Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 68

Born to be wild
Anaisa’s stomach constricted, and she bit back a retort.

She was born to have servants. She was born for a life that should now be including palace visits and fancy balls. With her father dead, she and Katia would have taken on his role until they married and promoted their husbands to the Advisory of Lords in their place.

With two daughters, it was likely only one of their husbands would be chosen for the role, since there were traditionally only twelve counts on the Advisory.

The Advisory. She’d realized belatedly that the voices behind the screen in the throne room had been them. She’d heard Barnabas’s voice amongst the others, and hate had bloomed in her heart over it.

Despicable man. How was he considered qualified to advise the king?

The longer she thought about her father, the more she didn’t believe the allegation that he deserted or became some sort of traitor in the war. His aspirations were too lofty for such a stupid move.

Barnabas had been so swift to take over, so merciless in his eviction of the sisters, there was no way he hadn’t been waiting like a spider for things to go that way.

Her rage translated to more shouting at unwitting servants, fully throwing herself into the character of the princess. Maybe a little too enthusiastically. The real princess seemed suspicious of how well she’d taken on the role.

“I’m hungry!” She snapped at a maid in the hallway. “Have the kitchen send up smoked salmon tarts immediately!”

“Yes, Your Highness,” The girl curtsied and ran, filling Anaisa with guilt.

She didn’t like this anymore.

Entering Sapphira’s chambers, Anaisa sighed heavily and shed the princess’s tiara, placing it on a table. It was suddenly painful to wear, pinching the sides of her head.

“Stupid thing, isn’t it?” Sapphira noted. “They are incapable of making them comfortable.”

Anaisa flinched, wondering if the princess would be mad about how she had been portrayed.

“Have you asked them to try?” Anaisa asked, rubbing her temples. “I’m sure I wouldn’t be in a very good mood wearing that all day.”

“I have, and tradition or something or heirlooms and what not. You’d be surprised at the lack of choices I face in my life,” Sapphira sighed and walked towards one of her high windows. Her face softened, and Anaisa felt a wave of compassion for the girl.

“No life is easy. We all have burdens to bear and challenges to overcome. Even a princess,” Anaisa offered.

“Oh, I’m sure you’re right,” Sapphira waved her hand dismissively. “I have to say, watching you be me was… enlightening.”

“How so, Your Highness?” Anaisa swallowed, hoping she wasn’t about to get in trouble.

“Let’s just say you don’t have to be quite so accurate next time. I find myself curious as to how another might act in my position. Of course, don’t make people doubt that you are me, but it could be interesting to watch how they interact with someone less…” Sapphira paused.

“Overwhelming?” Anaisa offered the least offensive adjective she could quickly think of.

“That is a diplomatic word for what you probably want to say, Annie,” The Princess shook her head. “Are you sure you weren’t born for court?”

Anaisa swallowed. This was the second time that the princess had picked up on the fact that she wasn’t some ordinary street urchin raised to the station of palace servant. Maybe she should be more careful.

“I’m not exactly sure what you mean, Your Highness.” She smiled blandly.

“Trace, don’t you agree with me?” The princess turned, “You don’t have to silently brood in the corner, you can speak with us.”

The man looked slightly startled, as if he’d been caught up in his own thoughts. “Oh. I believe my instructions included something about not socializing.”

“That’s so you don’t get distracted when we’re out and about. We’re safe in here, unless you think Annie’s going to attack me.”

“I do not hold that suspicion,” Trace cut his gaze over to Anaisa with a small smile, and she felt her face warm.

“Of course you don’t, so you can talk with us,” Sapphira invited. “This will be a pleasant change! All my other maids are terrified to say a word to me, and I never get much chance to talk with men. I can practice for the ball!”

“Practice?” Trace seemed wary. “Practice what, exactly?”

“Dancing, of course! And conversation. Why, I’ve hardly spoken with a man that wasn’t Father or some sniveling servant.”

“Dancing was not in my job description,” Trace shook his head. “And it sounds like something that would get me executed. No, thank you.”

“Oh, come now,” Sapphira widened her eyes, pleading. “We could try conversation. I noticed you two flirting in the hall! That’s one thing my tutors never taught me! How am I to fall in love and pick a suitor if I don’t learn to flirt?”

Anaisa’s mouth fell open, and her face colored brightly.

“I was not willing to practice dancing with you, and you want me to practice flirting instead?” Trace asked incredulously. “You really do want me dead, don’t you?”

“No one will know but the three of us! I’m certainly not going to tell anybody, and neither will Annie, right?”

Anaisa pressed her lips together, torn between amusement at the horror in Trace’s expression and disapproval of the princess’s proposal. She had just opened her mouth to respond when a knock at the door sounded, making them all turn.

“Oh, right, I forgot,” Anaisa ducked her head. She’d ordered treats in the princess’s name.

In her anger, she craved the comfort food she and Katia had gotten on special occasions from the chef in their manor. Realizing she was still dressed as Sapphira, she waited as the princess acted as the maid and went to receive the tray.

“I love these,” Sapphira set them down on the table and put one on a little plate for herself. “I didn’t think the servants ever got anything like this to eat in the kitchens. How did you know to order them?”