21

I followed them out of the ball and to the hallway. I stood next to some of the other ladies to not look suspicious. I can only imagine the excuse I would make, the queen standing by herself knowing full well a secret conversation was being held feet away.

It was hard to hear them as the other ladies wouldn't stop talking if their lives depended on it.

I could make out bits and pieces such as why did you come back, more arguing, and complaints really. They didn't get along well but they seem, from the sound of how they talk to each other, to despise each one another.

"What about you, Queen Elise?" I heard pulling me away from trying to hear more of the conversation.

"I apologize, I got lost in my own thoughts for a moment. What was it you asked?" I asked politely, not really wanting to know what they asked.

"Well Lady Charlotte and her husband are trying for a child, are you and the king?" She asked me, she also went into deep detail of how  which I didn't want to know. This is what they spoke about? The things people do with their significant others, especially with such detail should stay private.

"Well not at the moment, we are waiting" I said. We haven't spoken about children, we both know I must provide him an heir, because it's my job. When was the big question.

"Well you must give him an heir at some point, can't wait too long" She said and spoke about something else. This is why I do not enjoy talking to the ladies, too busy gossiping about things that are rude and inappropriate and not the things wrong today that need to be fixed with their titles.

I saw Alexander storm off, looking angry as ever. His sister looked a little upset, but nobody noticed and just kept to their own conversations.

"Excuse me" I said and walked to my sister in law. I know how harsh Alexander can be sometimes, I felt like I could comfort her.

"My lady, what do you want?" She asked very rudely. I have never been spoken to like this, especially from someone with such high status, so rude and snobby.

"Well you looked upset, I wanted to make sure you were ok" I said trying to be kind.

"Go comfort your husband" she said and walked away.

I looked down in embarrassment as she stomped away. I only wanted to help and instead probably made a new enemy instead of friend.

I went to see Alexander, surrounded by all the other men with high status. When he made eye contact with me he immediately excused himself from the group.

When he made his way to me he took my hand and gave me a look, I didn't know what to call this look though.

"What's wrong?" He asked me as we danced when the music began.

"Nothing is wrong" I said as we swayed to the music. I knew he saw through my lies, I was upset about how my first meeting with his sister went.

"Do not lie to me Elise" he warned me and his grip got ten times tighter.

"I met your sister, and now she hates me" I said looking down, I know he probably wanted me and her to get along.

"She hates everyone don't take offense to it. That's why she's here" he explained but I didn't follow. What does her hating everyone have to do with her being here.

"Elise, how old are you?" He asked me but I knew that he knew how old I was. I'm sixteen, that's when all girls become eligible to be married.

"Sixteen, but what does that have to do with anything?" I asked confused.

"Elise, my sister is quite literally double your age, she is my much older bastard sister." Alexander explained and the music ended.

We walked together because I was shocked, she surely didn't look like she was in her thirties.

"Elise my father had her with a maid ten years before he would have me with my mother. She is a bastard in every way, which made it hard for her to find a husband. Usually a princess marries a prince or king but she couldn't. The men with titles like lord or duke she denied and now here she is, no man willing to marry her because she turned them all down and the rest couldn't deal with her." He explained and grabbed a glass of wine from the table.

"May I try it?" I asked, I've never had the sparkling pink wine here before.

He gave me his drink and I took a sip. It was sweet like strawberries and sugar but strong with alcohol.

Next thing I know a woman's screams were bearing heard throughout the entire castle.