Claiming The Remnant

Chapter 27

[ Taiya ]

Walking the rest of the way to my room was a silent affair. Not that I minded. Trying to hold any thought steady right now let alone an entire conversation was impossible.

Benton was still posted at my door. I noted that there was only one guard. A memory was tapping away at the inside of my skull. Had the King not requested two guards? Was I mistaken or had there been a change that I was not aware of?

“Lady Esther, Josephine.” Benton nodded in greeting. “How was tea with His Majesty?”

“It was most delightful, thank you.” I swayed a little but Josephine held me up.

“You should get some rest, My Lady.” Benton held the door for us. “Han has taken the afternoon off and Housekeeper Grace is tending to your chambers.” My lips moved but no sound came out and my legs went from beneath me. I assumed Benton caught me as I didn’t hit the floor. Everything was coming through as if I were in a great hall and the people around me were whispering from afar. I caught a few sharp words from Grace and some softer ones from Benton but it wasn’t until heat began to fill me that the room became smaller and the voices clearer. Eyelids too heavy to lift I could do nothing but listen from the comfortable chair I was now in.

“A Healer won’t be necessary, Ms Doran, the Lady is just tired.” Josephine practically spat.

“Mind yourself Josephine.” Grace retorted in her own sour tone. “Benton?” A large warm hand pressed against my forehead making me sigh involuntarily.

“A Healer will not be necessary at this time.” Benton rumbled gently. “A strong fire, a warm blanket, sleep and some tea will be enough. Josephine?” The question that Benton put to her made no sense, but Josephine understood well enough. I practically heard the eye roll come through in her reply.

“Lavender tea.” She answered begrudgingly.

“Lady Esther? Can you hear me?” Grace called, I could feel her breath on my face.

“Mm-hum.” Was the only answer I could provide.

“Try to sleep, I will get the fire lit and arrange some tea for you.” Grace practically ordered. I mumbled what I hoped was a thank you and stopped fighting the exhaustion that was consuming me.

- -

I woke to the sound of the fire crackling and the weight of half a dozen blankets holding me down. Grace and Josephine were both sitting on the couch across from me, at opposing ends. Ms Dorn was knitting and Josephine was reading a book.

“Esther,” A snide smile formed on Josephine’s lips, she carefully inserted a ribbon to mark her place and subtly wiggled the book trying to catch my attention in some way. Something told me it was a slight that I just didn’t understand, “you are awake.” She stated the obvious.

“How are you feeling, Lady Esther?” Grace asked, pursing her lips and putting away her project to start on steeping some tea. The scent of lavender quickly perfumed the air.

“Tired, but much better otherwise. Thank you, Grace.” I fiddled with the necklace, fingering the Pampel cut gem. It was warm from being nestled between my skin and the blankets. There was a comfort to its presence.

“Have some tea and then we shall get you ready to dine with His Majesty. A warmer gown is in order I think.” Grace bustled around as she spoke, organising two tea cups and coming to fold my blankets so that my arms were free. She was huffing and scowling a little as she did so. A new thought surfaced in my brain. Why was the Head Housekeeper tending to me? There must be numerous maids available to cover Han’s well deserved afternoon off.

I felt the calluses on my hands and a little throb began in my head once again.

“Josephine? Would you also like to change for dinner?” I gave the brunette my best smile as Grace handed me my tea. I sniffed it tentatively before taking a small sip. I expected to hate it but it was divine. “Your dress is, of course, stunning but King Leoré has seen it already.”

“If you think it best, My Lady.” Josephine said with a pinched mouth and a heavy breath, setting her tea down as though I were dismissing her.

“Oh, Josephine, please you misunderstand. I only mean that if you would like to change you are welcome to any of the dresses from my wardrobe. They are all imbued, so they will fit perfectly.” The words came out in a rush, stirring the tendrils of steam emanating from my cup. “Most of them are blue…” I added, seeing that she was not sold on the idea.

“Thank you, Esther.” Josephine replied with what appeared to be a genuine smile.

“Indeed, Lady Esther.” The words that came from Grace were stern with a little sting to them. “Very kind of you to offer for me to dress not one but two.” She stomped off.

“I’m perfectly capable of dressing myself, thank you Grace.” Josephine said to Grace’s back. She picked up her tea, crossed her ankles and sipped with a smirk on her lips.

“Ms Doran, I didn’t mean to offend!” I called after her. “Won’t you join us for tea?”

The Housekeeper paused her stomping to do a little shiver, as if something had crawled up her spine.

