Chapter 3

The hall fell so silent that one could have heard a feather drop.

I slowly set my teacup down. The faint click against the marble table echoed in the hush.

"Ms. Nolan," I said, my voice low yet carrying clearly to every corner. "I do not care for the customs of your homeland. Here, you will observe our ways."

Sophia waved a dismissive hand. "Rules are just made-up things. If they're outdated, they should change. Charles himself said I don't need to bother with all this tedious formality."

"Did he now?" I asked lightly, my gaze shifting to Charles.

Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead. He could not meet my eyes.

He quickly grasped Sophia's arm. "Enough. We are here for the party, not for debate. Sophia, take your seat."

The feast commenced. Servants filed in, presenting dish after dish of meticulously prepared food.

Yet Sophia found fault with every course. Too rich, too bland, her complaints were voiced just loud enough for the entire hall to hear.

"Seriously, who eats like this anymore? Back home, even a cheap diner serves better than this," she remarked with a scoff.

She picked up a cake, took a bite, and immediately spat it back onto her plate. "Ugh, it's cloyingly sweet. Revolting!"

I laid my silverware down. The tension in the hall grew palpable.

Jocelyn sniffed. "If it displeases you, do not eat. No one is forcing you."

Sophia Nolan shot to her feet. "Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?

"Charles said I'm different. I'm not like you palace women, all scrambling for the king's favor."

Crack! The sound of the slap echoed sharply. The clear imprint of my fingers bloomed across Sophia's cheek.

Before anyone could react, I was standing before her, calmly wiping my right hand with a linen handkerchief.

"That," I said, my voice icy and controlled, "was for teaching you how to address a Lady of the Court.

"Overstep again, and I shall personally instruct you in every rule you have ignored."

Sophia clutched her face, eyes wide with disbelief. "You hit me? Charles! She struck me. Are you just going to stand there?"

Charles's face went pale, but he just stood there, frozen.

I turned to him, my tone deceptively soft. "Your Majesty. Do you wish to defend her?"

The hall was utterly still. Every soul held their breath, awaiting the king's reply.

Charles swallowed, then forced a stiff smile. "Sophia is unfamiliar with our customs. You were correct to correct her, my Queen."

Sophia looked as if she had been struck by lightning. "Charles!" she shrieked. "You promised no one in this palace would dare touch me!

"Aren't you the King? Can you not even protect the woman you care for?"

"The woman you care for?" I let out a soft, humorless laugh, my fingers brushing unconsciously against the pendant at my neck.

It was a gift from Charles's elder brother, the former Crown Prince, Edward Palmer.

Charles's expression shifted instantly. He pulled his arm free from Sophia's grasp. "Shut your mouth!"

He rushed to my side, a flicker of panic in his eyes. "Lizzie, don't listen to her..."

"Your Majesty need not explain," I said, taking a step back and offering a shallow curtsy. "I am unwell. I beg your leave to retire."

As I turned, I saw Sophia seize his arm again. "Why are you backing down? I told the truth. She hit me! You should hit her back for me."

Charles hissed under his breath, "Stop making trouble, for God's sake. Her father commands the armies. I rely on her protection. Why must you provoke her?"

Then his voice softened as he reached to touch her cheek. "It's swollen. Does it hurt?"

Once I departed, the other ladies began to excuse themselves as well.

I said to Violet, "Send word to my father. Tell him to be watchful in the coming days."

My father was the General who commanded half a million troops. He was the reason Charles wore the crown.

Charles didn't really respect me. If anything, he was just scared of me.

*****

Late that night, I was in the courtyard alone, polishing the sword Edward had once given me.

A breathless maid hurried in. "Your Majesty! Lady Jocelyn has stormed the king's wing with her attendants. She is causing a terrible scene."

I frowned. "What is the cause?"

"They say Sophia was walking in the royal gardens earlier, and in front of all the servants, she declared that you are Queen only because of your family's influence, and that the king does not love you at all..."

I let out a cold laugh. "Let us see what spectacle she orchestrates now."

When I arrived, Jocelyn was already gathered outside the king's chambers with a crowd of maids and guards.

"Out of my way! I will silence that witch's tongue myself tonight!" Jocelyn shouted.

The guards tried to hold her back, but it was total chaos out there.

"Lady Jocelyn," I called out.

She whirled around, her eyes blazing with furious tears. "Lizzie! How dare she speak of you that way? I will—"

I shook my head slightly, a look in my eyes willing her to be still.