Charmed

Chapter Twenty

The next few days ran much more smoothly than the past week had. Joyce began teaching me the way queens did things, the people I would have to meet and speak to, as well as how to dress and style my hair. She agreed to let me choose when I would wear makeup, although she put her foot down on me having to wear it to balls and official dinners. 

Darius and I had officially moved into the main royal chamber. It wasn't much different to his old chamber, except that it was much larger. It was roughly the equivalent of both Darius and Claude's chambers put together. There was so much unnecessary space that I decided to bring Dany out of the kennels to join us in the chamber. 

The extremely large bed that had room for two extra people as well as me and Darius had been destroyed on our first night. The bruises on my back had almost completely healed, and it didn't hurt much to touch them anymore - meaning that Darius' hands were free to roam wherever they wished once more. 

Lisa was also preparing to become my personal servant, and she seemed so excited. She continuously thanked me for letting her escape the kitchen work she had been used to. Darius was acquiring a new servant, and I ensured it was a male this time, much to his amusement. 

Darius and I usually ate with Claude in the council hall, and sometimes Joyce if she had stayed for dinner after helping me during the day. My lessons with Bastien were continuing, and I presumed the Elders either knew nothing about my telling the lords and ladies of my ancestry, or they knew and were deciding not to do anything about it. I hoped it was the latter. 

Planning for mine and Darius' wedding had also begun. Claude could barely contain her excitement when she told me Joyce had already commissioned the cake and decorations. Claude had drawn up her own dream wedding dress for me, and I had to admit, it was beautiful. It was ice-white, the same as the snow during winter, and it was graciously decorated with lace. 

"I have already asked the finest seamstress in the kingdom to come to the castle today and take your measurements," Claude said, clapping her hands excitedly. I just stared blankly at her from where I was sat on my bed, petting Dany's soft head. "What's wrong? Don't you like the dress?"

"Of course I like the dress, Claude," I sighed. She let out a breath of relief. "I love it. But is this not all moving a little fast? I mean..."

She smiled, moving to sit next to me. "I know it seems fast, but the faster the two of you are married, the sooner you can become queen and start a family." I bit my lip nervously. "Besides, in the royal world, you two are progressing rather slowly."

"We are?"

She nodded. "Mother and Father were crowned before they were married, and they had only known each other for a day. They couldn't start a family for a few more months whilst their wedding was planned. You have known Darius for seven months. In our world, that's almost like four years."

We laughed together. "So, Darius and I are moving at a snail's pace?"

"Oh, you're slower than a snail," she scoffed, waving her hand to dismiss the subject. I couldn't help but giggle at her. A knock at the chamber door disturbed us.

"Enter," I called, standing up from the bed.

I had realised quickly that, unless it was an emergency, no one would enter the chamber unless they were permitted by Darius or myself after they had knocked. I had to keep reminding myself that mine and Darius' relationship while I was a servant was very different to the norm.

The double doors swung open and Vivian strode in with a large bag in her hands. She was beaming at me, and I gasped, hurrying over to her. I embraced her in a hug, which felt like the most natural thing to do.