A Court of Love and Devotion - Novellas

The Princess Treatment

That's what she got for socializing. For allowing other people than her family into her life. Other males.

Elia was curled up in bed, crying. She had flown home faster than ever, in tears and ran to her bedroom. Her mother had obviously followed and demanded to know what was wrong and who she needed to kill. Elia only told her briefly and asked to be alone.

Ilex had never truly cared about her, had he? If he had, she wouldn't have caught him in bed with another female.

A female prettier than her, more sexual than her and probably a lot more fun too. Who would truly want someone like Elia anyway? Someone who spent her time alone and never talked to anyone. Truly, she'd been ridiculous for even thinking someone other than her family could ever love her.

A light knock sounded on her door, then a creak.

"El?" Hazel stepped into the room, Elia heard her but didn't answer.

She heard other footsteps, much heavier ones. Aria.

The mattress sunk as her sisters sat next to her sobbing form. One hand stroked her face, combing her hair away and tucking it behind her arched ear.

"Mom told us," Hazel said softly. "This bastard didn't deserve you."

Elia sniffed. Then sobbed into her pillow once more.

"El," Aria called. "Tell me who it is."

Elia lifted her head and turned it to face her older sister. "I don't want you to hurt him, Aria. It's not worth it."

"I can't let him get away with it. No one gets to cheat on my sisters."

"You don't have control over that, Aria."

Hazel touched her shoulder. "Don't worry about it. Aria won't touch him. She's just being protective, you know how she is," she attempted a smile. Elia nodded glumly. "Is there anything we can do?"

Elia just laid back down against the pillows. Her sisters laid on either side of her and embraced her until she fell asleep.

The next morning, she woke up with puffy eyes and a reddened face. Aria had left at dawn to train. Hazel was still asleep in her bed and would probably be for a couple more hours. So Elia tiptoed out of her room and went to breakfast.

Her parents were gathering around the table with their eldest and youngest daughters. Elia never trained. Her father had never managed to convince her. She loved dancing and taking long walks alone in the forest outside of Velaris. That was the sort of exercise she practiced. But she was no warrior.

Her mother gave her a small smile and walked to her. She kissed her cheeks a dozen times as she held her before going back to the table.

Her father put his hands on either side of her cheeks, his thumbs stroking her pink skin. "Did you have anything planned for today?" he asked. She shook her head. "Then I'll take you to town with me, alright?"

Elia frowned but her father didn't elaborate. She ate breakfast with her family and remained quiet the whole time. As per usual.

Then her father walked her to the private library, sat her down with a book and placed a blanket over her legs. He told her to wait there while he got ready. He came back half an hour later, bathed and clothed, and held up his hand for her to grab.

Their feet touched the city proper and he still hadn't told her what they were doing. He offered her his elbow, which she took, and walked them to the Palace of Thread and Jewels.

There weren't many customers at this time of day. Elia was glad for it. She was uncomfortable in over-crowded places. Or in public, for that matter. But her father's presence was comforting.

"Dad," she asked. "Why are we here?"

"I'm taking you shopping," he explained. She angled her head. "Your mother told me what happened yesterday. And as I am sure you won't let me correct this boy —and I'm sure your sister offered to do it as well." Elia huffed a laugh before her father's face turned serious again. "I thought I needed to rectify some things."

"What things?"

"Your worth, Elia," he said. "This boy isn't worth your tears, and he certainly wasn't worth your time. It is my duty as your father to show you the only acceptable way to be treated."

"And that is?"

"The princess way," he smiled. "You are my princess after all."

Elia smiled at her father.

"All of my daughters are my princesses."

Elia's smile widened. "I promise I won't tell Aria you said that." Her father snorted.

They spent the whole day together. He took her shopping, though Elia mostly bought fluffy socks and blankets for herself. They had lunch by the river while a band played soft music in the background. After lunch, he took her to see a play. A comedy, to cheer her up. Finally, as the sun began to set, they went to the Rainbow and he insisted on dancing with her until she promised him that she was fine and they could go home.

Nesta and her three other daughters were sitting by the fire, waiting for them as Sage told her family about the things she learned that day.

Elia and her father joined the rest of the family. The former began emptying the bag with the things her father purchased for her. Her sisters and mother eyed her curiously. Elia had bought her family gifts.

"I told her I would buy her whatever she wanted," Cassian explained. "I don't think she fully grasped the concept."

Nesta snorted and shook her head.

But Elia only smiled to herself as she handed her family their presents. A new thigh sheath for Aria. A set of wood carving tools for Hazel. A decorated resin page holder that lit up the whole page for Sage. And a box of exotic hot chocolate samples for her mother.

For her father, she'd found a self-heating mug and purchased it with her own pocket money. He kissed her forehead deeply as she handed it to him.

Then the House filled the small table in front of the fire with finger foods as Sage and Hazel placed pillows and blankets on the floor for the whole family.

Elia sat in-between her parents, on the couch, the two of them had their arm around her. Aria sat by her mother's legs, Hazel by her father's and Sage was cuddled up on Elia's lap, her head on the pillow her sister had placed there for her.

They ate and talked and laughed until it was time to go to bed.

When her head hit her pillow that night, Elia found her heart had been mended a bit. She remembered her day with her father. Her evening with her family. Her parents smiling at each other, eyes shining with love.

That night, Elia didn't go to sleep with sorrow. She went to sleep with hope. Hope that there were still some good males out there. Hope that love still existed and she was worthy of it.

With that in mind and in heart, Elia slept.