“Lavender tea is not to my taste, thank you, Lady Esther.” She said as though I were asking her to drink from a chamber pot. Grace continued her stomping with a little more vigor and over the steaming cups that Josephine and I both held our eyes met. A little giggle escaped us both.

When the tea was done I showed Josephine to my bedroom and subsequently the extensive walk in wardrobe. Grace had already chosen a dress for me. Suitable to wear to dinner but a thicker material than most of the dresses. It was lovely, like they all were but I still did not have a fondness for dresses that I would expect from a Lady such as myself.

“Any dress?” Josephine paused, hesitant to take another step towards the laden racks.

“Any dress.” I affirmed. She seemed to have warmed to me, even if it was only a little. In a way it was generous of me to share but in another the gesture was almost empty. Afterall I had not purchased the dresses and had no attachment to them.

Grace helped me from my current gown as Josephine made her choice. The Housekeeper was on the last button of the warmer when Josephine emerged from the wardrobe in a corseted gown; blue of course. It was a light shade with puffy sleeves and a ribbon tied back.

“How stunning!” I beckoned her closer. “Come, I will tie the ribbon for you.”

“You are quite the sight yourself, Esther.” Josephine spoke kindly, turning and I blushed a little at her compliment. My fingers moved of their own volition, twisting and folding the ribbon with ease.

“All done.” Smiling, I admired the perfect bow now adorning Josephine’s lower back.

“Thank you, Esther. Come,” She held out her arm, “dinner awaits.”

The dining hall was not as far as the King’s study and rather than the tiredness I had experienced previously it was nerves that plagued me. I couldn’t fish a single memory of dining with, well, anyone from my tired brain. My mind wandered, paying little attention to the castle around me, as Josephine expertly guided me.

I had no idea what to expect. How many people would be there? How should I behave? Where should I sit? And a thousand other questions that I could not voice and that I had no answer to.

“Nervous?” Josephine asked, squeezing my linked arm as we headed towards two huge wooden double doors. She didn’t sound like she was being cruel or gloating.

“I don’t remember how to do this.” I gulped.

“Straight back, chin up, smile.” Josephine adjusted my necklace so that it was central on my chest. “There, perfect. It’s just dinner. Should be a breeze.”

“Thank you.” I took a deep breath.

A servant opened the door and announced us: “Lady Esther and Josephine.”

We curtsied and entered. The hall was grand. Marble floors in pure white, huge ribbed pillars - decorative not functional against the wall reaching up to a vaulted ceiling. A long walnut dining table, surrounded only at one end by faces, faces that I didn’t know, filled the centre of the room. Two huge chandeliers imbued with yellow magic that mimicked sunlight were hanging from decorative rosettes. At the head of the table King Leoré sat in an imposing chair, behind him was a hearth tall enough, and wide enough, to spit roast a pig.

A server directed us to seating at the end of the line of already seated guests, farthest from His Majesty but before we could be seated King Leoré called out to us.

“My dear Lady Esther, come, come take my son's seat. He is not here and therefore shall not miss it. Bring Josephine with you.” His voice came to me like a blessing from the Gods.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, you are most kind.” I smiled, taking my seat.

“I thought you might also appreciate being closer to the fire.” The King said quietly, just for my ears. “Lady Esther, let me introduce you.”

There were only seven other people at the table but after the first three introductions I was lost and so I smiled, and nodded and exchanged small pleasantries. Small talk was made amongst the guests at the table, wine was poured and the first course served.

My cheeks were already heated by the fire but when I looked at the assortment of cutlery in front of me they became even more heated. There were three forks to the left of my plate, three knives on the right followed by two spoons and another fork. Above the plate were a single spoon and a single fork and then yet another knife on a side plate to the top left of my plate.

“Lady Esther,” Princess Noémie called loudly, the corner of her mouth turned up in amusement, “are we having difficulty choosing a utensil?” She snickered in her seat directly across from me. I could feel my blush right down to my toes. All eyes were on me. Josephine covered her mouth to hide her own amusement.

“Daughter…” His Majesty warned the Princess but his eyes were on Josephine. She stiffened and swallowed loudly. Discreetly Josephine indicated which piece of cutlery to select. My lip trembled just slightly. How stupid of me not to know how to dine at a formal table and even more stupid not to have considered that a quick glance at my dining companions would have given me the information that I needed to save face.

Josephine made sure to indicate the correct silverware for every course. His Majesty was kind and regaled the table with lively stories that didn’t require any input thus allowing me to pick at my food and not have to participate in any conversation. The only diner that continued to pay me any mind was the King's Daughter. Her lemon yellow eyes never left me. Not once.

