The Reception with Nystasia
POV: Alexandra
True to his word, Blake made sure that I was never alone. If I was going to go talk to Alesha, he was with me. I was summoned over to the Queen Mother, Blake was with me. She asked me to sit with her for a little while. Blake followed me over and sat next to me. His mother giggled, “I have been told about your particular predicament. While I can understand why my sons would want to keep you safe, I feel like you’re being suffocated by my oldest child.” I smiled at her, “I don’t mind it so much. At least Blake is good company, I could be with a certain candidate and have to endure her bad attitude.” She sighed, “I understand that. My limited dealings with her has me praying that one of the princesses from the Seely Realm will pick her.” Blake muttered, “We could only be so lucky.” I nodded, “I cannot imagine Vellum being in the hands of a Maigny.” The Queen Mother pointed her chin to a corner, “Speaking of which, it looks like Meldon Maigny is staring at you, Alexandra.” Blake and I both looked over and he rose from his seat, “I believe he’s actually looking at me, mother. I’ll be right back. Alexandra, please stay with my mother for now.” I nodded, “I gladly will. I like my conversations with your mother as little as they have been.” She grabbed my hand, “I hope we will get to hang out far more in the future.” She winked at me and whispered, “If I had my way, you’d be my daughter-in-law and we could have tea every day and catch up.”
I watched Blake make his way over to Ashton, they both were whispering together and every once in a while they both looked over at me. The Queen Mother asked, “What do you suppose they are talking about? I don’t imagine that anyone from House Maigny would be willing to keep watch over you.” I leaned near the Queen Mother’s ear, “Did Lucien not tell you about Meldon?” She gave me a surprised look, “No, would you be willing to tell me? I imagine it is a secret that must be kept but you can count on me to keep it.” I whispered, “We found out very recently that the Maignys kidnapped Meldon from my parents. He’s actually my twin brother, Ashton. Lucien sent Ashton back to House Maigny to keep an eye on them. He believes them to be in The Order.” She placed her hand over her mouth, “Goodness, that is something. So then they must be talking about how to keep an eye on you then.” I shrugged, “Or they could be talking about his special mission. I really don’t know.”
Just then the Queen Mother and I were approached by one of the attendants from the Seely Realm. He placed his hand over his heart and bowed, “Your Majesty, Lady Batiste. I am to tell Lady Batiste from my Lady the Princess Nystasia that she would like an audience with you shortly if you don’t mind.” The Queen Mother smiled, “I believe Lady Batiste would be delighted to further conversation with Princess Nystasia. Unfortunately, her parents are rather strict about her being alone at this time since she is a target of an extremist group. She will need to be either escorted by her guard or my sons.” The attendant smiled and nodded, “Of course, Your Majesty. We wholeheartedly understand. I will relay this to Her Highness.” He bowed again and walked away. I looked over at the Queen Mother, “I don’t think he was in disguise. He probably would have pushed harder if so.” Blake hurried over and asked, “What was that all about?” I sighed, “He was informing me that Princess Nystasia would like to have a further conversation with me.” I looked over at the attendant but did not see him approach Jess and I specifically remember the princess asking to speak with Jess and me at the same time. I furrowed my brow and Blake noticed, “What’s wrong?” I still had my eyes on the attendant, “I think that might be Loki.” He sat up straight, “What makes you say that?” I looked over at Jess, “Princess Nystasia specifically told me that she wished to speak with me and Jess at the same time. The attendant only extended the invitation to me. He hasn’t spoken to Jess about spending time with Princess Nystasia.”
