The Courtier

25

THE COURTIER
♡ Josephine ♡

The whole palace was prepping for a ball that is to come in a short matter of days. Beth was helping me with the long list Arabella had given to me when she had her own to figure out. I was trying to avoid my sister at all times to escape the talks of Ugene, but we were working under the same palace and the same royal couple.

We were in the ball room with all the other maids, and Cecil kept giving strange looks as if to say to speak to her before she did. Out of all the times I wished for Ugene to be near, today, I wished for him to walk out of this ballroom but he stood still with the King, Bridger, and Timothy. A huge chandelier comes rolling in, and Jaxson wishes for it to hang in the middle of the room hanging above everyone as Arabella's wishes come true.

Ugene's eyes find mine as Jaxson speaks but I can tell he is listening in, but his eyes detain on me. My breath hitches, and I look away to find Cecil who has caught us again. Could that chandelier perhaps fall on me and I fall to my death?

I cannot help the way my heart feels as Ugene's gaze. I can still feel him- I always feel him. He is always lingering near and I come to the conclusion that it has always been like that even before Ugene and I spoke to each other.

"I wish I was invited to the ball." Beth pokes out her bottom lip, gazing upon the millions of diamonds hanging off the chandelier. "But I am to work in the kitchens that night."

"You are lucky you are the Queen's courtier, Josephine. You get to go to all of the balls and such. Isn't that right, Cecil?" One maid speaks up, turning to Cecil who freezes mid cleaning.

Her eyes find mine, and she looks to Beth quickly whom raises a brow- waiting for her friend to respond. "Um, yes."

"Is the Queen nice to you?" Another maid begins to question, Beth's smile soon fading.

"Josephine says the Queen is her friend." Beth is filled with laughter and it feels as if she is mocking me.

"She is," I say, which has all the other maids laughing together. Cecil drops her gaze, playing with her fingers.

"You are the Queen's courtier, nothing more. To be her friend is like doing charity for the poor for her." Another mocks me.

My hands fists together, and I go to speak but Cecil speaks over me. "I have seen Arabella's kindness to Josephine. I do not think Josephine is lying."

Beth frowns again, crossing her arm as she pouts. "Of course, you have already whipped the Queen's attention. Whom else have you gained?" Cecil meets my eyes again, and her eyes are widening.

I am holding my breath, and before I can realize, my lips allow me to breathe and I let out an airy breath that earns looks from the ladies.

"Pardon me," I excuse.

Beth gives me a look of concern. "Is it your nerves?"

"For?" My hands grow slippery from my sweat, and the back of my neck hair tips up into goosebumps, and I can only give that excuse to-

"Ladies," the King greets, and the maids and I break out into a bow to his presence in respect. My eyes find Ugene's who has his fists locked together, and he quickly places them behind his back. Jaxson smiles at all of us which has some of the ladies blushing. I cringe. That is the Queen's husband, how dare they? "I would like to thank you for the exceptional hard work you all have been doing this evening for the ball. To everyone whom is working on the day of the ball, you will be paid well, at my expense."

The other maids flutter with a blush, thanking him with another bow.

Would this be enough to pay a doctor to come out and see mother? To give her treatments?

My eyes flicker over to my sister whom's eyes are drifting over the Ugene whom does not give her any satisfaction. Cecil looks to me, looking to Ugene, he is still gazing upon my soul and she mouths to do something.

"Josephine, you have met Lord Hampton, have you not?" Jaxson interrupts, earning my attention and I grow nervous.

All of the ladies are now looking upon Lord Timothy who nods his head in honor. He smiles to me. "It is good seeing you again, Miss Josephine."

"You as well," I say with a soft smile.

The maids behind me begin to giggle, now fangirling over the now named gentleman in the room. His eyes rake over all of the ladies in the room, but they never stay for long. He is not entertained by the ladies, neither myself.

A sudden cough interrupts us, and we all look to Ugene. "Should we not be worried about the certain chandelier that still needs to be put in its place?" A low growl leaves his lips as he states, glaring upon Timothy's soul. Bridger catches onto his anger, and lifts an eyebrow.

A sly smirk falls upon Bridger's mouth and his eyes find mine. He wiggles his eyebrows playfully at me, and it has my own furrowing with wonder.

Jaxson nods to his courtier. "Of course."

Ugene waits for his King to walk from our presences, and glares at Timothy whom does not have a care in the world that the King's courtier does not care for him much. Ugene looks back to me, his emotion softening before turning and following behind the gentleman.

"The room is spinning," Beth shares, and the ladies go to grab her. "Did you see that? He looked at me!"

Cecil holds Beth's arm, eyeing me suspiciously. "Yeah, I caught that," she feeds into her delusions, knowing Beth was not the one he looked upon.

Her look tells me that I am in deep trouble.