Chapter 15

I take a bite out of my chicken. Since we were both released from the safe room two days ago by two guards who just so happened to be inspecting every safe room, Alex and I have not spoken. However, I haven't had a conversation with anyone I was in that room with. Kairi appears to have stayed away from any 

keeping in touch with everyone she was with that evening, and Prince Kohl is being... Okay, so... Kohler, Prince.

I glanced in the direction of the front table. The Ladies of Queenstrial eat dinner with the Prince Kohl and his parents in their ornate chairs. The Ounsli girl, Bronte, is still here, albeit she is severely cut and bruised from her altercation with the Lunous girl. The Queenstrials' first round was declared void due to the assaults, and it was rescheduled for tomorrow. I believe the monarch is making a determined step to show the attackers, whoever they may be, that the spirit of Gahndor endures. However, I doubt they'll be able to maintain that pretense for very long, particularly if the adversaries are cunning enough to pose as the king's own guard.

Kohl's quiet conversation with his mother, Queen Selene, catches my attention. With their pale complexion and midnight-black hair, it's clear that Prince Kohl looks just like his father when they sit side by side. In contrast, Queen Selene is stunning, with her flowing brown hair and stunning ice-blue eyes. I watch as Kohl smirks and shakes his head, prodding at his meal as the mother says something to her son. I flinch. It's situations like those that cast doubt on the possibility that Kohl bears the Curse of Cruelty.

In other cases, however, it's always easy to believe.

Macy asks, "Naomi? Are you all right?" and I turn back to face her. Macy had come out of the attacks mostly unscathed, save from a tiny scrape on her cheek. In the saferoom, I had been obsessively fretting about her and my sisters' safety. Fortunately, they had also escaped unscathed.

Saying "fine," I move my chair out of the way to stand. Before the tournament, we are asked to attend one last training session, and attendance is expected from everyone. "I'll meet you in the training room. I just have to have a shower first."

When Macy nods, I walk away. But when I go closer to the maid quarters, someone grabs my shoulder and throws me against the wall. I think for a split second that they must have overlooked a rogue guard, but then I find myself looking into my sister's burnt amber eyes.

"Althea," I murmur, quite startled.

With an iron grasp, Althea frowns. "There you are. We need to have a chat."

I forcefully swallow. "What about?" 

"You, your behaviour."

I worry for a split second that she is aware of what I have told the prince.

"You need to keep your goddamn head in line and be an obedient little maid. You cannot just pour water on girls you serve because they happened to hurt your friend's feelings. You got me? Keep your goddamn feelings in check."

She lets go of me and storms down the hall before I can reply. I squint after her while massaging the ache in my arm. She thinks she is someone she never was.

I make the decision to go straight to the training room instead of taking the planned shower. A couple of the maids are already there, along with Althea and Jade. I proceed to Gertrude's work area and arrange the iron water pitcher there. At that moment, I saw the weapons rack—which had not previously existed—pushed up against the wall. Swords, maces, and pretty much every other kind of weapon imaginable are included. Macy enters and stands by my side while I am studying the armory, smiling broadly as she folds the towels.

At last, every girl, including Gertrude, files in and takes her seat. But my gaze goes to the little observatory at the back, where the queen and king are seated. This is not Prince Kohl yet.

It is not Gertrude who turns into her wolf. Rather, she starts striking the dummy with her bare human limbs, punching and kicking in turn. Her thuds reverberate throughout the space, even overpowering the other females' screams and snarls as they rip into their dolls. I'm not sure why Gertrude is assuming the human shape until I notice the sly looks the other competitors give her, and then I notice a smug smirk appear on her lips. Right. Then, she feels that she is too good for this.

As I shift my focus to the others, I notice Kairi, who is repeatedly attacking the mannequin with tired, wide sea-blue eyes. It's unbelievable that her physical state escaped my notice. It was so clear, now that I understood about her lung condition. Her chest is moving so quickly that I'm afraid her rib cage would come out, and her breaths rasp above the others. Still, when she strikes again and again and again, I can't help but be in awe of her.

I see a dark person roaming about the room as the girls train. It doesn't take long for me to recognize that it's Prince Kohl, scuttling between the girls while casting a critical glance at them. I watch Althea becoming tense each time he approaches, making sure to bat her eyelashes each time he directs his gaze at her. Head Maid Greta even straightens her collar as she passes by, even though she is hanging at the entrance.

Kohl and I look at one other for a time. I had to glance away from his sudden and intense golden gaze, and when I do, I see Gertrude glaring at us.

Gertrude yells, "I said water, please!" as I dash to get the pitcher. She grabs it out of my hand and grotesquely chugs its contents. She rams the hefty pitcher back into my chest after she's done. Then she uses her fingers to beckon Macy over. "Towels! Damn it..."

Macy stumbles over, clutching multiple towels, and hesitates when Gertrude tries to clean her face. She merely gives Macy a stare for a short while.

She yells over the commotion, "Oi, Greta!" The Head Maid comes to attention in a flash. "I thought I asked you for a new maid. Why do I still have the crip?"

Greta the Head Maid bows. "Apologies, my Lady. We are trying our best to find a replacement for you."

Macy quavers her lip, but Gertrude merely scoffs. There are other girls looking at Macy now, and it appears that she might just say, "Well, try harder, damn it!"

end up dead from shame. I turn to Gertrude in desperation and murmur, "Will you stop that?"

Gertrude speaks louder. All around us calm down. "What was that? I didn't quite hear you, Runt." Nearly everyone is staring at us,

even Kohl. We just look at each other for a little while. "Now, why don't we be a good servant and shut the hell up, alright?" she adds, bending down to speak in my ear.

"No," I reply, stepping back. With a warning gaze that says she might rip my throat out at any minute, Gertrude glares at me.

However, I don't give a damn. If she did, she would have to do it in full view of everyone, including the royals who are currently observing with great interest.

"What was that?"

"I said no. I am sick of your bullshit. I'm not going to stand by and let you treat my friend like crap."

Gertrude snorts. "What, the cripple?" "She has a name."

"I don't care. She's a lapdog and it's all she's good for." She pauses, and an evil sneer sweeps over her lips. "Let's see whether she will bark, you know? 

Similar to one."

With a leg lift, Gertrude stomps on Macy's foot.

I can hear Macy screaming, and my whole body is flushed with cold, icy rage.

With my arm flinging to the side, I'm walking over to Gertrude. I hit the iron pitcher with Gertrude's face, pushing her neck to the side, and there's a sickening clang that echoes throughout the room.

I'm shocked to see Gertrude stumble back, clutching her jaw and tightly closing her eyes. She lets out a low, keening sound and collapses to the ground. It takes me a minute to realize that she is in tears. She sobs, her chest heaving.

I hear people yelling, but it's drowned out by the pounding of blood in my ears. I've tunneled my eyesight to only see her, but some people even rush to her side to comfort her. I can still hear Macy screaming in the recesses of my mind.