Valerie
When we arrived, I stepped down from the carriage, my crown stuffed into my bag. Speaking of the crown reminded me of my lost status. Would I ever wear it again? I doubted it.
As I entered the castle, a maid greeted me, "Let me show you to your room, Valerie." Valerie. Not my lady, just Valerie. Prince Henry had obviously informed her of my name but conveniently omitted my title.
As I followed the maid, I wondered about what else I would lose. My pride, my dignity, my sense of self-worth? The castle was indeed a big one compared to ours, and then we stopped.
"This is going to be your room. But if, by misfortune, one of Prince Luce's concubines shows up tonight, you'll have to find somewhere else to stay, but, that will be outside the royal palace. Welcome to Everwood kingdom, Valerie."
"Thank you. What's your name, please?" I inquired. "Marietta, but you can shorten it to Marie." Marie handed me a large jar, "Look, Valerie, we're in the middle of a drought. You may not have experienced this before. But let me warn you: once this water runs out, you're on your own to find more. And be careful, many people have lost their lives searching for water."
I asked if there were lakes, rivers, or rainwater, but Marie replied, "You clearly don't understand what a drought is. You'll learn soon enough if you use up this water too quickly." I wondered aloud if it was some kind of curse, but Marie ignored my question. "I'll pretend I didn't hear that." She said before walking away.
Prince Henry has a brother? I've never heard of him. He must be a real recluse, but I hope he's not a creep like his brother. Oh well, what's it to me? It's not like it matters to a handmaid like me. I stood by my window and gazed at the horizon.
My chamber was at the North Wing of the castle, the side facing the direction of the Mumbo kingdom: a small and powerless kingdom. I was told stories of how mothers were compelled to offer their daughters to princes and kings of other powerful kingdoms in exchange for their support during war, and for gold and landed properties.
Plus, there were a lot of gravestones. We equally had gravestones in our kingdom but it was nothing compared to these ones. Why were there so many of them? Probably, other kingdoms buried their dead here too. I wondered.
Just as quickly as Marie had left, she returned in like manner while I was still setting up my room. "Valerie, Lady Julia's diamond ring is missing, and she thinks you stole it."
"Huh?" I could barely speak, my throat grew rocky. "I didn't steal anything from the princess, I'm not a thief."
"Lady Julia sent for you; come with me, please." I threw the book in my hand on the bed and jumped over my box of clothes. Marie led the way while I followed behind.
As soon as Marie announced my presence, Julia jumped on me, slapping me across the face. "You shameless thief! How dare you steal my expensive diamond ring? You can't even afford that of clay."
Rubbing my cheeks, I watched her through the spaces between my hair. My Dad was to blame for this. He gave her permission to maltreat me, but I'm not going to let her continue to see me as a coward.
I threw my left hand as though I was blind and didn't see her, my palm landed on her face. Wham!
She was too shocked; I could imagine the tingling sensation on her cheeks. Serves her right. "Did you just slap me, Valerie?"
"Look, Julia. I'm still the crown princess and I'm always going to be ahead of you even though you are married to a prince. I won't let you treat me the same way you did back in our home."
She screamed, and then Prince Henry arrived. After she had told him tons of lies and a few truths, Prince Henry ordered for me to be whipped until I became feeble. "You'd better produce the ring, or the consequences will be dire." He finished and ordered Cassius to escort me out of their presence.
Cassius, his strongest guard, was known for cruelty which I'd witnessed firsthand during my courtship with the prince. I wondered if he'd actually follow through with the order, despite my royal status.
Would he dare to whip a princess? My mind turned to thoughts of my father seeking revenge on those who wronged me, but it was just a fantasy because no one seemed to care about my well-being.
Cassius, without a second thought, grabbed my arms and threw me over his shoulder at once. Stomping roughly toward the exit. I cried and slapped his back severally as we went but he kept moving, unperturbed. Upon getting to the whipping post, he threw me to the floor, causing me to hit my waist on the solid ground so much that I almost broke my waist, or maybe I did.
He grabbed the dangling chains, wrapped them around me, and tied me to the post. "This is from me, a nobody, to you, former princess," Cassius said in a mocking style.
I watched the lash unfurl in the air as he raised his hands to strike. I looked away immediately, prepared for the strokes, but then, there was an altercation.
I turned around to see who had interrupted my tormentor. Oh heavens, it was that man, the one who'd turned down my marriage proposal earlier today.
For once in all my life, I saw so much fear in Cassius' eyes as this charismatic man stared unblinkingly into his face; his gaze was like coals of fire. And I was pretty sure I would have burned to death if he happened to give me such a stare.
I felt so bad for Cassius even though he was my tormentor; this man here looked ten times more intimidating than him. It could be likened to a confrontation between a domestic cat and a wild wolf.
Cassius retreated backward gradually before taking to his heels. Who the hell was this man? Why did he follow me to this castle? Did he just save me from Cassius or had a different motive?