"I am convinced you will love him at first sight."
That's what Iris had said to her, which was all very fine except Lena had already decided not to love the Prince at all. She blamed him for the hours of lessons her grandmother subjected her to since the announcement. He was also the reason she had to leave her home.
The plan was to travel to the castle a week before the wedding to allow Lena to participate in the upcoming festivities. Her aunt and uncle were meant to care for the estate in her grandfather's absence and arrive the day before the wedding. Lacey had initially been told to travel with her parents the day before the wedding, but she had worked enough on her grandparents, moaning and crying until Lena found herself piled in a carriage with her grandparents and Lacey.
It was a miserable trip. it took three full days of traveling to make it to the castle. After three days of sitting with her Grandparents and Lacey, Lena would've married a stump if it meant she could get away from them.
"This is a fine forest. Almost as fine as our Lenwood, eh?" Her grandfather pointed the comment towards Lena, but she was otherwise engaged. They had stopped just outside the castle so that Josephina could make Lena presentable enough to meet royalty. Josephina watched as her handmaid, Tilda tightened Lena's dress until her figure was perfect. Lena thought there was no finer form of torture.
"This is horribly uncomfortable." Lena pulling at the sleeves and the collar.
"It isn't hard to discomfort you, Lena. You've spent too much of your life free roaming in whatever you see fit." Josephina was losing patience quickly for her granddaughter.
"I think you look beautiful." Lacey said. It was uncharacteristic of Lacey to offer any such compliments, but her words sounded sincere.
"Thank you." Lena said, till pulling at the fabric. It felt like burlap against the skin.
Her grandfather stepped forward with a big smile. "You are the very vision of beauty." Lord Price smiled at his granddaughter and then oppened the door of the carriage, "Are we ready then?" He asked.
Josephina nodded, "Let's not dawdle any longer."
The ride to the castle took only minutes the carriage was completely silent. The attention of all involved was captured by the swelling feeling of anticipation.
There were nearly two dozen footmen lining the path to the doors and at the precipice of the castle stood a welcoming party. There was only moments before the carriage would come to a halt and every person would watch as Lena made her first official enterance.
Lena felt her face heat and something began to feel wrong. The dress was no longer simply uncomfortable. Lena became enveloped with a burning sensation across her skin wherever the dress touched her.
Lena began to scratch, but the burning burrowed itself deep within her skin until scratching wasn't enough.
"Stop that!" Josephina hissed as the carriage came to a stop.
"I can't." Lena said softly with the realization that she really couldn't. Every inch of her skin begged for relief.
Instead of relief, Josephina grabbed her granddaughter's hands abruptly. "That is not proper behavior!" She spoke just as the door of the carriage opened.
Lena was in too much pain to be mortified. Her hands went back to scratching at her leg when Josephina collected her hands again except this time, she fairly threw her granddaughter out of the carriage. Lena barely caught a footman's hand, which was extended towards her for assistance.
Her face was bright red, her skin burned painfully, and she was the absolute center of attention.
"Go!" Her grandmother mouthed as Lena took one last look behind her. The murderous glint behind her grandmother's expression spurred Lena forward and she walked. Subtly pulled and scratched at her arms and neck but the pain did not subside.
The Queen descended the stairs to meet her halfway. Lena managed to still her hands, digging her nails so deep in her palms that it was all she could feel. Her jaw was clenched tightly, and she focused on breathing in and out through every torturous moment. The Queen was beautiful. A crown woven into her dark ebony hair and bright golden eyes. Lena had a vague notion that she should curtsey, but as soon as the Queen was upon her, she seized Lena's arms and brought her into a hug.
"I have been waiting to meet you for so long, Lady Price. I am Queen Lanette, but I promise we will not be strangers for long." She said with a wide grin. "This is my husband, Gordon."
The Queen tucked Lena's hand against her, leading her up the steps where the King stood grinning. It was a sweet moment, but Lena missed it, consumed with the burning madness that commanded her to scratch at her arms and legs. Her smile became tight and crazed.
Lena bowed quickly, "Your highness."
"Lady Price. We welcome you into our home just as we will soon welcome you into our family." Lena managed a weak smile.
"Thank you, your majesty." She said with another curtsey. All she could do was offer thanks and curtseys.
"These are my sons." The King gestured to the men standing to the side all looking at her with interest.
