Library

Home / From Maid to Crown Princess / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of From Maid to Crown Princess: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

11 Chapters

Chapter 1

When a messenger from the Crown Prince's residence arrived, I was kneeling on the floor painting a fan for Marianne Vale.Clara came running in with the news, her whole face lit up."My lady, His Highness sent word."That poem you gave him last time was exceptional. He invites you to go boating on a lake west of the city today."Marianne sprang upright."Tell him I'll be there."Then she nudged my arm with the tip of her shoe."At least you're useful for something."I lowered my eyes.Hatred burned beneath my lashes.We shared the same father. Yet Marianne lived as the Chancellor's cherished daughter while I served her like a maid, simply because my mother had been his mistress.In my previous life, I obeyed Marianne in everything. I wrote her poems. Composed songs for her. Made her famous throughout the capita.And helped her become Crown Princess.Then she repaid me with a cup of poisoned wine.Looking at her face again, all I wanted was to wrap my hands around her thro

Chapter 2

Marianne stared at the page in horror.Linked verse demanded quick thinking. She couldn't manage a decent nursery rhyme without me, let alone trade lines with the Crown Prince.She covered one hand at once."Your Highness, I injured my hand a few days ago."I still can't hold a pen steady."Adrian didn't criticize her. If anything, he looked apologetic."My mistake."He added several more lines himself. Then, without warning, he turned toward me."You're Lady Vale's maid. You must have heard a great deal of verse while serving her."Do you understand any of it?"Marianne's stare sharpened.I bowed."I wouldn't dare claim that, Your Highness."I've only heard my lady recite now and then. I know a little.""Then tell me what you think of these lines."For a moment, even I was surprised.I stepped closer and read what he'd written. Then I pointed to the third line."This one is the best of them, Your Highness."And when the rain comes down, the hills turn strange. It say

Chapter 3

A few days later, Crown Prince Adrian invited Marianne to the Lamplight Revel.She ordered me to prepare ten poems in advance."Every one of them has to be better than the last batch."I agreed.In my previous life, one of the poems I wrote for that night had won first place.This time, I intended to let Marianne humiliate herself first.When I handed over the pages, she barely glanced at them."That's more like it."Stay close to me at the revel. Don't wander. Don't speak unless I tell you to.""Yes, my lady."On the night of the revel, Marianne dressed herself in jewels and embroidered silk. She drew every eye when she entered Moonwatch Hall.I followed in my usual veil.But from the moment I stepped inside, I could feel Adrian's attention touch me.He sat at the head of the hall in a black robe threaded with gold, a silver circlet holding back his hair. Around him gathered the capital's most famous young poets, scholars, and noble ladies."Lady Vale."He inclined his

Chapter 4

Adrian sat at the head of the room, his expression unreadable."Perhaps Lady Vale simply isn't feeling herself tonight."One of the scholars near him had finally offered her a way out.She seized on it immediately, pressing a hand to her temple."Yes. I haven't been well."My thoughts are a little confused tonight."She bowed hurriedly and stepped down.The moment she left the platform, she started searching for me. But I'd already slipped into the crowd.I'd also arranged for someone to spill wine across her gown.Marianne erupted. After making a scene in front of half the hall, she was forced to withdraw to a private room and change.That was my opportunity.I quickly changed into a dress identical to hers and applied the same style of makeup. We already resembled each other closely enough to pass as sisters at a glance, and in the shifting lamplight the likeness became almost perfect.I walked back into the hall and sank into a bow before Adrian."Your Highness. I was u

Chapter 5

Marianne had just finished changing when she saw "herself" standing on the platform, receiving everyone's praise.She came toward me furious.Then she noticed the way people were staring at her.Her paint was ruined. Her hair was disheveled. Nothing about her looked like a chancellor's daughter.And she was still wearing a maid's clothes.Adrian spoke first."Isn't that Lady Vale's maid? What's happened to you?"Marianne froze.Only then did she understand what she was wearing, and what it meant to have shoved her way into the Crown Prince's presence dressed like that.Her mouth opened and closed. Finally she lowered her head and copied the way I usually bowed."I was worried about my lady."I lost my head and forgot myself. Please forgive me, Your Highness."Adrian lifted his teacup."No matter."I put on a concerned expression."Evelyn, where did you go? I've been worried sick about you."Marianne's teeth clenched."Thank you, my lady. I lost my way."Adrian set dow

