Forbidden

-Chapter Three: The Blank Canvas-

Tea time was not a thrill for a certain trio. There was Ace, a short auburn hair girl, and a girl with thick curly hair who all sat awkwardly, sipping their tea, with King Oliver and the other elites, laughing about mindless topics. "Did you hear her cries?!" A plump elite named Kiki, who always keeps her black hair tied up, laughed obnoxiously as she talked about Beth's and Madalyn's burning from earlier today.

"Foul beings. Serves them right, wouldn't you say Persephone?" Another young elite said, trying to catch the attention of the girl with the thick curly hair.

"Hey Perce." Ace said tapping her shoulder to bring her attention back from the private garden's beauty and into the conversation.

"Oh, sorry. Yes, it does." She said, smiling at the young man while talking and took a sip from the porcelain cup.

"Lady Gwen, wasn't that servant Annie late to wake you this morning?" Kiki asked as she smiled into her cup before taking a sip from it. This piqued the interest of the king.

"A servant late to their duty?! That will not be tolerated." King Oliver scoffed.

"It's okay, I dismissed it due to the circumstance." The short, auburn hair girl said fearing that they might plan to harm Annie.

"No. It's quite simple." The king said as he deliberately tipped his cup, emptying its contents on the floor. He looked smugly at the pale servant in the corner who walked over and started to clean the purposeful mess. "Thank you, Gracelyn." The king said as he looked over to Gwen.

"Father stop it. If Gwen or any other elites choose not to treat the servants with disrespect then leave them be!" Ace stated firmly as Oliver grinned.

"Oh, you cute little boy." Kiki said as she looked over to Gracelyn and shook her empty cup. The pale servant was instantly flustered by the actions of the plump elite. She could feel her heart pounding fast, like it was ready to jump out of her chest and run away. "The lower-class scum needs to learn their- OW!" Kiki screamed as the hot water splashed on her.

"I-I'm so so-sorry Kiki." Gracelyn stuttered as she grabbed a rag and tried to pat the water away, but Kiki grabbed her by the wrist and stood up from her chair.

"You wretched girl." Kiki scowled as she grabbed her metal fan and hit the pale servant repeatedly. Gwen and Persephone flinched in their seats looking away from the beating Gracelyn was taking where multiple, audible 'sorry's were coming from. Ace clenched his jaw wanting to speak out, but bit his tongue.

"Excellent demonstration!" King Oliver clapped as everyone except for the trio, joined in on the applause.

"That wasn't necessary at all." Persephone said under her breath.

"You know, Ace," Oliver said, gaming his son's attention, "Lady Persephone would make a fine queen. What do you think?"

"Ohh King Oliver, always the matchmaker you were!" Kiki squealed as Persephone and Ace looked at each other with disgust. Not only were the two disgusted with everyone moving on from what had just transpired with Gracelyn, but they were also disgusted that Oliver thought they would be a good couple.

"Hahaha, I'm just playing, my boy. You need to find a lady from another kingdom to help fortify Findara's relationship with them." King Oliver mused, thus prompting everyone else to join in.

"Speaking of fortifying relationships with other kingdoms. I would like Asterin to receive a formal invitation to the ball." Ace said, with a strong tone laced in his voice. All the elites fell silent. Before anyone could retort, the clock tower struck, indicating that it was one in the afternoon.

"Very well. I'll send some guards to go." King Oliver said as he dismissed everyone from afternoon tea.

Separately the trio left the private garden and entered the mysterious library before having to stop by the servant's quarters. "Did you hear the way they talked about them?!" Gwen yelled, curling her first in a tight ball and pacing back and forth. "And Annie! Poor, poor Annie! Her sister is gone because of... because of..." She stopped herself and looked at Ace apologetically.