The Fae King's Ruin

The Princess and the Countess Edith

Somehow, intrinsically, Aislin knew that the black-haired, gray-eyed, curvaceous lady that stopped their party from entering the Grand Hall was the Countess Edith that she had been hearing about for weeks now.

A small part within Aislin was disappointed that she didn’t exactly have a hooked nose or a large, distracting mole in the middle of her forehead. Countess Edith was actually pretty and it was obvious that she knew it as well and was skilled in working that fact to her advantage.

Her ample bosom was in display, pushed up by her very tight corset up to her throat. She wore a wonderful, velvet gown the color of dark emeralds. Her complexion was more tanned than that of a typical Seelie fae but shared the same golden hue underneath their skin. Emeralds and diamonds larger than Aislin’s eyeball adorned her fingers, wrists, and throat, showing that not only was her family influential enough to be invited to court but also had an obscene amount of money and riches to flaunt.

On someone else, everything on her would have looked positively gaudy. That person might have even looked uncomfortable with all the weight she had to carry while wearing mile-high stilettos. Countess Edith, however, carried herself in a way that made her seem even more glamorous and effortless.

“Your Majesty!” the countess simpered, curtsying. “Your Royal Highnesses! Oh, I am so honored to be dining with you!”

At the sound of her voice, though, Aislin felt her stiff shoulders relax. It was shrill and thin to the ears. On top of that, her words were laced with an accent that was so pretentious it had to be fake.

With all the judgmental thoughts and comments swirling inside her head, Aislin had to concede that this attitude of hers might not exactly be ‘queen’ material. But how could anyone expect her to be gracious when the Countess kept speaking the way she did?

Avery nodded his head at the countess, not even going so far as to shake her hand which was very unlike him. It seems as if the King also had no illusions about Countess Edith.

“Hello, Countess,” he greeted politely. “I’m pleased to announce I am merely a guest joining your dinner. It is Princess Aislin who will be playing host tonight.”

Those gray eyes slid to her and Aislin could have sworn she saw it glint at her like a knife. 

“It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Your Highness,” Countess Edith gushed. “You look simply spectacular in that gown!”

Remembering Aelthrys’ comment on her modesty earlier, Aislin merely smiled and said, “I do, don’t I?” She ignored the strangled sound that came out of her cousin’s throat. “My maids worked very hard on it; they are artists.”

Countess Edith nodded, brows pulled together. “I’m sure they are.” Then, in obvious dismissal, she turned her fluttering eyes to the King beside her. “I haven’t seen much of you as of late, my King. Are you avoiding me?”

Aislin’s eyebrows rose so high they almost dissolved into her hairline.

Was this bi*tch really going to flirt with her fiancé knowing full well she was on his arm and just right there? The Countess batted her eyelashes at Avery. Was she asking to get murdered?

She felt someone pinch her from behind, snapping Aislin out of the violent thoughts. As discreetly as she could, she glared at Aelthrys, only pulled away by the pressure on top of her fingers. When she looked, Avery was placing her hand front and center, the ring he’d given her in full display against his chest.

“I have been happily busy, Countess Edith. As you know, Princess Aislin and I are engaged to be married already and are co-chairs of the Great Council of the Faes.”

Aislin tried not to gloat, especially when Avery showed no signs of being even remotely interested in her. She did stand taller as Countess Edith’s eyes slid over to her with a bit more venom apparent in the way she looked at Aislin. She would have smiled at her but Aislin didn’t want any more of the nasty rumor about her being perpetuated by the Countess.

Oh, wait. She didn’t care. 

Smirking widely, Aislin delighted herself with the minuscule narrowing of the countess’ eyes.

“I’ve heard. Congratulations to both of you.” She tilted her head to the side. “A wedding that big requires a lot of time. I do hope you send your invitations soon or else all the good dates will be taken. My social calendar for next year is already filled to the brim with parties and soirees arranged by the very elite.”

Avery frowned without actually frowning at Aislin. “Did you hear that, Princess?”

She pouted at him playfully. “I did. Oh, well, we can just send you a fruit basket to celebrate the happy occasion with us.” Without waiting for a reply, she turned to Periwinkle. “Do remind me to take note of that later, Periwinkle.”

The blue-haired fae hid her smile and nodded. “Your table is ready inside, milady,” she added.

“Perfect! Cousin, do be a gentleman and take the countess’ arm,” she directed the last part to Aelthrys with an innocent smile.

Countess Edith glanced at her cousin’s hulking mass, the scars on his face, his crooked nose, and the near-vengeful look in his eyes and took a small involuntary step back.

Footmen announced their entrance into the Grand Hall, halting all conversation and movement within. Aislin took a deep breath, momentarily forgetting the countess and all her nastiness, and looked up at Avery.

But his golden eyes were already on her and seemed to be tracing the lines of her face without actually touching her. He grinned his dazzling grin and brought their linked hands to his lips, kissing the back of it and sending warmth all over her.

“Don’t be afraid,” Avery murmured to her. “I’m right here.”

Aislin was reminded all over again of why she was so lucky to be betrothed to him. Any other male would have fallen all over himself trying to appease somebody like the countess. Any other male would have probably dropped her like a hot potato the moment she walked in. But Avery stuck by her. Defended her.

It might have been the bare minimum in a normal situation, not even worthy of being mentioned, only Aislin already knew that the standard that awaited her under different circumstances was far harsher than the reality she experienced now.

She nodded and smiled at him and said, “I know. And it is because of that I am not afraid.”

He pulled her along with him, all the way to the head table, none of them noticing the other ever averting their gaze. It was only when Avery helped her to the seat beside him that she saw her cousin and the Countess, looking like their mutual dislike for one another had escalated to something worse. 

As soon as they were up the steps, they quickly let go of one another like it was physically killing them to be that near in the first place, and took up seats as far away as they could be without being removed from the party entirely. Once they were all settled down, wide double doors immediately opened from the side of the massive room. Servers emerged carrying large platters and bowls of the most delectable foods in the entire palace, and carafes of what must be the finest wine in the cellar.

It was definitely too much food for just four people. Aislin waved Periwinkle over.

“Did you tell the cook how many would be dining with me?” she whispered to her.

Periwinkle nodded. “This is how the cook expects similar dinners to be served.”

She frowned, scanning the length of the table. “Sit with us.”

Her brown eyes widened into saucers. “M-Milady?” she choked.

Aislin faced the guards and attendants surrounding them, Willow and Ola among the mix. “I don’t think we will be needing anything, let alone defending, while we eat. Why don’t you sit and dine with us?”

They looked at one another, confused and anxious at the same time to be singled out. None of them moved from their posts. Avery, sitting across from Aislin, also shifted in his seat with an encouraging smile upon his lips.

“The Princess is right. We are all living in times of great peace. Why don’t we celebrate it with food and drink?”

It took some time—and a lot of maneuvering things around—but with a few more coercing by Willow and Ola, the guards and the attendants eventually caved and sat. Aislin happily grinned.

When she looked to her left, she noticed the pinched expression on the countess’ face and lifted a brow in mock concern. “I do hope it’s okay with you that our numbers have increased, Countess. The more, the merrier, am I right?”

Oh, how she wished she had a photographer come in to document the brief yet intense distaste that crossed the countess’ face as she tightly replied, “Right.”