by Kris Black
Alina curtseyed low for Belmont and, regrettably, Calista. “I’m sorry I’m late, Your Majesty.”
“Nonsense,” Belmont said and beckoned her forward with his hand. Alina rose and walked over to his right, next to the last open seat. The queen stood at the other end of the table, Felix to her own right - a spot of fondness and trust.
It frayed her nerves, seeing Belmont so close to Edward. Alina wondered how she ever believed Edward related to her, looking between the two men. Edward’s tawny brown, graying hair was beginning to thin; Alina’s shade matched near-perfectly to Belmont’s. When she saw the features she shared with her father, any past thought of ones shared with Edward seemed grasping.
“I would like to thank you all sincerely for raising Alina,” Belmont started.
“Lord in Heaven are you married?” cried Emma, out of turn.
The king looked to her, confused at being interrupted. Alina was sure he wasn’t accustomed to it. Kitty smacked Emma on the arm.
“My apologies, your Majesty,” Edward spoke up. “The girls aren’t used to court manners.”
Emma stuttered out an apology and a quick curtsey, her skin flushed in embarrassment. Calista glared daggers at Emma like she was contemplating picking up her butter knife and lobbying it across the table.
“In response to your question, no, we aren’t married,” Belmont chided and paused for a long moment. “I already have a wife - your queen - who is sitting at the end of the table. Alina is my daughter. May I present Her Royal Highness, Alina the Crown Princess of Lormount.”
The looks of confusion and horror were mixed among Alina’s siblings. Her father’s face drained of all color and he braced himself on the table. Abigail most notably was almost as white as her father, her cobalt eyes wide with fear and disbelief.
“Now may be a good time to bow,” Alina said, looking directly at Abigail. She noticed Felix smirk out of the corner of her eye.
There was a sense of satisfaction in seeing the sisters that were so coarse and unforgiving standing before her bowing; at the same time bittersweet, seeing her adored brothers doing the same. Even her father bowing ignited a myriad of emotions within her she didn’t want to examine too deeply right now.
“I am sure you have questions,” Belmont said. “Please sit and we shall discuss everything and how this came to be over luncheon.”
The king sat and motioned for the rest to follow suit. Alina tucked her dress and sat on her chair, a footman pushing it in behind her. A few minutes of stunned silence followed as the servers came in and delivered their dishes before quietly leaving again. No one picked up their utensils.
“I don’t understand how this happened,” Edward spluttered out finally. “My Danielle would never-”
“She didn’t.” Belmont cut him off before he finished. “Rest assured, Edward, that Danielle was always faithful to you so far as I am aware. Alina is the daughter of myself and the late Queen Breena.”
There was a collective gasp at the table and Alina’s father - Edward - turned to look at her. His brow furrowed as if he were looking at her for the first time, and it broke her heart. When realization dawned, she knew. She understood that he no longer saw familial ties, but what she saw when she had seen the portrait of the queen in the gallery. He saw Queen Breena with chestnut hair staring back at him.
“How?” Edward whispered.
King Belmont painted the picture for everyone, regaling them with the same tale he had told Alina. Alina had nothing to add, she just sat and twisted her hands within the folds of her gown and let her family… had let the Everstons ask their questions of the king. She hadn’t touched the food in front of her. Her stomach churned like storm-swept seas.
Nothing would be the same again.
When lunch had concluded, Alina wasn’t sure how it went. It ended quietly as it had started. Everyone in their own headspace. She wasn’t sure where she stood within her family any longer, and the dinner had cleared nothing up. It had only upset everyone involved.
And now Edward had a child to mourn over. Perhaps he would forget about Alina.
Everyone had slowly exited after eating. No one had said much, an odd occurrence for the Everston girls. The only thing that saved Alina from falling into the depths of despair was George, who had placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently and kissed the top of her head before he had left.
“The information overcomes them, as it did you,” Belmont said to her when they were the last ones in the room - having given everyone permission to leave when finished. “Please don’t judge them harshly for their lack of words.”
