The Courtier

5

THE COURTIER
♡ Josephine ♡

The village was buzzing with people. On my break, I was offered to tag along with Beth and the other ladies out on a trip to the village. I yearned to see mother and Nolan, but I was too afraid to say anything to Beth since she does not speak much to them any more.

My eyes sparkled with delight at all of the delightful shops around that people have worked so hard to gather for themselves and make a living. Not a lot of people get that chance.

I was eyeing a pair of new clips for ladies hair, I was in need of more for Arabella and possibly Serena. She has often requested me to do her hair. Beth was gossiping to the other ladies, not worried about what I was doing behind them, and continued to search for the perfect pair of clips.

"I would say the gold would look good on such a lady as you," A gentleman says aloud and I begin to question if he is truly speaking to me. I turn, facing the gentleman and he holds a gentle smile. Dimples. He has dimples. That is the first notice I catch of this young man.

He was not an ugly character and it terrified me.

"Y-Yeah. Gold is a beautiful color," I reply back to him, and his smile deepens. He lets out a soft chuckle, looking down at the clips.

"I have never seen you around. You belong to the palace walls?"

I nod. "I belong to the Queen."

His eyes widen a bit, but he does not bow like everyone else does. "Well, let me purchase this for you. A treat, perhaps."

He gathers a bunch of clips, handing them over to the lady that runs the shop.

My eyes widen, I shake my head. "Please do not. You do not have to purchase such nonsense."

"It is not nonsense. You wish for them, do you not?"

"I-Yes, but I was thinking about purchasing them myself."

"Now you do not have to fret. A gift on my end." He smiles once more, his dimples shining through his cheek as he hands me the paper bag. "Rafe, Rafe Velmont."

"Thank you, Rafe. It was a pleasure meeting you. I do thank you for the gift," my voice is small, but I try holding my words together so I do not make such a mess as before.

"Do I not get a name for the lady I just gifted?"

"My apologies." I am filled with a bit of laughter. "Josephine Castings."

"It is a pleasure." He nods, leaving my form to go elsewhere.

I stand in my spot, confused as to why he wished to buy me these things, but I am grateful anyway. Turning back towards my sister and the other ladies, Beth is watching me a little farther from where I stood, letting me know she had watched the scene unfold.

She picks her nail, eyeing the bag and her eyes pull away when her friend gathers her attention on something else.

The crowd that was once speaking, loud, buzzing with their businesses suddenly grows quiet and a coin could be heard dropping.  My eyes filter over a few other ladies coming from the other side of the street. They are all wearing a dark burgundy red, brightly winning over the people of the village.

Their footsteps land on the grounds of the shops, and everyone gives them distasteful stares. My eyes furrow with wonder on why they were judging these ladies, but it also was not my business.

The lady in the front was mesmerizing. She was a gem to be gazed upon. She had cat eyes that could blind you, dark makeup sits upon her face, and she holds a smirk at the judgmental faces that come upon her and the others.