For Kingdom's Sake

Chapter Six: A New Assignment (Part 1)

It took a week for most of the noble guests and their staff to leave the castle after the ball. Lady Philippa left with her family in the first couple of days, insisting that her parents would simply have to engage her to her suitor once she was old enough to confirm that he was her mate. While I appreciated the lighter workload when she was gone, I did think that I would miss her. Her optimism and innocence was a breath of fresh air.

Unfortunately for me, the pain I was experiencing did not lessen. Almost every night it would return to a varying degree of severity. Sometimes during the day also, though that pain usually was not as bad. Though I did not like to think of it, I understood it was likely that the King and Queen were showing minor physical affection most of the time during the day, and the evenings were when they became especially intimate.

I was slowly getting better at working through the pain. Ignoring it. I was especially tested on the rare occasions that the royal couple would be intimate in the mornings while I worked. But I was able to push through. Winniw would be horrified if she realised what I was suffering through. Luckily it was not something she would ever need to know about if I got my way.

Winnie had noticed that I looked 'under the weather' in her words, though I insisted that I was fine. She also checked if I was having trouble with anyone at the castle, because she would take care of them. Though I did not doubt Winnie's resolve, we both knew that physically I was much better able to 'take care of someone' than she would be, but I still appreciated the gesture.

During the following weeks after the ceremony, I did not come across the King or Queen again. Given that I had not seen the King in person during my first two weeks at the castle, that did not seems strange. Though I would still come across his scent. I was beginning to hate it for what it did to me.

From what I had heard, most of the castle staff disliked the new Queen. Despite being shushed by Miss Clementine and other longer term staff, newer staff would still gossip about her rudeness or lack of reason. Though the other nobles were all clearly above us in station, not many went out of their way to ensure we remembered that they were superior. After all, why would they need to?

Queen Aella seemed determined to ensure that the entire Kingdom of Loupfor knew that they were inferior to her, excluding the King. The castle staff generally did not appreciate such an attitude. Despite constantly hushing and threatening punishment to those gossiping, I never actually heard Miss Clementine defend the Queen. At most she would defend the King's decision, but never the Queen herself.

The rare whispers I heard from more long term staff gave me the impression that none of them were hoping for the position of the Queen's lady's maid. Unfortunately the selection process had begun before the Queen had been chosen, so withdrawing their names now would be a sign of disrespect to the Queen. It would essentially be announcing that they did not wish to serve her, which would likely have them removed from the castle permanently unless the Queen deigned it necesarry to execute of imprison them, both of which she would be well within her rights to do.

It would not be long before the Queen's family and their staff would be leaving, so the decision would have to be made soon. Her family's staff had been serving her, but as they lacked the training necesarry for a position in the castle, they were not qualified to serve the Queen with her current title. Although I knew that I would not be under serious consideration for the position, I was still a little hopeful that I would get to fill the position of whoever entered Queen Aella's service. It was unrealistic, but there was no harm in dreaming.

I walked back towards the kitchen for lunch, having finished all of my duties for the day. I had learned to move as fast as I could when there was no new pain since I could never be sure of when it would strike, which meant that I often finished much earlier than expected on days where I had no pain to contend with. It also meant I could usually shift and go for a run in the forest in the afternnons. I had found that shifting helped me heal, and the distance when I was out in the forest lessened the pain a lot when it renewed.

When I had time I had been reading a book I found on mate bonds. It wasn't focused on broken or betrayed bonds, but there was some information in there both things I had known and things that I hadn't.

The closer you were physically to a mate bond being betrayed, the more painful it was. According to the book that was one reason that rejection was usually so painful. Most of the time it was done face to face, whereas other betrayals were usually further away as they were hidden. A strong wolf could handle the pain better than in human form, but a weak wolf would suffer more. I wasn't sure whether I actually had a strong wolf, but I knew I was more in tune with my wolf side than most of modern society.

There was one part of the book that frustrated me, however. Apparently, the breaking of a fated mate bond with an Alpha or Luna was different than that of regular wolves. But that was all the book said about it. I didn't know if the difference was about the power for the leader and their pack or I'd it was something I didn't know about.

Once I have finished the book, I need to find a way to look at Alpha mate bonds.

As I started trying to think of where I could discretely find information on that, I saw Miss Clementine marching towards me. I stopped in my tracks, surprised at her appearance. Usually she was working in the more official areas of the castle at this time.

"Miss Fidelia, with me."

Her order left no room for discussion so I quickly caught up as she turned around, matching her speed and direction.

"I have no idea what this is regarding, however King Viktor and Queen Aella wish to see you in the throne room."

I've only seen that in my dream ...

"This may be regarding the possible promotion, I have heard you being praised by others with your work lately. I have also heard that the new royal lady's maid has been selected, however as far as I am aware, she has not been announced yet and it would certainly be strange to announce her replacement first, so do not get hopeful."

I did not have time to respond as we had already arrived at the throne room and were walking through the doors.

"Miss Clementine and Miss Fidelia," the guard announced. He must have figured out who I was since Miss Clementine had been asked to collect me.

I did my best to remember all of the royal etiquette that I had ever been taught. I kept my gaze at the royal couples feet, my head slightly bowed until we reached the bottom of the stairs where we both curtsied deeply. From my peripheral vision, it looked like I had a pretty accurate imagination. This really could be the throne room from my dream.

"Rise," the King announced. We stood from our curtsies, hands clasped in front of us as per protocol. "I do not see any benefit in delaying this information. Miss Fidelia, from now on you shall be working directly for Queen Aella as her head lady's maid."