The herald announced, “Her Highness Princess Nystasia, the third princess of the Seely Realm.” Anyone who wasn’t royalty rose to their feet as she entered the room. She scanned the room until she saw me and her face lit up. She hurried over to me with one of her female attendants with her. I curtsied at her and she curtsied at the Queen Mother, “Your Majesty, Your Highness, Lady Batiste. I was wondering if I might borrow Lady Batiste. I would like to speak some more with her and Lady Kellen.” I shot a look at Blake and he nodded, “Your Highness, would you mind if I tagged along.” She frowned, “Your Highness, I’m wondering if I could decline. I want to have girl talk if I can.” He sighed, “Allow me to at least escort Lady Batiste over to Lady Kellen.” She nodded, “Very well.” I knew that Blake understood how strong Jess was and he was comfortable with her protecting me. He rose and we approached Jess, who was talking with Derek. Blake spoke first, “I would like to have a word with Lady Kellen real quick if I may.” The princess rolled her eyes and waved, “Oh fine but do be quick. I only have so long before my sister is going to want some words with Lady Batiste.” He pulled Jess to the side and whispered in her ear a few words. She gave him a determined look then nodded.
She turned back to us and smiled, “I am ready, Your Highness.” Nystasia smiled wide, “Great, let’s get going! I have a tea table set up for myself over there.” She pointed to a large table near a set of glass french doors. Jess inhaled deeply, “Could it just be the three of us though? I don’t want to discuss Alexandra’s issue with other ears.” Nystasia gave a serious nod, “Oh, how insensitive of me. Of course.” She turned to her attendant and asked her to join the others nearby. We all took our seats but Jess wouldn’t let me sit near the doors. I could only guess that Blake told her to watch and be vigilant. She was doing what any good soldier or bodyguard would do if their charge were in danger. Nobody wanted to see me get kidnapped today. As soon as we were settled, Nystasia asked, “So tell me about your curse, Lady Batiste.” I smiled at her, “You can call me Alexandra, Your Highness.” She nodded, “And you may call me Nystasia. I have a feeling that you will be the future Queen of Vellum.” I widened my eyes at her, “I will ask later how you figure that to be true but for now I will answer your initial question. The curse I have is one of the heart that keeps me from being in love with the man I know I would be in love with without this curse.” She gave me a sympathetic look, “Fae believe that love is the strongest emotion in the world and most important so for us, taking something so important is very taboo. Who was it that did this to you?” Jess cut in, “A God nonetheless. It was Loki and now he’s after her to kidnap her.” She gave Jess a knowing look, “Ah, so that is why you wanted to speak alone and required that Alexandra’s back not be turned to the door.” Jess smiled, “Yes, how very astute of you, Your Highness.” She smiled, “You may call me Nystasia as well. We are in an informal setting as far as I am concerned with no other ears to correct our honorifics. They’re so stuffy, it’s one of the things I hate about my mother’s court.”
One of the male attendants strode over but it wasn’t the one that addressed us earlier. He bowed, “Your Highness, Her Highness Crown Princess Sylphia wanted me to remind you that she has invited Lady Batiste to have a conversation with her.” Nystasia nodded, “Can you inform Sylphia that Lady Batiste will need to be escorted by someone else? By order of King Lucien, Lady Batiste is under constant guard due to an attempt on her life from some group here I hear.” The attendant smiled and nodded, “Of course, Your Highness. I believe she already knows about that but I will relay this to her nonetheless.” She smiled, “Thank Brocktorian. You may go.” She waved him off and she turned back to us. Jess looked at me, “You needn’t fear from him, Alexandra. He was not being deceitful.” Nystasia leaned forward, “Interesting, you possess fae empathic powers. Are you of mixed blood?” Jess nodded, “My mother’s mother was half-fae so the gift was passed to me.” Nystasia clapped, “Oh how wonderful! I am so glad to hear that my sisterhood is in Vellum court.” The herald announced Sylphia’s arrival in the room and we all stood, even Nystasia. She leaned into my ear and whispered, “You said you were going to ask later why I thought you would be the Queen of Vellum in the future? I have the gift of sight. You are on the right path but you must stay determined. Not just for Vellum but for Seely for if a certain lady gets on the throne…Seely would be destroyed by this Queen.”
