Okay everyone. I redid this chapter because my original one, I didn't like. So this is a redo and I am pretty happy with it. Anyway, you'll find out soon why it's called the Lady in Waiting. Soon enough, I hope. However, for right now, the woman Devyn falls for is NOT marguerite. She wasn't even going to be part of my story until everyone kept bringing her up!

The Lady In Waiting

Chapter 3

Oh bother. What is it about women and me? I swear…The last time I was in a relationship, it ended with her clawing my face because she saw me with…ah…another woman. Hey, I'm King (or Prince then). She couldn't say what I could or not do. Besides, I had to build up my social skills. Right? I still have the claw mark on my right cheek. It's very feint but it's still there. When my father found out, he just sent her away to some convent. I heard lately that she ran away with some stable boy. Oh well.

So, what was with Lady Marguerite? I didn't do anything. Nothing! I swear. Instead of trying to kill me, she should kill my brother. He was the one who came up with this blasted deal.

Marriage. Bah! I didn't even want to get married until I was way, way older. I still could have my fun but wouldn't have to be stuck with one woman until I was ancient and with a gray beard.

"Marguerite…hey…uhm…relax?" I said scratching the back of my head and smiling as sweetly as possible.

She lowered her hands—claws more like. Jeez, where did she get those crazy long red nails? I hated it when she stared at me with her feisty blue eyes that seemed to read every secret you had. She raised her nicely curvy eyebrows and put her hands on her round hips (what? Just noticing…)

"Devyn, don't give me that, I'm-so-innocent crap." She snapped harshly.

I shook my head. Why? Why? Why? Women were a curse! I think I'm going to go buy an island and hide there forever without the cursed women that flock me like no other!

Before I could respond carefully so she wouldn't claw me, Fredrick jumped in has jovial as possible. He put his arm around my shoulders tightly (I tried to shake him off but he was too determined) and flashed a smile.

"Oh, Marguerite, you're really over reacting. See here, Devyn saw the beautiful portrait of the Princess of Keeira and just couldn't help…fall in love. HE wrote the King immediately demanding his daughter. Oh yes, your secret love for Devyn is ruined now." Fredrick said as lightly as possible.

Oh, I swear, I could've killed him right there. Well, instead of stabbing him, I elbowed him hard in his gut forcing a smile. He choked on his own breath (possible?). Lady Marguerite looked at us and sighed like she was just about to punch me hard. I wasn't afraid of her punches—I was afraid of her daggum, freakish long sharp nails!

"Well…" I said chewing on my lip, "It's really not like that…See…"

"Devyn, shut up," Marguerite snapped, "You're just a lying, deceitful pig who plays on innocent ladies like me!"

"INNOCENT!" I snorted. I pointed my finger in her face, "You're innocent?! Wasn't it just yesterday that I saw you walking with Mr. Hotshot from south of here? Hmm? Holding hands?"

Marguerite's jaw dropped.

"You…saw…us?" She whispered fingering her ring on her hand.

I nodded.

Fredrick looked up at me and Marguerite.

"Wait a second. You both are cheating on each other?" Fredrick said.

"Shut up, Fredrick." Marguerite and I snapped at the same time.

"That's not fair!" Marguerite said, "That was only once I've cheated on you! What about all of your affairs you have had with your mother's ladies-in-waiting!?"

Now it was my turn to shut up. Okay, so maybe I did get around a bit but hey, they were the ones coming up to me! It was never my intention to start a…relationship.

"Uhm, Marguerite, they forced him." Fredrick pointed out.

"How can you force some one—"

"Because, you're not a guy, so you don't understand when someone comes up to you and…"

"Oh." Marguerite said, "You could've run away!"

"Maybe the first time and the second but the third, never." I said.

There, that's the truth. It really wasn't my fault. Stupid hormones. Why couldn't people just be sensible and leave guys a lone?

"So why were you with him?" I accused vehemently.

Marguerite rolled her eyes.

"We grew up together." She huffed crossing her arms, "He was off in ward—" Sniff "and just got back…we uh…anyway, we hadn't seen each other in a couple years. It was nice to catch up."

I leaned over and whispered to Fredrick,

"Really, catch up."

We both snorted into laughter. I noticed Marguerite gave both of us a nasty look. Oh well. She could do that all she wanted. It didn't hurt me.

"Ouch!" I said sarcastically.

"Devyn, you really need to work on your sarcastic skills." Marguerite had to point out.

"You know what? I don't have time for this. I have a kingdom to take care of!" I replied hotly.

"Running away?" She said, "Coward."

I narrowed my eyes. Nobody, ever, called me a coward! Nobody! Throwing Fredrick off of my shoulders, I walked up to her face, eyes narrowed coldly.

"What…did…you…just…say?" I whispered.

She smirked.

