Zofia waited patiently for Lavina to come brush her hair, the dark haired woman still fussing with the pillows. She finally sauntered over and started to harshly tug the brush through Zofia's hair. 

"You are so lucky." Livina started. "The king is such a handsome man." She said thoughtfully. "Imagine if he could wear me on his arm like he does you." Zofia yawned. She didn't feel lucky, but she would agree - with anyone else but Livina - that the king was in fact handsome. 

"Imagine if I were to carry his children. They would have our eyes." She sighed as if she was in a dream. Zofia turned and grabbed the hair brush from her. 

"Yes, well, unfortunately he chose me." Zofia complained as she brushed her own hair. Livina stood behind her, her hands folded together. 

"He could still choose me. I mean the wedding is only Sunday." She bit her lip. Zofia wondered what had gotten into the woman. If she wanted him she could have him, but her timing was all wrong. "Are you afraid of being queen? Do you think you are good enough for him?" She questioned Zofia more, prodding with mock innocence. 

"You should have stepped up sooner." Zofia tied to dismiss her. All this talk about Draegon was making her feel rather insane. A wave of nausea threatened to hit her at the thought of how perfect they would look together. Perhaps she would make him smile, or he would not be so quiet around her. She had seen them together, or caught them together in the study that one day. She had heard a laugh. She wanted to beat Livina away with the wooden brush, like the fly she was. 

"You know. I've heard of queens who let other women carry their children. Perhaps if you would prefer that, we can talk the king into it?" Lavina offered. Zofia shot her a confused look. How dare she? It was fucking bold of her to make a move like that. Zofia did not understand where this lady was coming from. 

"I appreciate the kind offer, Lavina, but regardless of how I feel about this marriage, he will be my husband and I will do right by him." Zofia insisted. It occurred to her that she might not be able to make him happy, but he had chosen her, so perhaps he thought that she might. Zofia hesitated before she got up and walked out, dressed today in blue. She needed no reminder that the mysterious Serena would arrive today. The whole castle was alive with supposed excitement. Zofia wanted to choke at what was all happening around her. Some bride she was. She wasn't even the center of attention. Most women would be neck deep in romance at that point. Zofia didn't even know what flowers they would have at the wedding, or how she wanted her hair. Furthermore, she was starting to feel crippled by the emotions she was suppressing. 

Nik was waiting by the gate, like he had only a few days ago. It felt like it had been a few years since that day. While time felt like it was moving too slowly, it felt like it was going too fast, too. Zofia was afraid and Livina's prodding had only worsened that. Zofia didn't go to the gate. Instead, she took a turn and went to the tree. She sat under it, in the shade. She wasn't supposed to see Nik anyway, Draegon had banned her. His father was so nice to her, but he clearly hated his own son for taking Malia away from them. Zofia felt that it was not Draegon's fault. No matter how badly she wanted to tell him that it wasn't his fault, she was not sure how close he would permit her to come to him. More so, it was an issue between father and son. She had nothing to do with it. Zofia felt stuck, and useless. 

"Zofia?" A voice called to her. She looked up, past her guard, at the girl who stood there with a basket in her hands, in a white dress. It was Bella. Bella was madly in love with Nik and Zofia could always see that. She moved over as soon as Zofia acknowledged her. sitting and placing the basket between them. 

"You having a hard time?" She asked, pulling some apples out of the wicker. 

"Yes." Zofia admitted. She took the offered apple with a brief smile. Hesitantly, she took a bite. 

"How? You're going to be queen. That is fantastic, isn't it?" Bella asked, her voice soft but clear. She was smiling, too, as if she too was dreaming of such a future. 

Zofia shrugged. She wiped at her eyes before they could get a chance to tear up. "It's scary. Besides, I'm not that pretty, or even formally educated, and there's this handmaiden that's constantly putting me down." She admitted, wondering immediately if she had said too much. She looked at her, then past her at the guard. 

"Maybe the others, they just don't understand. You're beautiful, Zozo, you are really very beautiful. I always envied your fuller lips and all your hair." She touched her own features as she spoke of Zofia's. She had thin lips and thin hair. "Besides. You're smarter than anyone I know. Everyone I know has had the best tutors." 

