Page 37 of Glass Hearts

I awaken back in the bedroom suite. My heart is heavy with the weight of being fully seen by my men.

They had whispered sweet words with delicate touches.

They didn’t seem disgusted, nor did they request to end things right then and there.

Perhaps I have been too hard on myself, that they could look past my scars and really see me. Could it really be possible?

Lo and Winona sit outside on the balcony deck, still in their pyjamas, as I pad over to the open doorway. Bri is nowhere to be found.

“Good morning, sleepyhead!” Lo gets up from her chair to bring me into a comforting hug.

“I take it the princes dropped me off?”

“Yes, they said they had to deal with the council.”

“I hope they don’t do something stupid and confront Bernice. I just know it won’t end up good for anyone.”

“I am sorry about the abuse you suffered.” Winona joins us back in the room, still looking like a regal beauty queen.

I exhale sharply. “I am just shocked that they seemed to… Be okay with my scars? They didn’t seem to look at me as if I were less beautiful to them. So I suppose that is something. Where did Bri go?”

“I’m here!” Bri runs into the room, already in her uniform, and tosses me a spare. “We’ve gotta go—it’s chaos in the kitchens!”

“Why?”

“Apparently, there is going to be an impromptu dinner with an announcement, so everyone is all hands on deck to get the dinner service ready. Arabella, you are helping me set up the room today.”

Anxiety twists in my gut, but I am not sure why.

I quickly get ready in the bathroom, hugging Lo and Winona before I leave with Bri.

We hurry to the dining room, and it’s already a flurry of colours of black and red tapestries.

Boxes of dinnerware and decor lay on the floor.

We get to work immediately, helping the others.

After many hours, the dining room looks like it came straight from a catalogue for entertaining. Strangely, the dinner setting was only to be set up for ten people, meaning it couldn’t be for the courting events.

“Thanks for your help, Ella. Feel free to head back to your room and relax a bit. We may need your help later. For now, I am going to go check on Mother and see if she has any ideas what this is all about.” Bri leaves as I take in the elegant room once more.

There is an eerie stillness in the air, and I am surprised, as I walk around the castle, not to have run into any of the princes or council members.

As I walk past the great hall, I hear a commotion happening a few hallways down.

Curiosity leads me to the castle entrance.

That’s when I notice the rustling silk of all the selected court ladies’ daytime gowns.

My stepsisters missing from the collection.

Some are crying, and others look pissed off.

“How could they?!”

“They can’t even face us!”

“What a joke!” I hear a few random ladies sob out.

I spot Winona with her bags packed at her feet, looking annoyed with her arms crossed.

“What the heck is going on, Win?”

She lets out a frustrated sigh. “I have no clue, but I am glad I got to see you before I was so unceremoniously told to pack up my bags and leave within the hour.”

“Why the rush?”

“No idea, but we were told that if we weren’t off the premises within the hour, we would be thrown into the dungeon for trespassing. We are all waiting for transport.”

“The princes wouldn’t do that.” My brow furrows.

Winona wraps me up in a tight embrace. I returned the hug, desperate for her not to go as we had only just become friends.

“Ella, be careful. Something feels wrong. Please take care of yourself, and send a note my way as soon as you can,” she whispers into my ear.

“Stay safe, too, Win. I will give Bri and Lo a big hug for you.” Her carriage rolls up.

“For Miss White?” A finely dressed man calls out for Winona. After he put her luggage in the trunk, she gets in the carriage; her lingering look conveyed more than words, a silent farewell.

Until next time, friend.

* * *

As the afternoon passes, the castle feels grimmer, echoing with an unnerving emptiness.

All the ladies and their chaperons have left, and I still haven’t seen the princes.

Not even finding them in their rooms. Jett is nowhere to be found either, hoping I could ask him where his masters are.

The only room in the castle that seems to have people is the kitchen as they prepare for the impromptu multi-course dinner event.

Not being able to find anyone, I went back to my room in the servants’ quarters.

The first thing I see is a black dress, very similar to the one I wore at the ball, hanging up near the window.

Where the dress from the ball sparkled and had the back covered, this one has a silken matte fabric with an exposed back.

A note appears to be pinned onto the delicate strap.

Dinner in the dining room, 7 pm sharp. Wear this dress.

I turn over the note to see who left it. Nothing.

Kip and Bert pop out of their nest.

“Hey, Arabelly!”

