The Dragon Prince

Chapter 11

 The amount of info M'lady was telling me was absolutely overwhelming and exceedingly confusing. Etiquette was certainly not my strong suit and yet here I am about to try to perform it at a Tea Party I had no place in.

"Did you catch all of that Kaiya, please do hurry your steps but be mindful of how loud your slippers hit the floor. Loud feet are unacceptable, and please stop slouching, you look like you have a hunch back!" She smacked my wrist and I whimpered softly, rubbing my wrist.

"M'lady, I mean no offence, but this all seems a bit much and far too sudden for me to properly pull off. I fear I will embarrass you in front of the noble women, could I perhaps remain to the side or just in the hallway?" I spoke softly, running my hand through the loose portions of my hair, a nervous tic I have.

Autumn stopped and sharply turned on her heels, taking both of my hands in hers and staring me straight in the eyes. I gulped nervously, watching her with wide eyes.

"Kaiya, no matter how proper you are in these painful situations, you must be there. You will never know till you try and you, my dear, are part of the Calix castle. You carry our name and our honor with you, even if you are a servant. You must show pride and honor no matter what you face, do you understand?" She quizzed with such a fierce look on her face I thought her about to bark commands at me once more.

I feebly nodded my head and gripped her hands a little, shaking a bit while biting down on my lower lip. Honor, she is depending on me to show honor to the Calix name. How strange a feeling I feel inside my chest. An ache not like the one Max invoked but one more painful yet pleasant at the same time. I'm not sure how to say it, but regardless, it was a wonder to behold.

She nodded her head and spun back around as she quickly hurried down the hall and yet not look even bothered ...How I adored this woman already with not a hair misplaced on her petite head.

As we pushed our way down the hall, I shook away the sense of dread I had felt earlier and placed a cool and collected mask on top of my eyes. I would not let down M'lady...no..no, I would not. We made it to two large doors with two large and intricately carved columns on either side of the doors branded with spiraling iron. Two guards stood at the door and looked me up and down before paying respects to Lady Autumn.  With a bow they pushed the doors open and light flooded my senses, the golden glow of the sun shone down on us.

Autumn stepped out into the light while I shyly followed like a lost lamb following a Shepherd home. In front of us was a beautiful garden bursting with colorful flowers and blooming trees. Tables dressed in fine pastel cloths were scattered out among the flowers with chattering women like hens in a hen house. Scents of tea and sweets, dazzling perfumes and flowers were overpowering and I had to hold back tears from the mere scent. My lady brought both me and her to a separate table seated near a fountain with sparkling water. While she sat on a comfy chair, I remained standing by her side as per was my job though the look in Autumn's eyes told me to sit.

Other beautiful ladies came their way to us and sat down in their respective spots...and not with a lady in waiting at their sides like how I was with Autumn.

"Oh, my oh me it has been too long Princess Autumn, too long indeed." A chittering woman giggled as her brunette curls bobbed. An elegant green frock covered her slim body while a large, feathered hat with peacock feathers hid her almost amber eyes from the sun.

"Indeed, it has Vanessa." She brought a cup of tea that I hadn't even notice before to her lips. "How is the husband?"

The woman boasted with laughter before relaxing against her chair. "Oh, Archie is as spry as even. Nothing can keep that man down for too long. Whether it a small sniffle or a broken bone."