The carriage shook and rattled as Angelique looked out the window. The large fortress on the hill came into sight from the road, which had been lined with tall, trimmed trees. It was bigger than Julian’s home, most likely because Alishe Hinton was highly favored by the emperor.
The sun was setting slowly, and the orange light shone behind the tall building, highlighting its courtyard of statues and stones lined with golden leaves. The garden in front had flower rows in vibrant colors, fountains and hundreds of servants lined up in neat rows to greet guests. A line of carriages was slowly moving along to drop off the guests. Angelique saw the massive gold and white doors when her own carriage pulled up, opened up to show a blinding white light behind.
A maid opened the door for her, and Angelique stepped out with Minnielle behind her. Angelique, without turning, held out her hand to Minnielle. Minnielle took it and ran up to be close beside Angelique, like a scared duckling. ‘She’s so worried, her hands are shaking.’ Angelique chuckled to herself.
Ahead of them, Julian was walking, holding an invitation card tightly. He turned slightly to glare at Angelique and grimaced when he saw Minnielle clutching to her arm. He slightly motioned for her to catch up to him, and Angelique responded by rushing forward.
“Here's the plan. We enter together, and then we split off. Feel free to flirt with the single ladies attending, rumors will spread faster.” Angelique said calmly, smiling at the passing faces innocently. Julian didn't respond, just handed the invitation to the butler at the door. The butler, seeing the royal invitation, jumped a bit, and ran to the announcer. They stepped inside as the announcer called out, “His grace, Alishe Julian and her grace, Alishen Angelique.”
Angelique couldn't help but feel goosebumps. Hundreds of people were crowding the massive, gleaming ballroom. Its intricately tiled floors, domed ceiling, and grand staircase were all polished to shine, and lined with gold. ‘This screams royalty, it's so bright!’ Angelique squinted at the diamond chandelier high above them and gulped. ‘I’m glad my hallway at home isn't this extravagant, I would go blind.’
Julian and Angelique both separated after a few steps into the entrance. Julian immediately went to the other men discussing political affairs in the corner. Angelique went to the buffet table with Minnielle. Minnielle was gripping Angelique’s arm tightly, and Angelique had lost feeling in her fingers. She passed her a plate of cake. “Look at all this food! How magnificent!” she said, turning to Minnielle, who was feebly chewing the cake. She spit it out. “This tastes gross,” Minnielle whispered, staring down at it.
Angelique looked surprised and took a bit out of it. It tasted like an ordinary cake, but they did add too much sugar. She put the plate down for Minnielle and walked over to the corner, looking around. Minnielle tugged on her dress, not looking into her face. “Can you make me a slice of cake?” she asked.
Angelique sighed, looking around quickly and finding one of the massive red curtains adorning the floor to ceiling windows. “Quickly, over there!” she said, running to the window. She tucked her hand behind the curtain, and when she brought it out a cake was in her hand. “Here you go!” she grinned, struggling to see Minnielle’s face. Minnielle took a bite, and a small smile appeared from beneath her bangs. “All better?” Angelique said.
Minnielle nodded, but Angelique could still see something was off. “Minnielle where do I put the gifts for the children?” Minnielle looked up slightly, her eyes gleaming and red. She pointed at a large table beneath the grand staircase. “You could drop them off there, but I suggest you hold onto them, since you are royalty, and they are your relation, you can give it personally.” “Very well,” Angelique said, turning her gaze around the ballroom. A crowd of girls was inching closer to Julian. Angelique laughed. “Look at those little girls, infatuated by a block of ice,” she said, staring at the one in front with a red face.
Minnielle looked up at her. “Do you not mind their infatuation, Angelique?” Angelique giggled “Of course not, I could care less. We are going to be strangers in three months anyway. Not to mention, Julian is a cruel husband who will end up breaking the heart of many women. He will never love a person in this lifetime."
Minnielle laughed a bit at Angelique’s words. “You're right, Angelique, he is the worst.” Angelique smiled down at her. “Watch your words, you may lose your head!” Angelique laughed imitating an axe chopping wood. Angelique smiled. “I’m glad you're becoming more comfortable here, Minnielle, it makes me feel more comfortable as well.”
Angelique turned to look again at the crowds, but her vision was blocked by a crowd of girls rushing up to her. They were the same ones that had been trying to talk to Julian. The one in front, with black ringlets bouncing about her face, stomped up to Angelique. She pulled out a fan and shielded her face.
“My my my! You smell like a dusty street!” The girl said, shaking her head. “And you look like one too!” Angelique looked at the young girls, dumbfounded. She had seen these types of encounters in drama. ‘Is this some sort of skit? How unrealistic.’ Angelique looked down at the girls, all dressed lavishly and with dangling jewels across their bodies.
“Yes, I was walking around the street earlier today,” Angelique said coldly. Minnielle was standing stiffly beside her, hands folded at her middle. The girls all look at each other, whispering and giggling. “Alishe Julian said to me just a moment ago that you’ve been neglecting the duties of your house!” The girl gasped, patting her chest with shock.
‘I wouldn't neglect them if my husband actually trusted me with them.’ Angelique glanced at Julian, who was staring at her, spinning his wine glass. ‘That absolute a**ho-’
The girl blocked her view with a jolt and said, “What kind of woman makes her husband so swamped with work. What a terrible wife!” Angelique rubbed her temples and took a deep breath. ‘This is unreal, It's like I'm stealing her husband. He's my husband!’ Angelique turned to Minnielle. “Let's go, I’m hungry. “Yes, my Lady,” she answered, head bowed.
