Chapter 41: The Picnic
"That’s it?"
She paced the length of the gallery in her room, beating herself up for being made to look like a fool.
How had she ended up sleeping in his room? On his bed?
Was she out of all her wits? She kept asking herself.
Claire ran a hand through her hair.
Nothing happened, she repeated to herself. If it did, she wouldn’t have been fully clothed. And she would have felt different...
Besides, he wasn’t that kind of man. Or, was he?
The events of the previous evening blurred in her mory.
And the poem.
She had only read three lines - but they were beautiful.
Who had he been writing about? Was he in love with soone?
She swatted her forehead.
He probably was. What kind of King would set his sights on soone as disadvantaged as her - enough to write poetry about her?
And he dismissed her. Like a re servant.
Of course she was a servant, she was foolish to believe him when he said she was otherwise.
A bright yellow dress had been delivered before she arrived in her room.
He continued the benevolence still. And it irritated her.
Claire noticed she slt different... like him.
She’d had the sa dream again. The wolf had stayed out of reach as usual, but this ti, she felt sothing as she stared at it. And, it ran away. Pursuing it was no use. She broke down and cried.
Until she felt warmth enclosing her.
Claire shook her head, bringing herself back to the present.
A knock on the door startled her.
She moved to the door, suddenly conscious of her bare feet.
A guard opened the door.
Before her was a woman in a long black gown - the uniform the chamber maids wore.
But the won that had attended to her wore silky pink robes with gold hems.
"How may I help you?"
"I finally et you at last - the Stenly princess who serves as a Cupbearer. I’m Kaira, the Castle’s keeper. All the servants will be having a eting concerning the picnic in a few minutes."
Claire winced at the ntion of the word ’servant’.
"I’ll be there."
The woman looked beyond her at the room.
"Since you don’t stay in the servant’s quarters, you might want to join . It’s a long walk from here and you clearly don’t know the way."
The woman’s brown hair fell in long waves, cascading down the sides of her face like flowing silk. And the streaks of grey made it look ancient.
Claire’s hand remained on the door.
"What exactly do you want to discuss in this eting?"
The woman’s eyes hardened slightly.
"Most of the people that speak to
that way get dismissed from their service imdiately - but since you are chosen by the King, I will overlook your insolence."
"Insolence? I’m only asking because I only have business with the King."
The woman sighed, rubbing her eyes.
"If you must know, we are discussing the logistics and serving arrangents for the picnic."
Claire moved on her feet, leaning slightly against the wall.
"And how does that affect my duties?"
"You’d need wine, wouldn’t you? It’d be a sha if the King needs wine and you wouldn’t know where to get it."
With that, the woman turned and left.
Claire’s lips thinned, her grip on the door tightening.
Sighing, she followed the woman.
One of the guards at the entrance followed behind her at a safe distance.
And she felt like she was showing off.
Her thoughts were confird when she joined the crowd of people that worked in the castle.
The naless people - her father used to call them. She was now one of them.
Blacksmiths, cooks, chambermaids, porters, footn, stableboys, stewards, serving maids, and all the likes.
Oh, and the Cupbearer.
She stood alone in the bright room, leaning against the corner closest to the door.
Brushes and dust clothes were piled beside her. The room slled musty.
The woman that had escorted her, Kaira, stood before everyone.
She began her address, touching on every possible subject except the one Claire was interested in.
The uniform of the day was discussed. People cast subtle glances at her, knowing that she won’t follow the dress code.
Guiltily, she rembered the pretty sundress waiting for her in her chambers.
If she continued humoring Yeren, she’d forget her position and end up forcing an image of sothing she could never be.
So, she stepped forward and received the uniform that was being shared.
Kaira nodded at her quietly. The little gesture almost made her smile.
Murmurs began.
When she was pushed amidst the crowd, her bodyguard stepped forward, pulling out his sword to warn everyone off.
Carriages and wagons to be used were discussed. Seating arrangents and food conveyance were also discussed.
Lists were drawn and people rushed to write their nas down.
Claire was held back before she took a step forward.
"You are to ride with the King."
She glanced up at the man. It was the first ti he had ever spoken to her. She had almost forgotten about her arrangent with the King.
Lara and her girls were nowhere to be seen.
The room was filled with unfamiliar and hostile faces.
She finally returned to her room at the end of the eting. The barrels of costly wine would arrive separately along with the pastries to be served.
Aurora t her at the door of her room, grinning from ear to ear.
"Arlan is here."
She took in her sister’s full dressing and styled hair.
"You seem excited."
"I am excited. You still haven’t told
how I look, Claire."
She paused and pretended to think.
"Like a blooming sunflower."
"Sunflowers are yellow. I’m wearing lemon." Aurora giggled.
"Was there ever a ti Arlan ntioned that his favourite colour was lemon?"
Aurora blushed slightly.
"He may have ntioned it... I’m not sure." She averted her eyes as she spoke.
"Is he alone... or in the company of his father?"
Aurora’s blush darkened.
"His father is banned from all events concerning the Crown, rember? Arlan will be attending on his own."
Claire stilled.
"Won’t it be better if you ca with ."
"I can take care of myself, Claire-"
"I know. But bad things can still-"
"Nothing bad will happen. I have a pen knife."
Claire’s eyes widened.
"Where did you get it?"
"Lord Andon gave it to ."
Claire ran her hand through her hair.
"Do you even know how to use it?"
Aurora averted her gaze. "No."
"Then give it to ." Claire stretched out her hand.
Her little sister pulled out the knife from underneath her dress.
The tal felt cold in her palms.
"I can’t let you go alone." She said, twisting the knife in her hands.
"I’m not going alone... one of the bodyguards is coming with ."
Then she stood on her toes and pecked Claire on the cheek.
"Try to have so fun, Claire."
And then she ran off.
Claire stood there staring after her long after she had gone.
If she was to ride with the King, was it proper for her to be dressed like a servant?
For so reason, Aurora hadn’t ntioned her absence the previous night.
Had she not realized it? Rory always ca to her room at night.
After bathing, she donned on the dark blue uniform and set out.
The gown was a perfect fit, tight at the waist and loose at the hips.
The walk to the entrance was quiet. The sun outside was mild, so she didn’t need a parasol - not that servants carry such anyways.
The Royal carriage lood before her.
Yeren stood outside, glancing towards the beautiful rose gardens.
Her palms suddenly felt sweaty.
His eyes t hers across the distance as if by so pull.
Then, his lips curved downwards slightly, before it disappeared.
Was she making a mistake?
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