The Royal bride selection trials

Chapter eight

The smaller garden behind the bride's wing had been transformed into something out of a fairytale.

Each lady had their own table and seat, each with a name tag.

And like last time, a larger table that stood out from a mile away.

It was safe to assume one of the queens or even both would join us today.

I made my way to Anastasia’s table, my pink floral dress fluttering in the breeze and my hair packed in a messy bun with a few strands falling on my face.

I held my head straight and steadied my footsteps.

Anastasia sat straight, a tea cup in hand whispering to her lady in waiting.

“Isabelle!”she called as she noticed me approach

She slowly dropped the tea cup and pointed to her Lady-in-waiting

“This is Sydney” she said warmly

“Lovely to meet you” I stretched my hands toward her but she didn't take it. Instead she shuffled back, bowed to Anastasia and hurried past.

I froze, watching her as she left my field of vision.

“Ignore her, she gets shy,” Anastasia teased.

“I didn't see you at breakfast” I rubbed my hands against my gown hoping to make up for what I had just experienced.

“I felt a little ill, decided to sleep in” she leaned over the cup in her hands,taking in the steam

“I'm glad to see you're better”

She smiled and leaned on her seat.

“I should get going”

I walked back to my designated table and waited for Senna to join me.

The little interaction at Anastasia's table had reminded me why I always arrived ten minutes late.

A small bell chimed and the garden fell silent.

[ALL RISE]

I stood wiping the visible creases off my dress.

Slowly turned to face the entrance, we all watched as the queen dowager Eleanor walked to her table, behind her a trail of her ladies in waiting.

There was no sign of Queen Briella.

She took her seat and motioned for us to do the same.

Senna finally arrived, she took her spot beside me, rubbing her hands together

“Where have you been?”

I looked up at her.

I noticed beads of sweat on her forehead, her breath quick and uneven like she had been running.

“What's wrong?”

She avoided my eyes, her hands still rubbing against each other.

“Lady Isabelle, I need your help” she whispered.

She hadn't called me that since the first day we met.

“I was asked to watch a boy…Thomas… a-and we went for walk and I looked away for…for one second and he was gone”

She was shaking I took her hands and held them firmly

“Look at me” she did, tears were forming in her eyes and she tried to blink them away.

“If she finds out I lost her son, she might lay a complaint, I won't be able to be chief maid after that”

I noticed eyes from the other ladies, Queen Eleanor was immersed in her tea drinking, maybe I had a little time before they announced what the trial would be.

“Who is his mother?”

“Lady Cierra of house Vince, her husband is a council member”

I took senna's hands and we walked out of the garden without looking back. I was certain it was against the rules somewhere but I would figure it out later.

She took me to the spot where she was with him last. I looked around, where would a child run off to

“I think he might have gone into the Royal garden” I said

It was the closest thing that could be interesting to a child.

I raised my dress and we both walked quickly into the garden, we separated calling out the boy’s name as we went.

Loud enough that he could hear us if he was nearby but not enough to draw attention.

We met at the middle of the garden, senna had begun to cry

“I didn't find him”

I opened my arms and she gave me hugs

“It's okay, we'll keep looking”I slowly caressed her hair until she stopped crying.

I heard a shuffle in between the bushes, I stopped to listen and pointed towards where I heard the sound

Senna nodded and knelt, checking for what was making the sound.

“I see his shoes,” she smiled.

I let out a breath and called out to the boy.

“Thomas?”

Shuffling again

Senna looked up at me, her eyebrows furrowed.

“Thomas there's a lovely swing here, would you like to play”

Thomas slowly emerged from a small opening between the bushes. His clothes were covered in dust and dirt, leaves and tiny sticks tangled in his hair.

Senna rushed toward him and pulled him into a hug.

I let out a breath of relief.

“Can I go on the swing now?” he said softly

“Of course”

I took his hands and took him to the swing.

He giggled loudly as the swing carried him up and down and back again.

"THOMAS!"

A voice yelled.

I stopped pushing the swing immediately.

A woman who looked to be in her mid to late thirties, covered in expensive, almost excessive gold jewelry stormed towards us.

She pulled Thomas away from the swing, throwing darts at me and Senna.

Her jaws dropped as she noticed him covered in dirt.

"YOUU!"she pointed at senna and matched towards her, Thomas followed slowly behind.

Senna bowed her head.

"what have you done to my son!"

"Lady Cierra... I'm sorry...we..."

"We got carried away," I interrupted.

stepping in front of Senna "your son really likes to play."

Lady Cierra's nostrils flared as she pulled her face closer to mine.

Her eyes darted towards Senna who hid behind me.

"The queen must hear of this INSOLENCE and that MAID will be punished."

She spun around dragging Thomas along with her.

I knew exactly where she was going and the type of scene she would cause in front of Queen Eleanor.

I held senna's hands and we followed behind her as she dragged Thomas to the small garden.

I took a deep breath and braced myself for what was coming.