"It suits you, it doesn't look odd." She tried to assure the young girl. Zofia reached over and touched some of her perfect curls. 

"Thank you, your highness." Bella nodded her head. "I hope my future husband likes it." She straightened her dress. It was the way Bella was, always preoccupied with homemaking, the husband she will have, the children she might have with that husband. Zofia nodded at her. 

"I miss the lake." Zofia admitted. She saw the quizzical look that Bella was brewing, but nodded over to the guard in answer before Bella could word her question. "Nowhere is safe, but inside the castle." She explained, as if she lived by the words now. If Zofia ever got the chance, she would sneak out just to swim in the lake. She looked at the walls in the general direction, dreaming about it. She thought that it was amazing that Bella had gotten permission to come and see her. If she had known, she would have made cakes for them. 

"I'm sure your royal husband will provide you with whatever your heart desires." She offered. "If he loves you." She shrugged. Love? How could Bella be talking of who loved her when it had nothing to do with her? Zofia started at her before she looked away. "I should get going. Nik said that he wants to take me to the market." She beamed. Zofia wanted to roll over and bury herself in the grass. "I will come for tea some time." Bella said before she gathered her things and left. Zofia felt alone, completely and utterly alone. Draegon couldn't love her. If she was the one, it had to be the one they were pulling a prank on. The one he would eat or sacrifice the night of their wedding. The one he made an example out of to the whole kingdom. 

Her guard walked with her back to the castle, in silence. She had learned that his name was Garison, but no matter how much she wanted to speak to him, she couldn't bring herself to form any words. It was reaching late afternoon, so Zofia tried to talk herself into getting some kind of routine. She walked up to the study and made herself comfortable on the couch, pulling her book over. It was the very book that she had abandoned that day when Draegon had grabbed her. He was sitting in his chair, at his desk, and all she could think about was how she wasn't good enough for him. His mysterious friend was to come soon, perhaps she was good enough. 

"What is it?" He asked in an annoyed tone as he looked over at her. His father was still there. He would be till the wedding had come and gone. Zofia guessed that the man's presence was making him uneasy. She shook her head, ducking back in behind her book. "Zofia." He insisted her name. She lowered her book again, but she was looking at her lap instead of at him. 

"You're growing your beard?" She asked him, trying to take the attention off herself. "My father always did that when something was wrong." She remembered. Perhaps he was worried too. They did after all have a wedding coming up. Perhaps a sacrifice, too. 

Draegon stuffed his fingers into his beard and pulled his face, impressed that she had noticed. "I will cut it short before the wedding." He offered. 

"I like it." Zofia interjected. He nodded at her. There was silence between them again. "Are you sleeping with Lavina?" She suddenly asked. Draegon shifted, anger growing in his eyes at her question. 

"That's very disrespectful of you to ask." He started, growling at her. Zofia raised her book again, hiding behind it. If she was to die, at least the truth wouldn't hurt long. 

"She speaks to me as if she is. I mean no disrespect. I was simply wondering because you two were alone the other day." She tried to explain herself. She believed that she could at least bring her concerns to him, but clearly he was not interested in hearing her accusations. He was quiet. 

"You two could have beautiful children, like she said. It makes sense that you would like her, and use me as a smokescreen. I may be a commoner, but a commoner wouldn't stain your reputation as much as a maid would." She sniffled. Draegon remained quiet, still. He had a thoughtful look on his face as he watched Zofia expressing herself. He had never dealt with this, he had no idea how to respond. He knew he was supposed to be her husband, her rock, but nothing was coming to mind to say. Conversation was definitely not his strong suite.

"You should ignore her." He offered his input. It was dismissive but it didn't register with him. He looked at her, waiting for a response, but it didn't come. Zofia wiped furiously at her cheeks. What did he want, for her to just ignore what he was doing seemingly behind her back? She didn't nod at him, she raised her book a little more and sniffled quietly behind the pages, the only place where being so alone felt a little less bad. 

It wasn't long before there was more uproar in the castle. Serena had arived. Zofia obediently followed after Draegon as he walked at a brisk, excited, pace to meet her. Mephis was already there, waiting to pull the redhead into his arms. Zofia stood aside, straightening her back to try and look more royal. Even her breath was taken away by the sight of this Serena. She was spectacularly beautiful, with red hair and a freckled face. Zofia felt like a mouse in comparison. If anyone had the fire, it was this woman. She carried herself with such grace. Her long, slender arms wrapped around Mephis in greeting. Zofia was to be his daughter in law, and all she had gotten was the squeeze of a hand, and a purposeful cut. She shuddered. 

