six: Spread your legs

"Nicolette!" My brother knocked on the door loudly.

"Nicolette, quit stalling…everyone is waiting for you"

"I'm coming. D-don't hurry m-me!" I yelled back at my insolent brother.

"Nicolette…now!" He ordered like he had any authority over me. We could hear his retreating footsteps.

"R-remind me to have him e-executed when I'm Queen" I told Eva Belle. It was my favorite joke about my oldest brother, Ark.

"Cut Ark some slack. He is ten years older yet by some twist of fate his baby sister is next in line to the throne that is rightfully his. I would be pissed too. Just give him some time, he will come around" Eva Belle said.

"Ark has been coming around to the idea that he will one day bend a knee to me for eighteen years now, he's had enough time. I'm simply going to have him executed and be done with it…I'm thinking probably by firing squad. Maybe then you would get over your stupid crush on him"

Sometimes I could say a whole sentence without stuttering. It didn't happen often but I was always proud afterwards.

"You can't" Eva Belle yelled "He's hot…have you seen his abs?" Eva Belle asked me. "I would let him pin me against a wall any day of any week and have him fuck me senselessly untill I…"

"Eww, image! He is my b-big brother, Belly" I covered my ears. It was too late, the image had already formed in my head.

"Sorry. Got carried away. Now, let's find you a dress to be married in"

**

We walked out of the room. It took a few minutes but we settled on a red dress that complimented my skin tone and wasn't overly showing.

I was nervous no doubt but I wanted more than anything to do this.

Finally, I would have someone love me unconditionally. Clearly, I haven't had that in my life…not with this family.

Finally, I could escape this family and their abusiveness.

We barely made it a few feet before we bumped into my parents, they were with some people - two ladies and a bald headed man.

I have never met them before, so they were probably from Essex and was of some value to their country if the king and Queen were playing tour guide.

"Nicolette, these are emissaries from Essex, the dowager duchess Lady Bridgette, Kincade's aunt and her omega maid, Yolanda, and this is Dr Stephens. They are here for you" my father introduced in his usual brisk voice which was curtier than usual today.

I didn't say anything at first.

I just watched my parents.

Were they afraid for me?

Were they ashamed that they placed such an enormous responsibilities on my little shoulders?

Dad looked ashamed but Mom was beaming with smiles like she did one hell of a job.

What was her favorite words, again? You were born to be Queen over two nations, Nicolette...you should be grateful.

Can she tell how ungrateful I feel right now to be pushed into something I didn't want?

I was grateful for Kincade but I wasn't grateful I was forced to into it in the first place.

When I hesitated to say something, Eva Belle had to.

"May I present the Princess Nicolette Octaleign Aurora Hackett to you?" She pinched my arm, a subtle reminder to remember my manners.

I didn't.

"Where's K-kincade?" I asked. "C-can we get married already?"

"We will get to that as soon as we get a little thing out of the way" Lady Bridgette said and looked around like she misplaced something of little value.

"I suppose any number of these vacant rooms would suffice for the inspection"

The Dowager Duchess stood tall, her slender frame ramrod straight, as if she had a perpetual stick lodged in her posterior.

Her silver hair was styled in an impeccable bob, not a single strand out of place. Even her eyes, a piercing blue, seemed to bore into those she looked at, as if she was sizing them up and finding them wanting... she certainly found me wanting.

"What little t-thing?" I asked my future Aunt in law.

The dowager duchess pointed at the room behind us and announced "This would do. Come" she commanded like we were dogs.

She said and walked past me and pushed the door open.

I was ushered inside the room and when Eva Belle tried to enter, the door was shut in her face.

"The mother can stay but I doubt the father is needed, Yolanda" Bridgette spoke over us like we were servants not royalties.

Sure, Avalon was the smallest country in the world but an old fart like her had no right to disrespect us.

I didn't say a thing. All I wanted was Kincade, the rest of my family and his can quietly slip into oblivion.

"What's going on?" I asked as my father per her request started walking towards the door.

"Just do what she says, baby" My father whispered, his voice softening for the first time since I was sixteen years old and then he walked out.

I was still confused.

"What's going on?!"

"Hop on the bed, take off your undies and spread your legs, Nicolette" Lady Bridgette commanded.

I almost laughed out loud.

"Lady, are you high on fumes?" I asked her and laughed, turning around to laugh at the joke with my mother but she wasn't laughing.

"Mom?"

"Just do what they say. It would only take a minute, Noah"

"A minute to..."

"Doctor Stephen is here on behalf of Essex to check...to see...if you are still...intact" my mother murmured.

I stood froze. There was nothing remotely funny about this. "They want to check to see if I was a virgin? For real? Is this a joke?" I stuttered harder than I have ever done before and somehow it infuriated the duchess even more.

"Just do it" Mother said.

"Dad!" I yelled on top of my voice. He couldn't have gone far.

"Hop on the bed willingly or you would be restrained" Bridgette threatened.

"Dad!!!" I yelled and took a step back.