Terrible encounter with the queen consort

Chapter 3

Ellie pov

"'Watch out and stay safe, princess!' The words startled me, and they kept replaying in my head even as I tried to sleep.  I couldn't shake off the fear from last night, and now, as I lay awake, the warnings resonated deeply.

Swallowing a lump down my throat, I used the back of my hand to wipe the beads of perspiration off my forehead.

The door clicked open, and the maids sauntered in, warm smiles spreading across their faces. They lowered their heads, their eyes fixed on their feet, and said in unison, "Greetings, mortal princess."

I rose to my feet, restless, casting a wary glance at them from the corner of my eyes.

"You didn't eat your food?" one of them asked as she stepped forward to gather the remains from the stony floor. "The consort shouldn't learn about this, or else..."

"Hum!" The other maid cleared her throat, and I turned immediately to face them.

"Else?" 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 cleared her throat 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 off my hands while I was dozing last night 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 comes 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, and 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 lack of taste.

I was led to the courtyard, the one behind in 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 newly bride 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 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 better avoid stirring trouble. Who would save me from her wrath if the king was 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 troubles since Lefika already told me that the wall could hear in this palace and I shouldn't trust no one.

Also, the whisper from that illusion had caveated I watch out and stay safe.

~~~~~

It was the fourth day and I was being led from my room to the Queen consort chamber.

I was dressed in a green, long, flowing silk gown with intricate embroidery and a diamond necklace with a slim strap resting around my neck.

Today, I was going to meet the Queen consort and have tea with her.

I don't know but my stomach crawled inwardly at the mere thought of the queen.

Each time the Queen consort was mentioned, I shuddered inwardly but kept a straight face to conceal my fears.

"The mortal princess is here!" The maid at the door announced and the door was pushed open for me to enter with my two maids standing outside.

The door closed behind me, and I stood alone, my courage faltering. Nervousness took hold, my fingers shaking and my feet wobbling.

As I lifted my gaze, my breath caught in my throat.

The queen sat on her throne, her shoulders squared, her red robe pooling around her like a dark, fiery aura. Her sharp crimson eyes weighed me with a critical squint, and her facial features were accentuated by a cold, calculating smile. With one leg crossed over the other, her light auburn hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of night.

Her eyes searched my face, piercing my thoughts, and then turned icy and contemplative.

My knees buckled, and my head bowed in respect. "Greetings, Your lineage ." But instead oga her to respond, she clapped her hands, and the door behind me swung open. I resisted the urge to look back, as the previous lessons recall in my mind.

'Don't rise unless she asked you to.'

The queen's words sent a chill down my spine. "Pour the food on the floor and let her eat."

Who was she talking about?

The maids' tug on my arms snapped me back to reality. The queen's next words cut deeper: "If she doesn't answer you, push her to the floor."

I stared at the maids, disoriented, following their gaze to the floor. The food was the same dish they'd brought for me the night before, the one I'd refused to eat.

"Eat!" The queen commanded.

My eyes rolled awkwardly. Was she serious? Flies were buzzing around the food, and dirt speckled the floor nearby. It looked unhygienic.

Surely, she was joking. I'd never eat that. Punishment or not, I'd uphold my dignity.

"I won't!" I cut off the Queen Consort before she could speak again. The room fell silent, except for rippling murmurs. I knew I'd just sealed my fate the moment I talked.

The queen's gaze met mine, her expression inscrutable.

"Where are her maids?" The maids trembled, falling to their knees. "Wasn't it your job to teach her etiquette and the rules of the ritual? You didn't report her refusal to eat. Is she above me?"

I tried to intervene, "Keep them out of this, they're innocent," but fierce hands yanked me back, twisting my arms behind me.

The queen ignored my plea, her focus on the maids. "Who was meant to teach her?"

The other maid, the one with the sharp tongue, raised her finger, and the queen's gaze shifted to the timid maid beside her, the one who'd helped clear the food and warned me three days back. "Cut her tongue!"

The queen's order sent a wave of shock through me. She couldn't be serious. The queen's glare pierced mine, as if she'd heard my thoughts. Right, werewolves can read minds and Anthrika's wolves could see through person's past especially when their victim is under duress.

"I will eat the food if that's what will make you not hurt her." My voice was somber.

I was still assuring myself that it won't happen but then it did.

The innocent timid maid tongue was cut off, and thrown to the floor a few inches away from my feet.

In a rumbling voice, the queen spoke. "Today I'll overlook this disrespect of yours but after today you'll be deeply punished should you not respect or fear me." She rose slowly in a high-held dignity. "Cutting her tongue was just to show you that you are in no place to make a negotiation with me. I order and you obey my command."

The queen commanded, and her voice dripped with an unspoken threat.. "Eat! Or the other maid will lose her hands and legs,"I nodded fearfully, overwhelmed by her dark and suffocating aura