Chapter 98: Jealousy in Scarlet
Chapter 98: Jealousy in Scarlet
It wasn’t long before it was time to head to the Princess’s chambers.
Betty had changed out of her uniform and into the robes worn by the Princess’s personal maids, trying her best to blend into the group.
Walking at the back of the group, she kept her eyes peeled for anyone watching, feeling her heart pound within her chest.
This was her only chance. All she had to do was convince the Princess.
That was the only way to avoid getting slashed to death by Vlad.
Swallowing hard, she tightly clutched the bowl in her hands. They paused, waiting as the doors were pushed open to grant them entrance to Ava’s chambers.
With a sigh, Betty followed the girls, secretly thrilled as she successfully made it into the Princess’s surroundings.
The doors were slowly pushed together until they shut with an echoing thud.
The silent hallway was empty then.
And then, at the dark edge of the corner, a head poked out and glimmering green eyes peered gleefully at those closed doors.
Silky musical notes drifted through the air in Ava’s chambers.
She was deep inside a steaming hot bath, relishing the pleasures of the evening and all that came with it.
The horizon was blood-red with sunset, steam drifting up from her bath, and her mind floated as skilled fingers massaged her scalp.
Her feet were being rubbed, her hands being massaged, and her body being washed as the scalp massage tied it all together in a bundle of simple bliss.
A sigh parted her lips.
And yet the blissfulness evaded her.
She felt good, but she was struggling to relax.
How could she, when all she could think of was Syre?
It was ridiculous, she knew! Ava had always been fond of Syre, but not even she had thought that her feelings for him were to this extent.
She was only fond of him! But she was also fond of all my Legion brothers; they’d all raised her. So, why didn’t she care when the others paid more attention to Aurelia?
Ava sighed. It was frustrating to know that her feelings were a little more out of her control than she’d earlier thought. But it was even more frustrating to understand that Syre really did like that girl.
Far more than he liked Ava, clearly. When it came to beauty, Ava couldn’t say she was better than Aurelia, and that part frustrated her, too.
But why was she, a princess, dealing with such petty emotions over a girl who was no more than a servant? Sure, she didn’t look like one, nor did she carry herself as one, but she was one, regardless.
And Syre was a noble, one who worked for Ava’s father.
Both of them were people that she, as the heir to the throne, should not be concerned with.
So, she needed to put them out of her mind.
Pursing her lips, she tried to focus on the water lapping gently against her skin and the fingers expertly massaging her concerns away.
The peace didn’t last. She was thinking about Syre again.
He’d gone somewhere, to Geminor apparently. She didn’t know what he was doing there, but she found herself wondering if he’d gone alone.
It was outrageous to think that the servant girl could’ve gone with him. For what reason?
But Ava hadn’t spotted Aurelia all day.
Tensing, she steeled herself against the thought. It was not worth giving her mind over to such worries.
And yet, despite the resistance, she found herself turning a degree to the right where one of her maids knelt beside the tub.
“That girl,” Ava murmured, eyes closed. “That new housekeeper…”
“Aurelia, your Highness?” the girl responded.
“Yes. I… didn’t see her today.”
“Uh…” The girl exchanged looks with her colleagues, all wondering why the princess was asking and if Aurelia was in trouble. “She’s been dealing with personal matters, your Highness.”
Hearing the girl’s response, Betty straightened with determination to grab this chance. “She’s travelled out of Onyx, my dear Princess. To Geminor.”
Ava’s eyes opened.
The girls glared, and Betty hid her smirk by lowering her head to focus on massaging the princess.
“Geminor?” Ava’s voice was soft, her gaze clouded with unease.
“Yes, your Highness,” Betty humbly said. “Travelled with Mr. Syre to Geminor, just the two of ‘em.”
Ava slowly turned to look at her. “But… who are you?”
Pulling her hands away, Betty stood to curtsey as another maid came to stand beside her. “It’s Betty, your Highness. I mentioned it when we entered that she’s—”
“Oh, yes,” Ava said, sighing. “It slipped my mind. Continue.”
Both girls returned to their positions, and Ava slipped back into her thoughts.
The sunset became a blur as she thought of Syre with the beautiful Aurelia, all alone in some foreign land. So many opportunities to steal a touch or a kiss.
Rage sizzled in her blood, tensing her muscles and lengthening her fangs until they pressed dangerously against her tongue, threatening to draw blood.
Ava pulled away from the girls and their busy hands. “Everyone, out. Turn off the music.”
They didn’t even argue. They’d already sensed her mood darkening and had begun bracing themselves. Her dismissal was a blessing, and they hurried up, gathering their stuff and curtseying to wish her goodnight.
Without further delay, they made a hasty exit to escape the heavy doom that was filling the room like a blanket of dark clouds.
When the doors closed and silence surrounded her, Ava sighed and relaxed into the water.
She closed her eyes, ignoring the burning in her throat.
She understood that Syre couldn’t like her because she was the future Queen and because of his loyalty to the King, but…
Ava pouted, a tear slipping out from under her closed lids.
Not even a single speck of romantic affection, even after all these years? Did he really care so little for her?
A sound snapped Ava out of her thoughts. Her eyes opened and, instantly, she envisioned the person behind her without even turning.
“I told you to leave. Do you wish to die instead?”
Betty rushed forward and dropped to her hands and knees beside Ava’s tub.
“Your Highness! I’m deeply sorry for my disobedience! But this is urgent. I must talk to you about that wench, Aurelia!”
Frowning, Ava slowly turned to the bowing girl. “What about her?”