7. CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER TWO
VERONICA
The woman on the other side is someone I’m not familiar with. She stares at me with curious blue eyes, waiting with learned silence for me to speak.
“What?” I manage, blinking slowly.
She pauses, her thin eyebrows drawing together. “Miss Victoria Pierce?”
Oh. That’s me.
Well, no–not me, but also me.
My name isn’t Victoria Pierce, it’s actually Veronica Beverly; however, Veronica Beverly is banned from the palace and shouldn’t be here. Victoria Pierce? She is safe.
I force a laugh, “Right! Apologies, I am a bit overwhelmed. I didn’t realize how big this place truly was.” The lie slips easily through my lips.
It seems to work. The woman’s lip twitches into a small smile before she nods politely. “It can be, yes.” She gestures with her hand to come inside and I step across the threshold, holding my breath. “Though, you will come to see this as your home…if you stay, of course.”
I nervously glance over; she’s staring at my clothes.
She gives me the same look as the townspeople, in a silent question as to how someone like me could possibly be here.
Fliers circulated during the last wellness check.
I can’t remember exactly what they said, but it was a search for the prince’s next handmaid.
I’ve never signed up for anything so fast in my life.
When I sat down to interview, it was explained that the prior six had left in an uproar over Sebastian’s attitude.
I nearly laughed, having never known him to be cruel or difficult.
I once watched him hold a leaf over an ant line to keep it dry on its way to the hill during a storm.
I stepped on it once they were all safely inside just to see what would happen.
He cried.
“My name is Addie, but we go by surnames and titles here,” the woman explains. “When you are in the presence of the royal family, you will refer to me as Miss Prim.”
I’ve never been good with names, so this should be fun.
I nod slowly, clearing my throat. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Prim.”
Addie’s blue eyes swirl with approval. She hums thoughtfully before placing her arms behind her back. “A pleasure as well, Miss Pierce. Let us move on with the tour.”
“Each one of us plays a crucial part in the day to day of the Baros family,” Addie explains, hands resting behind her back, while mine swing aimlessly by my sides. I don’t even realize I’m doing it until she grips my wrist.
She tuts and I cringe immediately. “Ladies do not swing their arms, Victoria. The king and queen expect a certain elegance, even among the help.”
We are off to a great start. Awesome.
We stand in the middle of the foyer, barely having made it to the main hall.
It’s almost scary, how familiar it all is.
The knicks in the walls from Sebastian trying - and failing- to catch me.
The marble flooring with faded scuffs from the countless times I tripped or hit my knees.
Somewhere around here, there’s a caved-in vent that Sebastian put his foot through when I was seven.
“Addie, give the girl a break. She just arrived.” The voice is familiar - warm and smooth, like honey running down a sore throat.
My head snaps so fast to the source, it threatens to come clean off my neck. There, walking out from the kitchen –
“My apologies, Miss,” Addie says curtly, bowing her head. The whole interaction makes my lips twitch and my heart swell. Everyone is still afraid of her, rightfully so. Even in old age, she is terrifying, in the best way.
“Victoria, it is so nice to finally meet you. I have heard nothing but good things. It seems Her Majesty is very fond from just the first meeting.” Georgina smiles causing the dark skin on the outer corners of her eyes to wrinkle.
The last time I saw her, she was younger, maybe around fifty.
I never asked, which was probably smart, because she would have hit me.
I bow my head in respect, trying to do my best crossed-ankle fancy curtsy, but instead it looks like I’m trying to hold my bladder. While Addie gasps, Georgina lets out a soft laugh.
“I will take over from here, Addie. Go prepare lunch with Sarah,” She dismisses.
Some people are timeless. Georgina is timeless.
Still as sweet as ever, with her big brown eyes that remind me of dark chocolate. Her smile could melt even the coldest of hearts, but it also holds the most pain.
Georgina is the oldest worker for the Baros family.
She has been through every hardship, but more importantly, she has always been the primary caregiver of Sebastian.
And for a time, me. The queen was an absent mother, did nothing but sit by the king’s side, following every order.
A well-trained puppy, controlled by his every whim.
If they didn’t need an heir, I know they wouldn’t have bothered having Sebastian.
One child was all they needed, so that was what they had. They never tried for another.
Though if Sebastian had been a female, there wouldn’t have been a choice.
“You will be in charge of the prince’s day to day routine,” Georgina explains as she leads me through the many rooms, most of which she skips over, declaring I don’t need to go in them.
Of course, I know why she doesn’t want me in them.
They are the king’s private rooms, ones I have actually never stepped foot in.
“Are we going to see him now?” I can’t help but ask, trying to keep the excitement out of my tone.
She stops, a waxed eyebrow raising as she stares down at me. Crap. My lashes flutter, blinking a few times before warmth floods my pale cheeks.
“My apologies, I just want to make sure I am up to standard and I am eager to do what is needed. This is all very exciting for me,” I quickly rush out as my eyes search hers for any suspicion. Thankfully, all she does is smile and nod, her arm looping through mine as she tugs me along.
“Keep up that attitude, and you just might make it.” That’s all she says before silence falls over us.
Six Years Old
"Ronnie! Ronnie! Stop running!”
A wide grin pulls on my lips, wind whipping through my missing front teeth.
We shouldn’t be outside. Actually, we were specifically asked not to go outside, not today.
The weather isn’t great, and the wind is strong enough to knock my small frame down.However, I don’t listen very well.