He seemed to read her thoughts. Did he know this because it was something he would have done or something her mother would have done? How many of their traits had she inherited without her knowledge?
“I won’t,” she promised.
“You were ill yesterday with a headache, are you better today?” He looked down at her plate. “You’ve hardly touched your meal.”
“I’m a little better,” she smiled. She didn’t want to admit that she mostly wanted to avoid her family. She hadn’t realized someone had informed the king. How many of her comings and goings were reported back to him? Back to Calista?
“I’m glad to hear it.” Belmont stood and leaned down, giving Alina a gentle kiss on the brow. “You and I need to make time for each other. I’m sorry to say I’m not accustomed to making time for my family any longer. The queen finds me if she has a need for me. I promise I will make a greater effort.”
“I would like that.” Alina smiled up at the king. He was her family. He was the only living human that shared blood with her. She wasn’t sure if her faerie grandparents were still alive, but this man before her was her sire. Her father.
“Then I will make sure it gets done.”
Chapter Nine
The Gift
Alina received a beautiful hand-written note inviting her, and her sisters, to the queen’s parlor for the day directly from the queen. Her sisters would never refuse such an invitation, so Alina called Ella to help her get ready.
“It’s just a bunch of noble ladies, meeting in a room and gossiping over court life while trying to get into the queen’s good graces.” Ella pulled the pin from her mouth and pinned Alina’s hair up.
Alina worried with the ring on her finger, careful not to twist it around but wriggling it up and down. “What do you suppose her purpose is for inviting my sisters?”
Ella hesitated for a moment. “I really couldn’t say.”
Alina noted the hesitation. It still scared Ella to speak her thoughts aloud. As she should be. The queen could be watching them at this very moment and neither one would be the wiser. It was a twisted way to use a mirror that was Christian’s only access to the realm outside his castle walls.
Ella deftly tied the back of the gown she had chosen for Alina. Each tug of the string jerked Alina slightly and grew her apprehension of this meeting with the court ladies. If the queen criticized how she sat and walked, what would she have to say about Abigail, Kitty, and Emma?
“One last thing.” Ella held up her finger when she finished with the dress. Ella walked over to Alina’s vanity and opened a velvet box sitting atop that she had brought with her. Inside nestled a delicate tiara.
“Is that necessary?” Alina frowned at the ornament.
“You will be the highest-ranking lady in that room. It will be best to remind them of that.” Ella frowned.
“Have you been in the queen’s parlor?” Alina sat back down, allowing Ella to affix the crown to her head.
“Once or twice. They like to stare at anyone who is different.”
Alina glanced up to watch Ella reflected through her mirror. Lady Ella, the daughter of a Baron. Whose tawny complexion stood out from most at court. Alina reached up and pulled Ella’s hand into her own. The only difference was the slight hue, but they were the same.
Alina squeezed her friend’s hand. “Don’t let those court ladies make you think that you're
anything less than worthy.”
Ella’s lips tilted up, and she squeezed back. “Thank you.”
“Sounds exactly like the kind of place my sisters have dreamed about being in,” Alina confessed and she stood again and adjusted her skirts.
“Perhaps.” Ella signed and shook her head. “Just… try to keep the queen happy. I’ve known her to retaliate against people who speak against her.”
“Is that why you said nothing when she was insulting everything about me at my last lesson?”
Ella looked away, her nose flaring. “I don’t have the rank to stand up to her. She could do terrible things to my father, to his estate, to my family and people.”
Alina gritted her teeth. “I have the rank though. She shouldn’t be treating anyone like that, whether a princess or peasant.”
Ella reached out and gripped Alina’s hand, squeezing gently. “Please, just bear it for tonight. It’s only for a little while.”
“I’ll try,” Alina promised and Ella released her hand.
“It’s near time to go.” Ella glanced at the clock on the fireplace mantel. “Are you ready?”
Alina nodded and allowed Ella to take her to the room her sisters were staying in. They would meet there and then have Ella show them to the queen’s parlor.
