Page 23 of Alpha's Impostor Bride

“You did say they are my maids, right?” I challenge him, hoping he doesn’t see how my knees are trembling under my dress.

He studies me for a few seconds, and for a moment I think I see a flicker of amusement in his eyes. But it’s gone after I blink, and I’m sure I just imagined it.

“Very well. What do you want to do with them?”

“The maids will wear the dresses. And I don’t want them to serve me anymore. I don’t need any maids. I don’t trust the staff in this castle to serve me. Harriet is enough for me. As for the designer, I won’t be getting clothes made by her again. Harriet will find me another designer. And this one will not receive any business from the castle ever again.”

At most, it’s going to hurt her cash flow, but at least she’ll be alive.

“Fine.” Cedric shrugs. “Do as you please. But you will have an attendant at all times.”

Because he doesn’t trust me, I muse to myself, my heart tightening in my chest.

“I won’t have my queen doing her own tasks. If the servants in the castle are not to your satisfaction, I’ll dismiss them all and bring in others.”

I’m stunned. Is this the same man who told me I should know my place and not make a fuss?

Harriet looks relieved. “I’ll demote the maids, Your Majesty.”

White-faced, the maids are led away by Harriet, and the designer follows after them. The only people left in the room are Cedric, Bella, and me. Feeling uncomfortable, I glance at her. She’s staring at Cedric. Maybe she wants to vent to him for not taking her side.

Cedric looks at me. “You’re not pleased?”

His words take me aback. “You did this to please me?”

He shrugs, carefully watching my expression. “They try to humiliate you, I make them pay for it.”

“They were just lackeys,” I murmur—mostly to myself, but he catches it.

“You want me to punish Bella?”

His arm is sprawled across the back of the couch as he studies me. I stare back at him, trying to figure out what his game is. He just went from paying no attention to me at all to suddenly defending me in front of the people who have been bullying me. I’m not naïve enough to believe that he has had a change of heart. He’s up to something. I’ve had enough of these games played with me to know that one wrong move can be catastrophic. I clench my fingers in the fabric of my dress, trying to push aside a wave of nausea.

Punish his lover? Does he really think I’m going to be stupid enough to say yes to that?

I straighten up, ignoring the spasm of pain in my back. “I leave that to your discretion, Your Majesty.”

Let him make of that statement what he will. He’s not going to do anything to Bella. I can understand why he was angry over her prank, though. After all, I am the queen now. If I were to wear those clothes, even within the castle walls, it would reflect poorly on him. He’s probably mad about that indirect impact on himself. That makes sense.

However, if I thought he would leave things at that, I’m sorely mistaken. As I turn to leave, he demands, “And where do you think you’re going?”

I face him again, blinking slowly. “My room?”

“I’m still sitting here,” he points out.

Confused, I look at him. “Do you need something from me?”

His jaw tightens, and he crosses his arms over his chest. Is it just me or does his face look slightly red?

“I don’t always need something from you. There’s another designer waiting outside. This time, I’m going to make sure you get appropriate dresses, even if I have to supervise everything myself.”

That throws me off. “I can do it myself.”

“I don’t remember asking you.” This is a man who doesn’t like being told no, and I’m starting to notice that his behavior is unpredictable, as well. Yet, his harsh words seem more familiar than anything else.

I glance toward Bella, who is still standing stiffly near the couch. This whole situation is far too uncomfortable for me, but do I have a choice?

There’s a knock on the door, and Harriet enters. “Should I bring in Melody?”

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