Chapter 77

I hadn't expected to be awoken by banging at my door. My mind still delirious between dream and wake as I called out to whoever it was.

"Come-Come in!" I croaked and the door burst open by a terrified maid, her legs trembling and lip quivering as she began to cry.

"My lady- please forgive me- I forgot to wake you up for the task tonight and it has already begun!"

Her words made my sleepy eyes widen in shock as I sprung up and began straightening myself up. I slept in my dress so I could just go like this but I needed to wash my face urgently.

"Please sort my hair- I should be responsible for attending on time. It's not your fault" I consoled her hurriedly and she nodded gratefully, beginning to work on my hair.

I was rushing to the hall minutes later and out of breath when I knocked on the doors and was greeted by a tight smile from the princes aid.

"Lady Colter. I hope we haven't rushed you?" The lecture behind his words made me want to groan. I was half asleep.

"My apologies. I lost track of time" I wanted to turn back. If the threat of not cooperating wasn't treason and public humiliation I would not be standing here.

"Right. The maid responsible for informing you of the meeting will be held responsible for this. It seems she missed your door".

"It's my fault. I should've been more responsible. Please turn a blind eye this one time" I urged as I thought of a poor maid knocking on my door and I slept through it all. I shouldn't have taken that nap to begin with.

"There's an examination going on inside. Your seat is the empty one and the papers have been set" he let out a sigh and for once let an emotion slipped. It was disappointment.

"An examination?" I echoed.

"It's to gauge your knowledge. You should hurry up as you only have a quarter of an hour to finish" he tapped his watch and I realised I was most definitely going to fail this one.

"I'll head in then" I said uncertainly.

He opened the door for me and I walked in, noticing the desks where the others sat. Their expressions serious and focused. It was no wonder though. The exam sheets were thick and there seemed no possible way I could finish them on time.

'I suppose I could just write my name and hand it in?' I thought as I took a seat. Flipping to the first page in defeat.

'Define a queen'.

I stared at it.

Scribbling whatever came to mind and moving on. From then it was presenting knowledge concerning the royal hierarchy. Once that section was finished, it was political questions. From factions to households in Grandor and the Empire. There was such a lot that I had decided to answer as many as possible with.

'No answer'.

I might just get kicked out of this competition soon. I smiled to myself. I hadn't expected that when the princes aid announced that we had to wrap up my brother would walk in with a beaming smile.

"Please pass the papers onto Mr Colter, he will be marking your answers. As many of you know Mr Colter is the head of Education at the Royal Academy" The princes aid explained and I blinked repeatedly, wondering if I heard that right.

He was the head of what??

Mathias didn't even glance my way until he snatched my papers out of hands with a smile that really made my blood boil.

"Times up" he smiled and I kept my hands at bay with a polite.

Of course the fact that my brother was marking didn't go unnoticed.

"How can we trust that he won't be biased towards his sister?" Lady Montgomery's lovely voice echoed in the halls and I sighed internally. When will she give it a break?

"My sister?" Mathias replied and looked my way in surprise, then turned towards her sharply, face dropping into a sceptic one, "You assume I want my sister to be queen?"

The silence that followed was full of stunned faces until Lady Montgomery cleared her throat. Somehow she managed to sound haughty doing something so normal.

"Please join his highness for dinner, my ladies- of course for my dear sister it would be breakfast" Mathias bowed with his usual flamboyance and I shot him a fake smile, deciding it was best to ignore him.

"I appreciate the offer, but I must decline it" I stood up to leave, hoping to continue my "nap".

"His highness will be disappointed by your absence, Lady Colter" there was a desperate squeak in the aids voice. It made me stop for a moment, before I recalled Jules breath mingling with mine and flushed.

"Please convey my deepest apologies" I hurriedly replied and left before I could hear his answer. My face burned with the memory. I should have expected the prince to be making his way in. Instead, I simply froze as we both stared at each other, face a polite distance that I was somehow still intimidated by. I curtsied, opening my mouth to welcome him but he walked passed me.

"Do not force yourself for me".

The coldness in his voice made me tense, confusion replacing embarrassment.

He sounded so… mad.

I could see the other ladies looking at him fearfully and even Crystal threw me a worried look.

Now what was this?

I returned to my room in contemplation, finding the need to sleep completely gone as I found myself thinking of the princes reaction.

Why was he angry?

Was it because I stopped him earlier?

The thought made my blood boil.

How dare he?!

Did he know what it cost me to do something like that before I married? How could he be so selfish!

I found myself frustrated from my thoughts and I decided to let it go. But I couldn't do that and found myself climbing up the stairs of the palace, trying to walk off my frustration.

"Lady Colter!" A man coming down the stairs had said and I looked up to see the princes butler. Great. He looked puzzled to see me, "I assumed you would be having dinner with the prince" .

"I didn't have much of an appetite" I replied.

"I see. His highness must have been disappointed".

"I'm not too sure about that. I may have offended him" I replied sheepishly.

"Offend? You must be mistaken" he tilted his head, brow raised slightly.

"He didn't reply to my greetings…" I should have kept that to myself but I was so frustrated that it slipped out.

"Pardon?" His eyes widened and then an understanding look dawned on him. He patted my shoulder, "I'm sure you understand this now, but his highness is a rather awkward communicator" he chuckled to himself.

I nodded slowly, realising he was right. Jules had a history that made him act in a way that was irrational. But I couldn't shake my annoyance.

"Thank you, Mr White. I feel a little understandable of him now" I smiled at him and my eyes spotted the library doors ahead. "I'm actually heading up to the library. Would you like to join me?"

"Oh no, my lady- I'm actually on a chore right now, but best of luck!" He had run off immediately leaving me laughing at his comical exaggeration running. Least I thought it was exaggerated.

The library was as magnificent as it was before and although I vowed never to return before, I realised it was a place where I could definitely learn a great deal. My mind was a jumble of vampires and clairvoyance.

"May I help?" The smell of oak calmed me as a large shadow over fell me. I managed to contain my surprise as I looked up at the tall hooded man and smiled gratefully.

"I could truly use some help. Any books on clairvoyance?" I asked and noticed someone passing behind the monstrous man, a large funny hat that made my breath hitch and my eyes widen.

Platinum blonde dreads and striking blue eyes on a face neither young nor elderly. The thorns that covered the hat. The white robes lined in gold embroidery, woven for each year it was worn.

The royal advisor.

Alexander Willow.