The following morning, Queen Alison awoke to bright sunlight shining on her face and the sound of birds chirping. Disoriented and wondering what was going on, she reached over to her bedside table and pulled a lever. After doing so, she sighed and laid spread-eagle in her bed. There was a small knock on her door and her personal assistant walked in carrying a silver tray with her breakfast on it. Happy at the sight of her breakfast and new personal assistant, Alison sat back up in bed as Emily placed the tray in front of her.
"Good morning, my queen." Emily said, removing the cloche cover, which kept the food warm. Her breakfast today was eggs Benedict with fresh raspberries and orange juice. Alison began eating while Emily removed the scroll of parchment that was tucked under her arm and opened it.
"You look nice today." Alison said, noticing that her assistant once again looked almost as beautiful as she. Her dark brown hair fell just right and her clean tan skin rivaled Alison's paler skin. For once in Alison's life she actually felt threatened, wondering if other's would notice her assistants beauty and brand her as the most beautiful in the land. As she continued to take in everything about her personal assistant, she was snapped back to reality as her assistant began telling her her schedule that she must've memorized.
"In one hour, Prince Noel Kahn of Ravenswood will be arriving at the docks. He will be staying in one of the bed chambers on the floor below. You are to be friendly and spend time with him during his stay this week." Emily said. Alison rolled her eyes, remembering that Noel was coming. "The horse stables are open at eleven, so that you and Prince Noel can ride horses around the woods and fields. The chef is making lunch for you both a picnic lunch that you can eat on top of the hill. After that, you don't have to see him until dinner."
Alison sighed and looked out her window towards the docks. Noel's arrival was not going to be a happy one, and she swore to herself that she wasn't going to be very nice to him. She turned back to her assistant and pointed to her. "Get this off of me and then come help me take bathe." she commanded, realizing that there was no way out of this. Her assistant quickly removed the tray from Alison's lap and helped her stand up, Alison quickly crossed the room and entered her bathroom.
In the bathroom, Emily removed Alison's clothes and helped her into the tub. She washed Alison's hair with skilled hands that made Alison feel like she was getting a massage too. When Emily rinsed out her hair, Alison felt as if she was in pure bliss. Her old assistant never thoroughly bathed her like this. She studied Emily's face as she washed her body, noticing how Emily chewed her bottom lip as she scrubbed Alison clean. Alison found herself watching her assistant a lot more than she did with the previous ones, this one seemed different. Even though she didn't volunteer to take this job willingly. When Emily brushed out her hair again while Alison was putting on her signature red lipstick, she almost messed up because she couldn't take her eyes off her assistant in the reflection of the mirror.
"I'm sorry if I mess this up I've never done this before." Emily said quietly when it was time for her to tie up Alison's corset. Alison sucked in as Emily tied it up, feeling the tightness wrap itself around her, a feeling she had gotten used to. She almost envied Emily for never having to wear a corset before, she had obviously never felt the feeling of being short of breath just so she could look thinner than she already was. As Alison was helped into her powder blue dress and velvet light blue robe which fastened under her chin. Emily braided her hair and placed her pointy crown on top of her head with such ease that Alison didn't realize that the crown was on her head until Emily stepped back.
"I think you're all ready." Emily said, looking at Alison.
"Time?" Alison asked, admiring herself in her mirror.
"Fifteen minutes to ten, my queen." Emily said. "Your carriage is waiting for you out front to meet Prince Noel at the docks."
Alison nodded and exited her room, snapping for Emily to follow. She walked down the hall, preparing herself to keep the expression that she had practiced for so long. She passed people who worked in the castle, all bowing or curtseying as she passed. Her thundering footsteps could be heard from all around the castle. Arriving outside, there was a white carriage with two white horses attached to it, stomping their feet and shaking their heads. Four Rosewood guards were stationed at each wheel with weapons in their hands.
