The impatient princess

Keira's pov

I step out to find a smiling Margret standing at the door of our small servant quarters, a red rose in her right hand. I wonder where she has been throughout the day. She wasn't at the banquet, nor anywhere I walked.

"You look sad," she observes, "did any of the angel kings scold again?" She asks in a voice full of concern. 

I am supposed to keep it a secret that I am the mate of the angel kings, so I choose to lie.

"My mistress had a hard day. We are all just tired." I say. 

"I am sorry that your mistress failed the test so terribly. I should have been there to help." She says ruefully. 

"Where were you?" I ask.

"I met my mate." She informs with a joyous smile. "He doesn't care that I am human. He accepted me because he believes I am a good person. Lady Doria gave us a day off so we could go out and celebrate our meeting." She expounds, her eyes glowing with pride. 

She got a mate who appreciates her benign character. I wish the same had happened to me. Even a poor peasant would have been better than the angels kings with nasty tongues I got mated to.

"I am happy for you." I say genuinely. "You got so lucky."

"Yes, he is the palace librarian. He can get us all the books we desire to read." She says and I finally get something to smile about. I have been rereading the few books I have for so long.

"That's amazing. I am now excited to meet him." I say and we both chuckle. 

"I will make sure to introduce you two tomorrow. You should rest since you look so tired." She says stepping away from the door. 

"Thank you for coming to see me, Margret. I really appreciate having a friend." I mutter. 

"Me too." She waves before walking away. 

I stumble into the room to find a pile of banana peels, eaten bones and other food scraps on top of my beddings. It's like Helen and Lisa had taken their super on the bed while I was gone and chose to just leave the waste there. 

I pick up the dirt and toss it all into the waste basket at the corner before getting back to sleep on the bed.

********

Keira's pov

I clean Princess Lyna's bathing basin after her bath while she stares out through the wide window at the three distant figures of the angel kings disappearing through the doors of the main palace.

"They look so tall and toned. I am sure their faces are as beautiful as the colours of the sky at sunset." Helen comments, both her and Lisa standing by the princess's side.

They keep staring out even after the figures of the angel kings are gone. 

"I wish I was out there so they could see me in that dress you made." Princess Lyna says in a dreamy voice.

"When you become their queen you will have them all fighting for your attention." Helen tells her. "All you have to do is pass a few more tests."

"You should start making my wedding dress. I want the cutest of all." She says and her two favourite servants nod.

They finally turn away from the window and the princess returns to the guilded table to finish her delicious breakfast.

My heart aches every time I listen to them speak of her becoming the wife of the angel kings. They rejected me and I shouldn't care about who they marry. Our matebond is a disgrace to their nobility. I wish my heart would learn to let go faster.  

"Hey human, have you figured out what today's test might be?" Princess Lyna calls after a while and I look up. 

"That is not possible to do, your highness. I need to at least hear Lady Doria's first words when she comes to get you for the test." I answer. 

She snorts, looking disappointed. 

The sound of a gentle knock comes a few seconds later and all our actions halt.

Lisa hurries forward and lets in a male servant in uniform. Princess Lyna regards the servant with a scornful look as he strides into the room and bows in front of her in a show of respect. 

"Your highness, my mistress Lady Doria has requested that you escort her on a walk out of the palace, to the city square. She and the council decided that you must meet the people of our kingdom before you become queen." The servant informs. 

Princess Lyna glances at me as if expecting my advise. 

"Her highness will need time to dress. Is it possible for your mistress to wait a short while?" I ask the servant.

"Of course. Her highness has an hour to get ready. I will be waiting outside." The man says, bows once again and leaves. 

"You heard their first words, tell me which of my virtues they are about to test." Lyna demands gazing at me. 

"I cannot be sure until we get to where they are taking you, your highness." I answer and she frowns. 

"If I fail you will pay dearly for it." She warns in frustration while dropping her robes so that Helen and Lisa can help her fit into the new dress they made. 

It has neither sleeves nor straps. She has to hold her breath as they tighten a corset around her waist to make it look incredibly tiny. The final look seems worthy of the effort and discomfort as one would think she has the curves of a goddess. 

They put a shimmering gold necklace around her neck after styling her hair and adding heavy makeup to her face. 

The princess stares at her stunning reflection on the mirror for a long time, a satisfied smile on her face. 

"The people of this kingdom will think you're an angel, just like like their kings." Lisa compliments.

"I think they will worship my beauty when I am queen." The princess proudly says. "Let's not keep Lady Doria waiting anymore, hold the tail of my dress." She adds and leads the way out, Helen and Lisa struggling to keep steady steps while holding the short tail of her dress.

We find the male servant waiting with Lady Doria and three of her fellow councilmembers in the Palace courtyard. They all complement Lyna's stunning look before motioning us to follow them out of the palace through the gates.