The twittering of girls alerted Alina that they were nearing her sisters before she rounded the corner and saw them. Each had their pale blonde hair pulled up into elaborate twists and updos, all wearing their best gowns to meet with the queen. As Alina approached, they calmed down - more than once their eyes roaming to the tiara resting on her crown.
“I hope you’re all prepared to be on your best behavior.”
“That goes without saying.” Abigail snapped. But it didn’t. Kitty, and even Emma, were prone to be brash and silly. Abigail was… well, she was Abigail.
Alina chose not to respond to her sister’s bait. “This is my Lady-in-Waiting, Lady Ella. Lady Ella, these are my sisters - Abigail, Katherine and Emma Everston. Lady Ella will escort us to the queen’s parlor.”
“You don’t know the way?” Emma asked.
“Yes, she’s your mother, isn’t she?” Kitty chimed in.
“No, she’s my step-mother.” Alina sighed and began their stride down the hall. In a few long strides, Abigail cut in front of her to stand beside Ella.
“I’m the eldest, Alina. Or did you forget while you were preening in this castle? The eldest is always the head of the line. You need to go to the back.”
A formal rule that Abigail had always pushed onto her sisters, either to punish Alina or to keep her as far away from herself as possible. Still, Abigail surprised her that she had the audacity to try it even here, with Alina in a tiara no less.
“Her Royal Highness outranks you by far, here at court,” Ella cut in tersely. “Everyone in this castle is to walk at least one foot behind her, save for her father, the king.”
Abigail didn’t move, she just stopped and stared dumbly at Ella. Like she couldn’t believe that someone had the audacity to stand up to her.
“Well, that settles that,” Alina said and easily stepped around her eldest sister to continue on their path towards the queen.
“Thank you for that,” Alina whispered to Ella.
“Someone had to put her in her place. You shouldn’t let her walk all over you, Alina.”
The door to the queen’s parlor was nondescript like any other door in the castle, save for the two guards stationed outside. They both bowed deeply as Alina approached. One opened the door, while the other entered the room to announce her.
“Her Royal Highness, the Princess Alina of Lormount and her sisters, Miss Abigail Everston, Katherine Everston, and Emma Everston.”
Everyone in the room, even the queen, was required to stand and curtsy to the princess. Even her sisters dipped down. Alina plastered a smile on her face and made her way over to Calista when everyone rose.
“Thank you for your invitation, Your Grace.”
“It was my pleasure, Your Highness.” Her smile, too, was fake and her sincerity lacking. Anyone with half an eye could tell that the queen and the princess were not amiable with each other. “Come, find a place to sit everyone! We were just getting started. Please, help yourselves to tea and biscuits at your leisure.”
No one helped themselves, but they found a place to sit.
“Come, sit next to me Step-Daughter.” Calista motioned to the empty chair next to her. “I want to introduce you to my friends.”
It was the last thing that Alina wanted to do, but she took the spot next to Calista. Alina settled herself down, adjusted her skirt, tucked her damn ankle behind the other, and pulled back her shoulders. Head high, Alina surveyed the room. The other women spread around and on mismatched, but ostentatious furniture. Her sisters all found a spot to perch as the quiet of the room disappeared, giving way to hushed voices as everyone resumed their conversations.
Between herself and the queen was an ornate end-table, made of cherry maple that stood a little taller than the armrests of the seats on either side. On it lay the magic mirror, face down. It tempted Alina to grab it, just to glimpse a face or the hint of her mate. She didn’t let her mind sit on that thought and was careful to appear disinterested in the enchanted object.
“Lady Ashfield, have you met the new princess?” Calista asked, jostling Alina out of her study of the room.
“I haven’t had the pleasure.” Lady Ashfield was a wisp of a lady, with long, graying ash brown hair. Her caramel eyes were a little too big for her tiny face. “It is nice to finally meet you, Your Highness.”
“You as well, Lady Ashfield.”