Chapter 6

Marianne arrived the next day.Adrian had gone to court early. Moonwatch Hall was quiet except for a thrush calling now and then beneath the eaves.I was propped on the couch drinking my medicine. Master Aldous's preion was brutally bitter, but a cup of it did leave me lighter on my feet.I was still frowning at the cup when a maid came in to announce her.Before the girl had finished speaking, Marianne stormed past her in a veil and raised her hand to slap me.I didn't bother looking up."My lady. This is Moonwatch Hall, not the Vale estate."If that hand comes down, His Highness's guards are standing right outside the door."Her hand stopped in midair. Her chest heaved several times. At last she lowered it.She glanced toward the door, then forced the words out through her teeth."Evelyn. You've become very bold."I set the bowl down, wiped my mouth unhurriedly, and finally looked up at her.Her eyes were bloodshot. She clearly had been so furious that she had not slept a

Chapter 7

For the next several days, Marianne came to Moonwatch Hall every morning.She never dared show her face. She sat behind a veil and watched Adrian care for me more and more attentively.One evening she arrived feverish herself. Her cheeks were burning red, her lips were bloodless, and she could barely walk straight."We change back today."Her voice was hoarse. She threw a maid's dress down in front of me.I looked at her.A bandage was wrapped around her right forearm.So she'd gone as far as injuring herself to match me.I changed back into servant's clothes and pinned my hair the way a maid pins it.Marianne sat in front of the mirror, dressed as herself, and waited for Adrian.She waited a long time.Then a guard came in."My lady. His Highness has asked me to escort you home to finish recovering. A carriage is waiting downstairs."She froze.She'd put herself through days of fever and cut her own arm to take back the place I'd been keeping warm, and Adrian hadn't even

Chapter 8

Three days after the latest poems went out, the marriage decree arrived at the Vale estate.That night the house blazed with lanterns and the front halls filled with guests.Chancellor Vale and Lady Rosalind worked the room until their faces ached. Marianne sat in her room humming while Clara brushed out her hair.I was alone in the kitchen, preparing medicine.I fanned the fire unhurriedly and listened to the laughter drifting in from the front court, and slowly, I smiled.Marianne. You're celebrating too soon.This life, I'll wait until you're at the very top. And then I'll pull you down into the mud.When the medicine was ready I carried it to her room.She was holding a plate of honey cakes, and for once her smile looked warm."Evelyn."She held the plate out to me with her own hands."You've worked hard these past weeks. Don't worry, I won't forget it. I've already spoken to Father about entering your name in the family register."After this, you'll be a proper daughte

Chapter 9

Step by step, I climbed into the bridal carriage.As it pulled away, I watched the Vale crest above the gate recede through the gap beneath my veil.When I was thirteen I'd knelt outside that gate with my mother's hand in mine, both of us in the rain, while she begged Lady Rosalind to take me in. The woman had looked down at us from the top of the steps and said:"House Vale isn't a shelter for every stray that comes scratching at the door."Now I'd gone in.And I was coming out as a daughter of House Vale, on my way to marry the Crown Prince.The royal residence blazed with lanterns and candles.The vows. The blessing. The walk to the bridal chamber. Every step of it felt like crossing thin ice. I couldn't see Adrian's face through the veil. I could only feel the steady pull of the ribbon bound between our hands, and the unhurried evenness of his stride.When the rite was done, the attendants led me into the chamber. They scattered petals, spoke the blessings, and withdrew wit

Chapter 10

I hadn't expected Lady Rosalind to turn up the morning after the wedding, with Marianne in tow.When my attendants announced them, I had both women brought into my courtyard.Lady Rosalind didn't bother with courtesy."You shameless little servant. You actually dared take my daughter's place at her own wedding."I looked at her calmly."When you drove my mother to her death, did it never once occur to you that this day might come?"Marianne lunged out from behind her.Her face was wrapped in thick bandages. There was a pair of scissors in her hand, and she came at me straight."You ruined my face. I'll kill you."I kicked her in the stomach before she reached me. She went into the corner of a table hard and folded over on the floor, both arms around her middle, making a thin sound of pain.Lady Rosalind screamed and dropped down beside her, then looked up at me."You filthy bastard. I'll go to the Crown Prince. I'll tell him every last thing you've done.""Go, then."I smo

PREV

NEXT

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP

DMCA.com Protection Status