The Changeling Queen

Chapter Seven

The lunch is awkward, to say the least. The Prince randomly glares over at me while the Princess chats about meaningless things while still constantly dragging me into the conversation. I just want to drink and get this dream over with as soon as possible. I'm starting to think that I must be in a coma because this dream seems to be never ending. I don't think that I have ever had a dream this long before.

"I was thinking about lilies for this wedding. What do you think, Mother?" she asks, once again reigning me in.

"Lillies are for death, child," I mutter, picking at the duck in front of me. "An omen of death at your wedding would not bode well, in my opinion."

"Oh," she says quietly, looking dejected as she sinks back into her seat. "They are my favorite, but I suppose you are right, as always."

"I only wish to help and make your day as perfect as possible," I say with a force smile before pushing the fork into my mouth.

Prince Claudius snorts, rolling his eyes as he turns back to his betrothed. "If they are your favorite, my love, then that is all that matters. Omens only have the power that we give to them."

"Are you sure? If I was the reason that our union was jinxed," she says softly as she looks up at him through her lashes. It makes me want to gag. Did I really think that she was that great of a character while playing the game? She's so annoying and fake.

"You could never be the reason for a jinx," he says as he reaches over to squeeze her hand.

"I'm feeling a bit unwell," I say as I stand up, gesturing for one of the servants waiting on the side of the room to come get my plate. "Please, enjoy the rest of your meal. I will take my leave and have a bit of rest."

"Of course, Mother. Do you need someone to escort you?" my step daughter asks as she stands up as well.

"No, no. Please, enjoy your time with your beloved," I gesture to the Prince as I begin to walk towards the door. "I know my way to my chambers, as do you if you need me for anything. Otherwise, just send in a maid or servant if you'd like to reach me."

"Of course," she says as she sits back down, though the concern on her face has me wondering if it's genuine or not. "I hope that I bit of rest does make you feel better."

"I'm sure that it will," I assure her.

***

Getting back to my chambers, I slump onto my bed. I know that I need to get undressed to really be comfortable, and the cage from the dress is digging into my lower body, but the idea of calling someone is just irritating. I groan, though, finally getting up to ring the bell. The woman hurriedly comes in, and after I explain that I have a headache and I'm not feeling well, she quickly helps me change into a nightgown.

"Please, Your Highness, let me know if you need anything else," she says before she slips out of the room.

I lay in bed, staring up at the canopy of the bed. Eventually I must have drifted off to sleep, because I woke up to a knock at my door.

"Hm," I squeeze my eyes shut before opening them again, frowning slightly. Had I slept through the entire day? "Coming," I yawn as I throw the blanket off of me, dragging my feet as I go to answer the door.

"Queen Cahya," a gorgeous man with dirty blonde hair and bronze like skin greets me, bowing deeply.

"Hello," I say unsurely, studying him. Who is he?

He straightens himself, looking at me with anger in his dark brown eyes. "It is midweek, ma'am. When you did not request that I be sent to your chambers, I came on my own."

The option boxes popped up again, asking me if I wanted to ask him why he came if I didn't call him, or if I wanted to invite him in. My eyes linger over the first option, and then I started talking.

"If I did not call you, why did you come?" I ask him, tilting my head and folding my arms over my chest.

He seems confused, and he opens his mouth, then closes it, before he says, "Ma'am, you always call on me midweek."

"That does not answer my question," I say with a frown, raising my eyebrows.

"I apologize, Your Highness, but I assumed that you wanted me to come since you always ask for me to come on this day," he explains, shifting uncomfortably.

"You don't want to be here," I state. "I will no longer take unwilling men to bed just to appease the treaties of my late husband. Leave."

His face seems to pale as he grabs the door, keeping me from closing it completely. "Please, Your Highness, don't reject me. My family needs the money the Crown gives for me being in your court."

I glare at him, tilting my head up. "So I should have to put up with someone unwilling just so your family has what they need?"

Tears form in his eyes as he falls to his knees, gripping my dress. "Please, please Your Highness. I want to come to your bed. Don't reject me. Please."

"You are little more than a slave," I say as I bend down, pulling his hands off of my night gown. "In the morning, you will bring me your service papers."

He looks at me confused, tears still streaming down his face. "Your Highness, please, I have no where to go if you send me away. My family can't take me back in. There will be no room, and no money to feed nor clothe me. Please. You have to let me stay."

I grab his face, turning it this way and that. "You were trained as a guard, were you not?" I ask. Saying things that I wasn't really saying will never be something I can get used to.

"Y-yes ma'am. As part of the Imperial Guard," he says in a quiet voice, beginning to calm down, and sound less desperate.

"Then you will join one of the guard sectors. Any in the Kingdom that you please. That will give you days off, and a better pay," I say as I stand up, brushing off my night gown.

He sits on the floor, still on his knees. "You... you will really let me out of my service?"

"I told you, I have no need for men in my bed who are not there willingly. In the morning, I will require you to bring me your service papers. For now, go back to your room, and let any of the men there know that in the morning, they can bring me their service papers as well. I will reschedule some things to ensure that this is taken care of. Otherwise, if any of them would like to join me tonight, my door will be open," I say before shutting the door on his face.

I gasp as soon as I have control of my body again. Why would the game make me say something like that? After all, that one servant was so in love with the Queen, me?, it isn't that much of a jump to believe that others might be too. I groan as I press my back to the door, sinking down to burying my head in my arms, which are resting on my knees. Hopefully I get left alone for the night.