Chapter 1
Althea
The wind changes and another icy breath whips across my cheek, I urge my horse Jack forward while filling my lungs just to taste some of the cold, and find my focus once more.
I tighten my centre of balance, adjust my grip on the reigns and turn the gelding sharply in the direction we just came from. It doesn’t take long for my eyes to find what I’m looking for, a shiny white ball sitting on the freshly cut grass ready for the taking.
Momentum keeps us going and we’re the first ones there, my mallet swinging expertly from my side and I feel the impact buzz against my palm. The horse snorts and side-steps in a way that gives me the perfect view of the ball flying through the goal posts.
I can’t hold back my excitement and throw my arms up with a cheer, quickly dropping one to pat Jack’s neck then run my fingers through his mane.
“You did good.” I manage a scratch behind his ear before I’m joined by my staff, no doubt glad the game is over.
The previous elation I felt over my win now spoilt as I remember who I’m surrounded by, not a friend in sight.
If only my father allowed me more than court acquaintances, I wouldn’t be left with such a deep ache at the staffs’ formal congratulatory words, my equally formal smile itching to drop.
“Congratulation Princess Althea!”
“You’re so talented, Your Highness.”
“A testament to your family name!”
I can’t stand it anymore and redirect my horse to exit the field, rolling my eyes at my bubbly lady in waiting Lilian when I dismount before reluctantly handing over his reigns to the stable hand.
“Give him an extra treat will you?” I say with a smile but the one I get back isn’t genuine, they’re never genuine. I inwardly sigh and my own feet trot over to Lilian.
“I feel as though I’m in a play, why did I agree to such an idea?” I huff while she works to take off my gloves.
“But you looked like you were having so much fun, Princess.”
“I was...” I grumble and she swats the tips of my still held out fingers with the leather gloves.
“Princesses do not pout, remember yourself.” Her tone stern while she motions towards the other staff, but I see the teasing lift of her brow.
“Of course.” I turn to the staff members. “You all may return to your duties now.” Waiting and watching until they’re all finally out of earshot, my posture finally crumbles.
“You really did look as though you were enjoying yourself.” Lilian’s smile creases at the corner of her eyes.
“I admit, for a second there I was. But I am no longer a child, forcing the staff to play along is pitiful.”
“Why don’t we invite some of the ladies of the court for polo next time? It has been so long since the house saw any of them.”
I scoff and begin to walk down the nearby path that leads back towards the castle.
“The king would never approve, ‘evil distractions that lead into unforgiving temptations’, remember?” I add with a nudge to Lilian’s arm.
‘As though there is anyone who holds more evil than the evil that lingers in him.’ I think to myself, what would be the point in asking the devil himself for a anything.
Lilian was the only light in this home, she had been with me since I turned thirteen, and now almost a decade later she never lost even a spark.
“I shall run you a bath. I do not wish to sound vulgar, but you smell like horse and muck.” She holds her nose for emphasis and it’s my turn to slap at her hands, the action causing us both to giggle like school children.
My shoulder slips beneath the waterline and I can’t help but hum, warmth and flowery scents surrounding me so perfectly. It eases the aches of the day, my stomach especially from keeping my balance up for so long.
Thoughts of riding past the boundaries of the field slip into my mind, Jack was the fastest horse I owned but could he outrun the guards? Would I fail at the first hurdle in the outside world?
My father had made sure to prevent me from learning the knowledge one would need to be a functioning member of society. I wasn’t even sure what the rules were beyond my own home.
“Princess?” A small voice cuts through my thoughts, my chin lifting to see Lilian shutting the bathroom door behind her. “Is the water hot enough?” She grabs her small stool and positions herself in my blind spot.
“It’s perfect.” I say with a smile, leaning back into her hands while she begins to scrub the soap through my long, blonde hair.
My toe breaches the top of the water and after a small wiggle, I rest my heel on the edge of the bath and watch the steam rise from the exposed skin.
