Okay so I know you guys are waiting for the third book but I'm currently working on my PJO/HOO fanfic. As a reward for waiting this long, here's a chapter for you ;)
𝓰𝓪𝔂𝓵𝓮
"Your majesty," I greeted the queen with a curtsy.
Her office had a tense but sad aura in it and I didn't know why. She was looking into paperworks with a cup of tea placed near her. When she heard my greeting, she looked up and gave me a small smile, "Have a seat, Lady Gayle."
I gave her a smile, "Gayle is fine, your majesty."
I lead myself to the sofa and sat down, putting my hands over my lap in a lady-like way. I shouldn't make a fool out of myself. One bad meeting with her will make my stay here bad. It's bad enough that she likes that stupid Haidee. Maybe that girl tells on me with the Queen.
Queen Eadlyn sighed and stood from her seat. She walked with grace towards where I was and sat down beside me. I wanted to smile. Maybe the queen likes me? I already thought of the other girls' faces when I brag it to them.
"Gayle," she called and took my hand.
"Yes, your majesty?" I asked with utmost politeness.
She began rubbing circles on my hand which made me more relaxed. I didn't force my body to be as lady-like as possible and just leaned on the comfy sofa.
"You might not know this but rebels are quickly infiltrating different states as of present." She looked at me in the eyes firmly, "and one of them is yours."
My heart thumped faster. What does all this mean? "Wh-What happened to my home? My family?"
The queen faced me with sad eyes and took me in for a hug. That small gesture made me burst in tears. This can't be happening, right? Who will nag me in the morning besides my mother? Who's going to keep on pestering me besides my little brother? Who's going to shoo off the boys who surround me besides my father?
"I'm sorry," she whispered and rubbed my back softly as I cried.
Now what? What am I going to do in my life? I know there's no chance that Zeke will choose me even if I keep on insisting it. There's no future for me here. If my parents were here I bet they'd scold me for thinking that way. But if it was a million scoldings it'd take to get them back, I'd gladly accept it.
"W-Were they given a proper burial?" I asked and detached myself from her to wipe my tears.
She nodded, "We're taking care of it, don't worry, Gayle."
I bit my lip to keep me from crying any longer and rose from my seat, "Thank you, your majesty," I thanked and bowed to her once again. I started walking towards the door when she talked again.
"It's entirely your decision if you want to stay or leave," she said, "if you choose the latter, we'll provide you with everything you need to survive. But if you stay, we're going to allow you to leave so you can visit your family's grave."
I nodded, "I'll tell the prince my decision. Thank you for your kindness."
"You're a strong girl, Gayle," she stated, "I admire you for not breaking down completely. Don't ever forget that when you stumble or fall, gather the courage to stand up again."
I took a deep breath and wiped my tears, "I will, thank you."
I left her office and proceeded to the third floor which was forbidden for us to enter. But I didn't care and dashed the flight of stairs towards it. There were guards by the end of the stairs halting me from going.
"Miss, you can't en—"
"Shut the f*ck up," I cursed and passed through them without another word.
The guards were baffled but made no move to catch me. I saw Zeke's room and knocked on it. I didn't care about how I looked. My family was mire important than my appearance.
The door unlocked showing a startled Zeke with bed hair and eye bags. My eyes teared up again at the sight of him. He truly looked a lot like my little brother—only tamer and more mature.
"Gayle? What are y—"
I disrupted his speech and hugged him. I couldn't help it. They had different scents but I didn't care.
"Gayle?" He asked and removed me from here. He observed my tear-stained cheeks, "What happened?"
I took a deep breath and wiped my tears. I calmed down a little with the hug from before. I gave him a pained smile, "Please kick me out of the competition."
"What?" He asked in disbelief, "why?"
I pursed my lips and avoided his gaze, "Please just do."
"A-Alright. You may leave when you want to," he said and gripped my shoulders, "but tell me what happened."
I shook my head and held his hands to take it off my shoulders, "You don't need to comfort me," I chuckled, "kicking me out is enough. Thank you, I'll be leaving at once."
I left him right after without explaining. I went back to the hall where our rooms were located and saw an opened door.
I should say goodbye to everyone and say sorry.
I wanted to leave with no regrets. That won't be enough to atone for my sins but I want to go to my family with at least a little purity.
What I saw there made my eyes wide with shock.
"Bloom? Harriet? Christine?" I asked and made their attention turn to me, "what the f*ck are you doing?!"
The three girls were surrounding a person lying on the ground, covered in red sticky fluid.
Bloom whistled, "Looks like we've been found out, Harriet."
Harriet chuckled, "Well, what can one pathetic loser do?"
Christine crouched down and slapped the dead maid on the ground, "Want to see her closely, Gayle?"
"Oh and you look like you found out about what we did with your family," Bloom stated and smirked, "now run off, loser."
I balled my fists and glared at them, "You traitors."
The three of them laughed like we were all sharing a joke. I was getting sick of seeing the corpse on the floor.
Harriet twirled a knife as she approached me, "See this, Gayle?" She stopped spinning it and made a cut on her wrist, "Ooh sharp."
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I asked.
"Oh nothing," Harriet stated, "just threatening you."
"Don't worry, we won't kill you," Christine assured, "we'll just kill those left of your family."
"Don't you dare," I said with menace.
Bloom smirked, "Oh we won't. If you keep your mouth shut that is."
I took a deep breath to calm myself. I can't let my aunts and uncles die. They're all I have left.
"Oh and the best friend you left?" Bloom added, "we'll kill him too if you tell on us."
Dean? They'll kill him?
"My mouth is sealed so keep your promise," I told them and left.
"Good girl!" They yelled after me.
I let the tears fall as I went to my room. How could my life be this way? Was I such a bad girl? I kept on walking blindly and suddenly bumped into someone. She fell down to the floor.
How ironic. It was Haidee. The girl I so despised before but now I don't feel such hate.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Haidee apologized from the floor.
I smiled at me and took her hand to pull her up, "It's okay."
"I'm really sorry, Gayle." She said with an apologetic smile, "I wasn't looking."
I gave her a small smile and said, "So was I. Let's head to dinner now, shall we?"
She smiled and we started walking to the dining hall together.
"Haidee," I called the girl beside me.
"Hmm?"
"I know I've been a b*tch to you and I'm sorry for that," I apologized without looking at her.
She stopped walking and looked at me with disbelieving eyes, "You're apologizing?"
I nodded and smiled, "I've been terrible to everyone but mostly to you. When I came here, I noticed that you were the perfect princess this country needs and I hated you for it. I also hated when you were really close to the prince."
"Gayle, why are you saying this?" She asked with a serious look in her eyes.
I looked at her with a small smile. From all the other girls here, she'd be the fittest for the title of queen. Her decorum was on point and her looks weren't disappointing too.
"You will be the queen and I am your loyal subject," I stated and bowed to her a little, "I asked the prince to kick me out."
She gasped, "What?"
I nodded, "I shouldn't be here when I know I'm not going to win."
"But every one of us has a chance!" She negated but I could see a little joy in her eyes.
I shook my head and smiled, "I'm only here because my family is a friend of the royals."
"Butㅡ"
I took both of her hands and looked her in the eyes, "Win for me, okay? And be careful of who you trust."
"What? Why?"
I shook my head. I wanted to tell her but those three made me sworn to secrecy. I can't have other people die. "I can't tell you. Goodbye, Haidee. Have a good life."
The third book still has a long way to go (I mean seriously I haven't even finished chapter 1) but the plot is already settled. I'm posting The King after the Discord's Daughter's last chapter so stay tuned! :>>