Page 7 of Mated to the Crown

More curses fill my mind as I stalk away.

Just because I’m interested doesn't mean I’m his.

He’s just a stupid Prince, thinking that he’s better than anyone and can have anyone he wants.

That’s not the truth. I’m a person and I have my own thoughts, even if those thoughts are about him and me in bed.

It’s a fantasy. That’s all. I walk through the gardens, trying to get away from him as fast as I can.

I need to figure out how to get through this.

He’ll be in the palace everyday, I just needed to find chores that don’t involve being anywhere near him.

Maybe I can transfer over to the laundry or the night shift.

There has to be something… If I see him again, I’ll probably lose it.

I enter back inside, looking around at the regular monotony of the palace.This place has been my home for as long as I can remember.

Deep down I want something different, I want to change my course, but now that it’s about to be changed I’m scared.

That nervous girl, hiding behind my mother when my father died and wanting to pull away from everyone.

That is all I am. I scold myself, but that is all I know.

I wasn’t ever put in the position to be responsible for other people’s thoughts or actions.

I’m not someone people can’t live without.

I’m a servant and easily replaced. I’m not a Princess.

I need to go find Jeffries to ask about moving chores, this is all I can do for now. There is no way I can stay where I am, and I need to figure out what’s going to happen now that Charlotte isn't around. Does that change what I am doing?

“Jeffries!” I call out, running over to him. He is at his usual spot, notebooks sprawled on the standing desk in front of him.

“Oh Celeste, I wanted to talk to you.” He gives me a smile and grabs a different notebook, flipping it open.

“Your chores have been changed due to the Queen’s unfortunate passing.

We have had to shuffle things around, some staff have been moved to assist in the funeral and you will be moved as well. ”

Hope blooms in my chest. I could busy myself with getting ready for the funeral. There will be extra loads of laundry to be done, prep in the kitchen for the big meal after, even just helping to organize and keep everything clean.

“I understand. What will I be doing?” I ask, trying to sound neutral and keep my hope buried in my chest.

He rips off a piece of paper from his notebook and hands it to me,

“The times are listed. Your new routine starts tomorrow. Any questions, please talk to me, Stella is not your superior anymore, you will report directly to me and Morgan.”

My eyes shoot up.

Morgan? As in Prince Malik’s right hand butler?

“Thank you.” I nod again and hold the paper in my hand.

He folded it before he handed it to me, so I can’t look at it while I walk. I quickly duck into a bathroom and pull the door closed, locking it before I look at the paper.

6am - Bring fresh towels and sheets, change out them all

7am - Bring breakfast from the kitchen

8am - Clean room thoroughly

12pm - Bring lunch from the kitchen

2pm - Reading and education in the study

5pm - Bring dinner from the kitchen

7pm - Clean up room

I squint at the paper, noticing the small writing at the bottom.

New main servant for Prince Malik.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I hiss.

A knock on the door disturbs my anger and I quickly tuck the note into my pocket.

I need to find my sister.

I open the door and move my way out while another servant enters. My face is heated, my heart thumping wildly in my chest. Everything I wanted to happen was not. I make my way through the rooms and spot Josh.

I wave to him and run over.

“Hey, did you get your chores mixed around?” I ask, leaning close to him.

“Yeah, everyone kind of got moved around. Leslie, Marcie, Lyra and Francis all got pulled for the funeral. Kacie and I got shifted to the laundry. I would rather be on funeral duty.” He groans and I make a face.

“They put Marcie and Lyra together? That’s not good. They’re going to murder each other.” He laughs and I look up at him.

“No, I’m serious.”

“Why? Cause last I knew they worked well together.” He places his hands on his hips.

“Cause the guy Lyra was fucking was with Marcie last.” I say slowly.

His eyes widen before he bursts out in a laugh.

“Oh, that’s gonna be awkward. Where did you get moved to?” He looks down at me, a few inches taller than myself.

For a while I wanted to be his. He was tall and burly, yet his unruly brown hair was always a mess, and his dark chocolate brown eyes seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. He was unfortunately not interested in women, to my dismay.

“Um…” I bite the inside of my cheek. “Personal servant to Prince Malik.”

He stays still, and slowly his lips curl into a smile, and he pats my shoulder.

“Damn, wanna switch?” He wiggles his eyebrows and I push his hand off of me.