“Lady Esther, why did you come to dinner if you are not hungry? Or is it that you are as unfamiliar with the food on your plate as the cutlery on the table?” The look on the Princess’s face was a challenge. Her yellow eyes glowed lightly enhancing their shade. The salad leaves on my plate moved, growing larger.

“Noémie, no magic at the dinner table. You are being rude.” King Leoré told the Princess, a hint of exasperation in his voice. It seemed her behaviour was not unusual.

“My apologies, Father.” She said sweetly. “Sorry, Lady Esther, your appetite was clearly diminished and now I have given you more to eat.” She showed me all her perfect white teeth in a mocking smile.

“It is quite alright, Princess. I apologise for my unusual behaviour. Lately I have been most unwell and I am yet to fully recover.” Josephine was nudging me under the table. Only when all the words were out of my mouth and the Princess’s eyes were narrowed and her lips in a terse line did I realise my mistake. I had embarrassed the young Royal at her own dinner table, blatantly telling the other dinners that Princess Noémie was tormenting a sick guest with her teasing.

The courses were changed, despite my plate from the previous course being almost untouched. The salad had been the 5th? or perhaps the 6th meal placed in front of me and now I was presented with a small plate of cheese. I should be filled with delight at the luxury of it all but what I wanted was to have had my simple peasant fayre and fall asleep on the chair by the fire.

I reached for my drink but before I’d barely made my intention known Josephine had subtly put a stop to my motion. The look in her eyes was somewhere between pity and amusement. She pointed to a particular cheese on her own plate and I took it as an indication that I should make an attempt to at least try that specific variety. It was smooth and creamy with a mild and mellow flavour. I managed a few small mouthfuls and by the time the cheese plates were being cleared the soreness that had developed in my stomach had eased.

Servers brought a cart to the table laden with tea, coffee and plates of dessert. The King, of course, was attended to first but then there was a little confusion. His Majesty having called me to sit in the Crown Prince’s chair had upset the standard order of things. The King's table should be served in order of importance. Importance was designated by seating and I was seated incorrectly.

Regardless, the King indicated that I should be served next. Being King he could do as he pleased, however I felt it still reflected poorly on me. Especially as the yellow eyes across the table were slicing me to ribbons.

“Some tea would be a splendid end to this wonderful meal, don’t you think Lady Esther.” Josephine said, rescuing me from staring at the cart in a stupor. Tea. Yes, a cup of tea was exactly what I needed but which tea. There were at least twenty different pots of tea leaves. “Lavender.” Josephine whispered behind me.

“Lavender tea, please.” My request was followed by the Princess snickering and whispering, loudly, about what a disgusting choice it was. There had been something charming and harmless about the manner in which Grace had huffed over the tea choice earlier but the Princess held no such charm with her rebuke. Simply put she was just being mean.

“Any dessert, Lady Esther?” The server asked, filling a cup and placing a diffuser full of lavender into it.

“No thank you.” The server nodded and moved on.

I sipped the tea, feeling better for its taste and aroma. Casual conversation rose up all around me but I paid it no mind. Likely if I were to converse I would make a mistake, a faux pas, and I had embarrassed myself enough already. What I truly wanted was to be excused but I didn’t know how to make that come about.

I was cradling a half cup of tea that had long gone cold when His Majesty turned to me.

“Lady Esther, it has gotten surprisingly late, has it not.” His kind grey eyes held a little concern.

“Yes, it has Your Majesty.” I replied, unsure what the conversation required of me. Josephine nudged me. I opened my mouth to continue but was at a loss.

“Indeed, My King, very late for a Lady.” Josephine spoke out of turn, giving me a little nudge once again. The King clearly disliked Josephine’s interruption but wore a patient smile and made no comment.

“May I be excused, Your Majesty?” I asked, finally understanding what was going on. “I loathe to leave such delightful company but alas I fear I must retire.”

“Please,” The King gestured for me to rise, “the hour grows late and a Lady must have her rest.” I stood on weak legs, bidding goodnight to His Majesty, the Princess and the other guests whos names I could no longer recall. Josephine did the same and taking my arm we walked together from the Great Hall.

“Well, it could have been worse.” Josephine supplied without prompt when we were far enough down the hallway not to be overheard by the servant at the doors. I was swaying and when I opened my mouth to reply my stomach chose that moment to empty itself.

Laughter erupted behind me as the Princess, with her own escort, stepped into the hallway at just the right moment to witness me vomiting.

I wanted to cram Josephine’s words back down her throat.