My Plump Vampire Mate

3: Dismissal

Chapter 3:

Dismissal

Alice

Lucien and I have been married for a year now. He confessed his feelings for me after my graduation party from the academy.

My father was in opposition to our relationship but Lucien found a way to convince him otherwise and soon after we got married.

I was in love and believed Lucien loved me but it seemed our love wasn’t enough because his mother thought I wasn’t worthy of her son.

I couldn’t blame her, she was a concubine making Lucien the son of a concubine and the second Prince. If he wanted to solidify his position and be next in line for the throne, it would have been beneficial to him that he married the daughter of an influential family but he married me. My father had influence but since he didn’t care about me he would be of no help to Lucien.

“I’m sorry,” I struggled to get the words out.

“I slept off in the bathtub, I didn’t know what I was thinking,” I lied not wanting to get him worried.

“Canary, you know I love you,” he said looking at me with tenderness.

“I know Lucien,” I replied placing his hand on my cheek. “I would never leave you,” I added looking into his grey eyes.

“I won’t let you, even if you wanted to,” he added smiling as he placed a kiss on my forehead.

“Zack,” Lucien called out and the lanky green-haired man walked in. He was the family butler, and Lucien’s closest confidant. They have been friends since the academy and were both my seniors. I met him a few times when I hung out with Lucien. I wouldn’t say we were enemies but we weren’t friends either.

“Your highness,”

“Get me the maids assigned to handle my wife's affairs,” he commanded with anger in his voice.

“What do you want to do?” I questioned him.

“Just trust me Canary,” he replied lightly squeezing my hands.

The maids walked in looking nervous. “Why was my wife left to take a bath by herself? Do I not pay you enough to do your job properly?” Lucien yelled at the maids.

They immediately dropped to their knees, “We’ve committed a grave sin your highness, we’re sorry,” they pleaded tears streaming down their faces.

“Zack.”

“Your highness.”

“I want them gone with no letter of recommendation,” he ordered.

The maids had never properly catered to my needs despite being the prince’s wife. I knew they were ordered to do that by Lucien’s mother, Lady Genevieve. She was in charge of the household affairs being the madam of Lucien’s palace before I came into the picture. Lucien had transferred those duties to me rightfully but that just added to Genevieve’s annoyance with me.

I decided to handle the palace finances since I was good with numbers and leave managing the workers in Genevieve’s hands since she was already familiar with them but that decision backfired as she made sure to turn them against me.

I didn’t tell Lucien about it because I didn’t want him to be at odds with his mother or maybe I was scared that he would believe her over me.

“Please, your highness we’re sorry. It was the madam who urgently needed assistance,” they begged further.

“Which madam?” Lucien asked, confusion etching on his face.

“Your mother, Lady Genevieve,” the maids responded in unison.

“Get them out of here,” Lucien said to Zack pinching the bridge of his nose.

The maids were forcefully dragged out of my chambers, their pleas echoing through the stone walls.

“Canary, I’m sorry about those maids, they’ve been working at my palace for years and they’re used to my mother being the madam of the house.”

“It’s okay Lucien, I’m fine. After all, you already got rid of them…It’s already late and I want to go to bed.”

“ Alright I’ll see you in the morning,” he said planting a kiss on my cheek. “And I have a surprise for you tomorrow,” he added before he left.

‘A surprise,’ his words lingered in the air.

*****

The following day I had been assigned new maids who helped me get ready for the day. Despite this being their first time attending to me, I could feel their judgmental gazes. They were new but I could tell that they were no less bad than the set before them.

A knock came at the door removing me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I responded.

A cook from the kitchen came in. It was Jane, the only friend and maid who had been nice to me since I entered the palace. On days when my in-laws would eat without me, she was the only one who secretly brought food for me. I thought about making her my personal maid but I knew it would only result in her being bullied by the other maids, so I just let her help me in her own way.

“Your highness, breakfast has been served.”

“ Thank you for letting me know Jane, I’ll be out soon,” I said giving her a smile. She smiled back, bowing before taking her leave

The maids finished up with my hairdo and I headed straight for the dining hall. The long table was already set. Sunlight streamed through tall arched windows, illuminating polished silverware and crystal goblets placed neatly. Lady Genevieve sat in the first chair to the right, her posture impeccable, her dark eyes sharp as blades. I could tell she was scrutinizing my weight.

“Good morning mother,” I said softly, lowering myself into my seat opposite her.

The unkind look she had on her face worsened after my greeting. She made it obvious she didn’t like being called mother by me.

“Good morning, Alice, I bet your night was fabulous?” She said sarcastically.

There was no way she didn’t know about all that happened last night, so this was her way of making fun of me.

“With Lucien’s presence, I couldn’t ask for more,” I said trying not to engage her any further as the servants moved quietly, placing breakfast before us. Toasted bread, fruit, and a small bowl of porridge for me. I hesitated, then picked up my spoon.

Lady Genevieve sighed.

Halfway through the meal, she started again. “Haven’t you eaten enough?” She asked, stirring her drink, “You know—royal women are expected to represent refinement. Discipline. A certain… restraint.”

My fingers tightened around the spoon.

“I do try,” I replied carefully.

Her lips curved into a thin smile. “Trying is rarely enough. Especially when you still eat large amounts of food like this.”

I was fat and I knew I ate more than the average woman but I had been conscious of my weight and had been trying to cut down on my food intake, especially since I got married to Lucien.

He doesn’t complain about my weight but his mother made it her responsibility to always hammer it down my ear that I was a shame to her son. I never mentioned any of her statements to Lucien since he loved me the way I was, and I was ready to endure his mother, to make our relationship work.

“Lucien has many eyes on him,” she continued. “To a prince, appearances matter. A wife should make his path easier, not heavier.”

Heavier.

I swallowed, my appetite evaporating. “I will be more mindful.”

“I hope so,” she said lightly. “For Luci—“ she was about to add before her words were cut short by Lucien who had entered the dining hall. “Mother—that’s enough,” he said before turning to me.

“Morning Canary,” he greeted giving me a kiss on the cheek.

“Good morning Lucien,” I said a blush creeping up my cheeks.

“I told you I had a surprise for you,” he said slipping his hands in mine. “Are you done eating?”

I had lost my appetite so I answered “yes.”

He pulled me out of my seat leading me to his quarters, where I saw a beautiful dress laid on his bed, and beside it was a beautifully carved jewelry box.

I opened the box to see a jewelry set made of emeralds, which matched the dress.

“What’s this for?” I asked him still surprised.

“Well, I want you to wear them to the ball for the delegation from the Dogona Empire.”

“The werewolf Empire?” I asked.

“Yes,” he nodded in response. “So do you like what I got you?” He asked feeling proud of his taste.

“I love them,” I said giggling.

“I knew you would,” he responded, a smug look evident on his face. Cupping my face in his hands he added, “Never forget how much I love you Canary—You Are My Priced Possession.”