I am Ellie Bakidoth and I’ll not shudder!

Chapter 5

Ellie pov

Fuck!

My body tensed cause right there on my wrist was a yellow bangle and a petal in my grasp.

How?

Why?

Fear swept through my entire body as I struggled to amass every piece of shock around me.

The door clicked open and my attention darted towards the door with Lefika standing, her wary glance scrutinizing my entire body and then replaced by a sweet smile.

She rushed over to my side to hug me tightly.

"It's such a miracle that you're alive, mortal princess."

"Ellie." I corrected.

"What happened?" I asked.

Lefika didn't utter a word but to pull me closer into her arms, her tears almost soaking my entire back.

"Now look who is crying instead of..."

She pushed me back gently and ran her wrinkled hands over my chin. "I'm just too overwhelmed. You're the first to ever survive a night with the prince. How did you do it?" there was a glint of confusion and curiousness in her eyes as she demanded. "Now the whole capital have heard about your encounter with the prince. They see hope! They want to see and meet with you. Even the queen is impressed. She wants to meet with you."

Her words and tears get me so teary-eyed. I was crying too. "Now you're making me cry so badly."

"Congratulations princess!" she flicked her hands over my back, softly. "For surviving this." Tears poured more from her eyes.

I guessed those were tears of joy, and not that she was sad.

"I will have the maid prepare your bath, herbs, and food. Later in the day, you'll be meeting with the Queen." Lefika rose from the bed, flashing some smiles while I returned the actions.

As soon as she left, the door clicked closed. I sprang to my feet, and let wild thoughts run through my head as I paced across the room.

What if that monster in my dream was telling the truth?

Fears gripped me.

That means I'm going to die when I next meet with the prince. I'll be ripped to pieces.

I wouldn't have believed any of those words in my dreams if I hadn't woken up to find a petal in my grasp and a yellow bangle around my wrist.

Fuck! I should have asked Lefika if she was the one who had slid the bangle around my wrist and the petal.

It's never too late. I'll surely ask her when she returns later to get me.

The looming meeting with the prince filled me with dread. The ghost's warning echoed in my mind: the ritual bath, fragrance, and lotion were designed to trigger the prince's feral state, making him see me as a threat. I needed a plan to survive the encounter. I took a deep breath and focused on calming my racing thoughts. How could I neutralize the effects of the poison? Were there any alternatives or antidotes? I gripped my trembling hands tightly, willing myself to think clearly and come up with a strategy to vindicate myself and avoid the beast prince's wrath.

None were coming to my head. No matter how hard I tried to think of a solution. My head was empty with ideas.

While still lost in my thoughts, the door clicked open with an unfamiliar face sauntering in with a tray in hand.

"Who are you?" I asked and another maid emerged from behind the first maid.

They let out a shuddering breath. "We are your maids and we've been ordered to bring your breakfast."

I was served a herbal tea and some local baked rice.

The royal food at Anthrika tastes horrible, reminiscent of peasant food from my homeland. Even the poorest peasant would strive to make their food richer in flavor.

Wealthy people and a lack of taste.

I couldn't bear to eat it so I intentionally let it fall, and they screamed with their eyes widening.

"You shouldn't have done this. If the queen ever finds out about this... You have to eat it." They bent, picking the crumbs from the floor onto the plate.

"What if I don't eat it? And what if the queen finds out?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow.

The maids both fell to the floor and shuddered.

"You shouldn't force us to talk about the consort," the maid who had screamed earlier spoke. "We will be killed for it."

"Did I mention anything about the consort?" I scoffed, walking past them.

They shuddered and looked at each other in the face but I pretended as if I hadn't seen them before heading to the bath.

"I'll be waiting at the bath. And about the food, it wasn't intentional it fell out of my hands while I was trying to eat  and you don't expect me to pick food from the floor to eat, right?"

They exchanged eye glances before turning to trot after me. A smile tugged at the top of my lips.

Perhaps this consort isn't an easy person and I should steer clear of her, provided she doesn't come after me cause I'll definitely strike back.

Thick silence enveloped the air as they soaked me in the hot bath and scrubbed my skin, then when the bath was over, I was helped to the mirror side. They gently helped me to sit in the wicker chair, their pretentious smiles flashing at me each moment my gaze held theirs.

Soon the dressing process was over.

I was led to the courtyard, the one behind my quarters. I wouldn't lie tho the building and architectural design looked old but sophisticated, and rare.

The quarter I was assigned to was the moon quarters where newlyweds are being groomed before they are transferred to the Emerald Palace.

I learned that each palace was assigned to the royal according to their influence and rank in the royal hierarchy.

I wondered what palace the prince would've been in if he hadn't gone feral.

I was taught to lower my gaze whenever I was in the presence of the queen consort or Alpha King.

I'm never going to argue back at them even if they were wrong or right. I'm to respect the king's subordinate.

I wasn't permitted to throw away my food during the ritual or refuse to drink the herbal tea or soak myself in the hot bath.

If the queen ever found out, her rage wouldn't be able to be quenched even by the alpha king.

My eyes widened in shock at that. So, the Alpha was also being cautious around the queen consort?

If the mighty Alpha King couldn't quell her wrath, then I'd better avoid stirring trouble. Who would save me from her wrath if the king were powerless?

After the lessons, we returned to my quarter and annoyingly, bad stinking balm was applied to my body. The scents almost caused me to poke but I was being cautious not to stir any trouble since Lefika already told me that the wall could hear in this palace and I shouldn't trust anyone.

Also, the whisper from my dream had cautioned me to watch out and stay safe.

"The queen requests your presence." A voice sounded from the door and my heart beat faster.

It was Lefika.

"Are you all done preparing the mortal princess?" she asked, hands fixed to her hips.

I almost killed her with my glares. How I hate those words. 'Mortal princesses' so badly.

"Yes ma." the maids answered amidst a subtle bow.

"Princess, if you wouldn't mind. I will be taking you to the queen's chamber. I'll beseech you behave yourself and remember to use what you've learn from your lesson so seriously."

Now why does chill cold creep into my chest at the mention of the queen?

What was it that was scary about her? I haven't met her in person but sweat was already trickling into my brows, stinging my eyes.

What if this meeting turns out to be bad? My gaze darted to the yellow bangles and a wave of relief washed over me, suppressing my trepidation.