"It's wonderful to have you here." Mephis said to her, hugging her like Zofia wished her own father could have hugged her. She felt weak, but she kept herself a pillar. 

"Serena." Draegon said her name as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Zofia looked at the sight, confusion coursing through her. He was touching her, hugging her, pressing her body to his to make sure there was contact, a lot of it. Zofia nearly toppled over. It was alright, she reminded himself. The more women he surrounds himself with, the less she has to put up with him. They could occupy him, and she would be his public smokescreen. She paled, swallowed, then tried her best to raise her chin. 

"Oh, Draegon. How I have missed you." She sang as she cupped his cheeks and stared up into his eyes, as if she was about to kiss him. Zofia shifted from foot to foot. If they could at least keep it behind her back... "Girl. Go prepare some tea. I am parched after that darned carriage ride." Zofia was offended that this Serena had spoken like that to kind, sweet Juniper. She turned to see what Juniper's reaction would be, but then she realized that Serena's eyes were on her. Zofia's eyes widened. She nearly choked on her own intake of breath. 

"You should have brought your own chambermaid, instead of ordering the future queen to fix you tea." Zofia spoke before she knew that the words were leaving her own mouth. She saw the look in Serena's eyes, it reminded her of the bitter Bella. She tried to straighten her back even more. 

"Perhaps we should have done a better job at cleaning her up." Draegon said to Serena. Zofia's eyes found the floor. She did not understand in the least why his comment hurt her so much. Perhaps it was the reminder that she was a mere gutter rat. 

"Perhaps a reason to set me free, your highness." Zofia's words went unnoticed. She sat through tea with a clenched jaw, watching as Serena touched Draegon everywhere, on his shoulders, his thighs, his knees. She even made a pass at his chest. Zofia had asked the wrong question before. She shouldn't have asked if he was sleeping with Livina, she should have asked if he intended on being with anyone but her. She shuddered, attempting desperately to occupy herself with her delicious tea. Even it tasted bitter and horrible. 

Juniper had managed to hear Zofia's plea when she asked for someone to help her with getting out of her dress. She beat Livina to it, and she was tucking the young queen into her bed like she was a child with a mother again. Juniper had placed the hot pad by her feet and curled the blanket around her like she wanted it. She gave her a worried look as Zofia wiped at another tear that settled under her eye. 

"Don't let yourself be talked into a state." Juniper said to her softly. Zofia nodded, but it was too late. Her eyes were red and swollen. "I do hope they leave you alone on Saturday. There is no way Marco would let you walk down the isle looking like that." Zofia wiped her cheek again and turned to face Juniper. "You want to tell me who it was darling? No beautiful girl like you could cry like this all on her own."

"I don't know what he sees in me, Junie. Is it because it's convenient? I'm the closest, cheapest thing he could find so he takes what he wants? To cover up his trysts?" She questioned. Juniper shrugged and shook her head. It took her a moment to find her words. Serena was much prettier, and so was Livina. Zofia was starting to feel like this was an elaborate prank. Did he marry women only to eat them? She wrapped her arms around herself and tried to calm down.

"I don't know, sweetheart, but there is nothing we can do about it now. We have to just hold on tight. The universe knows what we need. It will provide, however long it takes to do so." Juniper hoped that she was consoling her. She leaned in a little closer and pushed Zofia's hair out of the way. "You are beautiful, dearest. You have a soft and kind soul, unlike any I have ever seen. Your beauty, will shine too, if only you allow yourself to smile." Juniper gave a demonstration. 

"If this life fails, there is always the next." Zofia told her with a nod. Her eyes moved to the figure in her doorway, the dark outline of a large man that smelled like a warm fire and ash. She stared at the king's figure for a few seconds before she turned around and closed her eyes. "Goodnight." She said to no one in particular. Juniper left with the candle, oblivious to the man who had been standing in the dark. He lingered there for a few more moments, waited till she was asleep, then he left. 

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