“I have to find Lyra.”

She’s with someone she hates. And I’m the fucking personal goddamn servant to Malik.

I can’t even imagine this.

The funeral will be within the next few days most likely. It will take a lot to prepare so the palace will be extra busy. There will be other families from other lines coming to see the Queen. Poor Charlotte. It will be pure chaos.

I make my way to the kitchen, looking around for Lyra but not finding her.

It’s late afternoon and the chefs and cooks are busy preparing dinner.

I can smell the beef stew in the air. The thyme and black pepper fill the space, the sweet smell of rolls in the oven and then the thick scent of buttery, starchy potatoes.

My stomach rumbles and I realize - I haven’t eaten much today.

Hopefully, I will have time after I find Lyra.

Do I still need to go to the stables at 7?

I really don’t feel like seeing Prince Malik again. Should I even call him Prince anymore? I probably should, and not forget it when we are in public.

I exit the kitchen and the cool air of the dining room hits me.

The table is set but only enough plates for Isla and her family.

I personally have never been a part of the dining service, so I’m not actually sure where everyone eats.

Isla is technically the current Queen, so it makes sense that she’s the one who would eat here.

I think back to the new list of notes - Prince Malik is eating in his room. Maybe the others are too.

I push through another set of doors and slam right into Lyra.

“Oh my Goddess. I need to talk to you, like stat.” I clutch her shoulders and she drops the worried look on her face and smiles.

Her curls are frizzy and frazzled, but she gives me her softest smile, no tears on her face.

Hopefully she is feeling better.

“Let’s go. Stables?” She asks, turning and grabbing my hand.

She interlaces our fingers and pulls me from the room. The stables are the last place I want to be in, but it has always been our sanctuary, up in the hay loft.

I stay quiet beside her as we walk. Night has started to take over, the sun setting behind the mountains, and the air cooling off.

Stars begin to peek out from the sky, trying to shine brighter than the next.

The walk to the stables isn’t too far, but far enough to feel like you are in a completely different town.

This place always humbles us, makes us imagine we weren’t servants of the Royals and think of a different reality.

The path is dirt, so the noise of our feet on the rocks echo across the vast fields. The horses are still out, but the stable boy will be putting them in for the night. The black stallion I love perks up, as he hears us walking, trotting over to the edge of the fence that meets the road.

“Hey, Wrangler,” I reach out and scratch behind his right ear, his favorite spot.

He leans his head against my hand and nickers.

“Tell me about your day.” I say cautiously.

“Um, it was shit. I found Jonas and Marcie in the laundry room together. Queen Charlotte died so now it is going to be busy.” Lyra says quietly. “Then I got stuck with Marcie for the new routines and all I can think about is how his hands have been on her and his mouth. It makes me sick.”

Lyra leans against the fence and Wrangler moves over to her, pressing his face against her shoulder.

“I know, big guy, you are the only one for me.”

I feel for her, not sure if I should darken the mood even more and tell her all my drama with Prince Malik.

What would I even tell her? That I was there for Charlotte’s death, when she died peacefully? That he came in, and I felt something deep inside when he touched my skin? That all I wanted was to be close to him?

“How was your day?” Lyra’s soft voice interrupts me and I shake my head.

“Oh, perfect. I’m meeting a hottie at 7 down here.” I smile, reaching back out to pet Wrangler.

“Oh, what’s his name?” She laughs.

I hesitate, trying to figure out who I can say it is. Any servants she would go right to and ask them about it. I can’t tell her it’s Malik, it would be too much to decompress.

“Frankie.” I blurt.

“Frankie? Is that why you are down here? Since when were you into stable boys?” She nudges me and laughs.

Now I just needed to get to him and let him know to play along.

“Yeah well, gotta get laid somewhere.” I joke back.

Wrangler’s ears perk up and he straightens, whinnying before trotting off to the barn.

“Wonder what that was about.” I whisper.

“So, I guess I won’t keep you from your sex. Wait, are you doing it in the hay loft? Please don’t desecrate our special space.” Lyra giggles.

I glance at her before bursting out laughing. Not only was I definitely not going to be fucking up there, it wouldn’t be with Frankie either.

“I promise. I’ll see you tonight. Please try and take some time to get rid of those shit feelings. You aren’t worth a scumbag like Jonas.” I hug her quickly, her hair tickling my cheek.