My Reverse Fairytale

Chapter 3: My New Room

My heart was beating so fast that I very well thought it would burst right through my chest. I followed the guard down through the castle, my eyes burning into the back of his head.

"In here," the guard said, no emotion leaking from his voice. He pulled a key from his pocket and inserted it roughly into the lock.

He grabbed my arm and pulled me gently into the room, almost as if locking me into a dungeon, and I stumbled into the room. I spun around to face the guard. His face was still blank, but he nodded at me to advance. He turned to leave.

"Wait," I blurted. He stopped, the emotion of shock finally unveiling in his facial features. "Why me?" I whispered.

He cleared his throat, nodding at me once again, "Good evening, Miss Fields."

With that he closed the door behind him, the click of the heavy wood shuddering through me. I was left to stare at it, dumbfounded. After what felt like hours I turned around and examined my new room, or rather, my cell. I was taken aback by the luxury. My fingers grazed each and every expensive trinket. The extravagance was something I had never seen, let alone have.

The walls were a faint violet colour, the carpets a plush red that showed off the golden outlining of the room. The bed lay in the center of the room, covered with purple blankets. I strode over to the closet, swinging open the doors to reveal dozens of laced gowns and corsets to extravagant dresses and glass slippers. Mine.

I looked down at the dress I was wearing, the one that had taken Beth so long to arrange perfectly, my engagement dress. I yanked it over my head as if the thing itself was the reason I was brought here. I threw it down on the floor before snatching a white night gown made of soft velvet, perfect for sleeping in. Pulling it down onto my body, I let the plush material soothe my rough skin.

I flopped backwards onto the bed, pulling my knees up to my chest to curl myself up into a ball. I laid there for a long time, right up until there was a slight knock at the door. Startled, I sat up quickly, then slowly got to my feet and wandered over to the door. I pulled the heavy door open to reveal the bright face of Beth. My shoulders relaxed, and I whispered a thank you under my breath that it was her standing in the doorway.

"How are you, sweetheart?" Beth asked the question quietly as she took a step forwards.

I stepped back, allowing entrance for Beth, who walked to the middle of the room as if it was her own.

"Terrific," I whispered, unable to hide the sarcasm that seeped past my lips.

"Janice," she said. Her voice was stern, but had a soft layer underneath, like she hated not being able to agree.

My name cut the air so sharply that I stopped moving. I realized in that moment that after my entire time since leaving home, not one person had called me by my first name. I was just Miss Fields. It was nice, actually, to be once again called by the name my mother had given me, not the last name she had no part of choosing.

"Why didn't you warn me?" I asked, unable to help the anger that had grown in my voice. My blood turned hot as it rushed to my face as if my frustration had heated it.

"I had no right to. It could've led to severe punishment for me and my--" she froze mid-sentence. I wondered if she thought someone might be eavesdropping. Even if they were, the rest of her sentence was obvious: her family.

I let out a very small breath. "Ma'am."

"Beth," she corrected. I wanted to smile, but I couldn't even force a fake one. I swallowed instead. "Beth," I confirmed.

Beth reached into the small pocket of her dress, pulling out what seemed to be a tiny envelope. "This is for you. They weren't planning on giving it to you. I found it in the burner room, about to be turned into ashes," she explained as she handed me the envelope.

I took it from her hand, tearing open the seam after reading my name printed neatly on the front. I unfolded the sheet of parchment and read over the beautiful handwriting carefully:

My Dear Janice,

A King's guard stopped by today to speak with Lady Adeney. I overheard that you are staying at the King's Castle. Be safe. The Castle will be a much better life for you, Janice. One that you deserve.

Lots of love,

Carla.

The writing was slanted, almost as if her hand had been shaking as she wrote it. I bit my lip to prevent the tears from streaming down my cheek. Without taking a second to think I raced over to the small white dresser, fumbling through the drawers until I found a bottle of ink and a feather pen.

I flipped over the parchment of which the note was written and dipped the feather into the black ink, taking a second before scribbling out a few sentences. I had not received any education in my years of being a homeless maid, but my mother had taught me to read and write when I was young. I hadn't the slightest clue of where she herself had learned, but she had.

I placed the pen down on the desk, reading over my note slowly:

Carla,

I am so thankful to hear from you. Unfortunately, I must admit that this may be my last reply. The King had decided to burn this note, but it was brought by my new friend, Beth. She is taking care of me. I will be safe. My wedding is in seven days, and I so hope that you will be able to attend. As long as my dress isn't pink.

Love,

Janice.

I folded the parchment back into the envelope and handed it to Beth. "Can you take it to her?" I asked.

She shook her head, slowly taking the paper from my trembling fingers, "No. I'm sorry, Janice."

My heart seemed to drop into my stomach, words evading my mouth. What would I say? I sank down onto the bed, hugging my knees tightly to my chest. "The only good thing about being here is that I don't have to live with that witch, Lady Adeney," I muttered the words. I didn't bother to see if Beth was listening or not.

"I apologize for all of--" Beth's words stopped once again.

I sat up to face her, my eyes wet with tears dying to fall. "All of what?"

"You worked for Lady Adeney?" she asked. Her previous statement seemed to have lost its importance.

I nodded, my dark eyebrows creasing in confusion. "Yes, my mother gave birth to me there, I belonged to her."

"There are papers sent to her almost every week, I can sneak the letter into the pile, perhaps. Your friend will maybe find it," she offered.

My face lit up, "Could you really do that?"

"Well of course. However, a few adjustments will need to be made," she grabbed the pen off the dresser and scribbled out my name on the envelope, replacing it with Lady Adeney written neatly on the front.

"Your friend should recognize the envelope when she goes through the mail, assuming she's the one to check?" Beth questioned.

I nodded. "Carla checks everything."

Beth's stare deepened, and her eyes seemed locked onto my face. "Who is Carla?"

"One of the other maids, she raised me once my mother died."

Beth looked at me for a long moment, as if a jumble of words were trying and failing to sort themselves out in her mind. "I'm sorry for your loss," she said, her knuckles turning white as she held the envelope tightly.

I shook my head, "It was a long time ago." That was true, it had almost been a decade. But pain did not leave just because time went on.

"I must go," Beth stood up, kissing my cheek softly before she whisked out of the room with the note still in hand.

I sat onto the bed and leaned against the headboard, blinking back my tears. I wasn't sure if they were from remembering my mother's loss, the note from Carla, or the fact that I could be stuck here for the rest of my life. I was about to crawl under the covers when there was another knock at the door.

Beth again? What had she forgotten? I looked around, unable to connect the knock with anything in the room. I pulled the door open, ready to smile at Beth, but instead found myself staring into the handsome young face of Prince Carter Jackson himself.