The girls followed, laughing out. “Oh my! Your maid calls you ‘my lady!’” She gasped a bit. “Even maids don't respect you! She should be calling you, Alishen, right? Not surprising that she doesn't, you aren't a real Alishen, you’ve never even touched your husband!”
Minnielle’s face turned red. She knew she had been disrespecting Angelique since she first became the Alishen, but it had become a habit. Tears welled up in her eyes again. ‘The woman beside me is not Angelique, she’s my close friend and my personal chef. Why am I still being such a weight on her shoulders.’ Minnielle thought, her breath catching.
Angelique turned to the girls. “My married life is none of your business, now leave me and my maid alone. Thank you.” She smiled and then turned with one arm linked in Minnielle’s. The girls stayed together, still snickering, and Angelique shook her head. “Ah, the world would be so much better if women like them thought before they spoke.”
Minnielle nodded. They both walked out of the hall to a balcony and shut the doors behind them. The chilly night air blew Angelique’s hair back as she stared at the quickly disappearing sun. Minnielle blinked at her, clearing her eyes of tears. “Angelique, I’m truly sorry,” she whispered.
“Why is that, Minnielle?” Angelique smiled, turning back to her. “I know why you did it originally. You were treated like nothing, like trash. I don't blame you at all, so do not feel sad.” Minnielle let out a gasp.
“You knew?! About the dress and the title?!”
“Yes, of course, I did. I knew for sure when those mean ladies pointed out the title change. And the dress was obvious. But Minnielle, I don't care about dresses or titles. I just want you as my friend.”
“But why me? If I treated you so terribly, and I have the ability to blackmail you, why do you want to be my friend!?”
Angelique took a deep breath and smiled. “Everyone needs a friend. And I wouldn't call it blackmail, it's more like sharing secrets between sisters, yes?”
Minnielle walked up beside Angelique and bowed to her. “Thank you very much.” She said stiffly. Angelique let out a scoff and wrapped Minnielle in a hug. “I’m not comfortable with keeping servants, but I’m good at keeping friendships. So enough bowing, my little chipmunk!” She said, squeezing Minnielle. “Chipmunk?” Minnielle said, very confused.
The two spent a few hours after, shielded by a curtain, eating a feast of whatever food Angelique could come up with. Angelique had been throwing the plates like frisbees into the sky and watched them land in a lake not so far away.
Angelique lifted herself from the floor and leaped up onto the stone balcony. She spread her arms and shouted into the forest below. Minnielle and Angelique both laughed joyfully, while the loud sound of the crowds inside drowned out their playfulness. “Ah, this is nice!” Angelique said, balancing around the railing. “Should we head inside, I need to hand my gifts to the children.” Angelique sighed, staring at Minnielle for agreement.
Minnielle gave a stiff nod and chucked her plate into the lake. “This was fun, but we need to leave soon.”
The doors to the balcony flew open, catching Minnielle bu surprise. “What’s going on out here?” Exclaimed a bright, jovial voice. The curly brown hair, thin freckled face, and blue suit were familiar. It was Julian’s friend, Lorden Thinsen. Angelique sighed and turned back to pacing the railing, one foot at a time. “Greeting’s Lorden Thinsen. My husband isn't here right now, so if you're trying to find him you shouldn't ask me.”
“Ah, I see. No, I'm just here to say hello! Have you eaten?” he grinned. Thinsen’s eye was caught by an uneaten slice of cake. “Oh, how pretty. May I have a taste?” he asked, rushing for the cake. Angelique was caught off guard, and her foot slipped on the railing. “No! Wait-” she said, falling back, off the rail.
A black shadow flew towards her and enveloped her body. A pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist. She let out a gasp and turned to the man holding her. “Thank you-” she began to say, squinting to see the man. The man opened his mouth.
“You….are really an idiot,” he said. It was Julian, glaring down at her, their noses just barely touching. Her relieved face changed to an annoyed grimace. She lifted her hand and flicked his forehead with her fingers. “You should have just dropped me, you grumpy old man.” She challenged his piercing eyes with her own. “Can you let me down now?” she said, straightening her back. They both jumped down from the balcony to Minnielles shocked face, drained of color, and Thinsen, with his mouth open and cake in hand.
“Quickly, we are presenting our gifts now. You have gifts, right?” Julian said coldly, fixing his gloves and hair. “Of course.” She responded, matching his tone and actions.
They stepped outside, with a foot of space between them, both with stiff, unchanging expressions. Angelique and Julian both walked before the family, Alishe Hinton and Alishen Roberta, their two children standing beside them. They were all dressed in white, with blue gemstones accenting their blue eyes. ‘My word, they look like beings from a perfect world. They all have flowing curly hair!’ Angelique’s gaze went to the children, their small, perfect faces warmed her heart. ‘I'm going to die! What angels!’ She lowered herself to the children and smiled widely. “Greetings Lord and Lady,” she said.
The children looked her up and down, and turned to their parents, ignoring her. Angelique took a moment to understand. ‘Ack! I was just shunned by two precious angels!’ she cried inside her mind.
Comments (0)
See all