The Fae King's Ruin

The Princess and the Red Sash

Aislin went back to her room, only mildly miffed by Lord Elrin after Aelthrys had managed to calm her down. While she was grateful to her advisers for making sure that everything and everyone in Mhoryga was doing well, that didn’t mean she was happy about who made up her Cabinet. She needed people she could trust and Aislin didn’t believe in letting people hold their positions just because she was related to them. However, it seems as if Lord Elrin would continue to keep being on the Cabinet if only to play Aelthrys’ favorite role for him and be Devil’s Advocate.

She shook her head and pushed all those thoughts aside for the meantime as she entered her room and saw her three maids waiting for her with a tall, bespectacled male dressed in a uniform that was almost similar to the butlers. He had a suit jacket on with a gold pin depicting the Royal Household’s seal, however, and Periwinkle, Ola, and Willow seemed nervous just by standing behind him.

They bowed as she entered, midnight eyes staring at the male questioningly.

“Who are you?” Aislin asked, keeping her door open. “Who gave you leave to enter my room without my permission?”

The male blinked his sea-green eyes, glancing at the girls behind him before bowing his head. “I apologize, Your Highness. I am Hob Spicer, Director of the King’s Household. The gracious King Avery had asked me to speak with you on the matter of your more permanent lodgings here in the palace.”

Aislin looked to Periwinkle, who added, “The King feels that this room is much too quaint for you, Miss.”

Oh, did he now? She raised a brow, a bit intrigued by the male’s appearance and obvious role in the palace. It did not change the fact, however, that she had things to do.

“Alright,” she said. “But I’m afraid this is not the right time to discuss this. I have a meeting in about two hours.”

Spicer nodded, his big and pointed ears flapping slightly as he did. “Of course, Princess Aislin.” He pulled something out of his inner jacket pocket and handed a rather thick compilation of cards to her. “This is a list of suitable maids for you to add to your service. I hope that when your schedule clears, you can call for me to discuss your living arrangements moving forward.”

“But I don’t need more maids,” Aislin said to Spicer, noting that the cards had pictures of the maids. “I am more than satisfied by Periwinkle, Ola, and Willow’s services.”

Spicer adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose as he said, “That may be so, Miss, but the King insists.” And as if that was the end of the conversation, he bowed. “I look forward to hearing from you soon, Your Highness.”

Aislin stepped aside as he passed her, closing her door behind him as he went. She waited for his footsteps to sound farther away before turning to her maids. “That’s your boss?” she asked, trying not to sound.

Ola’s laughter burst out of her in a short, impish manner. The petite fae clamped both of her hands over her lips, her eyes wide like she could not believe the sound came out of her. Aislin grinned as Periwinkle rebuked Ola, but then Willow began laughing in earnest and even she couldn’t hold it any longer.

Periwinkle wrung her hands, mirth already creeping on the surface but was still trying to maintain decorum as the head maid. “Oh, stop it!” she hissed. “Mr. Spicer might hear of this!”

Ola and Willow laughed harder. “Oh, who would tell on us?” Ola insisted. “Miss Aislin? The portraits? Let loose a little, Peri.”

When Periwinkle still hesitated, Aislin swooped in, hooking her arm through hers. “Eventually you’d have to start getting comfortable around me, especially when I become queen. I’ll need you girls to have a bit of fun with me.”

She turned to them, and there was awe in their eyes as she confirmed the rumors that they have no doubt been hearing about all day. Aislin sat on the chair of her vanity, facing away from the mirror, and took in their still forms.

“So it is true?” Willow asked, her voice small and hushed. “Y-You are really marrying King Avery?”

She nodded, then smiled. “I hope that’s all right with you?”

Aislin meant it jokingly at first, but this was probably as close as she was going to get to hearing the opinion of Seelie fae regarding her marriage to their King. And Avery valued his people. Surely if this were any other type of marriage, he would take his subject’s opinion on the matter into consideration. Aislin just couldn’t see it any other way.

It was Periwinkle who moved first, leading the girls in a deep curtsy that Aislin did not expect nor felt like she deserved. Her throat tightened with emotion as she watched them show their respect, and realized that this might be the highest form of it that she had ever received in her life.

