Page 26 of Crown of the Courtesan

“Whatever are you doing?” the young woman exclaims as she returns through the chamber doorway. “The dressing maids have been informed that you’ve awoken. They’re fetching hot water for a bath now.” She looks no older than seventeen, with freckles covering every inch of her face and arms. She wears a gown of fine black satin, which seems out of place with her straight strawberry-blonde hair. “You’re supposed to let them undress you.”

“I know that, but I can’t stay in this any longer.” I slip out of what remains of my dress. A chill ripples through me as I stand there naked, down to my wiggling toes. Only then can I exhale and bitterly think about how I will never again wear a ceremony gown.

My cheeks warm, and I look around for a dressing robe or any linen to drape over myself, but there is nothing but the bed coverings. Sheepishly, I cover my body with my long hair.

A maid enters, and my companion calmly requests that she light a larger fire.

While the blaze is stoked, the rest of the uniformed maids file into the chamber carrying steaming buckets of water and place the copper tub in front of the fireplace’s crackling warmth.

“I suggest you eat something before you get in,” the girl says, smelling of roses and soap. My nose wrinkles. After the fight with Balor, the scent makes me sick.

She shoves a hot roll into my hand with a pointed look. Taking her advice, I nibble on the buttery morsel, but it tastes like sawdust on my tongue. Hunger is the last thing on my mind, especially with the Alexandrian Chronicle lying spread out on the morning table.

Hear ye, hear ye! His Royal Grace, King Xander Metalla III, has passed into the Otherworld. Long live the Queen! Her Royal Highness Tabitha Rilea Metalla, lost princess and former High Lady Courtesan, will ascend the throne upon the king’s dying request. All hail Queen Tabitha, first of her name, rightful heir to the kingdom! More details on the next page…

I drop the roll back on the plate.

The girl puts her hands on her hips and asks, “How warm do you prefer your bath? Because if you don’t tell them now, they’ll scald you.”

There’s a layer of grime on my skin that I doubt will ever wash away. Water temperature is the least of my worries. I murmur, “Hot is fine.”

I run my fingertips through my scalp and quickly become entangled in the snarled knots. The maids swat at my hands and attack with boar-bristle brushes and smooth jade combs.

My companion winces while watching. “It might help to soak first.”

Being yanked on reminds me of Balor, and it becomes increasingly difficult to hold my position. The maids gasp as I pull away from them, breathing hard.

“Your Grace… is everything all right?”

Beyond the point of caring that I’m still naked, I grab the scissors from the dressing table and cut my hair in as straight a line as I can manage, shedding over half of its weight. Watching the tendrils fall to the ground brings back a flash of memory of my hair being used as a rope. I untangle the circlet and hold it in my hands, the Alexra humming through my palms.

A kind-looking maid slips a dressing robe over my shoulders, causing my cheeks to burn. Changing and bathing in the open is commonplace in the courtesan dormitories, but I don’t know how they perceive it here—now I wish I’d been more patient.

“My father was right about you,” the young lady admits, eyeing me from the side as she helps the maids stay organized while they prepare the bath with dried flowers and beauty oils. “You are going to turn this kingdom upside down, for better or worse! But I have a feeling it’ll be of the better category.” Her tresses tumble over her face when she bends to pick up a dropped towel.

I already know the answer, but ask in a squeaky voice, “Who is your father?”

“General Metalla, of course.”

My stomach flips.

Princess Klara Metalla—the king’s niece and my… cousin. Two nights ago, she was the heir to the throne, groomed from birth to rule. Now I’ve ripped away that birthright—upending her world, the same as mine.

“Why don’t you get in the tub? I’ll come back later to discuss what happens next.”

I guiltily blurt, “I didn’t want any of this.”

“Most wouldn’t if they knew what it entailed.” The princess seems to pity me, her lips downturned.

“Aren’t you furious?” I remember her father’s seething face.

“What good would that do? I won’t lie; it’ll be an adjustment, but there are other reasons to be glad for it.”

“So you’re happy?”

“They awoke me when it happened, and I paced my room, thinking it through all night until morning. Then you slept and wouldn’t wake up, giving me even more time to think. The strangest part of my revelation was the relief—not at being removed from the heirdom, but relief that I won’t be alone anymore.” Klara folds a fresh towel over her arm, eyes glassy. “Even my governess has abandoned me. She left for her family’s country estate two months ago and hasn’t returned. It seems my lot in life is to stay while others go.”

I bite my tongue, not knowing if I should inform her of my wish to eventually abdicate. She shines with such youthful, sweet hope that I withhold the information. There is no sense in ruining the girl’s afternoon, and in any case, I want her to stay content and cooperative.