Idle chatter and gossip fills up the rest of my bathing, my previously pale skin now pink and fingers fully pruned when finally I stand up to be embraced by a waiting towel.
A knock on the adjoined bedroom door makes me frown, holding onto the towel and stepping out as Lilian rushes to open it and deal with whoever is on the other side.
I wait in the bathroom no matter who it is, if I were to be caught in such undress I’d never hear the end of it.
Lilian returns with a grim smile and it can only mean one thing.
“Should I even ask?” I say as my bare feet pad into the bedroom.
“The King wishes you to join him for dinner.”
“I guess he remembered I exist, it must be that time of month already.” I’m already sitting down at the nearby vanity and notice my sad expression looking back at me in the mirror.
Lilian fusses. “I’m sure His Majesty just misses you, you are his daughter after all.”
“Yes, until he marries me off to whichever balding, bloated sixty year old becomes a widow first.” My words earning a swift slap of a hairbrush to the top of my head. “Ow, what was that for?”
“If he were to do that, you would have left the moment you turned eighteen.” She replies with a firm nod, the brush now easing down my waist length locks.
“I can’t help but wonder what it is he’s waiting for...” I muse to myself, catching Lilian blow a stray, red curl from her eyes through the mirror.
Intricate plaits wrap around my crown to join and fall with the rest of my hair, waves framing the back of my dress as Lilian circles me.
She claps her hands together and beams before practically skipping over to my jewellery box and pulling out a silver hair pin.
“Might as well dress up if you’re dining in the main room tonight, what do you think?” She slides it into my hair and turns me around to the floor length mirror behind us.
The leaf shaped diamonds glisten against the afternoon sun as it glows through my open window, a small smile spreading across my lips.
“We definitely need more excuses to dress up.” I agree, gliding my hands down the formal dress that cinches at the waist and blooms out over my hips.
Lilian grabs a matching necklace that sits just above my cleavage then goes to put in my diamond studs. I decline the dangling ones that sit always untouched in their boxes, the weight of them causing more headaches than I ever could deal with.
My heels echo off the walls of the castle, the cold hallways sending a chill up my spine that increases the closer I get to the main dining hall.
I haven’t stepped foot in that room for over a month, only ever daring to under my father’s whims. I wasn’t to leave my wing of the castle without his permission, the previous time I tried was the first and last time he struck me.
The bruise looked horrid and took forever to heal, but even at the young age of nine I could tell how conflicted my father was. I knew it wasn’t conflict or concern over my wellbeing, but at how long it took for the swelling to go down, he told me he was worried I would lose my value.
I’ve never forgotten a single cruel word he’s stung me with, the sound of his disdain played over and over in my head every night when I try to sleep.
But I try to not let it show and plaster a smile on my face once we reach the doors, clasping my hands in front of me and lowering my gaze.
The hinges creek from neglect as the door opens, my father’s form stiff and domineering as his gaze burns into me.
I don’t dare look up to meet it but I can feel him watching me. I know he’s analysing the way I walk, the way I’m dressed and no doubt deciding whether I need to go on another diet.
“My King, I thank you for the invitation.” I say once I reach his side, curtsying and kissing his worn, offered knuckles.
The action makes my stomach curl but I push away the thought and move down the long table to my usual seat. I’m not permitted to sit next to him and stop halfway down, the staff member quick to pull out the chair for me.
“Thank you...” I say without realising until a grunt of anger leaves my father’s lips.
“Do not tell me you are getting familiar with the help dear daughter?” His freshly shaven face twitching up into a sneer of disgust.
“O-Of course not My King, I-...”
He cuts me off with a raise of his wrist from where it lays on the arm rest. That hand motions for his personal guard who steps forward without hesitation.
“Break the man’s finger.” His command clear and to the point as my insides run cold.
My mouth opens in protest, but all that topples out is a whimper that is quickly overshadowed by the loud sound of the staff members bone snapping.
My hands shoot up to my face to cover my eyes, but my father’s teeth-clenched demand to watch reaches my ears.
“The Princess missed that, do it again.”
