Chapter 65

My eyes fluttered open to the sight of shadows looming over me and I began to blink to clear my vision as I started to make sense of the voices around me.

"Lady Colter, what happened to you?" I heard the voice of the butler and shifted my eyes tiredly towards him before pain erupted in my back and I groaned.

My whole body ached tremendously and I had shivers running down my back. I clutched a hand to my chest in pain and it landed on something soft. I rested a hand on it thoughtlessly before I felt breathing that was most definitely not mine and I looked down to see a ball of orange, a yelp escaping my lips.

"How did this?..." I asked, looking around me and all I saw was the concentrated face of a physician who was wrapping my arm.

"It was found in your arms. It seems it caused you a lot of trouble to get your hands on this one, but he's harmless right now. He clung to you, removing him would have caused more injury" The butler explained while I stared at the small beast in confusion, his small face nuzzled into my chest, mouth biting into something. I saw a gleam of orange just as the sun hit what was unmistakably a jewel. "You caught the prized fox and have won this match" The butler gave an encouraging smile although he seemed more bewildered at the state of me, wondering how a mere fox cub could get me like this..

I didn't bother caring about his expression as I snapped my head back to the fox. The last memories of Jules drinking my blood sprang to mind before it all fell to darkness. My cheeks flushed as I recalled this state of him. I tried to ignore the strange warmness in my chest when I realized he had saved my life.

"Where did you find me?" I asked, still unsure where this beast came from.

"Just outside the woodlands thank god. You seemed to arrive just when we were about to inspect the area and we caught sight of you on the grounds" He explained and I slowly began to piece together what had happened, throwing the little fox an annoyed glance.

That Jules just has to have his way...

"Ah!- Lady -Lady Selvius, is she okay?" I asked, springing up and then regretting it instantly as my bones cried in response.

"Lady Selvius?" The butler frowned, "I recall she returned safely".

"Did she have any injuries?"

"I wasn't able to attend to the other ladies. The prince instructed I make sure you wake up safely..."

"The prince?" my voice pitched.

"Yes?" He answered with a confused smile, "He ordered for you to be taken care of immediately".

I frowned.

"How long have I been passed for like this?" I asked.

"Only for an hour" He called for the maids while I let out a deep breath. I was in a tea room, on a sofa. I was still in the dowager's palace, which meant I needed to attend the tea party. I sighed, realizing all I was truly doing in this palace was causing one mess and then another. I looked at the furball in my arms and began to pet it, hoping to dispel some of my complicated feelings.

A few maids walked in, carrying things and I turned to the butler, gesturing towards what I could see now was a range of dresses and jewelry.

"The dowager was hoping you'd pick different clothes among these dresses and the maids will help dress you, so you can rejoin the ladies".

I smiled gratefully despite wishing to disappear.

"Thank you".

The tea party was now actually a tea party in the full throng. The ladies were all sitting below the gazebo, shielded from the afternoon sun and as I made my way towards the ladies I realized this was the second time I passed out in a single day. I bit my lip as I became convinced that the palace was truly cursed, at least for me. I was instructed to bring the fox with me, and the other ladies either had theirs in a cage or the carcass wrapped up and held by a maid. A truly appetizing sight.

The beast that I had was napping away in my arms, his legs had been broken and the physician had bandaged them saying the queen dowager cares deeply for the wildlife in the woodlands. Between his teeth was the necklace which shone so brightly in the sunlight I was beginning to catch everyone's attention. Eyes of both envy, suspicion, and...adoration, not directed at me... but the fox.

"How cute!" Lady Raya had approached me and leaned towards the beast, "I heard he caused you a lot of trouble. What a mischievous little fox" She grinned at it and then looked to me, "Please sit near me Lady Colter, I want to play with your one - I may have got a bit aggressive with the one I caught" She gave an awkward laugh and I saw the maid behind her holding a wrapped up body and gave a wry smile.

"Of course" I took the seat beside hers and took note of the silence falling on the table and the sudden attention on me. Lady Selvius, who donned a bandage on her cheek, gave me a careful look that said 'don't say anything'. In her arms was a resting fox. I smiled at the sight, heartwarming at the thought that Jules caught a fox for her.

"How did you get in such a state?" Crystal asked and I turned to her in surprise. She didn't have a single stray hair and her dress was just as brilliant as when she first wore it.

"- It's a long story" I gave a sheepish laugh and then lifted the sleeping thing in my arm as if to hide it, "This one here had me running around quite a bit".

"How cute" Lady Willow smiled at the fox.

"You must have been quite desperate to get your hands on that necklace" I flinched at Lady Montgomery's words, finding myself in no mood to play games.