It was a complete nightmare. All of Lena's senses were flooded with discomfort. Her skin felt on fire and at this moment she was about to meet her betrothed.
"This is Nathaniel." The youngest of the four men stepped forward taking her hand which only increased her discomfort and bowed his head to her.
"It is an honor, Lady Price."
Lena nodded her head, "An honor, Lord Prince." She mumbled, losing the words her grandmother had drilled into her head.
"Weston and Larson." The King said indicating to the two men who stood identical. They both looked nearly her age. Both clearly taking after their mother.
They both took her hand in like manner and bowed to her.
She offered the same mumbled greetings, and the king continued to the last Prince.
"And finally, my son Michael." He said leading her to the last brother.
Lena felt a small surge of victory through the pain threatening to overwhelm her because she had seen him, and she had not yet fallen in love as Iris had predicted. He looked little like his other brothers. He had features that more closely matched their father.
"It is an honor." His smile was wide and welcoming.
"We are to be married then?" She fairly blurted out without thinking. She winced at hearing herself ask the question. She would attribute her stupidity to the crisis she was struggling to mask. She felt all the more stupid when she was met with a wave of laughter from everyone around her.
The Queen stepped forward with a bashful smile, "Sorry dear, Garrett was supposed to be here to welcome you himself, but he's disappeared somewhere."
If she were not already burning up, Lena was sure to be hot with embarrassment, but it was all too much. The introductions, the miscommunications, and the horrific pain that surrounded her.
"I beg your forgiveness on his behalf." The Queen bowed her head.
Lena could hardly see straight.
"Might I be excused?" She asked the Queen point blank. She had reached her exploding point and was only barely holding herself together. Her eyes were hot with frustrated tears on the brink of being released.
"Oh- of course." The Queen looked startled and turned suddenly, "Cassandra?" She called forward one of the ladies who stood at the Queen's back but to everyone's surprise, Lena marched forward through the doors, not waiting for anyone to be summoned to show her the way.
Lena's exit caused a short stunned silence throughout everyone watching.
"Oh dear." The Queen said, watching as Lena quickly dissapeared behind the castle doors, leaving them all gawking except Lacey. Lacey stepped forward.
"I am Lacey Lenore Price." She said with a deep bow, throwing herself nearly to the ground in front of the Queen.
"Thank you." The Queen acknowledged Lacey with the barest of nods before turning to Cassandra who stood at attention.
"Please find Lady Price and escort her to her room." Cassandra nodded and turned quickly in pursuit.
"Is she alright?" The Queen turned to Josephina next.
Josephina gave her a tight-lipped smile, "She is perfectly fine. She is quite delicate. The poor thing has been done in by the journey."
The Queen looked back towards the door. The poor young woman had looked ill the moment she stepped from the carriage and then especially as she bolted through the doors.
"In fact, I wouldn't expect to see very much of her before the wedding. She needs her rest."
"Poor child. I could arrange for someone to take you to her chambers. I am sure Cassandra has found her by now and taken her there."
"Thank you, your majesty, but I think she would enjoy solitude right now."
"But perhaps the doctor could be summoned?"
"Oh, it is nothing so severe as to require the doctor! I'm sure she'll be right as rain soon enough. Perhaps you can reintroduce me and my granddaughter Lacey to your strapping sons. It's been so long since I've laid an eye on them!" Josephina said cheerfully.
The Queen smiled but cast worried glances back towards the King who looked as puzzled as his wife.
"Garrett will be sad he missed that." Mason whispered to his brother.
"The way I see it, they're both meant for one another." Larson replied.
"How do you figure?"
"Both of them managed to get out of these boring introductions."
-/-
When Cassandra caught up to Lena, she was pacing and furiously rubbing at her arms as tears rolled freely down her face.
"Milady." Cassandra bowed, feeling a trapped as Lena looked.
Lena scrubbed her face of tears, stilled her arms and gave Cassandra a sad smile.
"I'm sorry." She apologized, "I am severely out of sorts at the moment. Could you show me to my room, please?" She begged Cassandra.
"Of course." Lena followed close behind as Cassandra made her way towards her rooms.
The moment they entered, Lena closed the door behind them.
"Please help me out of this death trap." She begged already reaching for the ties at the back of her neck.