“Hey, boys, did you see who dropped this off?”

“It was the strangest thing! A person, we think was a man, wearing all black and a mask, came in here and dropped this off, then disappeared.”

“One of the princes?”

“We don’t think so. He was shorter than them, and not as muscly.” A chill creeps up my spine.

Something feels off about all this. My hopeful heart wants to believe it’s a romantic gesture from my princes. Finally deciding to stop the games with me and the council. But the realistic side of me knows a girl like me can’t be that stupidly sanguine.

By the time I look at the clock, it is already 5:30. So I head to the bathrooms for a quick rinse and get ready as fast as I can.

“Boys, something feels wrong. I need you to find Lo and make sure she is okay. Come find me if she is in trouble.”

“You look beautiful, Arabelly!”

“You got it, Arabelly!”

I strap my gold dagger to my thigh, just in case.

The walk to the dining room feels like it takes ages.

The silence in the air is palpable, and not a soul wanders the desolate halls.

My heart pounds as I make it to the dining room double doors.

I hear talking and laughing on the other side.

With a deep breath, I open the doors to find dinner already started.

My stepfamily and the princes are here. Including Councilman Hendrickson. The other council members are oddly not present.

Then I catch the glint of an enormous diamond on each of the Quadias slender hands. Queasiness fills me as I note each prince holding their hand with the large rocks.

“No,” is all I seem to squeak out. All eyes turn their attention to me.

“Well, if it isn’t my deplorable stepdaughter. Finally, she graced us with her presence. I believe you owe my daughters a congratulations, Belly.”

“W-when did this happen?” I step back into the heavy door, wanting to escape.

“What? No congratulations? How rude, Belly,” one of my stepsisters snarks.

“Of course she wouldn’t congratulate us, my love; she is just a jealous whore.”

Tears build up in my eyes at Sylas’s words.

“Sylas, how can you be so cruel? Why are you all doing this? Why did you do this?” I do not care at this point what my stepfamily and the councilman think.

“That would be Prince Sylas to you, peasant,” Koi snarls to me. Tears fall openly now. My heart is breaking into a million pieces.

“Oh, Arabella, when will you learn that love is not meant for someone like you? Especially to princes—Ha! You will never, ever be important enough. Did you really think one prince, let alone four, could want the likes of you?” Bernice’s words cut deep, as shame fills my heart for believing it could be different.

I turn to Grayer, the first to openly want me and love me.

“Gray, what is going on? Is it because of them?” I point to the councilman. Grayer turns to his Quadia, kissing her neck in answer.

“Is she always so disrespectful, Bernice?” the councilman asks.

“Unfortunately.”

The councilman claps his hands. “Then how about a little entertainment, boys? Seems the stupid girl needs to be put in her place. Get on your knees, girl.”

“No!” I cry out in anger. I see the councilman go to the side to take out a large whip that hid in the corner. “No,” turns into a desperate plea.

“Look at these ugly scars. You are lucky they even touched you with these monstrosities. Now, I don’t want to do this, but you leave me no choice.

You need to learn your place and gain some damned respect.

Four lashings for each prince, another four for each stepsister you tried to steal from, and one for your beautiful stepmother. ”

Before I can even get on my knees, he is kicking me down. I look to my princes, who sit looking bored. The pain slices across my back without warning. Each lashing I take, I look at my princes. Sweat builds on my brow as he reaches the last nine.

I attempt to get up, but before I can even try to do that, he is slamming me down with one more brutal, harsh lashing. Pain slices my back as I cry out in agony, meeting the cool marble tiled floor.

“I don’t like uneven numbers,” he pants in exertion as I cry out, uncaring of the loud sobs. I can feel the blood dripping out of my wounds.

“Ugh, Mother, this is always so grotesque to watch. Must she still be here, bleeding on the floor on our engagement night?”

I feel Bernice’s claws in my arm before I see her, and she tries to pull me up to no avail.

“Get up, Belly, stop being so damned dramatic.” I slowly stand, my legs shaking, wanting to give out.

The blood continues to drip down my back.

“I think it’s time you left and got yourself cleaned up.

But don’t go too far, dear. I have found a suitor willing to marry you, and we will be visiting him tonight. ”

They all start laughing as I limp to the door. I don’t bother looking back as I leave the dining room.

Pain fills my whole body, not just from the lashings. But from my broken heart.

Never again will I fall in love.