Scorn and Devotion

Chapter 16

A/N- If yall couldn't tell the monologue he gives in the end is supposed to be Laurie's from little women because that scene always makes me emotional.

Warnings - Mentions of beheading, slut shaming

The day of the talent show had arrived, and all I had asked of Timothée was that he find me a skilled opponent, other than the Captain of the Gaurd, to duel. He had said it would be done. I knew it wouldn't be him. He knew the basics, but I wouldn't exactly call him a formidable opponent, especially with how much practice I'd gotten lately.

The "theatre" was nothing like I thought. It was a room inside the castle with a small stage and curtain set up. A very small crowd gathered. It seemed to be made of mostly servants, Natalie, and maybe a knight or two. No royals or nobles accompanied us.

The girls and I were shoved together to the left of the stage. I was wringing my hands in the folds of my plain pink skirt. Gwyneria and Vangelina seemed to be at complete peace, whereas the rest of the girls were twittering nervously. I kept my mouth closed. I wasn't nervous for my act, swordplay came to me like singing came to a bird, but the second bit was where I was faltering. I had labored over what to give Timothée, however, I had still not figured it out until the last day.

I didn't think many could blame me. My brain was preoccupied with the face of Asher. I had tried to sleep through the morning after Asher had been discovered. Sleep had never come. It turned out, screaming carried throughout the castle ground pretty well. I couldn't see the beheading, but I had known the second it had taken place. The silence was almost worse than the begging.

I hadn't really been able to look at Timothée since. Even though I had been forced to speak to him, I never met his eyes. I knew he wasn't in the wrong. The evidence was damning, it wasn't his fault that I didn't feel quite right about everything.

"Who is first?" Odessa asked anxiously.

"All right everyone!" Natalie clapped her hands and smiled at the audience. Everyone quieted down.

"We will be starting now, Prince Timothée will be paying close attention to each act, and, I've been notified, will be expressing a talent himself," Natalie was beaming. She truly did love Timothée. Since Timothée's mother had died before he had known her, she was probably the closest thing he had ever had to a maternal figure. As much as my mother had been around, I was sure he did not see her that way.

"First is Duchess Odessa Swan, with her talent," Natalie cleared the way.

Odessa rushed up onto the stage. She giggled at the claps and bowed over and over again. It was like she turned her innocence on and off. One moment she was accusing Fairies of being evil, the next she was giggling at claps.

"For my talent, I painted a picture," Odessa beamed. Odessa watched as two servants brought a covered easel onto the stage. Odessa gave a dramatic look to the audience and then pulled the sheet off her work.

I clapped my hand to my mouth. Staring back at us in a watercolor style was the wedding day between Timothée and Odessa. I glanced at Timothée, who looked like someone had just told him he would have to sleep in a bed of snakes.

"I have studied since I was three," Odessa was breathing heavily, almost salivating at the thought of praise.

"It is lovely Odessa," Natalie broke in.

"Thank you," she said, and everyone began to clap. Timothée did too, but he was wincing.

"Now, what is your gift for Timothée?" Natalie asked.

"This," Odessa pointed to the art as if it were obvious. Natalie winced this time. The gift was supposed to be more like an act of service. A painting wasn't something Natalie considered a good act of service.