“ First day in the palace”

CHAPTER TWELVE

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Charlotte's POV

“Ahh… ahhh… ahh…”

I shot up from the bed, gasping for air, my chest rising and falling in quick bursts as I tried to calm myself down. My heart was pounding so hard it echoed in my ears. It took me a few seconds to remember where I was.

It was just a dream… but it felt so real.

I’d always had nightmares, ever since I was fifteen, but this one was different. It was scarier than the others.

I fell back onto the bed, pressing a palm to my forehead. My head throbbed painfully, like I’d been hit with something heavy. I let out a soft groan, blinking slowly as I glanced around the room.

I instinctively reached for the small clock that usually sat on the table beside my bed, but it wasn’t there.

Confused, I turned my head, taking in the tall windows, the silk curtains, the carved furniture… this wasn’t my room.

I opened my mouth to call out for Mia—then I paused.

This wasn’t my pack house. I was in the palace.

I wouldn’t see Mia’s face in the morning. I wouldn’t hear Hazel humming in the kitchen. I wouldn’t get to sit beside my parents after dinner or feel my mother’s arms around me.

The truth settled like a stone in my chest. A tear slipped from the corner of my eye, burning as it fell, and soon more followed.

I curled up on the bed, wrapping my arms around myself like they could somehow hold me together. Then came a soft knock at the door.

I didn’t want to answer. I didn’t want to move. But I remembered what my parents said, to stay calm, to avoid trouble, to give them time to bring me home.

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand before walking slowly toward the door. When I opened it, I saw the butler standing there, and beside him was a young lady holding a folded dress.

“Good morning, my lady,” the butler greeted with a polite bow.

“Good morning,” I replied quietly, my voice still shaky.

“This is your maid,” he said, gesturing to the girl beside him. “She’ll be assisting you throughout your stay in the palace. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to let her know. She’ll also help you get ready for breakfast.”

“Breakfast?” I asked, almost in a whisper. “Can I skip it?”

“I’m afraid not, my lady,” he said gently. “The king specifically requested that I bring you to the dining room this morning.”

I swallowed hard, already feeling my stomach twist.

I didn’t want to go for breakfast. I didn’t want to walk into a room full of strangers, all of them staring at me like I didn’t belong, like I was the mistake they couldn’t unsee.

Why is this happening to me?

The butler gave a slight bow before turning to leave. I stepped back into the room, and the maid quietly followed behind me.

“Hello, my lady,” she said softly. “I’m Ava. I’m here to help you with anything you need.”

I sat down on the edge of the bed and nodded without saying a word. I was expecting her to look at me with judgment in her eyes, but she didn’t. Instead, her gaze held something else. Empathy.

“I’ll prepare your bath. You’re already running late for breakfast,” she said gently, placing the dress on the bed before hurrying into the washroom.

My heart started pounding. I was going to have to face everyone in the dining room—the whispers, the stares, the silent judgment. I couldn’t stop imagining how they would all look at me.

“My lady, your bath is ready,” she called softly.

I stood up from the bed, and she helped me out of the wedding dress. I walked into the bathroom slowly, and she followed behind me without a word.

She began to lather the soap with water, and I just stood there, confused and unsure of what she was doing. She looked up, meeting my eyes, and must’ve seen the hesitation written all over my face.

“I’ll be helping you with your bath,” she said softly.

“What? No. I can do it myself,” I replied quickly.

She didn’t argue. She simply nodded, placed the soap aside, and quietly stepped out of the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

I let out a small sigh of relief. I wasn’t comfortable exposing my body to anyone. Even back at Willowcrest, I avoided bathing with my sisters. Hazel and Mia never minded it, but I always found it uncomfortable.

I slowly took off my underwear and stepped into the warm water. I bathed quickly, scrubbing myself with shaky hands. When I was done, I washed my face with soap and water, hoping to feel a little better.

I still looked sad and drained. Nothing about me felt normal.

I stepped out of the bathroom, a short towel wrapped around me. The maid waited patiently and helped me into the dress she had laid out earlier. I didn’t even pay attention to what kind of dress it was, I just let her move me like a doll.

She styled my brown hair in a way I wasn’t used to. It looked different, but I didn’t care. My heart wasn’t in any of this.

She gently added a bit of makeup, carefully covering the dark circles under my eyes. Then she fastened a few pieces of jewelry on me. She had done a beautiful job, and I looked presentable.

But on the inside, I still felt like I was falling apart.

“Shall we leave now?” she asked softly.

I shook my head.

I couldn’t. I was too scared to face anyone. I felt like the entire palace would be staring at me, whispering behind my back, judging me.

The maid gave me a gentle smile, her voice calm and reassuring. “It’s okay, my lady. Breakfast is almost over. You’ll only have to be there for a short while.”

It was like she understood my pain without me saying a word.

I stood up slowly from the bed, and she walked with me toward the door, opening it gently for me to go out.

She guided me through the hallway, her steps steady beside mine. Soon, we stopped in front of a very large double door—one that reminded me so much of the entrance to the wedding hall. My stomach twisted at the sight.

My heart started pounding, and my breathing became uneven. I could barely hear anything over the rush in my ears. I tried to calm myself, inhaling deeply, but my chest still felt tight.

The maid knocked softly, and before I could brace myself, the door opened.