CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

The maids outside her wash chamber were gossiping.
The low whisper and snort mixed with scanty giggles was enough indication.
Selene scrubbed her arm with the soft wool mixed with scented herbs.
Selene had sent all the chamber maids away and insisted on bathing alone.
The look on the taller servants face was keen to a conniving mouse, and her partner her smile was as fake as her dyed black hair.
She could hear their gossip dwindle to few statements before both finally quieted down. No doubt doing more tasking works than making her already made bed.
The sun was warmer than she wanted, it's rays permeated the room she sat.
The water she was immersed warm and minty.
Selena closed her eyes for a while and only breathed the herbs she had washed with. Her hair now having the leafy scent.
Peace, just for a moment she felt peace.
The drink from the merriment that had been till dusk from the previous day still want round.
She knew as much from the mild chatter in the hall and the stench from her guard at the door.
The death failed to disturbed her like it had the previous day.
Somehow she had found peace.
One of her consolations that the man was aged.
Old at least.
Selene swung her legs over the wash pot and stared at it. She had gained a bit of weight. Her waist felt heavier and her bosom barely squeezed into corsets nowadays. She lifted fingers into her hair and rose from the pot. Reaching for her large towel and wrapping herself in it. Her hair, she put up with a softer cotton and left the wash chamber.
Selene could feel her dislike for the servants that saw to her that day quickly turn to hate.
The shorter of both stood too close to her wardrobe. Her brush in hand but her left hand sneaking into the closet.
The taller one from where she stood was keeping watch as she leaned closely to the front door with her ear to it.
So it wasn't cleaning that quieted them down after all
The servant at the door turned her head and caught her ryes and quickly stood straight. A gasp escaping her lips.
The soft yet noticed sound startled her accomplice and she too turned to face Selene who was by the doorway that led to the wash room.
"My lady" the shorter girl spoke first, eyes cast down
"We are sorry my lady...we only wanted to admire your garments, no ill intentions I promise" the other added quickly
"And pick one...yes I wanted to pick a beautiful cloth for you in such a beautiful day" the former added with her sick smile.
"I see" Selene said. Her face totally disbelieving.
"Would you like silk, yes...would..or perhaps a sheer satin, something exquisite?" one of them rambled
"I will see to that myself. You may leave" Selene said
Both scrambled for the door with haste.
"And do tell your master never to send you here again" she added as a second thought and watched as they left with a clumsy curtsy and clicked the door shut.
Selene moved to her closet and looked at her cloth, one had been carelessly tugged out of it's neat fold.
She huffed and moved to check her chest and found it untouched.
She knew all her garments, although not all at once. But she highly doubt any would miss and she wouldn't notice eventually.
Did they court a man on higher rank and wanted to look like the rich or perhaps would sell her clothes and whatever they laid hands upon and run off.
She had learnt most of the palace servants were slaves. One's whose lands had become provinces and they had been picked in the onset of it all.
She knew most would steal a chance to flee, many she was certain remained out of fear and some out of security.
The lands were quickly filled with walkers, infact Sol was among the last Empires to fight the plague. The council was yet to act on this threat, somehow they knew it was beyond them.
Or as Selene mostly thought, they had reasons not to.
Closing the chest, Selene opened her closet again and pulled out a an plain blue robe and a pair of sandals.
She tapped on the door and it was opened, stepping out, Selene could see the dull steps of servants as they worked. Whether from their master's death or too much wine she wasn't sure.
Giving a final nod to a passing servant, she stepped into the royal dinning hall
The Lord and his head warrior sat in a hushed whisper, a platter of meat and vegetables before them. The warriors platter had little above crumbs inside as opposed to the Lord's which held it's full content.
"My Lord" she gave a half hearted cursty and stood
Edgar replied with a firm nod and a quick head-to-toe scrutiny of her.
"Sir" she greeted the warrior who bowed wordlessly
Selene sat at the far end of the table, away from the duo and clinked the goblet closer to her.
The cook appeared along side a kitchen hand who held three small pots.
The younger servant dished out a steaming porridge that smelt like pork and added hot carrots and peas by it's side. On the next tray was a small steins of mashed avocado and a thick loaf.
"Enjoy your meal my lady" the fatter, older woman said and departed with a funny looking curtsy
The warrior gave a little bow at Selene one last time and departed
"I believe you slept fine" Edgar addressed her for the first time that day
"Must wine pass till the next day?the whole place reeks of it" Selene waved off his question
"When last did you bed a man?" Edgar asked with a tight smile
Selene sat dumbfounded for seconds before her face reddened in rage
"Do you imply that I have lost my virtue?" She asked, springing from her seat and knocking her cup of fruit on the table
"How else would you explain your expanding bosom, perhaps you are with child" Edgar said
Selene almost cried out in embarrassment, how dare he!
