Chapter 31 Threads Undone #2
Just like that, the air went stale, and Luci hated what came next. All of Brielle’s careful dreams and plans were unraveling before she had the chance to see them played out before her.
“I’m not marrying him, Bri,” Luci said quietly.
She hated the words. Hated the cost and what they tasted like in her mouth.
Maybe she never gave much thought to marriage, but there was no Ira without marriage, and she couldn’t do that.
So he was lost to her, and while Luci would never begrudge the miracles she’d experienced, it was hard not to fall into what she was losing.
Brielle furrowed her brows, genuine confusion playing out over her beautiful face.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
Eyes stinging, Midnight, she cried so much these days. Luci sucked in a long breath, steadying her heartbeat.
“You, Ira, and Lucien can scheme to the ends of Meridea, but it won’t change what I am.”
Brielle opened her mouth, but Luci held up a finger, stalling her.
“Let me finish. It won’t change that I am an orphaned servant.
Maybe you all can overlook it, but we both know your father would never suffer me as queen, and neither would any of the other nobility.
The king and queen wouldn’t risk losing their coin and support by making them mad when the kingdom is already uneasy.
Secondly, it would be a mistake for Ira to abdicate.
I saw him with his people, and he is the best person to lead and heal them.
I have no doubt Gladys would be wonderful as well, but Ira has waited his whole life for this.
I will not be the reason he loses it. He will be upset at first, but I’ll stay away, and he will see it was the right thing to do.
He’s going to do wonderful things, and this is how I can help him. ”
Brielle stared at her with a clenched jaw and piercing eyes.
For several long seconds, she said nothing at all.
Just taking long breaths with her nose flaring out.
It was a reaction she’d seen once before.
The same stare and simmering pressure underneath that she’d shown when they were sixteen, and Lord Treveon said Luci couldn’t come to court.
The storm that quiet Brielle reined down on Blythe was enough to have him concede.
Oh no.
“Brielle-” Luci began.
She shouldn’t have. It was the catalyst for the brewing storm. As if she hadn’t spent a week nearly dying in bed, Brielle jumped up, throwing blankets to the side, and made quick work of sliding out of her nightgown and thrusting a corset onto her chest.
“Strap me in!” she ordered.
“Absolutely not,” Luci said, standing in horror at the side of the bed.
With wild abandon, Brielle threw the corset across the room and proceeded to pull a blue dress over her head.
“You can’t go out like that!” Luci screeched.
“I can and I will!” she said, popping her head through.
Half-crazed, not even Brielle would walk out of here half-presentable. It was maddening. Yet, there she was, shoes slipped on and stomping towards the door.
“Brielle!” Luci yelled.
Ignoring her, Brielle opened the door, and none other than Gladys stood with her mouth hanging open, holding a tray of cookies and milk.
“Brielle?” she asked, mouth falling open.
“Excellent, I need your help,” Brielle said, stepping aside and holding an arm out for Gladys to enter.
“Please help.” Luci pleaded with the princess.
“I need you to help lace up my corset because Luci refuses to,” Brielle said, grabbing it off the floor.
Gladys clutched the tray of treats and darted her wide eyes from Brielle to Luci and back to Brielle.
“You are awake!” she finally said.
Huffing out a breath, Brielle took the tray of cookies and set it down on the dresser before handing the corset to Gladys and lifting up her gown, giving her a back.
“I am, now if you wouldn’t mind,” Brielle said.
“You look very well,” Gladys said, beginning to lace up the corset.
“Please don’t help her.” Luci pleaded.
“Why ever not?” Gladys asked.
“Because Luci is a coward, and I won’t have it any longer. I’ve done far too much work to leave her in charge of her own fate.” Brielle said.
Oh no. There was a fire in Brielle's cheeks and rage in her eyes. They were past the point of return. There would be no calming her down. So Luci did the only rational thing to do and ran to the door, planting her feet firmly on the floor.
“Why are we in such a hurry? Also, I’m concerned that Luci is guarding the door.” Gladys said, finishing the last of the corset.
When she was done, Brielle smoothed out her dress and gave Gladys a pleasant smile.
“Where is Ira?” she asked.
Luci groaned.
Clearly not expecting the question, Gladys darted her gaze to Luci and then back to Brielle, a frown planted on her ethereal face.
“I think if we all just take a minute, we can figure this all out. Ira-” Gladys began.
Brielle tilted her head much like a bird of prey.
“Gladys, I’m quite fond of you, but I need you to tell me where he is at this very moment,” she said.
