Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
CYPRIEN
It was tough to get out of bed the next morning. Physical pain aside, the memories of the torture my stepbrothers put me through brought heat to my eyes. I had always known that they were cruel, but I thought they held at least some regard for me.
Antonia had come in to offer comfort after they’d finally left.
She reapplied the salve to the worst of my reopened wounds, then left me to relax.
So I had awakened, healed once more, but alone.
The sun was barely peeking above the horizon, meaning that I was awake in time to prepare breakfast. I just wanted to feel normal again, and I figured throwing myself into work would help with that.
So I headed downstairs to try and be of some use.
There was no one else awake, so I was able to start on the bread and cleaning without interruption.
By the time Antonia appeared, I had four loaves of bread and a spotless kitchen.
“Cyprien, what are you doing down here?” I jumped at the sudden sound, wincing at the pain that shot through my back. “You should still be resting.”
“Shit, you can’t sneak up on me like that, Antonia.
I nearly jumped out of my skin.” I shook my head and removed the kettle from the fire.
“And I don’t need anymore rest. I’ll go crazy if I have to stay in that room another day.
The raccoons came in again last night. Woke me from a peaceful sleep to just glare at me with their judgemental beady eyes. ”
Antonia chuckled. “You and those raccoons. One might think you’ve lost it talking to critters that rifle through the trash.”
“They kept me company when Octavius first exiled me to the attic. Those ‘critters’ are the only reason I didn’t freeze to death that first winter. You should have seen them, all curled up with me beneath the rags that he tried to pass off as a blanket.” I smiled at the memory.
“Aye,” Antonia swatted me with a rag. “Had you been less proud you’d have had a proper quilt that winter instead of a scrap of cloth that was more hole than fabric.”
A heavy knock at the front door interrupted my response.
The only people who knocked that hard were the taxman and the palace guard.
As far as I knew, neither had a reason to be at our door.
Antonia and I exchanged a glance, then I darted through the kitchen and dining room to catch the door before they woke someone else up.
I opened it just as the very handsome man in uniform was raising his fist to knock again.
The man jumped back with a small gasp as though I had startled him.
He recovered quickly and stood tall in his leathers, “My apologies for stopping in at such an early hour. I am Sir Travis Bartlow and I’m here with a royal decree and invitation that I must present to a member of the household.
Would I be safe in presenting it to you? ”
I sputtered, having been caught off guard by… by him. “I… um. I’m Cyprien… and I suppose I–that is–Yes, you can present it to me. No one else will be up for hours yet.” Suddenly self conscious, I smoothed back my sleep-tousled hair and attempted to stand straighter.
Sir Bartlow pulled a scroll from his pocket and began to read it aloud.
“There shall be a masquerade ball for the Royal Twins’ twentieth birthday in two days.
The King has decreed that at this ball, the Prince and Princess are to pick their future spouses.
Every member of the kingdom, regardless of gender who is unmarried and between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five are hereby ordered to attend.
” Before continuing, he withdrew an envelope from his pocket, labeled only with the word “Household.” “Please accept this invitation with all of the details and share it with the members of the household.”
He handed me the invitation and I accepted it as though it was a small bird, fragile and likely to fly away, then bowed. “I thank you, Sir. I will happily present this invitation to my stepfather upon his rising. He will make sure that the rest of the household is made aware of it.”
The knight clapped his hands together and smiled, grey eyes twinkling beneath dark brows. He jammed the decree into his breast pocket. “Excellent, I must be on my way. Many more households to visit before the evening.” He tipped his helmet to me, then strode off to his horse.
I closed the door and spun, seeing Antonia in the dining room door–and Octavius strolling down the stairs in his dressing gown. Antonia slunk away before he saw her, leaving me to face him alone.
“Who dares disturb us at this hour?” he asked, snatching the invitation from my hand.
I winced as he gripped the document tight, creasing it. “That was a knight with a decree from the Castle and an invitation from the King for the household.”
My stepfather brightened up at that, “Oh, an invitation from the King?” He tore open the envelope and devoured the words on the invitation. “Well, it’s about time that they married those two off! This will be an excellent opportunity for my boys.”
