Chapter 21
"You truly are beautiful, your grace, I'm sure the dowager king and queen will love you." One of my handmaidens commented she smiled brightly while my face held everything but joy.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
My hair was placed over one shoulder in curls and a small half up bun was placed at the side. Finally my handmaiden ran over with a pair of heels which I absolutely refused to wear.
I slipped my feet into my very old school shoes and walked out. Already hating the idea of being so close to the former king and queen.
"Your Grace." My escort was exactly where the king said he would be, right outside the door waiting for me to walk out. He bowed lowly to me before addressing me once more. "It is only 12:00 your grace, you still have half an hour to prepare."
"I'm going for a walk. I stated bluntly before heading down the corridor. I got to the steps and stopped slightly I bunched my dress up a little bit before taking a few steps down, instantly my left foot accidentally tread on my gown and I went tumbling down the stairs, my hair flew all over the place, and my dress ripped slightly. I only fell down a couple of steps but with the way people pounced on me you would think I'd broken my neck.
"Miss Riley!" I felt two arms grab me and help me up before the royal beta began to inspect me for injury. 'Are you ok? That was quite the tumble." He asked looking at me, I just nodded before walking down the next set with both the beta and my escort following me.
"I've had much worse." I admitted before frowning suddenly. "Why are you here anyway. I thought only the king is allowed on the fourth floor."
"I was sent to see how things were going, the King was concerned." I scoffed, of course he was concerned. Concerned that I'd ran away or something. "You look lovely by the way."
I grunted a small but very unflattering thank you before continuing to walk through the castle. After 10 minutes and another flight of stairs I hit another dead end.
"Argh! who needs a house this big." I was becoming more and more frustrated by the minute.
"Calm down. I know you must be nervous about meeting the in laws but..." I couldn't help myself, I cut him off very quickly before curling my hands into fist.
"Don't call them that." Im progressively getting annoyed at the fact that I'm completely trapped with a bunch of high ranking wolves who have been repetitively torturing me and my kind for years.
"I know you hate your situation, but you may actually enjoy it here if you give it a chance, the king is your mate, he will do right by you!" He doesn't get it, non of them do. They are too privileged to know any different.
"If you hadn't noticed, I'm here against my will, not by choice. If I had my choice I'd be in my uniform back at home, arguing with my mom and little brother about how much you mutts, piss, me, off. Don't you dare think for one minute I'm ever going to be civil with any of you. Now I'll go to this dinner, and I won't say a god damn word out of line. But I will never let you DOGS get the better of me." With that I lowered my head in submission. I hate submitting but it means I'm below their kind which is what I want to show.
"Wow, you really do hate us, don't you?' He let out a sigh when I didn't answer. "Dylan? Just try and have a simple conversation with them. You might end up having something in common. The moon goddess chose you for a reason." Again I ignored him, the only reason I was chosen was because some higher power had it in for me, and that isn't a stupid non existent goddess. "Anyway dinner will be served in the third floor dining hall. I believe Josh is already seated, along with his parents and his grandfather. I will escort you to where you are needed to be, just please, be careful the dowager king is rather temperamental." He held his arm out for me to take, however I refused. He sighed before gesturing me to follow him escorting me to the hall.
My hands were getting clammy and my heart was racing more and more, at the thought of actually meeting the very people that fuel my anger. The very people that violently stole my livelihood.
I just have to keep my head low... and try to not stab anyone as they sit by me.
He took me to two huge wooden doors before gently knocking. 'Remember, you're one of them now. Don't bow down to them." I nodded my head and looked him in the eye, I took a deep breath before huffing it out and facing forward as the doors opened.
The second they did the king stood up, along with the dowager king and queen, and an older gentleman, my head instantly lowered and I took a knee in front of them. I refused to look any of them in the eye, as I heard footsteps approach my form.