Alison stopped, waiting for Emily to open the carriage door for her. Emily didn't seem to know that she was supposed to do so until Alison cleared her throat and motioned for her to open it. Stammering her apologies, Emily rushed forward and opened the door for Alison and held out a hand to help her in. "I'll be back by eleven no doubt. Go tell the head of the stables that I would like my horse Emison ready to go by the time I get back. Also have him get Spoby ready as well, Noel can ride him."
"Right away, your highness." Emily bowed. Alison watched as Emily turned and walked back up the steps to the castle and inside. As her carriage pulled away, she couldn't help but wonder about what life was like for Emily before she began Alison's personal assistant.
As the carriage made it's way through town, the people of the town stopped and stared open mouthed as they caught sight of their queen. Some people tried to approach the carriage, only to be pushed away by one of the guards that was walking alongside of the carriage. Alison kept a straight faced as she passed her people. Some looked wealthy with robes of fine material and bright colors. Other looked like Emily did, faces covered in dirt and clothes worn out. Emily obviously had come from the lower class of people, it was probably a good thing that Alison had pulled her from her pathetic state.
She noticed one man watching her, not staring open mouthed at her, but instead almost glaring. He had curly brown hair and had darker skin like Emily's. He was pretty cute, but he glared at Alison with such hatred she hadn't seen since her brother was alive. This must've been Ben Coogan, the man Emily was supposed to marry before she became her assistant. She smirked at him when she realized that the reason he was glaring at her was because she took Emily from him. Once Ben went out of sight, Alison turned to face forward, wondering if Ben treated Emily like how she deserved to be treated.
She couldn't think about this much, since they arrived at the docks minutes later. A guard opened the carriage door for her and helped her out, two more followed her as she walked down the dock towards the docked ship with the Ravenswood flag. She waited as the ship let out a ladder and a man stepped down, his back towards her.
"Prince Noel." Alison said, but it sounded like a statement.
Prince Noel turned around, flashing a smile that made Alison almost cringe. "Queen Alison." Prince Noel said, approaching her. He was wearing navy blue and his crown was nothing compared to the one Alison was wearing. He was a lot taller than here, and was probably the most attractive prince in about fifty miles. His icy blue eyes crinkled when he smiled and he had perfect teeth. Alison heard about how he had many suitors as well, and wondered why he spent so much time trying to get Alison to be his wife when there were other girls that were fawning over him the same way he was fawning over Alison.
Prince Noel reached out and took Alison's hand, he bowed his head and kissed her hand. Alison let him kiss her hand, but the feeling of his lips felt like he was burning a hole into it. She drew her hand back, the wet feeling still there and this time she actually did cringe. Luckily it went unnoticed by Noel, who was looking past her at her kingdom. "Just like I remembered it." Noel smiled, he held out his arm for Alison to wrap around while they walked to the carriage.
By now, quite a few people from the kingdom were gathering around, watching the pair as they walked back to the carriage. Some shouted Alison's name, others talked quickly to the people around them. Alison paid them no mind, she was focused on other things, like on her breathing. Prince Noel helped Alison into the carriage and got in himself, sitting down across from Alison.
When the carriage began moving again, Alison looked out the window, but she could feel Noel's eyes on her. She turned away from the window and looked at Noel, who was indeed staring at her, and smiling. "You've gotten more beautiful since the last time I saw you." Noel said. Alison wanted to roll her eyes right there, but she refrained.
"You've gotten...taller." Alison said, unable to think of anything nice to compliment him with.
"I've grown an inch since your eighteenth birthday and coronation." Prince Noel said, sitting up straighter.
Alison nodded her head, pretending to be interested in what he was saying, but found it very hard. She tried to answer his questions with her best effort, but Noel still was very bad at engaging in a conversation with her. He occasionally stuttered and when his face would go red, he would compliment her on her beauty and then brag about himself. It was classic Noel, still the same one she met when she was seven.
When they arrived back at the castle, Emily was standing out front, holding her hands and ready to let them out once the carriage stopped. She walked up to the carriage and opened the door for them. "Welcome Prince Noel. Welcome back Queen Alison." Emily said, smiling at them as they exited. Alison nodded at Emily as she passed.
