Dear Elise

Chapter 9

Looking in the mirror in the morning, I can still see my maids staring at me.
Maybe it's the permanent smile that seems to have appeared on my face, or maybe it's the cheerful way I'm chatting to them...
Yes, perhaps I am acting a little out of character.
Still, they seem to be taking it in stride. Florence is doing her usual work on my hair quietly, as Beatrice chats to me about a new book she's read. Sara is hunting through my wardrobe for today's day dress.
"...and so, it turns out Nico did end up with Will, and now they're officially my favourite couple..."
Well, I'm trying my best to keep up with Beatrice, but we're several books into the series, and it's getting confusing.
"I thought Percy and Annabeth were your favourite couple?"
She rolls her eyes at me, still grinning excitedly.
"Come on Lady Elise, keep up. They were my favourite before Will and Nico were a thing. They're still my second favourite, though."
I pause.

"So, this couple... it's two men, isn't it?"
She looks at me curiously, but I avoid her gaze. I don't know why I'm asking this, but...
"I thought same-sex couples were rather frowned upon in Illéa."
She stops, obviously considering her next words carefully.
"Well yes, but I still don't quite agree with it."
Sara speaks up, walking over with a dress that's a lovely spring green colour and embroidered with daisies.
"Neither do I. There's nothing unnatural about it, and love is love, right?"
They glance at me with almost guilty expressions. Were they expecting me to disagree with them? Why did I even bring this up in the first place?
"You're right. I wish everyone else shared your opinions."

The two of them visibly relax, and even quiet Florence lets out a hum of agreement. They help me get ready for the day, still chatting animatedly, and I watch my reflection in the mirror. In this cheerful dress, with a long, thin green ribbon pinned into the back of my hair and my newfound smile, I look much more... alive, than usual. When I stand up my walk is almost quick and cheerful, and as I walk over to where my maids have put my shoes, I almost have to stop myself from skipping. I glance over at the place I sat with Sam last night, and I can feel my smile widen. Maybe all I needed was some time with a friend.

But as I go to put on my second shoe, I freeze. A cold, sharp pain, like I'm stepping on needles, makes tears of shock spring to my eyes.
Florence notices something is off almost immediately, and hurries over.
"Lady Elise? Oh God- Sara, come over here, I think something's wrong-"
Her face swims in front of my eyes, her words sounding strange and echoey. I try to step towards her, but a stabbing sensation in my feet causes me to gasp in pain. I quickly slip off my shoes and look down. Even as a strong lightheaded feeling hits me I can see my socks, trimmed with green ribbons and simple embroidery- the bottoms of my feet leaking a cheerful crimson onto the snowy white fabric.
I think I hear my maids' voices, but they're so far away... the shock of seeing my own feet covered in blood sends a nasty shock straight to my head, and I feel myself starting to pass out.

When I come to, I'm lying down. I see the familiar ceiling of my room, and a blurry face hovering above me. As it comes into focus, I see Florence.
"Lady Elise, you're awake!" I try my best to smile reassuringly at her- she looks terribly worried.
"Yes, I'm... I'm alright. What happened?"
Florence exchanges a glance with Sara before speaking.
"Well, you had quite a nasty shock, and you passed out. The doctor has already sorted out your feet as best he can."
Oh yes, there was all that blood. I remember it all now, but why did it happen? Just as I'm about to ask, Sara speaks up, walking over to my bed.
"We found broken glass in your shoes."

Broken glass...? I look at her in disbelief.
"Really?" She nods in conformation and I look back up at the ceiling, my head reeling. How could that have gotten there? Having checked on me, and obviously taken my silence as a cue to leave, Sara and Florence go back to work, casting occasional worried glances in my direction.

Beatrice walks into the room a few minutes later, smiling. When she speaks, her voice seems strangely cheerful.
"Lady Elise! You didn't tell us you'd made a friend!"
I frown. Could she mean-
"Oh, do quiet down, Bea." Sara almost glares at her. "Lady Elise has had a nasty shock, you know, she needs time to rest."
After a muttered apology, Beatrice continues in a quieter, calmer tone.
"But really, I was talking to Mary and Becca earlier, and Becca- you know she's Lady Samantha's maid- told us that Lady Samantha was ever so worried when Lady Elise didn't show up to the women's room this morning! I told her that Lady Elise was fine, of course."
I sigh in relief. For I minute, I thought Sam had been caught sneaking around last night. I tell them about her a little, before we finally lapse back into comfortable silence.

The doctor has told my maids that I have to stay on bed rest and, thankfully, everyone has agreed to keep quiet about my injuries. I do let Beatrice send a message about what happened to Sam through one of her maids, though.
So I think that the day is finally going- not exactly well, I suppose, but it's peaceful at least. Until a maid comes knocking at my door, with a note. A note from the prince.