A Kingdom's Expectations & A Shocking Revelation {Sequel}

Chapter 11

Ten comments until next chapter xx

Why was it that every time I was remotely at peace the Universe endeavoured to destroy any kind of serenity?

Nature around me was betraying the fractious mood contained in this tightly bound room; the trills of birdsong sneaked through the winding hallways and teased my ear - knowing that I could not seek it further. I stole one last glance at the window, offering me a glimpse of a kind of peace I would never be able to engage in for the rest of my life.

GrandMonster would doubtlessly assure that.

"You're slouching," she critiqued, her eyes darting around my figure, to discover the many thousands of my flaws. I straightened in an instant, wincing slightly as I reverted to an uncomfortably stiff posture. Her gaze pierced me and for a few paranoid millennia, I worried that she would discover my secret simply by looking at my stance.

"Much better," she declared. I sighed inaudibly, knowing that if I let a sound escape my lips she would have my head for it. GrandMonster turned her attention upon my sister and I tensed. The two had scarce been in a room with each other for any great length of time, save for my wedding. To my utter surprise, my fearsome grandmother beamed widely.

"My dear, you cannot leave me for so long," she pandered upon my sister, kissing both cheeks while Josephine smiled back. I peered in confusion at my grandmother's facial expression; the smile that stretched her lips was so unfamiliar it appeared more a contortion.

"How I have been wanting without your lessons," Josephine laughed merrily, without even a touch of sarcasm. Grandmother brushed her cheek and the two were a pretty picture. It was mind-boggling - Grandmother hadn't even critiqued Josephine once! Though I was glad my sister was able to avoid the daily harangue, I felt somewhat miffed I was receiving all the lambasting.

"You have been at home more, I take it?" I inquired delicately, trying to understand the puzzle the two presented me with the seemingly healthy and innocent relationship they shared.

"That is correct," Grandmother informed me. "I have been teaching Josephine on how to make a living for yourself and being useful to her family. And she has been a very fine student."

Josephine murmured a pretty thanks and the two launched into a conversation, the finer details lost to me as I fell into thought. Their arrangement made a little more sense now. Naturally Grandmother was disciplining her in the manner of house-keeping now that her future no longer offered her the prospect of marriage.

"How long are you staying, Grandmother?" I questioned her, interjecting into their conversation. The latter afforded me a stiff look for the interruption but otherwise brushed past it.

"I wouldn't say a great deal of time," she said. "I have a mind to talk to your mother who I understand is here - and also to your husband."

"My - my husband?" I stuttered. The thought of my grandmother in close quarters with Sebastian was not one well-entertained. Of course, it was slightly amusing to think of Sebastian squirming in her grasp but on the other hand, my husband knew a great many unfortunate secrets of me and Grandmother had a curious knack of extracting such tales.

"Charlotte, do not utter your speech like the common folk," she scolded me. Josephine remained impassive by her side but I swore she was struggling to retain laughter. "As a Princess, you have a host more expectations - and I see that once again, you are failing them just as you did when you were simply a Duke's daughter."

"Well, that's a bit harsh - "

"Speaking out of turn does not become a young lady," she reprimanded me firmly. Grandmother sighed and shook her head. "Josephine is already your better in many aspects of decorum. I would advise you to model yourself after her. Sadly I do not have the time to instruct you further, though your attitude badly needs tending."