8: A day with the Monster

Heather's POV

I rushed up the stairs to my room. Breakfast had gone by in a flash and the food had tasted bland because of what I knew was waiting for me right after. The king, supported by the grand Luna had ordered prince Keith to spend the whole day with me. All I wanted to do was to curl up in a corner and die, now I had to go out with the very man who was making it very clear to whoever cared to listen that he was in love with another woman.

"My Princess" Ella's voice interrupted my thoughts as I got to the door of my room. I had not seen her waiting there and she had a fresh set of clothes in hand, waiting for me. I assumed it was for the day I was supposed to spend with the unwilling Keith.

"Ella" I said calmly, keeping a composed exterior even though my insides was in shreds.

"How do you feel today?" She asked me as she fell in step behind me as we entered my room. She placed the clothes on the bed and immediately came to help me out with my gown. Before I could say yes or no, the gown was off and she was bringing out a sundress from one of the piles of clothes she had brought on the bed.

"I'm a lot better. Can I ask you something?" I said to her and she looked at me, as if unsure of which answer to give.

"Yes my princess" she answered finally and I sat down, pointing to the seat in front of me.

"Has Prince Keith always been like this? And why won't his family accept Nyles?" I asked her and she heaved sadly.

"Prince Keith has always been a tad bit problematic. I would say it came from him being high handed as a child, didn’t truly have his way with everything that he wanted especially when his father died. things had gotten out of hand and then he met Nyles. She supported him even when he was wrong with what he was doing and earned the immediate disapproval of the family but the prince is hell bent on her. I would advise you try to stay out of his way, unless when necessary, like today" she finished and I took a deep breath myself.

That had been a lot and I could not imagine how my own family, most especially my father would push me to a fate like this. I couldn't figure out why he thought I was the best option for the sacrifice and not their lovely Debra.

"Thank you Ella. I will like to dress up myself. I want some alone time if you don't mind" I said to her and she got up, taking one final respectful bow before leaving my room.

There was a soft knock on the door, barely a few seconds after Ella had left. I knew it could not be prince Keith because I was supposed to meet him at the garden in half an hour. The door eased open and the strange man that had pulled a chair for me at the dining table earlier, accompanied by the Grand Luna came in.

I immediately straightened myself and looked at my dressing gown, clasping it tighter around my chest. The Grand Luna looked around my room, a look of disapproval on her face before she even opened her mouth to speak.

"Hello princess Heather" the grand Luna said and I bowed in courtesy.

"Greetings Grand Luna" I said and she waved her hands dismissively.

"Call me Mother. I am not a stranger to you anymore as we are now part of one big family" she said and sat down on the old chair that Ella had been sitting on.

"I'm sorry about the state of the chair..." I began but she interrupted me again.

"You are sorry for what exactly?" She asked me and I lowered my eyes, feeling very self conscious.

"The state of my room" I responded, my voice barely above a whisper.

"This isn't your palace, it's mine and if for anything, we should be the one apologising to you for the state of your room. Ezra?" She called the attention of the man.

"Yes?" He responded.

"Fetch me Lucinda at once" she ordered and I knew that she was about to blame Lucinda for the lack of class and expensive things in my room.

"Your Majesty... Mother" I said the word, even though it felt weird coming from my mouth, "it's not Lucinda's fault, I was the one that told her not to bother about changing anything in my room" I added and the grand Luna seemed to have been thrown aback by my response.

"You asked her not to?" She asked and then spoke again like it had not mattered whatever my response was, "she should have made sure that the room was not like this when you got here. I believe you were trying to be modest" she said, just as Ezra returned with Lucinda closely on his heels.

"Grand Luna, you sent for me" she said, her eyes carrying the fear of uncertainty, wondering if I had said anything to her.

"I do not like the room being occupied by princess Heather. I want it changed before she gets back from her day out with her husband" she ordered and Lucinda nodded her head, relief flooding her face.

"It's really no bother..."

"Nonsense" the grand Luna said again and waved her hands.

"Actually, I think Lucinda prepared another room but was asked by Nyles not to use the room because she would like to occupy it when we eventually accept her into the family" Ezra butted in and I wished he had just kept his mouth shut.

"Nyles? Is this true, Lucinda?" The grand Luna barked at her and I wished I had just let her work on my room from the start.

"Yes, your majesty" Lucinda answered, her voice so low, that I could feel the fear cutting through her nerves.

"How dare she? Lucinda, do you not know that Heather here is the one that should command you and not that silly girl?" She said and Lucinda nodded her head, nearly going down on her knees.

"Grand Luna...Mother, I can assure you that Lucinda was only doing what she thought was best at the time. I absolutely love my room and it has a great view of the city" I said.

"Which room did you have prepared for her?" The grand Luna said, totally disregarding my words.

"The second room in the hallway" she replied, even though I didn't even know the room she was talking about, the description alone told me that i was going to be with a lot of people. I immediately disliked the idea and wanted to kick against it immediately.

"That's great but move her to Keith's wing. Make sure her room is next to his, I want them as close as possible" she said and I froze, knowing that there was no worse fate than the one that the grand Luna had just bestowed upon me.

"Grand Luna, do you think that is the best decision?" Ezra asked her and I was grateful that someone else in the room thought the same thing.

"Leave us" the grand Luna said and Ezra left the room, followed by Lucinda who seemed relieved that she had not been found wanting in any way yet.

"Look, you have a duty here. I am trying my best to make it as easy for you as I can. You need to carry a child for my grandson. I will leave you two to figure out how I will be getting my great grandchild." She said as soon as the door closed behind Lucinda.

"Mother... Keith, he loves another. Everyone knows this" I said, pretending that everything was all on him.

"What about you? Do you love another?" She asked me and I was shocked by the question. It had definitely not been on the list for what I expected.

"I don't but I don't love your grandson either" I responded and she laughed like I had said something funny.

"Young woman, this isn't for love. Your packs have high expectations for this union and I want you both to know that regardless of how you feel about the arrangement, there is a lot of work to be done. That being said, you both will have the power to decide what you want to do" she finished and got up. I was frozen to my seat as the realities of my situation began to dawn on me.

My family had used me as a peace offering to the Devontae's. He had not thought about it when he threw me into the mix but I hated him a little bit now. For now, I had to find a way to get my responsibilities out of the way.

Only then could I have finally have true peace.