Bride of Alvar (Redemption Saga, Book 1)

Chapter 10

After eating, I press the caller for Leeza and take a deep breath.

I wonder where Leeza spends her time when she's not waiting on me.

Put a brave face on. This is your new life whether you like it or not. And hiding from it isn't going to help you or anyone else.

"What do you need, my queen?" Leeza asks, with a bow.

I clear my throat. "I would speak with Alvar."

"I think he is in the middle of a meeting, but I will tell him you want an audience after it's finished."

"Thank you, that is all," I say.

Maybe I'll get good at this "queen" thing, I muse.

Leeza bows and leaves.

As I sit alone my bedroom becomes increasingly and uncomfortably silent. The urge to get up and explore the palace is overwhelming. Hmm... is it allowed for the queen to leave her room without telling anyone?

I'm not a prisoner, heck, I'm a freaking ruler now so it is probably fine.

I walk out of my room and into the living area of my quarters, fighting the urge to tiptoe around as if I don't belong here.

This is definitely going to take getting used to.

The architecture, decorations, furnishing, all are rich and tastefully placed. I've never lived in such luxury. My mom, a single mother (no idea who my father is) had worked as a maid at a local hotel. We'd always lived in a one-bedroom apartment.

It wasn't until I'd grown up and gotten a job of my own that I'd had the ability to afford anything myself, but never anything as nice as this.

How is that one can live in luxury and feel helpless? I contemplate.

I make up my mind that I want to revisit the paintings of the Cursed I'd passed while walking with Fletch to my chambers.

I start down the hall quietly, with bated breath.

Calm down, Lucy.

It's not like that old Disney movie I'd watched as a kid, Beauty and the Beast, where the Beast told Belle the west wing was "forbidden." This is my palace now.

Despite myself I smile at that thought,

Beauty and the Beast, indeed.

"And where do you think you're going?" An unfamiliar male voice says from behind me, making me jolt. "Sneaking out of your room, aye, your majesty?"

I turn and find a human male wearing a black and white guard's uniform standing next to my door. He's tall, broad shouldered, with light blonde hair and a dimple in his chin. His blue-grey eyes are friendly.

"I just wanted to find the art gallery I saw yesterday."

"Well, you're going the wrong way," he says with a playful expression on his handsome face. "Would you like me to take you there?"

"Please," I say with an embarrassed laugh, and then I second guess myself. Is this how a queen talks? I don't want to say the wrong thing, but I'm clueless as to customs and manners here.

"Come with me, your majesty," he says, turning down the hall.

I follow.

"Did you see the Cursed today?" he asks.