A Song of Roses

CHAPTER XIII

"I don't recall asking for duck meat for supper."

My gaze shifted between the servant and the dish before me; my expression was serious and filled with tension. "Uh, His grace requested it," the servant answered, his voice filled with confusion and fear. He was clearly frightened by my question and seemed unsure of how to proceed. I glanced over at William, who was seated across the table from me, eating his dish calmly, as if he had not heard my exchange with the servant. "Chicken, please," I stated firmly, directing my request towards the servant. I was not about to accept the duck meat, as I knew William had deliberately ordered it. "Right away, Your Grace," the servant responded. He appeared to be aware of the tense atmosphere and did not want to make any mistakes.

I took a sip of my wine before clearing my throat and speaking. "I will go to Rosenia tomorrow morning to visit my mother," I announced gravely, my tone indicating that I would not welcome any arguments from William. "Do what pleases you, darling," he replied nonchalantly. His tone was dismissive and indifferent.

which infuriated me even further.

"I have a name, Your Grace," I hissed. My tone was respectful, but my words were sharp. "Oh, have I made a mistake? I thought we were married," he remarked sarcastically. It was evident that he was still frustrated and hurt (?) by the way I responded to him this afternoon. His manner was dismissive, and he appeared to enjoy aggravating me.

"Another," I said, gesturing to the servant for more of the wine. I was aware that I was consuming quite a bit of drink at supper, but I did not care. My emotions were running high after the tense exchange with him.

The servant finally served me the roasted chicken I requested, cutting it into pieces and placing it on my plate. He retreated quickly once he was finished, apparently intimidated by the tense atmosphere between me and William. "Be careful, Princess. I am afraid the wine is too strong for you," he said mockingly, "I am willing to take care of myself; thank you," I said curtly, taking a bite of the chicken on my plate without looking at him. I was determined not to engage with his mockery, and I continued eating my meal. I could feel his gaze on me, but I ignored him and didn't allow him to disrupt my supper.

I glanced at my reflection in the mirror as the handmaidens began to remove the pins from my hair, getting me ready for bed. I was exhausted and tired after the long day and the tense atmosphere at supper. The handmaiden slipped a white nightgown over my head and onto my body. It was made of soft, lightweight fabric, and the sweetheart neckline was cut low enough to show off some of my cleavage. The fabric was sheer and delicate, and I could feel the cool air on my bare skin as I slipped into the gown. I slowly traced the curve of my collarbone with my fingers, where William had kissed me the previous night. The sensation from his kisses was still on my skin. The memory of his lips and touch sent an ache of longing through my body.

"No, Anna, stop," I whispered softly to myself, forcing myself to stop fantasising about him and his touch. His kisses and caresses flooded my thoughts, yet, with a forceful resolve, I reminded myself of the harsh truth:

The prince does not love me.

a forced arrangement. That is all.

"Your grace?" The handmaid looked at me curiously, wondering if I was talking to her. I was so deep in my thoughts that my voice slipped out without realising it. "I'm sorry... I was just thinking, and I didn't realise I was speaking out loud," I hastily explained. "Princess, do you want me to braid your hair?" Alina asked softly, appearing beside me. I looked up at her and nodded my head in agreement. I wanted a break from my thoughts, and the soothing feeling of Alina brushing my hair was just what I needed. "Thank you; you can all go now. Good night." I nodded at the handmaidens as they smiled and gracefully curtsied before taking their leave.