The King's Mistress

Chapter 71: Watch It

"Your Majesty," Princess Agnes gripped onto his hand tightly while gazing into his eyes.

She had tears welling up in her eyes, ready to roll down her cheeks. She begged King Alistair to be the judge of what had happened and put Princess Sierra in her place.

Sierra snorted when she heard Princess Agnes’ plea.

"Do you have something to say, Princess Sierra?" King Alistair asked as he turned to look at her.

He was hoping she would look up at him. He wanted to see the look on her face. Alistair knew what he did would spark jealousy, but he had his own plan in mind after witnessing what happened.

Princess Cassandra stood by with her arms crossed while watching everything played out. She could not help but tip her hat to Princess Agnes for pulling it off. But she knew full well that the King and Queen were no fools either.

"What is there to say, Your Majesty?" Sierra asked, without looking up. She did not want to give him that satisfaction.

Her bold response shocked everyone, including Alistair himself. If she had spoken to him like this in private, it would not have mattered. But this was different. They were surrounded by royals from various kingdoms. They were in the presence of ministers from the Royal Court.

Alistair had an image to uphold. He could not be disrespected.

"Princess Sierra, watch your tone," Queen Roxine added sternly, hoping Sierra would realize the gravity of the situation and take a step back.

The Queen’s words did not sit well with Sierra. She glanced up and instantly realized the situation she was in. She had painted herself into a corner and there was not escape route. All eyes were on her.

In the distance, she could see the ministers whispering amongst themselves. From their grave expressions and shaking heads, Sierra knew exactly what they were thinking. They did not like her very much, that was for certain.

Though she did not want to admit her faults at that moment, Sierra knew she did not have any other choice. If she did not bow to them, the consequences could be severe. But her hands could not stop either. Taita’s dishes were nearing completion and the sand in the hourglass continued to fall.

So, Sierra did the next best thing she could think of.

"My sincerest apologies, Your Majesty," she said to Alistair before turning to Queen Roxine, "Your Highness. I have spoken out of line. I will willingly accept any punishment you deem fit for my insolence."

Roxine heaved a sigh of relief internally. If things were to escalate further, she did not know what would happen next.

Alistair did not speak any further to Sierra. He did not verbally accept her apology either. He turned his attention back to Princess Agnes, just as the doctors arrived to check on her injuries. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

If the princess had truly sprained her ankle, it would have swelled. However, there was no such symptom. This further cemented the idea that Agnes was likely faking it. The doctor examined Agnes and her ’injury’. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

Unsurprisingly, Alistair’s theory was confirmed.

"Princess Agnes, your ankle is fine. You didn’t sprain it when you fell," the royal doctor declared.

"I didn’t fall on my own!" She corrected the doctor, "I was pushed by her!"

She was still pointing fingers at Sierra.

During all the commotion, Taita’s dishes were completed. Sierra turned to see the hourglass, watching as the last particles of sand fell through the hourglass and the contest came to an end.

"Just in time," she sighed with a smile.

"Thank you, Princess Sierra, Princess Myra," Taita thanked them both, "I could not have done it without your help. I owe you."

"You owe me nothing, Your Highness," Sierra replied at once, "I helped where I could, that was all."

"Same for me. You don’t owe us anything, Princess Taita. This may be a contest of sorts but we need not be at each other’s throats," Myra chuckled.

Sierra glanced over to Agnes. The princess who pretended to have a sprained ankle was still holding on to Alistair’s hand for comfort. It made her blood boil, though she did not know exactly why.

With the way things transpired, Sierra secretly wished she had in fact pushed Agnes. Atleast, she would have the satisfaction of doing so.

Alistair helped Princess Agnes back up to her feet. She was still clinging on to him, taking full advantage of the situation. Sierra could not stand watching them. Everyone knew there was nothing wrong with Agnes’ ankle.

She had to put her in her place. An idea popped up in Sierra’s mind. She walked back to her cooking station with Ida. When no one was looking, she reached into the pocket on her pant leg.

Opal, her pet snake, was sleeping soundly in there until Sierra woke her up. She crouched down, as if to pick something up. Opal hissed as she nuzzled with Sierra when she leaned in close.

"Can you do me a favor, Opal?" Sierra asked.

The connection between snake and princess was far beyond a pet and a master. There were times Sierra felt as if Opal would read her mind. Ever since she had been blessed by Dravin and Opal seemingly obtained the blessing of the Patron sea serpent, Sierra had felt a unique connection with her pet snake.

It was almost as if they could communicate their thoughts telepathically.

Opal looked into Sierra’s eyes, their thoughts were connected at that moment. The little pearl snake nodded knowingly before slithering out of her palm and onto the ground.

Sierra got back up on her feet with a smile upon her face as she watched carefully. Ida noticed the change in her mood immediately. She looked around, scrutinizing every corner she could see in hopes of seeing what might have turned the princess’ mood.

"Your Highness, is something good about to happen?" Ida asked, uncertain what to make of the situation.

"Just watch," Sierra whispered to her as she turned away for a second to check on the dishes she had prepared.