"But, your trunks. They haven't been-" Cassandra silenced herself when she saw the red inflamed skin just underneath Lena's collar. She stepped forward with morbid curiosity. As she helped Lena remove the dress, more and more distressed skin was revealed.
"Someone's played a cruel trick on you, milady." Cassandra said in awe at the sight of the poor abused skin. She was covered in small red welts consistent with itching powder. "Thank goodness for underthings or you would likely be in a lot more pain." The skin was red along her arms, her upper back and her legs. Everwhere not protected by her corset and shift.
Lena itched everywhere.
"You shouldn't scratch, Milady. Shall I fetch your mother?"
"No!" Lena stopped itching in a moment of panic "she's my grandmother, but please, whatever you do, don't get her. I will manage."
Cassandra's heart hurt for the poor woman and offered her a comforting smile. "Well, maybe not quite on your own. I am here for whatever you need, Lady Price."
"Please, you've been my savior so far, call me Lena."
Cassandra smiled brightly, "Alright, Lena. We have a doctor housed at the castle. I will make a quick visit and get something for you. I will be back swiftly. Do as best as you can to stop itching."
-/-
"No doubt you trumped through something poisonous while we were in the forest." Her grandmother said. "Do you realize how embarrassing that was? In front of the entire royal family."
"Everyone except my betrothed." Lena mumbled.
"No doubt he's heard tales of it. You truly have ruined everything, and upon the very moment of your arrival too!" Her grandmother shook her head.
Lena was overcome with guilt suddenly. Surely her grandmother knew that she hadn't intended to make a spectacle of herself but still, she had made a spectacle of herself and that meant she made a spectacle of the family.
"I am sorry, grandmother. I am embarrassed to my very core."
Her grandmother's eyes softened at the apology. She took a deep breath and laid her hands on Lena's.
"I know you're sorry, Magdalena. I am sorry as well, but what's done is done. You will stay in your rooms exclusively until the day of your wedding."
Lena's heart sank at her grandmother's declaration.
"You couldn't mean that!" Lena protested, but
"Thank you for the apology, but that doesn't change anything. You will not leave this room until your wedding day. I have informed the Queen that you are feeling ill and you will play act at being ill until your wedding day comes.
Lena's heart stilled. Her wedding was five days away. Five days of sitting in the same room every waking minute?
"I can behave. You know I can behave!"
Josephine Price shook her head simply and stared at her granddaughter without remorse. "The only way I can be sure you won't cause this to unravel anymore is if you are here in this room."
"I can't!"
"You can and you will."
-/-
Lena was left alone in her room with seemingly no end in sight. Her grandmother would sit in and share meals. Lacey would come make disparaging remarks on the castle or the people, whatever she could say against Lena's future situation. No more conversation on allowing Lena to leave her bedroom before her wedding was entertained.
Lena lasted two days before she couldn't take it anymore. Her grandother never should have left the doors unlocked.
Her freedom was short lived. Soon after her escape, Josephine entered Lena's room and saw it empty then her anger was kindled. She enlisted dozens of castle staff to help look for Lena.
Instead of stepping forward and accepting whatever punishment her grandmother saw fit to give, Lena made the fatal decision to hide as long as she could, entering a pointless game of cat and mouse that could only have one ending.
Lena was on the run in an unfamiliar place, but it was the most fun she'd had since she arrived. Ducking behind corners and slinking against the stone walls filled her with a certain happy thrill. Especially when she heard or saw a glimpse of someone as she walked down a corridor.
She had managed to elude her grandmother for hours. She saw a glimpse of Josephine that spurred her to make a mad dash around a corner, but it was a mistake. She was running blind and nearly collided with a man. She pivoted at the last moment, instead running into a chair, completely falling across it, knocking it over, and then landing with a harshly on her shoulder.
She rubbed her shoulder painfully and she looked up at the man. Lena forgot about the pursuit for a moment, completely stunned by his appearance. He was several days unshaven yet clean. He was tall with dark brown hair that fell across his face as he looked down at her. His eyes were a piercing shade of gold that stared at her with a thick dismay. His square jaw was clenched tightly. He was altogether disheveled and casual yet Lena was struck dumb by him being so handsome.
"What are you doing" He growled, obviously angry at being nearly ran over.
Lena could only stare, her eyes wide at the man who stood before her.
