The Courtesan

Chapter 22

ELAYNE

“Thank you for bringing us back, my lord.”

“It was no trouble at all. I would talk to you some other time.”

“Alright.”

I waited till the carriage was completely gone before I started towing back all I bought to the palace. True to his words, he gave me money which I found hard to accept. He basically forced it into my arms, along with other things, making sure I couldn’t say no. It was so troublesome. 

I hauled it all in and collapsed on the ground. Prince Miyon slid down beside me and mimicked my sigh. Rolling my eyes, I pulled his cheeks. A sudden thought occurred to me. 

“Your highness, what’s your name?”

“Bastarsh.”

“I really have to correct that. Your name is Miyon. M-I-Y-O-N. Repeat after me; Miyon.”

“Mwon?”

“Yes, Miyon. That’s your name. In case someone asks for your name, you’d say you’re Prince Miyon, not bastard, okay? You don’t deserve to be called that.”

“Mwon... Mwon.”

“... We’ll have to work on that pronunciation later but it’s a good start. Now I have to set the firewood.”

Thankfully, the fireplace was stable and so, the task wasn’t hard. Lighting it up, I stacked the others in a corner and began arranging the other things. I made sure to keep the curious little one away from the fire. 

It was close to evening when I was done. I had to go for meal breaks and their ‘warm’ greeting still creeped me out. His highness didn’t seem to mind though, giving them wide grins. 

“Come to think of it, that nurse has been here for more than a month and nothing has happened to her.”

“Maybe the curse is finally broken?”

“Then she might be a symbol of good luck. We’ve been having good turnovers in the palace ever since she came. I should be treating her kinder...”

I easily overheard such whispers when we walked out of the kitchen. With the lack of evidence, I failed to believe the ‘curse’ was real. Given Prince Miyon’s mother was a servant, the curse could’ve very well been orchestrated. Someone was targeting both of us in the palace and I still haven’t figured out who. 

I didn’t even know who the wives were not to talk of the concubines. I had only met two and they looked like the types to do it. I had only seen the mountain woman wife once and the Queen, would someone in her station really do something like that?

I had to find out. 

I put the prince down for a nap and took a balm I made. Andrella had a plethora of balms and herbs she used to make herself younger and more beautiful. She shared her knowledge because it was so troublesome to be making it every time and out of all the girls, I was the only one who absorbed the knowledge well. 

The one I picked was supposed to make the skin smoother and heal scars. I had bought a jade container for it and a jade hairpin. I found my way to the Queen’s quarters, ignoring the unpleasant feeling in my gut. 

“I’m Prince Miyon’s maid. I’ve come to see her majesty.”

My impression after meeting the queen once; she’s stupid. Hence, she’s being controlled by someone. Once the truth of that is revealed to someone, they would become skeptical and have some sort of a freewill. However, it doesn’t mean they would become less stupid. 

“You may come in.”

The curtains parted to reveal her majesty and a few other well dressed women. They were all having tea and scones in a seemingly happy mood. As former royalty, I could never relate to the endless disdainful looks I received in and out of the palace. 

The new King’s regime had changed the dynamics of the kingdom in a very bad way. Or maybe it didn’t change; their true colors just came out. 

Repulsive.

“Pardon me, I have come to pay my respects to Her majesty. I am Elayne Greycastle, the prince’s nurse.”

“Greycastle… I haven’t heard of a noble with such a name.”

“I come from far away.” 

“I see...” 

“It’s little but as per the custom of the kingdom, I brought her majesty a gift. It’s a specialty of my nation, a balm that smoothens the skin and clears scars. Her majesty can test it on others if she doesn’t believe me. It would take less than two weeks for results to show.”

“Does such a miraculous product really exist?” Queen Kierra chirped. 

“Your majesty can always test it. It is also within your power to throw it away. I am just being respectful to her majesty.”

“Someone come take this from her right away! I want to know if it truly works!”

Simple and so naive. It’s a wonder how someone like her is Queen. But of course, my target wasn’t her. 

“Wait, your majesty, have you forgotten whose nurse she is? What if she’s bringing bad luck?” 

One of the ladies at the table, seated right across the queen, interjected. She had a better noble bearing than the queen, her face betraying no emotions. She wore a long yellow gown with gold ornaments in her hair and on her neck. She was most probably a wife. She looked older than the Queen but as per the custom of the King’s wife, she was beautiful. She was a prime suspect. The queen faltered, suspicion slowly entering her face. A good thing I expected such a move. 

“That’s right! Are you trying to harm my precious body?”

“Your majesty can try it on one of her numerous servants. If you wish, you can test it on me. I have used it before but I would be more than glad to be of service to you, your majesty.”

The lady in yellow’s facade cracked a bit. 

“You mean if the Queen sustains any damage, we can blame it on you?”

An expert she was, turning my words. 

“That would mean you wish ill on the Queen.”

“Lady Vanessa, do you wish ill upon me?!” Queen Kierra screeched. 

“Of course not, your majesty. Would you listen to the words of a servant over mine?”

The Queen’s eyes snapped over to me, furious. No seriously, how was she Queen? 

“Leave! Leave right now! Throw the gifts out!”

“I wish her majesty a happy Casella day,” I said before leaving. 

It was my loss, unsurprisingly. With stupid people in power, logic never worked. However, I planted a seed of doubt and got a suspect handed down. It wasn’t a total failure at least. 

Getting back, the prince was already awake, playing in his cot. He waved his hands energetically, waiting for me to pick him out. I did as such and let him roam the now warm room. Looking outside the window, the snow had begun again. 

I should write Amelia a letter and send her a gift. I miss that dolt. 

Picking up a pen and paper, I hummed a song, engrossing in a rare peaceful atmosphere.