"Emison and Spoby are in the stables and are ready to be ridden whenever you would like." Emily said, as she followed them up to the castle entrance.
"I think we are going to go soon, I just need to change into something more appropriate for riding. Come with me." she commanded to Emily. Before they turned towards her room, Alison found the man that brought Emily to her yesterday. "You," she said, causing the man to stop. "Take Prince Noel to his bedroom chamber, his carriage with his luggage should be here soon. When it arrives, take it down to his chamber. When he finds himself comfortable, have him wait in the parlor, get him anything he wishes. I will be down shortly."
The man nodded frantically and bowed to Prince Noel, "Right this way, Prince Noel." he said. Noel glanced at Alison before following the man towards the stairs.
"Come help me change, Emily." Alison said, walking towards the next flight of steps that would lead them to her room.
Alison once again studied Emily as Emily helped take off her crown and dress, and into her riding dress. This time she noticed that Emily's deep chocolate brown eyes had a kindness to them. There was almost a glimmer in her eyes that seemed to radiate warmth and comfort. She compared Emily's eyes to her own icy blue. Her icy blue eyes were very beautiful there was no doubt about that, but she didn't see any signs of a glimmer or warmth that Emily's had. All she saw was coldness in the sea of blue. Alison made a mental note to herself to ask Emily about her life before, wondering how she got the glimmer in her eyes. There had to be something.
When Emily was done, she escorted Alison to the parlor to get Noel and then out to the stables. Two beautiful horses, saddled up and were ready, waiting for Noel and Alison. Alison's white horse, Emison stomped the ground when he noticed Alison step towards him. Alison held out her hand and stroked the beautiful horses' nose and it let out a sharp breath. For some reason, she wondered if she felt cold to everyone that she touched. She shook this feeling off, realizing how crazy the thought was and looked at Noel. Noel was admiring Spoby, a chestnut horse that was a few years younger than Alison's.
Alison turned her attention from Noel to Emily and noticed how uncomfortable she looked in the situation. "What is it?" Alison asked, her voice booming. She probably asked Emily with too harsh of a voice, and regretted doing so even though she often spoke with this tone.
"Nothing." Emily said simply. This response did not go too well with Alison.
"When I ask you a question, I want an answer. Now I'll ask again, what is it?" Alison said through gritted teeth.
"I'm just...not a big fan of horses." Emily said quietly.
Alison laughed, it sounded mocking and cruel, it caused the horses in the stables around her to neigh uncomfortably. Even her own horse began moving around uncomfortably. "You're a peasant who probably worked with horses, how is it that you are afraid of them?" she asked.
"Not everyone who is what you call a peasant worked with animals. I worked at the bakery with my mother." Emily said. "For a queen who is loved and feared by everyone, you don't know anything about the people who adore you."
Alison raised an eyebrow and Emily opened her mouth, bewildered that she just talked back to the Killer Queen. Normally, Alison would be calling her guards to carry Emily away and have her publicly hanged, but she didn't say anything. In fact, what Emily said had stung Alison. Alison thought she knew everything about her people, hearing about their gossip and secrets is what entertained her. But now she was realizing what she didn't know about her people, that not everyone who was poor worked in the stables or out in the field. She had no idea that her kingdom, even had a bakery, all her bread came from the chef in her castle.
Realizing that she had to say something to Emily, she opened her mouth to speak. "Go back to the kitchen and have the chef prepare something for us by the time we get back. We'll be back no later than one, and I suggest that you straighten your attitude by the time I get back as well." Alison commanded.
"Yes, your majesty. Of course." Emily said, bowing her head and quickly hurrying towards the kitchens.
Alison turned to Noel, who was watching what just happened confused. "I'm surprised you didn't order her to be executed right then and there." he said, still watching Alison as she drew her red hood over her head and mounted her horse.