He lowered himself to a crouch, the frown on his face ever-present. "Hello?" He asked, waving a hand in front of her face. "Have you irreversibly broken something?"
Lena burned red with embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, ser." She choked out, trying to recover her disturbed confidence.
The man's frown impossibly deepened. He reached a handout to her and Lena had no other recourse but to accept it. His grip was tight and Lena almost winced. He was strong, the proof was in his grip. He pulled her up effortlessly, but Lena ended up against his chest, her head still spinning from her fall.
She was greatly unsettled by his touch she imagined for a moment that this was a man who could easily do her arm but was comforted in his friendly gesture of helping her up, no matter how angry he looked.
"You are alright then?" He asked.
She was in fine physical form other than a deep ache in her shoulder, but she wanted nothing more than to disappear instantly underneath the man's firm gaze.
"Yes, I am-" Before she could finish, she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. Her grandmother. It had to be. She had only moments to react. It took her two steps to hide herself within the curtains on the window beside her, leaving the man standing alone.
"Forgive me ser, I am looking for my granddaughter. Perhaps you have seen her." Lena closed her eyes and held her breath. Her grandmother didn't see her duck behind the curtains. It was a small moment of relief in a sea of trepidation.
"Who is your granddaughter?" He growled in the same taciturn tone he had directed at Lena.
"Oh, of course. My apologies, ser. My granddaughter is the Lady Magdalena Price. She is nearly this tall. Her hair is quite light. She has been missing for the better part of the morning."
There was a long pause while Lena's heart lived in her throat. She closed her eyes and prayed that her grandmother would continue on.
"If you have not seen her that is just as well." Lena noted the nervousness of her grandmother's voice. She seemed as startled by the stranger as Lena had been. "I should continue looking."
"I believe I have seen her." Lena paused, her heart in her throat.
She strained her ears to hear what else was said, but suddenly the curtains were peeled away. Lena was assaulted all at once by the light and Josephina Price's icy stare.
"Magdalena Mila Price!" Her grandmother screeched.
Lena looked up at the tall man who still held the curtains in his hand. He held his perpetual frown and this time, Lena leveled at him, sporting a frown of her own.
"You traitor." She hissed, glaring at him. Josephine stepped forward before Lena could say any more disparaging remarks.
"Has this been fun for you, Magdalena? Making me search through this place." Her mother took her arm roughly. Lena's eyes lit up with fire. "Oh, don't answer that." Her grandmother said quickly, realizing the look of rebellion in Lena's eyes.
Still holding her granddaughter in a firm grip, Josephine turned to the man who had given up Lena's hiding spot. "Thank you, kind gentleman. You have saved me plenty of heartache." she held out her free hand in gratitude.
"It is my honor." He said, taking her hand and bowing low. She saw her grandmother blush and Lena rolled her eyes and snorted. Of course she would run into a man who would sooner champion her grandmother than he would her.
Lena snorted a little louder than she intended. Josephine whirled on her with barely restrained anger.
"I will not permit you to behave as such! Apologize at once." Her eyes were huge with fuming anger.
Lena was angry. The infuriating man met her eyes and she thought she saw a glimmer of humor in his eyes though he still wore a frown. He was laughing at her.
"Apologize to him?!" She demanded, gesturing to his mocking face.
"Apologize." Her grandmother said even more firmly giving her eyes full of promised threats. Josephine had been pushed to her very limit with her granddaughter's antics.
"But of course." Lena smiled through clenched teeth and turned back to the obnoxious man. She stooped low at his feet, her dress collecting in layers all around her. Her head bowed to him in complete submission.
"Please find it within your heart to forgive me, milord. My heart aches at the very slightest offense I have caused you." Her eyes were wide in mock innocence and her smile was tight and insincere. Her hands collected to her heart to further embellish the grand apology she gave.
Before she looked up into his eyes, her grandmother was pulling her from the ground in front of him.
"Magdalena! You will right yourself at once and stop causing such an embarrassment. I don't know what has come over you!" She wrapped a hand around Lena's shoulder and dragged her up with desperate force.
Lena cast one last scowl to the man before her grandmother turned her away from him and marched her forward.
"My apologies, Ser. I will put her right, don't worry." Josephine practically dragged Lena down the hall
Once they had turned the corner, Lena thought she could hear laughter.