Chapter 3 Shadows Beneath the Snow
642 Words
Joshua immediately turned and left, his robes sweeping across the frosted steps and leaving faint traces in the thick snow.
Charlotte watched silently, swallowing the words that would have gone unheard. She had wanted to answer sincerely, even knowing it meant little to him.
As Prince Joshua, he could have waited comfortably in the royal residence on his wedding day for the princess's carriage to arrive. Instead, he donned ceremonial robes, mounted a magnificent steed, and led a grand procession to personally escort his bride in a stately eight-horse carriage.
When the carriage finally stopped, Charlotte forced her trembling legs forward and knelt beside it.
The head maid, Mary, hurried over and draped a scarlet cloth across Charlotte's back, using her body in place of a wooden step.
"Hold steady! We must not offend the princess," she whispered harshly.
Though snow had fallen heavily through the night, the red silk covering Charlotte remained untouched by moisture. Shivering as the cold seeped through the cloth, she strained to hear Joshua speaking gently.
"Take my hand. Step carefully."
Suddenly, sharp pain exploded across her back.
Lotty's shoe—its sole studded with hidden steel pins—stamped down without mercy.
Charlotte gasped, clutching the cloth as Lotty deliberately stumbled, sending Charlotte crashing face-first into the snow.
"Lotty!"
"Princess Lotty!"
Voices cried out in alarm.
Joshua reacted instantly, catching Lotty and pulling her safely into his arms, never sparing Charlotte a glance as she lay crumpled in the snow, red cloth draped over her like spilled blood.
His voice was cold.
"What terrible luck."
In that freezing moment, Charlotte's heart hardened like the icy ground beneath her.
Joshua still wore joyous wedding robes, yet his handsome face was clouded with annoyance.
Within his embrace, Lotty lifted her veil and whispered softly. Whatever she said quickly dissolved his anger, and he answered her with tender affection.
The palace servants were masters of reading the room. A single cold remark from the prince and a small grievance from the princess were enough to seal Charlotte's fate.
Two servants dragged her back to the stables.
There, two guards stood beside a wooden bench dusted with snow, the tools of punishment laid neatly nearby.
Bound to the bench, Charlotte endured the lashes. With each c***k of the whip, her bones seemed to shatter while ceremonial chants of "To Heaven and Earth, to God above" echoed from the distant wedding rites, blurring celebration with agony.
The next morning, icy water splashed across her face.
Charlotte jolted awake to see Jane, Lotty's maid, standing over her with a smug expression.
"Get up. Prince Joshua is painting today. Prepare the ink and brushes."
Her wounds had barely begun to close, preserved more by winter's cold than by care. Struggling to stand, Charlotte stumbled and collapsed back into the straw.
"Princess Lotty hates the sight of me. Today… surely I cannot…" she murmured weakly.
Before she could finish, Jane's slap landed sharply across her face.
"Dare you disobey the prince? What a wretch like you thinks doesn't matter."
At Jane's signal, two maids dragged Charlotte out.
The morning sky remained dim as Charlotte quietly ground the ink, eyes lowered.
Lotty leaned into Joshua, radiant with delight.
"Josh, you're painting me! I'm so happy."
Joshua held the brush in one hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist, kissing her repeatedly.
"With you, every moment is a masterpiece, Lotty. No artist could truly capture you."
Silently, Charlotte pressed harder against the inkstone, grinding each stroke with care. All she wanted was to leave this place where she did not belong.
Lotty suddenly smiled and reached for the ink stick.
"May I try? Since Josh is painting me."
Charlotte instinctively withdrew.
The inkstone slipped from her hands and crashed to the floor, thick black ink splashing across Lotty's pale gown embroidered with golden thread.
- Writer
