The Fake Princess

20- Tea with my Ladies

I awoke in my bed, unsure of how I got there. I rubbed the sleepiness from my eyes, confused on how I got home. Surely Laxor brought me here... but how did he know which was my room and how did he sneak past the guards. And more importantly, how the hell did I not wake up?

As usual, my maids make commotion in my room, waking me up for the day. I sit up, smacking my lips and looking around as I fight the sleep.

"Marina, what time do I have to leave for the tea party?" I mumble, heading someone start to fill the tub. Marina is looking through my closet and tells me in two hours.

"Please get me ready quickly, I have to speak with the Duke." I say and the two other maids look at each other. It's very rare for me to visit the Duke, especially out of my own free will. They curtsy and agree. The morning is quick and the bath water was cold which woke me up.

The water was given an essential oil, a trend that women are doing nowadays. They asked me for a scent and I said vanilla, grabbing the first bottle I saw. I was quickly changed into a light blue dress and my hair was pulled back into braids, decorative pins stand out, not obnoxiously but subtle, the way I like it.

Cutting close to time, we finish and I bid them away as I walk over to the Duke. I must inform him of my plans to take the test and from here on, be officially known as the Saintess.

The entire walk, I was nervous. I feel like claiming to becoming Saintess while talking about it to Ronin and Laxor is different than telling the Duke. Once I say it to him, I cannot go back on my word and soon have to talk to the Pope. Once I tell him my plan, he will force me to complete it no matter what. 

I soon arrive at the Duke's door where I am stopped by the advisor before I tell him I seek an audience. The Duke's advisor let me into the study and I saw that Ambrose was already working on a pile of papers next to the busy Duke. The advisor left us alone and I stood in front of the Duke.

I could feel Ambrose's stare. I never bother the Duke, I generally don't seek him out. He must surely be curious as to why I am here. The Duke hasn't looked up, quickly writing away and I wait for his time. Once he's done he drops the quill into the holder and looks at me, hands laced together.

"Asteria, aren't you going to the tea party with my wife? Why have you come?" He asks me. I take a deep breath, my hands clutching my dress.

"I do not mean to take too much time. I just wanted to say that Prince Cassian will be escorting me to my coming- of- age ceremony." I force a smile and he smiles at that, looking at Ambrose.

"There's another thing." I say, regaining his attention. "I came to formally announce that I will be taking the test to become Saintess." I say firmly, forcing any hesitation and quivers underneath my feet.

His eyebrows raise and he smiles at me. "I am glad that you are finally becoming the blessed Saintess and having the Prince escort you. When will you need to take the test? I'll make the necessary arrangements."

"After my celebration. I know it isn't customary for a lady to leave so suddenly, she is often invited to balls and gets chances to mingle with society. However, the test declares I have to take it on the night of the blue moon, on the Sador Mountain range where the garden of the gods is rumored to exist. The blue moon will come in a month. If I leave next week and do not make unnecessary stops, I can hopefully make it. If I don't leave, I will have to wait for five years for the next blue moon." I say, explaining to him the urgency of the test.

He nods his head, looking down as he thinks it through. "Alright, I will be giving Ambrose the task with preparing for your journey. Talk to him about transportation, knights, horses, servants and whatever you may need."