"You sullen murderous pig! You have no business if I lay with a man or not, go lay with your many concubines!" Selene returned
"A better way to start the morning" Edgar smiled fondly.
"I will see to it that I never come to your presence unnecessarily, perhaps you dislike me, or see me a worthless harlot" Selene said with a burning face and made to leave
"Did you mean it when you said you will find a groom Selene?" The Lord called out
"That is non of your affairs, I will be gone before you realise it my Lord" she replied tightly
"I can not have a man near you Selene, go every night to bed with that knowledge. No man will touch you, no man" Edgar said
Selene spun to stare at the irredeemable leech.
His face was as stern as his lips with no hint of a smile
"What do you want from me" Selene choked out, her voice broken
"You should have a proper meal when you leave here, your food is untouched" Edgar stated, his eyes on her barely eaten food, ignoring her plea
"You...you..." Selene held her frustrated sob and ran out the door, her feet quickly taking her to her Chambers
Edgar stabbed his veal and took a tiny bite off it. He hadn't the appetite for any plant
Maybe an animal, one wrapped in a blue silk
She had all but robbed him of breath as she entered.
She was growing beautiful. A woman and not a child anymore. Soon, he would have men at her wake, coming in.
Edgar smiled pitifully at himself.
He couldn't offer the child anything beyond coins.
Yet he desired her. Once or twice her sensual lips and dainty skin plagued his dreams, making him angry, angry he had forgotten Monique too soon. Had forgotten how her sweetness was and now longed for a Riverland princess.
He felt ashamed. But still desirous of the child.
Her anger alone made him aroused, her feisty nature and her sharp tongue.
Would she be as loud in bed? Would she wear him out?
Edgar smiled at such wishes. He would certainly leave her bedridden should that wish ever come to pass. Women never beat him at anything. Anything
He accepted being childish but then he relished revenge no matter how minor.
The child had spoilt his morning at her chamber. Telling him she had a groom.
She knew he desired her, oh he was sure she knew.
He wanted to spoil her morning too.
And moreover he didn't want her seeing him in a grieved mood. That was the only way to pursue her.
He couldn't give her what women like her wanted. Commitment. Attention. The funny word called Love. No.
He had a duty to perform to Sol. One he could only do with a hard heart and no emotions.
His father may have been a cold animal and he prided himself in not being one but then one lesson he was willing to leave mutual between them.
Never love.
He had learnt the hard way
Edgar held out up his hand, touching the golden ring on his hand. The onyx studded band always reminded him of his responsibility.
Edgar rose and left the hall. A servant quickly moving in to clear the dishes.
He needed air, maybe even a bit of fight to clear his head. His thought once again drifted to the princess as he walked past her room. She would get out of the anger soon. She was so strong it marvelled him. She would be fine. He would make sure of that
Passing by the last corridor that led to the front entrance.
Edgar could see his men training afar. The guard by the manor entrance bowed as he passed.
"I may need to get my sword" he said and turned back into the manor
He halted.
Footprints pronounced in red marked the floor.
His foot prints no doubt. No one had followed him.
Edgar turned to the guard by the door and drew out his sword, startling the guard who quickly bowed in fear.
He walked into the corridor, following his own prints till it was no longer there. At the end of the marking was a puddle.
A red puddle.
Blood.
By the corner was a brunette head.
A child?
Edgar all but threw his sword away and rushed to the child. He turned her over, her yellow cloth now a sickening maroon.
Edgar swallowed. The candle stand by the wall was embedded on her head, it's rod poking out the side of her face. Her eyes were closed blissfully. A near smile graced her features. She clutched a cotton toy
The shuffling in the stair case called Edgar's attention.
He quickly retrieved his sword.
The maid that hurried out held a smile. One that faded when she saw the Lord and the dead princess.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!"
The sound resonated the entire hall.
The crowd that assembled soon after was worrisome in number. He disliked useless onlookers and gossip
It was a little time before what he feared came
"Where is she?!" Came the panicked voice of Selene.
She shoved through the crowded corridor and came to his side where he still knelt.
She stared at the scene with silent.
Edgar lifted his face to meet her eyes.
It was blank. Vacant. Like she too had died this instant.
Her eyes a glassy green. No fire, no anger. Nothing.
Edgar could only stare as she closed her eyes in a short blink and opened it again.
She exhaled softly and her legs gave out under her.
Edgar had to leave the deceased girls body to catch Selene before she touched the ground.