"I called you a clenched my fists tightly. If only she wasn't a girl…

"Fine, call me a coward but at least I'm not a whore!" I snapped angrily.

This was her time to get mad. She pushed me with her chest and I pushed back. We started yelling.

"I am not a whore!"

"I am not a coward!"

This battering went on for a while. Finally, Fredrick jumped in, separating us.

"Children!" He yelled, "Shut up!"

I rubbed the sweat off of my forehead. This was ridiculous. We were acting like children! I was even a King. I shouldn't be yelling at Marguerite anyway. What would my mother say? I frowned. That was another thing she was going to yell at me for when she finds out. Oh well.

Fredrick eyed Marguerite and I making sure we weren't going to jump down each others throats.

"Alright, breathe, relax, and go your separate ways." Fredrick said quietly. I rolled my eyes. I loved Fredrick to death but man, sometimes he felt like a thorn at my side poking me every time I moved.

"Go practice your archery." I huffed and walked away.

I saw Lady Marguerite shake her head and say something to Fredrick. They both started laughing (probably at me!). I ignored them and continued walking towards the castle. I was NOT going to give Marguerite the satisfaction of turning around. Never!

However, when Fredrick started his high pitched geeky laugh, I knew that I was missing something. What the heck? I whipped around and scowled at them.

"What?" I snapped.

Fredrick clasped his stomach and pointed at me.

"You---hahahahahaha---have---hahahaha---" But he couldn't finish. He went into another fit of laughter. I wasn't going to ask Marguerite what the problem was. No way! For calling me a coward, she didn't even deserve to be in my presence. After all I am King.

"Fine!" I snapped and briskly walked away. Besides, I had more important things to do like talk to the ambassador from Kreeira. I remember someone telling me that he wanted to speak to me about the marriage. Finally, I couldn't hear the blasted laughter from Fredrick and Marguerite. It was really getting on my nerves like nothing else. Sighing, I entered the castle by a secret side door that only Royalty knew about.

A blast of cool air greeted me. It felt good since it was blazing hot outside. It took me only minutes before I found myself in the Right Wing of the castle. The ambassador lived on the third floor (there was five floors in the castle) amongst the councilors. I ran up the staircase at the end of the first floor staircase until it stopped at the third floor. I walked in the corridor nimbly.

Everything was quiet. No servants walked around cleaning nor were they making any noise. That's odd. I thought. Usually, everyfloor in the castle was buzzing with energy—servants running around, guards marching back and forth, dogs barking. However, the only thing that made noise was the torches crackling.

I furrowed my eyebrows as I walked down the corridor. It felt so chilly. Not cold…but something. I couldn't explain it but something was wrong.

Most of the doors were closed. Only one at the end was open. I figured that I would start there and look in each room. I should've really token the time to know where every one slept.

Before I reached the end of the hall, I heard a whoosh of material, and the clanking of jewelry. I glanced behind me and my jaw dropped.

"King Devyn, what are you doing?" My mother sharply cried, her hawk like features coldly staring at me.

"Mother, what are you doing?" I said.

She raised her eyebrows.

"Looking for you of course." She snapped.

"Why?" But I already knew the answer.

She walked up to me. Even though I was a lot taller than her, she always walked around like everyone was smaller than her. She was very regal and proud. Proud doesn't even cut it.

She poked a finger at my chest.

"Because you were yelling at Lady Marguerite!"

"She provoked me!" I defended.

"Well, why wouldn't she. She just found out that the love of her life was getting married to a foreign princess!" My mother said.

"Really, well then why was she running around with that guy yesterday." I said feeling a tinge of jealousy.

"Oh my goodness. IS that why you are mad? Devyn, that was her brother! She only said that to make you jealous!" My mother said shaking her head.

Her brother? Oh no and I called her a whore! She was the one faithful to me and I…

"Oops." I muttered and ran my hand through my hair.

"Son, I expect you to go to her and say sorry. I saw her crying only seconds ago." Mother said like I was a little kid.

"But last time I saw her she was laughing at me. She and Fredrick!" I retorted.

"Why?" Mother inquired.

I shrugged.

"Turn around." Mother commanded.

I sighed. Another thing I couldn't stand—controlling women. But she was my mother and the Queen so I couldn't say no…I slowly turned around. Before I knew it, Mother was laughing.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"If we only had a mirror." She muttered.

"Well we don't! Tell me!"

"You know there is another way of knowing…"

"Go away!" I snapped and walked away.

What was it with me today? Sheesh, people were laughing at me, girls accused me, I punched my brother, and this daggum corridor was freakishly quiet.

The door was open and I peeked in. Mother was behind me, giggling in her annoyingly way. I glared at her before walking in. When I turned to the right, I screamed.

"Dear Lord…" My mother whispered before she too screamed.

Sorry but I had to end the chapter this way. It was the only way. Yep. Hoped yall enjoyed it!