The Kingdom of Belmar

Chapter 4

Twenty-four hours pass, and I'm still in this god forsaken body.

This is real.

Mary wakes me up before the sun, and I throw a pillow at her, upset that she interrupted such a lovely dream. I dreamt that the last 48 hours were nothing more than my imagination. That I'd wake up in my bed, back in my dorm room, and that the entire Kingdom of Belmar existed nowhere else except in a book.

She pulls the drapes to either side of the window, hooking them into place on the wall. "Today's an important day My Lady. Queen Rista will arrive at the estate before noon, and you need to be prepared by then." She scurries through the room with two other maids, picking up clumps of fabric and choosing from an array of cosmetics. What Mary fails to realize is that I am prepared for this meeting. I know Queen Rista better than she knows herself; she's selfish, egotistical, and the feared lion of high society. I can anticipate her moves, what she'll say, how she'll react. So long as I stick with the resolution I have planned, nothing can stand in my way. There is nothing but this one tribulation. I just need to get today over with and live the rest of my life in peace, away from the main plot of this novel.

"My Lady," Mary calls me back to my preparations, reminding me that I'm not a cunning aristocrat but an innocent noble lady representing Duke Ewell. "Which fabric do you feel better suits your complexion?" She raises two dresses, both bathed in glitter and bursting at the seams with lace. They each have their own merits, but a third gown hiding in the wardrobe catches my eye.

I gesture at the plain, red silk hiding behind the forest of tulle and frills. "What about that one?" I ask.

Mary shakes her head, frowning a bit. "My Lady, this dress seems more suited for dealing with the pernicious socialites of high society. It isn't as though you'll be going to battle, you're meeting the Queen. Appearance is crucial in these events. Wouldn't a more innocent gown be appropriate for such a rare occasion? Otherwise you may be appearing as a nuisance, nay a threat to Her Majesty."

I offer my old maid a smile. "Perfect."

In the Kingdom of Belmar, the national colors representing power and wealth are red and gold. Typically, these colors are just worn by the imperial family to offer a daunting aura to those they were trying to intimidate. Mary's right, appearance is important, and I'm trying to assert my own dominance.

Amalie only wore a red gown only once, at least from what I can recall, and that was at her debutante. Her goal that day was to claim her position at the top of high society, and clearly it succeeded.

Mary looks at me hesitantly, and pulls out the silk gown.

* * *

"I'm sorry if I've kept you waiting Your Majesty, it seems as though I still feel a bit faint." I lower my head to Queen Rista sitting in front of me, and take a seat across from her and next to Duke Ewell. Her eyes burn into me, contradicting her hospitable words, as they tear through my red dress. She's wearing her own garment, embroidered with a subtle gold lining that shines in the light of the atrium. Something more understated, more refined. Something entirely unlike my own.

The Duke's mouth drops, along with those of the maids that were serving us hors d'oeuvres. Clearly, I've made a bold decision.

"No need to lower you head, Child, it's just good to know you're doing alright. I was most worried when I heard of your little...accident." Translation: what type of noble lady is clumsy enough to fall off her own horse?

"Thank you, Your Majesty, my parents were quite worried for my well being. There's no river they wouldn't cross if it meant I'd return to them safely." The highly influential Duke and Duchess will go to war for me if I don't get what I want. Don't expect this to be an easy task for you.