The Mistake
991 Words
AGATHA'S POV
Lirith hands me a folded note. "It's from Adrian," she says, glancing around nervously.
"How is he?" I ask.
"Not bad," Lirith replies, trying to sound reassuring.
I open the note. Reading it, my expression shifts to disbelief. “No way,” I murmur. “He can’t be serious.”
"What does it say?" Lirith inquires.
"Did you not read it?" I arch an eyebrow, incredulous.
"Of course not! It’s your note,” She defends. Right saint.
But since she agreed to check on Adrian for me, I guess she deserves to know what's In the note.
I hand the note back to her and she reads aloud, "Talk to the king about what we discussed, it's the only way I'll be released."
"What is Adrian asking you to talk to the king about?" She presses.
"I can’t tell you that." My voice is firm and I see hurt flash across her face. "I can't trust you not to throw it in my stepsisters' faces during one of your arguments.”
She had carelessly blurted about me being King Atticus mate and ever since, my stepsisters have been uncharacteristically silent and haven't confronted me about it which is so odd. I saw them go to see King Atticus earlier. But I don't think they might have asked him about our bond, their coronation test is tomorrow. Surely they must be focused on that.
Lirith hangs her head in shame. "Right, I’m sorry I did that. I just got so mad at their stupid behavior."
"How can I meet the king privately?” I ask. If Adrian thinks this will help him, then I’ll do it, even if it means facing king Atticus and he laughs at my face.
"You can’t see the king in private, you’re a servant!" Lirith tells. "Unless you go through the council."
"I go through the council? I pass him every day in the hallway!" I scoff, rolling my eyes at the absurdity of it all.
"That’s because you work in the palace," she counters. "Try talking to him in the hallway and see how quickly you get in the dungeons."
"I can try to talk to him during one of the dinners with my stepsisters." I say. I doubt I would be arrested then.
Lirith shrugs. "Yeah, you could try that."
I nod and head back to our Mistresses quaters to find them waiting.
"What can I do for you, my ladies?" I ask bowing my head. They both glare at me with so much hatred that I feel like I will get sick.
"When are you planning on getting a man? We are quite tired of watching you loiter around pretending to work while all you do is drool at men in the palace!" Penelope berates.
I don't remember a time I have ever thought of checking out a man, where are these accusations coming from? Or are they trying to find out if I have any feelings for the king? I don't want to fight with them, expecially not over a man to doesn't like me at all.
"With all due respect, I have not drooled at any man," I say boldly.
"Are you accusing me of lying, i***t?!" She raves.
"No. I am just saying you got the wrong information, my lady."
"She is growing bold!" Aileen says to Penelope who nod and glowers at me.
"Well, I want you to get my pretty wedding dress from my closet and decorate it. I already asked for the best pearls so just pick them from my closet too." She commands.
"My Lady, asking me to decorate your wedding dress is a bad idea. I am not a professional seamstress." I try to reason with her. The dresses are already stunning, why add anything?
"That's a very lame reason. You decorated our dresses back home." Aileen yells.
I did, but that's only because I had zero options, just like now.
"Say yes damn it!" Penelope screams.
"Yes, My Lady!" I say grudgingly. I am their servant so I am bound to serving their every wish.
We sit on the matted floor with Lirith sewing pearls onto the already beautiful dresses.
“Be careful! Those pearls are rare and very expensive,” Lirith warns as one rolls away from my fingers.
“They don’t seem too worried about tomorrow’s test,” I point out as I glance at my stepsisters who are lounged on the big bed reading texts on how to sexually please a man.
"They’re probably convinced they’ll marry him already,” Lirith mutters with a scowl. “Maybe they’ve got someone else stealing answers for them.”
*********
AGATHA'S POV
I clean my stepsisters bathing basins after their bath while Lirith chooses the best dresses for them to wear. Today is the day of their coronation trial, and they have to look perfect.
"I want to try on my wedding dress first!" I hear Penelope say and glance up, surprised. Hadn’t she tried that on a dozen times already?
"There’s no time for that, my lady," Lirith replies, "The council will be waiting."
"We didn’t change a thing when we decorated it, my lady." I point out Lirith nods in agreement.
Penelope crosses her arms. "I still want to try it on."
Lirith frowns but turns back to the closet to retrieve the gown as ordered.
"Agatha," I hear Lirith call out after a moment. I wipe my hands on a towel before stepping into the expansive walk-in closet. She stands there, holding Penelope's wedding dress, her eyes wide with fear and shock.
"What’s wrong?" I ask, moving closer. And then I see it, the dress is torn and frayed, the beautiful pearls we had sewn on it yesterday are gone, only dangling threads are left.
"I found it like this," Lirith says just as Penelope calls impatiently from the bedroom.
"I’m still waiting!"
I exchange a worried glance with Lirith.
- Writer
