In the kingdom of Aeziris, a rebellion is rising, but its reins are not in the hands of its citizens. With a fine string entwining her heart with that of its chieftain, Esméralda must walk a knife-edge while navigating her way through a palace of ma...
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E s m é r a l d a A l b y
"I hate this stupid uniform," I mumbled, squeezing my body into the black and white kirtle. "It's tight."
"It looks to be a fine fit, Esméralda." Charlotte chided. "At least, it doesn't look lose like mine. Ugh, I always knew my tall height and low weight is problematic."
"Yours is comfortable, the kind I wear."
"That's why I'm saying, your current fit is better."
I huffed, shaking away the choking tightness just as Mrs. Pearson's call ended the time we were given for changing. We rushed outside after after our two unintroduced roommates. A short lecture from the head of the staff followed before all twenty-six of us followed after her to the Wing of The Thirteen.
Like the rest of the palace, this wing too was stone, glass and marble. Despite the efforts made to aromatize the place, it still held a pungent smell like this place wasn't looked after for years. Twenty-seven years, I believed, had passed since Queen Amaya took shelter here.
One-by-one, Mrs. Pearson showed duos to their respective Lady's rooms until Charlotte and I were last left. Unlike other times, she walked inside with us to the most fashionable bed-chamber I'd ever seen.
"You know who you serve," Mrs. Pearson informed in a hushed voice as if someone else hearing it was doom. "Lady Celeste is the only Duchess on the list, and, if the rumour holds truth, she has already won. I can tolerate other girls lagging but not you two. Understood?"
My face paled but Charlotte's voice echoed on behalf of both of us after she passed me a wary glance. "Yes, Mrs. Pearson. We won't leave a window for Lady Celeste to complain."
As soon as Mrs. Pearson was out of earshot, Charlotte jumped with questions. "What did you do to piss Lady Celeste off? How do you even know her? What if Rosalie complains about your running mouth and you're out before the ladies' and the Prince's first lunch ends?"
"I didn't do anything considerable," I sat on the bed with a snort, almost losing my balance as the sheets sunk under my weight. "Fuck. This is some super-soft shit."
"Oh, good god gracious. She didn't swear."
"I did. I said fuck and—"
"Esméralda, my mother would faint if she knew I am to work with you."
I laughed. "I'm not a bad person, I swear."
"Forget all that," Charlotte tensed up again. "What did you do to Lady Celeste?"
I smoothed out my kirtle in order to avoid eye contact. "I might have just gawped at her in a challenge while I let my lover do more than just kiss me that involved my clothes still on."
