Scarlet Heir

Chapter 10 - Scarlet

The King and Queen look me up and down.

“Bliss Glem, born in Harbour Bay, Norta, born on 321 N.E November 13th, unknown parentage, Migrated to Angles in 338, current residence Castleow, blood type: newblood, ability: Electricon.” The King recites my records. “Not too bad son.”

“We can make something of her.” The Queen agrees lifting my chin up to look straight into my eyes. Glassy blue daggers meet mine with a glare. She drops my chin as the king begins to speak.

“Inform us of when you're done,” The King says to the doctor. The three of them leave me in his hands.

He undresses and cleans me before giving me a full check up. Everything from top to toe it makes me feel uncomfortable.

“I'm guessing you're not Virgin.”

I nod. I think I hear him sigh.

After he's finished he dresses me in only white shift and leaves me to the silence of my room.

I've been instructed to rest until further notice. I'd disobey if the mattress wasn't so comfortable.

I twiddle with my abilities especially the new ones. Since coming to Angles I've mastered: Skin Changing, Self-healing (although I have to sleep for up to a week with large wounds for it work so not so much mastered), Sound Manipulation and Gravitation.

I easily smother the sound of the birds outside, make my hair turn red and cut my finger it heals within the hour - it's not really the best location for me to be falling through the sky, I'm not even sure how on earth I learnt that one.

I quickly change my hair back to strawberry blonde as the lock on my door clicks open.

“Miss Glem,” The guard stands stern and emotionless as the Queen walks in from behind him.

“Thank you. You may return to your post now.”

The guard nods and the door shuts behind him. The Queen takes my face in her hands. She looks me up and down​.

“You've a good figure dear. I can make something of you.”

She takes me over the a dressing table and pushes me into the seat. The she clicks her fingers.

“Claudia you're on her hands. Paris her feet. Lavender give me a hand with her face.”

The maids all crowd around me.

“I'll give you a short brief. The engagement will be next week at least. You'll be expected to find a lady in waiting that could be a friend from home or anything. Until the wedding you'll be trained to be queen taught to read and write if you can't. You'll be expected to pick up etiquette quickly. Now the fact is that we will not allow you to be a whore here like you were back in Castleow so you'll be watched day and night and if you are found untrustworthy there will be measures made so you are unable to sleep with anyone other than my son. Understood?”

Measures - I shudder to think what those measures might be.

“The doctor has verified that you are not virgin to us and this will be noted, mark my words.”

I gulp and nod.

“I understand.”

“Good.”

I've always hated being pampered. It's a waste of time just to look good. What is looking good compared to winning a war or being in sibling rivalries?

“I think we're done.”

The maids agree with the Queen and take a velvet dress from a box that they brought in with them. It's red. How did they know my pride for the color of my blood?

“I know in Norta red is considered a poor colour and Silver the colour of nobles but here in Angles red has been regal since the first English King ruled.”

I nod. I'm not fussing Angles is nowhere near the perfect country but it's better than Norta where blood means the difference between rich and poor. Here in Angles there are still poor starving children who have to work in factories but they are a mixture of bloods - same goes for the rich sector of the population. It's better right?

 I slip into the dress which drifts above the floor and sometimes gives it a soft peck as I walk. It hugs my curves, exposes my back and shows a large amount of my chest. It has no straps so the maids have to lace it up tightly to stop it from slipping down. The Queen forces me into high heels higher than I ever wore as Princess in Norta. I tip quite a few times as she tries to perfect my already perfected posture - as soon as I'm in a dress the etiquette all flows back. Nothing can scrub away seventeen years as heir to the burning crown - not that anyone in Angles knows of my past accept Melony.

After she is somewhat satisfied she lets me go to dinner and tells me to stay close so she can instruct me. It's strange how I act around nobles, morphing into a lady within seconds. Back straight, shoulders back, step lightly and only speak when spoken to.

The Queen doesn't have to instruct me on anything even what cutlery to use for the various different courses - which I think surprises but impresses her. I am a subject of discussion at dinner but am never spoken to so I don't speak. Everyone eyes me like a horse​ to be bet upon in the races.

“So she's newblood?”

“Yes an electricon.”

“Interesting, where from?”

“Born overseas but she's been residing in Castleow, Oxberk county.”

“So she's a migrant.”

The King nods.

“It's not often you get Nortan Migrants in Angles.”

I nod my head slightly.

“You'll be right at home when we go to summerton at the end of summer.”

“Oh before we leave Summerton and head back to Whitefire-” Internally I kick myself, Firstly - I said ‘We’ and Secondly nobody asked me anything only speak when spoken to. The Prince gives me a look that says be careful.

“I think we best move into pudding.” The Queen says gesturing to one of the maids.

I shuffle back in my seat as the maid places some type of creamy dessert in front of me.

It's Trifle. The Prince mouths. I still have no idea what he means but try a spoonful and soon the dish is empty. I sit silently as the King talks to his colleagues. Eventually I am dismissed and the Queen personally escorts me back to my room.

I can hear the rain outside my window. Typical Angles weather, Norta is much warmer and drier than Angles which is prone to bad weather. It makes it easy to separate both palaces even though I know deep down that I was always born for this life - a Queen’s life.