I turned my attention to the floor and cleared my throat. “Stepfather, I was hoping I could attend the ball as well. I’ve never been to a real ball, and the invitation says it’s for the household.”
Octavius looked me up and down, surprisingly considering my words.
“Yes, I think we can manage that if you keep up with your chores and can find an appropriate costume. Your usual garb simply won’t do.
Feel free to go through the old trunks upstairs.
Most of it is your father’s anyway.” He dismissed me with a wave of his hand, then turned back toward the stairs.
“Oh, and I’ll be taking breakfast in my room this morning. ”
“Yes sir, I’ll have it up to you shortly.” I could barely contain my excitement.
“And Cyprien, don’t say a thing to your brothers about me allowing you to attend or I’ll be forced to make you stay home. Send them to my office once they’ve had their breakfast.”
I nodded and backed into the dining room. “Absolutely, sir.”
I watched until he was out of sight before practically flying back to the kitchen.
Antonia was there, hand on her heart. “You’re going to a Royal Ball, my boy!
If you find anything in those clothes that will work and needs mending, I’ll take care of it for you.
” She grabbed me by the hands and jumped up and down like a giddy schoolgirl.
“Maybe you could find someone to wed and pull us out of all of this mess.”
“I’ll do my best, Antonia. But I don’t expect much more than a good night out.” I chuckled then gestured dismissively. “Now, let’s get breakfast finished so I can start going through those boxes.”
ALARIC
I was picking at my breakfast and waiting for the tailor when Travis strolled into my sitting room, a cocky grin from ear-to-ear. “Well, out with it man!” I demanded.
My best friend smiled wider, then mocked me with a bow. “I saw him, your farm boy. I now understand why you’ve been obsessing over him. He’s quite charming.”
“You found him charming?” I growled, nearly suffocated by envy. Pray tell, what did he say that was charming?”
“Calm yourself! I have no interest in your paramour. He just was charmingly clueless and didn’t notice anything abnormal about our exchange.
Poor thing never even questioned why a knight would be delivering a Royal declaration.
It’s obvious that he knows nothing about society.
” He sat down across from me and began making himself a cup of tea.
The servants gasped and tried to intervene, to make it for him, but he just gestured them all away.
We sat in a pondersome silence for a while, sipping tea and nibbling on scones and fresh cut fruit.
Travis had a healthy appetite, enough to eat for the both of us when my stomach roiled.
I could barely keep down my tea, I was so nervous.
He had seen him. Travis had seen the object of my obsession and made sure to deliver the invitation directly into his hands, the very hands I’d kill to feel dancing along my skin.
I was terribly jealous that Travis had been near him when I could not, but I knew that Travis was the only option to properly deliver the message.
I’d have killed any other who stood so close as to place something into his hands or to lay eyes upon him.
I could still see him dancing in the fire, taunting me.
“His name is Cyprien.” Did you know that?” Travis stated casually, as if he hadn’t just dropped an important piece of information in my lap, a name to go with the face and body that I craved. A name to moan while I pleasured myself to his image the very moment I was left alone.
My mouth had gone dry, so it took me a moment to form my response, one I desperately tried to keep casual. “No… I didn’t know. He didn’t tell me his name.” I picked at my shirt for a moment then glanced at Travis, “Did you learn anything else about him?”
Travis laughed at me, a deep guffawing laugh. “Subtlety is not your strong suit, my prince. No, I learned nothing else of him except that there is also an old maid working in the house. She stood in the hall as I presented the declaration.”
I waved my hand dismissively with a huff.
“No, something important about him. I care nothing about with whom he works, unless that person is someone he values. Anyone else be damned, especially his stepfamily. He implied that his stepfather treats him poorly. I intend to take care of that as soon as he’s mine. ”
“As soon as he’s yours? You’re intent upon keeping him now? I thought you were just hoping that you could fuck away his memory. This is interesting news.” Travis stood from his chair, looming over me. “Your father will never allow it. You will be exiled.”