It’s a character flaw, according to Sebastian.
“C’mon, Sebby, we are so close! Don’t give up on me now!” I cheer out, looking over my shoulder to watch as he trails after me with a lop-sided grin of his own.
He knows we should turn back. Sebastian has always been the more responsible of the two of us, yet he always follows.
Sometimes, I just like him chasing me. He’s older than me by two years, yet he still plays with me and doesn’t leave me out when his other friends are over.
If anything, he ignores them and only plays with me.
“Fine, but shhh! If Georgina finds us, we are in so much trouble,” he grumbles, finally catching up to me. The warmth of his hand against mine is welcome, my fingers giving his larger hand a small squeeze.
It’s fall, which means the weather is getting cooler and the trees are losing their pretty green leaves, but that’s okay. I like the bright reds and oranges, even the browns. Sebastian especially likes the brown leaves, says it reminds him of hot chocolate.
We manage to get to the small shed in the far corner of the large garden.
My hands rub together as I keep lookout, making sure no one is trying to find us.
Sebastian fiddles with the lock he has already broken ten times.
It takes him a minute, but it finally unclicks and he is pulling me quickly inside, slamming the door behind him.
The giggles that erupt through us are uncontrollable, his palms rubbing against my chubby cheeks in an attempt to warm me up. I know my nose is bright red, so is his; though his isn’t as noticeable against his tanned skin...
“We’re going to get sick. You know that, right?” Sebastian says, dropping his hands. He moves to pull his thin jacket off to drape around my shoulders.
“No way! We got inside right before the rain started,” I retort, puffing out my lower lip, earning a laugh.
It’s all short lived as the door to the shed opens and an aggravated Georgina stands just outside, an umbrella held above her by Uncle Thomas. Yikes, and here I thought we were going to get away with it this time.
“Inside. Now. And I don’t want an attitude from either of you.
” Georgina’s voice is clear as day, her hands extended out for each of us to take.
Sebastian doesn’t hesitate, immediately reaching for hers and then reaching for mine, pulling me up with him.
I don’t protest. We walk with Georgina, each of us clinging to the warmth of her legs with each step while my poor Uncle Thomas stands under the rain so we can have the umbrella.
She lectures us about how we are going to catch a cold; that we don’t need to be in the garden every second of every day.
I, of course, object and tell her it is a need, but she is right.
Sebastian and I are snuggled up in front of the fireplace within two days, our noses red and dripping.
Sebastian has an extensive daily schedule, apparently. He’s become high maintenance and, dare I say, boring.
I have been inside the palace for a total of three hours, and I’ve learned nothing but how finicky he is with everything, even his laundry. None of this should come as a surprise. A lot can change in ten years. I know my life has. I have. I just didn’t expect such drastic changes to who he is.
“Black with two shots of espresso, got it.” My chin dips in a nod while I look over the list of different foods and drinks he enjoys, when he wants them, and how he wants them.
Sebastian has grown into a spoiled brat it seems, but who am I to judge?
“He is a ticking clock and runs on caffeine, so please be prepared for that. Don’t ever try to heat up a cup.
Make it fresh every time,” Georgina explains, as I watch her go through the motions of making his actual coffee.
She even goes as far as grinding the espresso beans fresh and sifting the final product before pouring it into a particular cup so no grounds slip through.
If I wasn’t so shocked at how complicated a single cup of coffee was, I’d laugh.
“Please repeat his schedule to me, so I know you understand.”
I repeat the schedule back without hesitation.
Starting with the five a.m. run that starts Sebastian’s day, all the way to the moment he should be closing his eyes.
It’s pretentious and absolutely ridiculous, but I’ll let it go for now.
If Sebastian wants to have eight cups of coffee a day, who am I to tell him no?
Georgina finishes making the coffee and rests the porcelain cup down on a matching saucer.
She smiles, and I know immediately that I’ve passed the schedule test. I look up to see another woman making her way into the kitchen.
The cup is carefully picked up and placed gently in the woman’s palm, while her index finger curls around the handle for extra support.
“He is almost ready,” the woman says, her voice soft, to the point of a whisper.
“Good, we will be up momentarily,” Georgina smiles, her chin tipping as she nods. “Be sure to have the towels ready, Tiffany.”
“Towels?” I ask, my gaze shifting between them. What in the world would they need towels for? “Does he need help in the shower, too?”
Tiffany’s laugh flutters about as she shakes her head, blonde curls bouncing against her shoulders. The way her lips curl up is more than unsettling. My face pales at the thought of needing to help Sebastian in the shower. Would I even be able to do that without ogling him completely?
No. The answer is no.
Sometimes, I am no better than a man.
“You are funny. I like you already,” says Tiffany. She walks away without any answers to the questions I asked. Did I say something funny? I’m genuinely curious, because if I have to go wipe water from Sebastian’s body, I will probably pass out.
My molars grind together as aggravation creeps up my spine. I still haven’t gotten an answer, and based on Georgina’s silence on the matter, I don’t think I’m getting one. Surprises and I rarely get along, so the more prepared for what is going on, the better.
“Geor—” she cuts me off with a smile.
“Let’s get on with the rest of the tour before I bring you to meet Sebastian.” I have no time to ask about the towels again. Georgina is already ushering us into another room as she talks about the history of the family name, along with some of the memories she has of Sebastian.
I forget all about the towels.