With a small shrug at Luci and a mouthed “I’m sorry,” she turned to Brielle and said the damning words, “Meeting with the council.”
Brielle’s answering smile was terrifying. “Thank you.”
With that, she took off straight at Luci like a mad woman, and it was all Luci could do to try and fight her off, but the surprise of it all slowed her reflexes, and small, feral Brielle twisted the door handle and flung them both into the wall.
“Midnight, Brielle, that hurt,” Luci said, rubbing at the back of her head.
“I’m so sorry, and I love you, but I’m saving you from yourself!”
Her saving included shoving Luci further behind the door while the heir to the Treveon name took off down the hall, leaving Luci desperate for air and Gladys staring dumb founded after her.
“Am I dreaming?” Gladys asked, blinking several times.
“I wish!” Luci choked out.
Retrieving her shoes, Luci put them on in a half walk, half stumble fashion in the direction Brielle went. Light above, she was fast for someone who died a few days ago.
“Why is she mad about you and Ira? I thought this was all her scheme to put the two of you together?” Gladys said, following behind her.
Great. Apparently, everyone knew now. That would definitely make this all easier.
“She’s mad because I told her I’m not following along with her lunatic plans,” Luci said.
Rounding the corner to the stairs, Brielle was halfway down, servants staring at her with mouths hanging open.
Luci groaned and picked up her pace, running after her.
“Brielle Verecca Treveon, stop right this instant!” she yelled.
“Do you not love Ira?” Gladys asked, breathless as she chased after her.
Oh light above, glass pumpkins, and all the midnights that ever were.
“It’s more than that,” Luci said. “Brielle, stop, you feral beast!”
Brielle made it to the bottom of the steps and turned her head a fraction up to Luci.
“If you won’t help yourself, I’ll do it for you!” she yelled.
“I don’t need your help now, stand still for one cursed second!” Luci called.
Of course, Brielle ignored her. Instead, she took off towards the hall of paintings, right towards the council chambers. Luci picked up her pace and nearly stumbled face-first on the last stair, but Gladys was there and caught the back of her dress.
Luci tried to catch her breath, but patted Gladys's shoulder in thanks since words were hard to formulate. Chest heaving, Gladys nodded.
“How,” she panted. “Does. she. Have. so. much. Energy.”
Luci threw up her arms.
“I don’t know, but we have to stop her.”
Before she could take off again, Gladys grabbed her arm, brow furrowing.
“Are you about to break my brother’s heart?” she asked.
Luci closed her eyes, silently begging Elowen to intervene, but no smell of cinnamon came. Realizing she was entirely on her own, Luci ran her hand through her wild braid and over her face.
“He can do so much good for people, and more importantly, he wants to rule. He’s spent his whole life preparing for it, and Meridea needs him. I’m not going to let him throw it away for an orphan servant.”
Gladys brow unfurred with every word until her face was relaxed, and a small, hidden smile played on her lips. Whatever was happening in her mind, Luci didn’t have time for it.
Huffing out a frustrated breath, Luci turned and began running after Brielle again.
Passing painting after painting and a small gathering of servants whispering, Luci feared the worst until she turned the corner to where the chamber was and found Lucien standing in front of the door, Brielle trying to sneak by him.
Luci came to a stop and clutched her stomach as her chest burned with the need for oxygen.
“Brielle,” she panted.
Apparently, Brielle was in the habit of ignoring her now because she continued to try to dart to one side and the other side of Lucien, but he remained a formidable opponent, holding onto her shoulders like she was an errant child. Which she was.
“As glad as I am that you are awake, and I am, letting you barrel into that meeting isn’t something I’m going to do. Also, I would make the point that you don’t want to do that either,” he said, calmly, a smirk showing no concern for the gravity of the situation.
“Oh, good, you caught her.” Gladys panted as she stopped next to Luci.
“So I did,” Lucien said.
Brielle let out a growl and ordered him to move, but when he didn’t, she moved to shove her fist into his stomach, but Lucien was quicker. With one swift movement, he swiped Brielle up and threw her over his shoulder. The squeal she let out was pure surprise, which only grew Lucien’s smile.
“Put me down, you beast!” She said, pounding on his back.
“Of course,” he said. “When you learn to behave.”
The world had gone mad. Clearly, the balance of what was and should be shifted and was lost to nonsense and the impossible. When Luci glanced at Gladys for help, she was grinning wildly and trying to hide it by covering her mouth with her hand.
“What is happening here?”