“We are honored to serve you, Princess,” Periwinkle murmured as Ola and Willow sniffled and nodded beside her. “And we believe you would make a great queen. We are sure of it, Miss.”

Ola grinned, elbowing the others. “We’re serving our future queen!” she exclaimed in excitement. “We can finally ditch these grubby brown uniforms!”

Aislin laughed with the others. Periwinkle gave her a pointed look, softened only by the smile that still reached her brown eyes. “All right, you two. Let’s get the future queen ready for her meeting, shall we?”

The girls helped her change and put some more makeup on. Aislin chatted with them and their delightful energy affected her immensely. They laughed and joked together, even telling Aislin about what exactly were the rumors circulating around the palace about her and Avery, and what the courtiers thought about it. 

Of course, the females who had come to court with the sole purpose of catching the King’s eye and trapping him into a marriage denied everything all together. There was a particularly nasty one that the girls told her about, a countess by the name of Edith, that all the maids very much disliked. 

Before Aislin’s arrival to the palace, Ola had the misfortune of being put on the countess’ service after an actual drawing of sticks amongst the maids. On her very first night working for the countess, Ola had been shouted at and backhanded for delivering a meal that included bread after hearing from some other noble lady that bread made people fat.

Anyway, the maids had been hearing the countess assure her circle of friends that the rumors were false, painting Aislin as someone who the King only saw as a charity and fancied him way too much, even suspecting that Aislin had the rumor circulating.

When Willow asked how she felt about it, Aislin almost laughed.

“I have dealt with females far worse than that countess,” she told them, letting Ola pin her hair back. “And it doesn’t matter. At least you know the truth.”

Periwinkle smiled as she brought out a garment bag hanging from the closet. “I hope they announce your betrothal soon, Miss. It will be a celebration, unlike anything this palace had ever seen before!”

“Oh! What if you get married on the King’s birthday in the spring?” Willow gasped. “A May wedding would be so romantic!”

“We would have to start designing your gown, Princess,” Ola said, muttering around the pins stuck in her mouth. “It would have to be grand!”

Aislin chuckled, glancing at the mirror as she heard the tell-tale sounds of a zipper. Her jaw dropped as Periwinkle brought out a pale pink dress made from the softest tulle, layered around the bodice with a cascading skirt that fell to the floor. 

The gown was simple yet elegant, and the color was so pale it almost looked white in certain lighting conditions. Ola tapped her shoulder, silently telling Aislin that she was done, and she stood in her robe, staring at the dress.

“You made this.” Aislin knew without a doubt that the girls did as she had a sneaking suspicion for weeks now that they were the ones dutifully dressing her.

Periwinkle nodded, blushing a spectacular gold. “The three of us heard about the rumor yesterday afternoon, and we set about working on this as soon as we could.” She smiled and added, “A gift.”

Aislin’s lips trembled as she looked at the girl, trying to find the right words to show her gratitude. But she couldn’t. These girls have taken care of her since she got here, even when she might have been the enemy at one point.

She took a step closer to Periwinkle and ignored her bewildered expression as Aislin wrapped her arms around her in an embrace. She held out her hands for both Ola and Willow, and they too became part of the tangle of limbs, giggling with each other.

“Thank you,” Aislin murmured, closing her eyes and etching the moment into her mind. “I won’t ever forget this.”

“Neither will we,” Periwinkle assured her. “We’re in a group hug with our future queen!”

The girls dissolved into laughter, perhaps the most Aislin has ever had in this palace, as they scrambled to get her dressed and ready for the Council meeting.

***

At exactly three in the afternoon, the glowing sun just beginning its descent, Aislin’s preparations finished and Aelthrys appeared to escort her to the Silver Hall. 

Aislin grinned at the red sash draped across his usual black uniform, an Unseelie tradition to show that the person is celebrating with a member of the Royal Household. Aislin had her own sash over the stunning gown that she wore, feeling a little heavier with all the usual jewelry and the crown sitting on her head.

“If our delegates appear without a sash,” Aelthrys noted with dark glee, “they will all look like idiots who don’t listen to simple rumors.”

She returned her cousin’s grin. “Our uncle has probably already sent word. If he doesn’t have a sash, he’ll be the biggest fool of them all.”