"I was told that I can't just execute my assistants whenever they cross me, we're running out of assistants for me." Alison told Noel, but mainly she was telling herself this. She convinced herself that that was the reason she didn't order Emily to be beheaded, not because her assistant was growing on her. After all it had only been a day.
"I would have at least given her punishment though. Hang her by her feet overnight." Noel said, shrugging.
"Excuse me, are you telling me how to run my kingdom? Is that what I'm hearing?" Alison asked, looking down at Noel, who still had not mounted his own horse.
"No, I-"
"That's what I thought. Now are you coming or aren't you." Alison said, as her horse began to walk towards the exit of the stable.
She heard Noel behind her quickly get on his saddle and make a noise for the horse to begin walking. Spoby quickly caught up with Emison and they exited the stable together and headed towards the grassy slope at a canter.
When Noel and Alison got back, their lunch was ready just like she had ordered. Her ride with Noel was as dreadful as she had thought. Noel often tried to show off his skills but failed miserably at impressing Alison. It was pathetic. The time seemed to be going by twice as slow and she was more than grateful when it was time to go back. During their ride, she thought about what had happened previously, and wondered even more so than before what Emily's life was like.
She didn't feel bad about what had happened, Queen Alison had no regrets. She wasn't going to apologize to Emily either, that was for weak people. But she instead made it a priority to learn more about Emily's like and hear about this Benjamin Coogan that was supposed to be her husband. From what Alison saw, she concluded that Ben would've not been good enough for her, and she was very glad that she pulled Emily away when she did.
Emily was waiting in the dining hall, standing beside Alison's chair. There was a table for two, two chairs facing one another with food on the table. There was bread and steamed vegetables like broccoli. Sun dried tomatoes and basil was on their plates, as well as chicken. Two goblets filled with white wine were at both place settings, looking almost too perfect.
Noel pulled out Alison's chair for her and helped her sit down before taking a seat at his own spot. He cleared his throat and looked at Emily. Emily and Alison both looked confused as Noel pointed to his plate. "Aren't you going to taste it?" Noel asked, looking at Emily as if she had two heads.
"Wh-what?" Emily asked confused.
Noel looked from Emily to Alison, "Does she not taste the food before you eat it?"
"No why would she?" Alison asked, raising an eyebrow.
"In case someone is trying to poison us." Noel said. "You never made her do that?"
"The chef has been in my family since my parents reigned. I don't think that he is going to try and poison us."
"I'm not just talking about the chef...the person handling the food could've done something to it too." Noel said, his eyes shifting to Emily.
"You think she poisoned our food?" Alison asked, her blood beginning to boil as her voice began rising.
"You said she's new. How can you trust her? She could've been paid to poison either one of us." Noel said casually. Emily looked at Noel in complete shock, almost traumatized by the fact that Noel was accusing her of something.
"I-I would never poison my queen." she choked out.
"She has guilty written all over her face!" Noel said, pointing a finger at Emily.
"If she was looking to poison me she would've done it already. She already has had opportunities to do so!" Alison said, her voice booming in the hall, but Noel didn't yield.
"Make her taste it." he said sternly.
"Excuse me, I'm the queen around here and what I say goes." Alison said, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks.
"You may be now, but we are going to be married soon. Meaning I will become king of Rosewood, so soon what I say will go." Noel said.
That was it for Alison, she stood up and stormed out of the dining hall, her face red and blood boiling. She couldn't order Noel to be executed, he was royalty not a common folk. So the only thing Alison could do was storm up to her bedroom with Emily following close behind. She entered her room and locked her door once Emily followed in after her.
"That scumbag." Alison yelled, pacing her room angrily. She never got this mad at anyone.
"Queen Alison, I don't blame Prince Noel for thinking I would poison you. He is right, I am new." Emily said, trying to calm down Alison.
"I may have to marry this fool and even if he does become king, I will make his life a living hell. He will be nothing when I am done with him." her voice like venom. "No one accuses my assistants or questions my authority like that."
"He had only good intentions."
"Maybe he did. But there will be hell to pay, and pay it, he will."