Chapter 14

The Third Day of the Month of Palefrost

The Servants' quarters behind the Royal Palace

Livia stood in the tiny room she had been given, glaring at her reflection.

She was one of the maidens who worked at the Royal Palace and knew most of the secrets that lay within its walls.

Livia Cracksane was a young, gorgeous girl. Even in plain clothes, her beauty was not hidden to the viewer's eyes.

She had thick eyelashes and a pouty mouth. Her skin was pale and flawless, cheekbones sculpted and curled, silky wisps of hair framing her face.

Her body was voluptuous, curves hidden under the aprons and plain garments she wore.

The Royal Palace, she knew, was filled with scandals.

The girl could see them everywhere.

The rich and idle had very little to do and most of their thoughts were perverted.

Very few got around to being proper.

The king and queen was model and did not indulge in unnecessary activities. They held a good marriage and did not betray each other.

From what Livia had seen, the two eldest sons lived by the same and kept the dignity of the family.

Most others of the tutors, ministers, nobles and extended family of the Royals, however, had hidden, tarnished reputations.

The maids and butlers knew most everything.

Every story and every tale about each of the people they served spread through their circles as wild gossip did.

Something about knowing the dirty secrets of the rich delighted the servants and Livia had always been included.

The only time she had felt more powerful than the nobles and her fellow servants was when the youngest prince had grown infatuated with her.

Now, someone else took that position.

Livia was determined to bring the prince's new fiancée down.

Aldith Everglower definitely held secrets and Livia would uncover them all.

She had, of course, spied Aldith kissing the old and dignified Sir Waldorf that day.

Livia had been busy, arranging the flowers in Cecil's balcony.

He would gift the poor maid expensive gifts and talk about taking her away to his expensive mansion once his brothers took the throne.

The maids and other servants had taken notice to the youngest prince's leering after the maid and had pretended to not see. Rumours spread all through the Palace about Cecil's flirting habits but since the queen did not particularly look to correct him, the rumours died down with nothing more to fuel them.

Livia had been discarded without a thought by Cecil when Aldith had mesmerized him.

The same Aldith she'd spied from Cecil's balcony that day.

In a secluded spot by the bushes, was a sight Livia knew no one would believe; an old Sir Waldorf passionately kissing the young, gorgeous Aldith Everglower; unknowing of the eyes that watched them from the balcony.

Livia threw open the door of her small room before preparing to march over the large yard to the backdoor that led into the Royal Kitchens.

Aldith Everglower was not the demure, infatuated girl she played to catch Cecil's interest and Livia would do everything in her power to air all of the noble woman's dirty laundry.

The third day of the month of Palefrost

The Royal Palace.

Blythe laughed out loud for the fourth time that day.

Xyla Riverlove was the funniest person she had ever met.

The pretty, dark haired noble had stepped in to help her when she'd tripped over the carpet in the large, new dress.

Blythe had designed many such flamboyant dresses but had never worn them. They were difficult to manage and she feared she would have made an absolute fool of herself if it hadn't been for Xyla walking her into the room to help her.

The girl had been quieter at first, gently helping fit Blythe into her dress and a beautiful pair of shoes. She had helped her poise and then walk slowly across the room.

The two had started to giggle wildly every time Blythe tripped and it wasn't long before Xyla had opened up.

Blythe had been the one to initiate the conversations but Xyla participated whole-heartedly in time and the two now sat on the bed, laughing.

They had practiced walking, bows and cues for a good two hours before Xyla had called for a break.

The two seemed to avoid talking about the matter at hand; the real reason for their meeting and chatted away, relaxed and happy.

Blythe realized she had never had a companion around the same age as herself.

This was a new friendship and one, she realized, she had rather missed.

Xyla reached out to push a lock of Blythe's hair behind her shoulder.

"You have beautiful hair, Blythe!"

"Oh, Xyla, thank you!" Blythe blushed, "You have beautiful hair too!"

Xyla laughed, "How kind! We'll get to practicing again in a few minutes. I don't want your feet to get sore. Want to go over the table manners again?"

Xyla realized that she had bonded very strongly with Blythe in minutes.

The girl really was very sweet. She was friendly and open and something about her genuine nature made Xyla instantly liked her.

Xyla did not want to see Blythe fail.

She did not want to see Blythe embarrassed.

She did not want to see Blythe panic.

Xyla did not like the contractual marriage. She felt that the arrangement would be forceful on the two people involved and would not elevate any stress from what was already occurring but she was glad she could meet someone as refreshingly kind and cheerful as Blythe.

She smiled to herself thinking of how well Blythe would take care of Elliot.

Straightening, Xyla made up her mind.

Although the contractual marriage did not fully convince Xyla, she would stick around to support Blythe through the entire way.

She would dedicate herself to the plan and play the part of a friend and assistant and ensure no one knew of Blythe's real identity and that no one would criticize Blythe in any way when it came to etiquette or the harsh expectations of the Royal Palace.