and daughter would be hung."
"What did he choose?" Celeste asked with intrigue.
"It was a trick question," Court said. "You see, the knight's code does not allow us to execute women, so the queen and princess were never in any danger from my brother, but by asking the king his choice, he showed the people his cowardice—for my brother knew he would ask to live and take the easy way out. He was hung, but the people were not bitter over the death, and so rallied to the new duke, and the kingdom was taken into our bosom."
"Fascinating," the queen said, speaking loudly to battle the distance between them. "I must say, your brother seems a wise man."
"Wiser than me, I'm afraid, though should I live up to half of his potential, I will be so honored and do honor to those around me."
"We shall have to see how well you do," Celeste said.
With lunch finished, the queen stood. Court and Celeste matched her stance, waiting for her to speak.
"I do believe you two may continue without me," the queen said. "I will take my leave, and so wish you good evening, Prince Cross. May I suggest that Princess Celeste does so enjoy the game of croquet, and she would surely find it an enjoyable competition if you were to contest her?"
"I would be honored to best the princess, if she does not object."
Celeste smiled. "I believe a thrashing at croquet would do more good than harm, Prince Cross. I accept."
"Good evening to you both," the queen said.
"Good evening, your majesty," Court said.
"Good evening, my queen," Celeste echoed.
Court followed Celeste out of the room and up a set of stairs, with Betilly and Wellington on their flanks.
"Our croquet court is on the roof of the south wing. We shall play with the ocean to our back and the salt air in our noses."
"Celeste," he said, dropping her title, "may I say, I'm so pleased to be with you again."
"That's kind of you to say...Prince Cross."
"Court, please. We do not need to stand on formality with each other, not whilst we're alone."
"If you wish to speak so familiarly, I will do so, though I do find it uncomfortable."
"Do you? Why? You seemed so relaxed last night."
"As I said, it was my momentary illness."
"May I also say," he said, "you are even more beautiful than I expected, and for a man who could not see your face last night, I did begin to ponder your image, and it has so please me."
"Thank you. I am gratified to hear that."
"Of course," he said.
They arrived at the croquet field, a long,
green strip of grass set on the stone roof, a wall behind them and a drop into the ocean before them. Betilly and Wellington prepared the mallets and balls.
"I'm looking forward to seeing the skills that earned your trophy, Celeste," Court said.
"Trophy?" Celeste said. "What trophy?"
"The trophy your mother prepared when she invited the competition from the kingdom."
"Prince Cross, I do believe you confusing me with another princess you have been courting. I am not amused."
"No, Celeste, of course not. You told me last night of your trophy. You seemed so proud of it."
"Oh, that trophy. Forgive me. I forgot I mentioned that. Yes, that was hard earned."
"Of course," he said. "Please, the first shot is to you."
Celeste took her time, whacking the ball through the wicket. When it was his turn, Court whacked his ball. It went sailing, rolling off the edge of the castle. He chuckled as he looked over the edge, seeing the ball splash far below in the water.
"Foul?" he said with a grin.
"Prince, I do believe you did that on purpose."
"Guilty," he said coming back to her. "Let's make up our own rules, Celeste. Go ahead, give it a good whack. Let's see how far we can get it out there into the ocean."
She did not speak, just stared at him. He took up a position at the next ball, pulling his mallet back. He swung it and the ball went sailing.
"Ho-ho! Look at it go!" He turned to Celeste, finding she had thrown down her mallet and stormed off. "Celeste?"
He went after her, moving through the door, following her down the steps.
"Celeste?"
"I do not like being mocked, Prince Cross. You will find I do not find such things amusing."
He grabbed her hand on the staircase, spinning her around, moving one step below her, their faces level.
"Let go of my hand," she said.
"Why?" he said, turning it and intertwining their fingers.
"How dare you hold me with such familiarity?" she demanded. "Do you think me a peasant girl you found desperate in the streets? I do not care if you are a prince or a king or even a warlord, you will not—"
He kissed her, straight on the lips, shutting her up. Her hands shot up to his shoulders, grabbing him, trying to push him away, but he was not having it. His hand held her jaw in place as he opened and closed his mouth. It was a very different kiss from last time. Her lips felt so stiff between his, thin, not pouty, not eager, not hungry for him. He pressed in harder, trying to coax the kiss out of her, the kiss he remembered, his other hand coming to her hip, pulling her in, crushing their bodies together. Her mouth finally began moving, opening and closing against his. She stopped pushing, her hands resting on his collarbone, slipping over it, coming around his back. He pushed her up against the wall, driving his tongue into her mouth. She moaned, tilting her head to let him in, but then he broke the kiss.