Page 15 of Mated to the Crown
“Yes, the truth.” I turn and look at him. I can see the confliction on his face.
“You are lower in succession than Queen Ilsa’s children. The likelihood of you taking over the throne is small. If you wanted to disappear, you probably could.” He spoke matter of factly and honestly, he was probably right. Even though my Mother wanted me on the throne, there were so many other people who I had to get through to be there. I didn’t even know if I wanted the throne.
“Thank you Morgan, for your honesty. I will see you after breakfast?” A small smile appeared on his face and he disappeared back inside. Thoughts mulled in my brain, but when I look at my watch and see it’s almost 7 a smile spreads on my face. Time to see Celeste.
I couldn’t stop the smile that spread on my face as I walk back to my room. I was in my own head when I heard the familiar clicking of heels running up behind me. The last person I wanted to see.
“Excuse me! Your Highness!” The shrill voice of Delany sounded behind me. She ran the concubines. She was the one in charge of finding out how to keep the Royal family from sleeping around with the public.
“What do you want?” I grumble, turning around to face her.
The amount of work she has done to her face always astonishes me. Her lips are too plump, always a bright red lipstick covering them. She has little to no wrinkles covering her face. Her lashes are huge, almost a laughable offense. Her makeup is always on point, no matter what time of day.
“I wanted to talk to you! What is going on lately? Have your needs changed?” She looks down at her clipboard, flipping the paper up and down.
“I don’t want anymore. Stop sending them to me.” My voice lowers and I have to clench my hands to keep myself in check.
“But, what happened? That one girl is gone.” She laughs, throwing her hands up like it was no big deal.
“No. More. Delany.”
She pouts her lip, not used to being told no. She is used to fulfilling fantasies, planning on ways to make it so she was entwined with every Royal so she would be irreplaceable.
“Oh. Okay.” Her voice drops and she looks down at her clipboard, writing down some notes before stepping past me.
CELESTE
The morning came quicker than I wanted. I turned and looked outside our small window in the room I shared with Lyra, seeing the sun starting to creep out from the mountains. We had two twin beds that barely fit in this room but it was something that was normal for the servants. It was a plain room, wooden floors and pale yellow walls. A bathroom adjoined our room and another bedroom.
I went into the bathroom, washed my face and quickly changed into a pale green dress. It was one of my ‘nicer’ dresses. I don’t even know why I was bothering. I hated Prince Malik. Yes, yes. I hated him alright.
Not.
“Where are you going?” Lyra appeared at the door, rubbing at her eyes. Her hair was smushed on one side, her eyes still droopy.
“I have new chores, remember? I have to bring towels and sheets to Prince Malik.”
She nodded, stifling a yawn before heading back into the bedroom.
I finish getting ready and head to the laundry rooms. I grab towels and sheets before heading up to his room. I knock, trying to be polite but not seeing Morgan nearby to ask if Prince Malik is awake or not. I hear a groan before the door whips open. I am confronted with a bed headed Prince Malik and fuck, he looks good.
His hair is messy, sticking up in various places. He drags a hand across his face and I can’t help but notice his abs. The muscles are thickly layered, proving me wrong about my early accusation that he just sits around. Clearly not, look at those things. My eyes continue to travel, noticing all he is wearing are black boxers and someone is happy to see me.
I quickly snap my eyes back up to his as he lets me in. I rush into the bathroom after some conversation with him. He scolds me for calling him Your Highness. It was something I had done for years to every other Royal so I wasn’t sure if I could fix that tendency so quickly. I keep my answers short, snapping often to try and keep him in his own lane. I still couldn’t figure out if I wanted to even try this fantasy or let it be. When I come back out after stocking the towels I notice he has disappeared into the closet so I focus on the sheets. Pulling them off sends a scent of him toward me, filling my nose as I change them.
What kind of sick fuck are you, Celeste? Sniffing his sheets.
There is a slight hint of a female smell too so I try to forget about it. I’m not his, why would it matter if he had someone in his bed? I busy myself with putting the new sheets on and go to the closet.
It is huge. Filled to the brim of clothes I couldn’t even dream of. I don’t mean to stare but my mouth drops slightly as I look around. A knot forms in my stomach. Another reminderthat we are from two different worlds. He would never want for something. I had just had enough to get by.
“That fantasy could include a closet filled with your clothes too.” He smirks, meeting my eyes and I want to believe him but there is doubt seeded deep within. I’m probably just a plaything for him. He is bored of the concubines, surely.
“What? I’ll be back at 7.” I mutter and turn from the room. I make my way downstairs to the kitchen and stand off to the side, watching them cook.
Maybe I could work in the kitchen, they never see the Royals. They constantly cook and bake, sometimes even going out to the markets to get new inspiration for dishes. Unfortunately, I am not a great baker or cook. I can do the basics but that is about it. They probably wouldn’t let me change to the kitchen.
This morning they are making sausage, bacon, poached eggs and English muffins. The English muffins come in fresh from the griddle, still steaming as they place them on plates. A small dish of butter and jam is placed beside it. Three pieces of sausage, two of bacon and 3 poached eggs go on next as they pass the plate to me. A cover quickly goes over it and I am shooed from the room.