“And the Duchess of Briarbay you’ve met Princess Alina on our outing to town.”
The duchess inclined her head to the princess. “A pleasure again, Your Highness.” Duchess Briarbay was fair, much like Alina’s sisters, but plain. Alina vaguely remembered that she was at the jewelers stall the day that Calista had tried to blackmail him into giving her a priceless necklace for almost nothing.
“I’ve been waiting to show my new step-daughter off to my friends since you arrived,” Calista fawned, pretending to be nothing but a doting parent.
“I understand why. What an asset to the kingdom - and so beautiful too!” Lady Ashfield cooed at her.
Calista frowned, turning towards the Everston girls. “Perhaps we should have included your sisters in our lessons for court life.”
Alina’s head snapped towards her sisters. Emma and Kitty, reliably, had food piled on their plates and were talking animatedly with their hands to the aghast looks of the ladies beside them. Intermittent giggling could be heard when one halted conversation and the other picked up. Abigail was sitting moderately properly, sipping tea and trying to make small talk with the surrounding ladies who, Alina suspected, would never stoop so low as to make conversation with a merchant’s daughter regardless of her manners.
Was that how they treated her mother and Danielle? Like women to tolerate but never include?
“Four girls all raised by a father. No wonder they have no manners.” Duchess Briarbay tsked, louder than needed by their circle. Her voice echoed throughout the room and a hush blanketed the ladies present. “I thought the eldest would have at least remembered what her mother taught her before she died.”
Alina’s face flushed and her heart sped up. Emma and Kitty looked down at the floor, embarrassed by the public rebuke. Alina saw the tears welling up in Kitty’s eyes as she blinked furiously to keep them at bay. Abigail straightened up her back and sitting position, setting her tea down on the coffee table in front of her and clearing her throat uncomfortably.
“Yes, I agree.” Calista agreed. “I knew my dear Alina was rough around the edges, but I thought that was her own carelessness. I see now it was improper instruction in all the girls.”
Alina squeezed her hands in the folds of her dress and took a deep breath, trying to remember Ella’s instructions. The queen wanted a few m
oments of fun at their expense, and then she would move on. Calista often retaliated against those who stood against her. She chanted those things in her mind, over and over.
“They are all very handsome children, even the boys.” Lady Ashfield commented. “A shame they lost their fortune. Even with it now restored, who would want to marry them and chance such bad luck again?”
“No one at court, that’s for certain.” Another lady chimed in. They all presumed her sisters aspired to marry well, into the nobility - especially with their connection to the princess.
Abigail flushed but said nothing. She continued to sit, still like a doll.
“It is such a shame that their father is only a failed merchant and their mother barely a lady. Such a waste.” Calista said as she shook her head sadly. “You are so lucky that you have our guidance now, princess.”
Her sisters had never been nice to her. And the rare times that Kitty or Emma showed her any affection, Abigail had been quick to snuff it out. But sitting here listening to these pampered, spoiled women berate them and her family was more than she would bear. They were still her sisters.
Alina stood up all at once, graceful and furious. “That’s enough.”
“Whatever do you mean?” The underlying tone of Calista’s voice was a warning, one that Alina ignored.
“My family is here as guests, not entertainment for the court ladies. Our circumstances were not our choice and mocking my sisters for them is unconscionable. You all should be ashamed of yourselves.”
Some ladies had the wherewithal to look ashamed. Calista just glared down the princess. “It may be time for you to go back to your rooms, Princess Alina.”
“With pleasure, Your Grace.” Alina gathered up her skirts and turned. “Come on Emma, Kitty, Abigail. We’re leaving.”
Kitty and Emma hastened behind Alina like ducklings. A welcomed change for once, instead of tittering behind Abigail. Abigail, who remained sitting.
“I’d prefer to stay here, if that is alright with you, Your Majesty?” She addressed the queen.
Calista’s eyebrows lifted slightly, sensing dissension among the Everstons. “You and your sisters are welcome to stay, Miss Everston.”