Her cousin held out his arm, thick in the suit that he wore. Silver-cored eyes gazed at her steadily with pride. “Let’s go.”

Aislin nodded, then bid her maids with a small wave of her hand. Ola winked at her as the three waved back, and just before the door to her room closed, she caught Periwinkle pinching the jade-eyed fae on her side.

The guards posted at her door trailed after them as they usually did, but Aislin felt their presence now more than ever. They seemed to loom closer than they did before, especially when they hit the common hallways. She felt her back straighten even further as Aelthrys tensed when they passed a couple of ladies from court, all curtsying quickly before whispering as soon as they thought Aislin couldn’t hear. Soon, it wouldn’t be rumors they would be talking about.

“We have to start socializing you with the people of this court,” Aelthrys muttered, always vigilant. “I’ll make a portfolio for you to study.”

“Let’s do it gradually,” she replied, glancing at him but not letting the worry show in her face. “I don’t want them to think I’m acting on a bad motivation.”

Aelthrys snorted softly and said, “No matter what you do, Aislin, vipers will be vipers. That will always be true in any court.”

They rounded the corner to the hallway that would take them to the Silver Hall. And under a sort of déjà vu moment, Avery was there at the end of the hallway, waiting. 

This time, there were no other people but him and the King’s hand. Both wore black trousers and shoes, but Avery’s jacket was of dark green, embroidered with a flowery pattern of silver thread, while Sir Res wore the inverse.

She turned her eyes to Avery, only to find him already staring at her with a soft, beguiling smile on his lips. Her heart stuttered at the way his hair was hit by golden light from the windows behind him, the golden circlet around his head winking at her. He looked like golden gold, one that found favor with her in the most peculiar of ways.

When she got near enough, he held out a hand. Aislin took it immediately, letting go of her cousin, and smiled up at him.

“Your Royal Highness,” Avery said to her by way of greeting, then his voice dropped to a whisper. “You look breathtaking.”

She tried not to blush, or to swoon, really. But how could she ever not when he was being this way and was smiling hard enough to make his dimples appear? Aislin tried to master her breathing, at the very least, and jokingly narrowed her eyes at him. 

“Stop being cute.”

Golden eyes sparkled. “You think I’m cute?”

Res, who was standing near enough to hear them, coughed. Avery chuckled, a soft rumble that had her shivering and her flesh goosing up. Mercifully, Avery took that golden gaze off her and nodded to Aelthrys.

“I hope you weren’t against the betrothal,” Avery said, concern dimming the light in his eyes. “I do intend to be a good husband.”

While the declaration made her lose control of her blush entirely, Aelthrys bowed to the King, murmuring, “I support Aislin’s decisions fully.” Then, like some miracle, Aelthrys smiled at Avery. But there was a menacing undertone to it that made Aislin frown at her cousin. “And I have no doubts about you treating my cousin right. I do hope you don’t think I’d ever step down from being her protector.”

Aislin stiffened at her cousin’s words and so did Res from the corner of her eye. Thankfully, Avery chuckled, and with his free hand, held it out to Aelthrys.

“The thought never crossed my mind,” he assured him.

Aelthrys took his hand and shook it firmly once. “Then all’s settled.”

“All right, if all the familial s**t is settled,” Res drawled, checking his watch, “why don’t we get this show on the road?”

Avery turned to her, looking down directly into her eyes, before dropping to her dress. “What’s the sash for?” he asked.

She smoothed a hand over it. “It’s Unseelie tradition to wear a red sash when you’re celebrating something with the Royal Family.” Slightly embarrassed, she shrugged. “Nothing special, really.”

He frowned. “Don’t do that. Traditions are special, and they must speak to you a great deal if you’re doing it here in Seelie land.” He angled his head to the side. “Do you mind if I join you?”

Aislin blinked at him. “Of course not,” she said, shaking her head.

Avery lifted his hand and looked at her, silently asking permission. She nodded stiffly, her heart beating outrageously as he pinched her sash in between his fingers, feeling the texture of the sash’s material. Then, with a wave of a hand, a red sash identical to hers materialized in the air, Avery catching it as it fell in mid-air.

He put it on himself, situating the sash the same way as she did across her body, and grinned. “Ready?”

With butterflies in her belly, Aislin smiled. “Ready.”