Escaping Her Curse—Completed

Chapter Eighteen

Silence settled over the tent as everyone as the king entered and addressed the crowd. He then unceremoniously grabbed an extra chair from the side and placed it at the table, joining the three. Both women immediately stood and curtsied, while Oliver curtly nodded at his father, clearly displeased.

“So, is no one going to answer me? I didn’t ask for nothing!” King Tyson stated, perusing his audience. “Who wants to become my son’s future bride and rule alongside him as his queen?”

“Of–of course I do,” Fiona said, jumping at the chance.

She then smiled prettily at the king and fluttered her eyelashes at him, doing her best to captivate the men.

“I’ve trained all my life to be a fitting partner for His Highness and help rule over Eteshia,” Fiona prattled on. “From the best tutors in embroidery and fashion and, uh, decorating–I have it all. I’m sure to be the best queen this country has ever seen!”

The king’s face remained passive, letting her comment sink in. He waited a moment to let Fiona realize the mistake she’d made, but the woman just sat, grinning at him.

Sighing, he turned to Christine. “And you?”

“Oh, Your Majesty, I couldn’t possibly tell you of how I would do my best to please the prince and this country. I feel as though my actions speak volumes, more than my mouth ever could. That is, I’m not sure I could ever live up to the former queen’s glory, but I would certainly strive to,” Christine replied in her gentle voice.

King Tyson beamed at her. “What a queenly response, don’t you think, Oliver?”

Fiona’s cheeks started turning bright red as Christine took a small sip from her tea cup. Oliver did his best to ignore his father’s statements.

“What actions do you speak of, Lady Christine, that would show your abilities as queen?” Oliver then asked.

“Please let me answer, Your Highness,” Christine’s maid jumped in, taking a step toward the table. “My lady is far too humble to be completely honest with all her skills!”

“Enlighten us, then,” the king interjected.

“Certainly! My lady works at a local soup kitchen once a month, donating not just her time but also the food for that day. She then spends all afternoon playing with the children at the orphanage. She has such a kind and caring heart. All of her past clothes are also donated to these places, and she’ll personally deliver them to whoever could use them best. She’ll often do needlework with the women and help teach them how to embroider. My lady is so thoughtful to us staff at the count’s house. She ensures that we get one vacation a year to be with our families around the holidays and looks over our wages to make sure we’re paid well.”

The king continued grinning. “That is certainly quite the list!”

“I haven’t even scratched the surface, Your Majesty!” the maid squealed in delight. “She has done so much for the community and is often seen handing out bread and eggs in the town square. There’s nothing she can’t do!”

“Oh Mandy, you are too kind. I’m sure I haven’t done all that,” Christine chimed in. “You must be exaggerating.”

Mandy radiated with pride. “See, m’lords? See how bashful my lady is? She is the heart of the count’s family and the people just adore her and all she’s done for all of us. She would make the most excellent queen.”

“That’s exactly what I want to hear. Thank you, Mandy, for speaking on behalf of your lady,” King Tyson stated.

“What do you think?” Oliver asked suddenly.

All eyes turned to Jessie, who had been watching the scene before her unfold. Oliver was looking directly at her.

“Excuse me, m’lord?” Jessie barely managed to squeak out.

Oliver only smiled. “You heard me. I want your opinion on these lovely ladies. They are, after all, in the running to be queen.”

Jessie saw both of the women narrow their eyes at her. With or without knowing it, Oliver had put a target on her back, and she did not appreciate it.

“I beg your pardon, Your Highness, but why would my lowly opinion matter? These are ladies of stature and grace. I couldn’t even begin to critique either on matters I do not know.”

As she spoke, Jessie saw both women gradually loosen their stony faces and replace their glowers with approving looks. Yes, it was only right for Jessie to know her place and not give an opinion on such an important matter. Who was she that Oliver would even care what she thought?

Oliver took a sip of his tea and mulled over her words. “Now, that may technically be true,” he said after a few quiet moments. “But still, as my assistant, you’ll be spending time with my queen. I mean, not as much as with me, but you’ll still interact. I want to ensure that the two of you get along as much as me. There’s much to learn from you, Ms. Jessie, and I want my future queen to cherish you like I do.”

Jessie only peaked a glance at the king and at the noblewomen. All of them looked outraged at Oliver’s statement.

“M’lord. Surely–” Jessie attempted.

“I said what I said,'' Oliver announced, looking at the others at his table instead of Jessie. “It is important to me that everyone gets along well. As my personal assistant, Jessie is vital. She may not hold a noble station, but she is tied to me and will therefore be treated with respect. I only came to this because she demanded that I do so!”

“It is your duty,” his father growled. “You will get married, son.”

Oliver slammed his fist down on the table, causing Fiona to jump and let out a ‘yelp’. The prince then threw his napkin onto the table.

“I will get married to the right woman, father. But you cannot rush the process! Throwing these stupid parties and shoving eligible women in my face isn’t going to make me choose any faster.”

“You’ve had ten years to choose!” King Tyson roared. “So, either you choose, or I will.”

Standing up swiftly, the chair Oliver had just been occupying tipped and fell onto the ground.

“I apologize for ending the party in such an undignified manner, ladies. Please excuse me. Thank you for coming,” he added, before grabbing Jessie’s hand and storming off toward the castle.

Jessie briefly looked behind her, mirroring the horrified expressions at the table. However, the cold and angry stare from the king made her shiver.

Once the two made it back to his office, Oliver finally let go of her hand and plopped into his seat, resting his head in order hands.

“Your Grace?” Jessie asked in a whisper.

“I just don’t get it!” Olver said tiredly. “He hasn’t pushed until just recently for me to get married. Why now? And all of a sudden? He told me he wasn’t going to give up the throne until he was dead! He still has at least a few decades left in him. Why do I need a wife?”

Jessie took a quiet seat in front of his desk. She studied him and pitied him. She saw how hard he was trying to please his father without becoming him. The young Oliver she had known had feared becoming his father more than anything else. Even back then, Oliver had seen how power could corrupt and how even good men could fall prey.

“He probably thinks this is what’s best for you. To be taken care of when he’s gone. To have a family; an heir,” Jessie said softly.

“You honestly think either of those women today would be good for me? That would challenge me, take care of me, and rule with me?”

“How do you know they wouldn’t?”

Oliver looked up from his hands and met Jessie’s concerned eyes. “I want my future wife to know me. To love me. To be with me because I’m enough, and not because it comes with a powerful title and money.”

Jessie gave him a gentle smile. “Again, how do you know they won’t love you for you?”

“Can you honestly see either of them doing so? I mean, Lady Fiona’s dress was so large and poofy, I thought about offering another chair for her train,” Oliver chuckled.

She couldn’t help but join in the laughter. “And when her cheeks turned as pink as her gown.”

“I could barely see her face beneath all that makeup! And with how warm it was, I couldn’t believe it wasn’t falling off her face!”

Both were in tears as they continued dissecting the tea party they’d both escaped from and all of Fiona’s reactions. It was obvious what the noble lady had been thinking because it was written across her face.

After catching his breath, Oliver finally said, “What did you think of Lady Christine, though? She was pretty and seemed to have quite the list of accolades.”

Jessie chose her words very carefully, “I think that she appears to be the perfect match.”

“What do you mean by that?” Oliver asked, interested.

As she opened her mouth to continue, a servant knocked and opened the door hastily.

“My Lord!” he said, out of breath. “Lady Christine has collapsed!”