How To Be A Queen (Myths Finding Love #1)

Chapter 12 - Nothing But A Pawn

Aerith's Room
Hades' Palace
The Underworld

-Aerith-

I woke up when the curtains were drawn back and sunlight hit my face.

"Five more minutes, Cathy," I murmured.

"Your highness?" answered a voice I haven't heard before. I opened my eyes and had to blink several times to get the blurriness away. Last I remembered was crying myself to sleep after Claudine left. Now, I'm paying the price because my eyes felt so swollen.

"Your highness?" the same voice repeated.

There were three ladies in my room. They all looked alike and wore the same dresses but in different colors. After looking at them, I looked around my room. My heart fell when I realized it was still the same as yesterday.

Part of me broke because at that exact moment, I accepted that this was really no dream.

The three women bowed as they approached. "Are you feeling well? Do you need anything?"

I shook my head. "Who are you?"

"Our apologies for our manners. My name is Ruby. This is Sapphire and Amethyst." After hearing that, I resisted the urge to laugh. First of all, they were named after freaking gemstones! Second, their names matched their hair. Ruby had red hair, Sapphire a dark blue, and Amethyst purple.

"We're your maids. In our mortal lives, we've served a line of royalty. In the afterlife, we've volunteered to serve the king and he's assigned us to you, your highness. If there's anything you need, just call our names and we'll be there," Sapphire explained. Ruby and Amethyst both bowed.

Seriously, what's with all this bowing and formal titles?

My jaw fell. "Uhm. I'm good, thanks," I replied. If this is the first thing about being queen then I'm already totally failing.

"Is the room to your liking? If there are any changes you wish to be made, we'll have it done right away," Amethyst said.

I shook my head. "No. This room is beautiful," I replied. I wasn't able to hide the awe in my voice there. Just like the rest of this place, this room was magnificent. The three ladies grinned at my reply. "His highness will be very happy to hear that. He personally oversaw all the changes that were made to this room," Ruby said.

Something inside me melted. "Uhm. Please tell him I said thank you."

"Your highness, you can thank him personally! The king requests your presence. He wishes to have breakfast with you."

I closed my eyes and counted to three before I opened them again. I don't have anything against Hades and he seems like a really nice guy but knowing that the choice of what I'll do with my life has been taken away from me just breaks my heart. I felt like a pawn in a great, big game of chess where my every move is dictated and my purpose set right from the beginning.

"Can I just eat here in my room for now?" I whispered. The three gems looked at each other like I just committed the worse social faux pas in the history of time.

"Your highness, we beg you to reconsider. The king was most excited to eat with you today now that you are here." The three looked at me with expectation and guilt settled heavily in my gut.

"Alright. Fine. I'll just go shower," I told them. When they heard that, they almost bounced with excitement. Ruby hurried towards a set of double doors while Amethyst dashed into another door.

"We'll help you get ready," Sapphire announced.

"This door on the left leads to the bathroom. The double doors here lead to your closet. It's already stocked with the basics but the seamstress will be coming soon to get you outfitted for more. This door to the right, the biggest one, is the door adjoining your bedroom to the king's," she instructed.