Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 64359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 257(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 257(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
“That would be nice,” I muse. I suppose he’s right, in a way. They have denied me nothing in all the time I have been here. “But I might want to go elsewhere and spend money there.”
“As the king’s mate, you will always be accompanied by someone who has an ample supply of income. You will never need to lift a finger again.”
“I do like to be self-sufficient.”
“You’ve shown no inclination in that direction since your arrival,” Aristo points out.
“That’s because you’ve been so hospitable, and I have been doing Emrys’ bidding by ensuring that all is ready for his arrival.”
“Oh, yes. That’s right. You’re doing this for the king. Who you refer to by his first name.”
“Yes. We’re very close.”
A muscle twitches in Aristo’s cheek. “Are you?”
I look him dead in his ruby red gaze and lie through my teeth. “Yes.”
Iam resting and enjoying myself when a fanfare of trumpets announces something or other. They really enjoy their fanfares. There are several a day.
DUN DUN DUNUN DUNNNNNNN!
It’s a very good one.
I have to remind myself that I need to get out of here before Emrys gets here. It’s just too comfortable, and they’re all too nice to me. I haven’t wanted for anything since I arrived. Every few hours, someone comes and asks me what I want and no matter what I say, they do what I want. It’s kind of intoxicating.
“Aristo!”
Aristo appears. He looks hurried, which is unusual for him. Usually he acts as though there is nothing else in the world he would rather do than attend to me.
“Yes, my future queen?”
“I’d like a bath. And one of those very fluffy towels. And I’d also like a very big sundae. Three of the usual size, but all combined into one.”
He makes all the arrangements.
The bath is at the perfect temperature and has oils that smell so delicious I feel like I’m bathing in a… I don’t even know. A really fucking good bath, that’s what. A bath that makes me feel like more than just my skin is being rejuvenated. Foaming beads ensure that I am covered modestly when my sundae is delivered. I scoop it into my face with intense enjoyment, feeling that absolute freedom that comes with having all my material needs met and exceeded.
6 DROWNING
Blub blub blub…
I wake up in the bath with my nose just above the waterline. A little trickle of water is sucked up into the back of my nose as I sit up spluttering.
“That was dangerous,” I mutter to myself, displeased. I should know better than to recklessly… hell, who am I kidding. Everything I do is reckless. You get that way when life teaches you that being sensible doesn’t get you anywhere anyway.
“Aristo! Someone needs to supervise me in the bath!” I call out.
Unfortunately, the way I am yelling is being covered up by an absolute cacophony, the same cacophony that must have woken me up just as I started to drown. The fans are faring again, irritatingly loudly this time. I’d love to wonder why they’re blaring, but I also want to go to sleep, so I’m mostly annoyed.
I get out of my cool bath, wrap myself in the fluffy towel that doesn’t feel as fluffy as it should, and notice that the bed hasn’t been made. My stomach is rumbling a little. A chocolate sundae, even a big one, isn’t really food. A human is made of needs that just keep needing no matter what. It’s very frustrating, that way.
“Aristo!”
“Aristo!”
I call for my servant, for that is how I think of him now. It has only been a few days, but now I’m having a hard time imagining what my life would be like without someone like him doing everything for me.
“Aristo!?”
He usually appears in under a minute, but the seconds tick by and he does not appear. I start to get irritated. I’m used to him arriving, and the fact that he isn’t here now feels like a betrayal somehow. It does not take long to get spoiled. I’ve been waited on hand and foot for a few days now, and I want more of it, dammit.
I go outside, because I am forced to. As I step into the heat and the sun, I realize that I haven’t actually been outside since I arrived. The outdoors now feels like a real inconvenience. All that light getting in my eyes starts to hurt.
“Aristo! I’m starving here.”
There’s still no response. A strong wind is blowing, whipping up volcanic grit in the way that feels like it is trying to deliberately drive it into my eyes.
Where the hell is everyone? Did they find some new uncaught pocket of natives to destroy? Is there a feeding frenzy going on somewhere nearby? I don’t hear any terrified, tortured screams, so that seems unlikely.