Melissa Spatiatis.
Elizabeth pulls me out of the throne room after King Dimitrio has walked out. His council has been adjourned and the ministers increase the tenor of their voices. As we walk out, I can hear them resume their conversations and it is louder this time around. Elizabeth stops me and I turn to look at her. Immediately, her hand shoots out at lightning speed, delivering a sharp slap across my cheek. I gasp. The resounding slap echoes down the corridor—servants, guards and guests who are in the scene look in our direction.
Pain flares in my cheek, mingling with a profound sense of humiliation as my hand instinctively rises to my stinging cheek.
“I don’t think you understand what it means to serve his royal majesty! How dare you hesitate when he called you to the front? I hav
