-Jade-

William didn't escort Jade to her chambers. When she asked him where they were going he didn't answer. The only thing she received was a glance, but no words left his lips.

Where are we going? Where is he taking me? Jade speculated as she noticed that they never went up any stairs. They continued through the castle and she started to recognize the direction. Where they heading to the part of the castle where the kitchen were located?

Isn't this the way to the room where I was brought when we arrived?

Jade's questions were soon answered and it proved that she was right. They had almost reached the kitchen when William stopped in front of a wooden door. They were standing in a narrow corridor with no windows nearby. There were no chance that daylight would reach this place during the day.

On the stonewalls torches were the sole providers of light.

What is this place? Jade thought and studied her surroundings anxiously.

The scent of cooked chicken was hanging in the air so they had to be very close to the kitchen. This meant that they had to be close to the room with the tub.

Why has he brought me down here?

"What are we doing here? This is not where I sleep." Jade told William, like he suddenly had forgotten where her chambers were, which obviously couldn't be the reason he had brought her here.

"This is your new... room." William explained with a dark voice. Jade looked at him and then at where they were.

What? Here? It has to be some sick joke.

"What do you mean?" she asked and chuckled.

William pulled out a key from his jacket. Jade took a step back but he caught her right hand before she could go anywhere.

"Jade, I don't want to do this... But it's for your protection." He explained and pulled her back again. He unlocked the door and opened it whilst looking around them for anyone who might see them.

"What..." Jade was lost for words.

William led her in to the room. It was smaller than the one she had had back home. The only thing that could fit into this room was a narrow bed, a desk with a mirror on it and a stool in front of it.

Jade turned around and William was big enough to cover the entire entrance. He closed the door behind him while Jade took in the size of the room.

"William... What is this?" she asked and felt a bit afraid and turned to face him. He actually seemed bothered by her reaction. Like it saddened him to see her this way.

"It's for your safety." William explained and pressed her hand lightly. Jade withdrew it from him and crossed her arms.

"Here?" she asked and couldn't help but to feel betrayed.

This is why he didn't tell me where we were going. She thought.

"For now." William answered and studied her with sad eyes.

"For now?" she whispered in dismay. "What are you trying to do? Lock me away so no one-"

William's hands carefully grabbed Jade's neck and his thumbs were stroking her jaws. She lost her breath when he suddenly stood very close to her. He eliminated all of the space between them and Jade put her hands against his chest to give herself a way out, if she needed one.

"I need to know that you are safe." He whispered and turned her face upwards and locked eyes with her.

"By locking the door?" Jade whispered and tears fell down her cheeks and onto his hands. William's eyes filled with agony and he wiped away her tears softly.

Suddenly his lips were on hers. Jade was too surprised to reject him. Instead she then fell into the kiss with him.

The kiss wasn't at all like what she had expected. William's lips were soft, gentle and Jade could feel how much he wanted nothing else than to kiss her. It was so obvious. His thumbs caressed her jawline gently as his lips tasted her for the very first time.

Jade had expected that their first kiss would be one of force and left her with sore lips and humiliation. But it felt so... natural. Jade leaned into it even more and kissed William back just as it reached its end.

"Good night, Jade." He whispered against her lips.

No, don't stop. Jade thought and felt so disappointed that he didn't continue kissing her.

Why would he do this now? When she for the first time didn't hate to be in his presence? The first time she felt like she wanted more...

William took a step back and Jade understood that he wasn't going to change his mind. She was going to stay here. The feeling she had just had, wanting him to stay, quickly changed into hate.

"Are you really going to lock the door?" she asked quietly. "You promised me that you wouldn't do that anymore." She reminded him and took a step closer.

"I will lock it no matter what you say..." he said with a low voice and it felt like the William that had kissed her was gone.

Jade was standing in front of the part of him that refused to listen to her. The one she despised.

"Pleas-"

"Go to bed, Jade. It'll be a long day tomorrow..." he said and opened the door.

"Because?" Jade asked when he was on his way out.

"Because tomorrow the preparations for our wedding start." He answered and closed the door.

How can he lock me in again? He had promised that he wouldn't do it! Why do I have to be kept down here like an animal? She thought and sat down on the edge of her bed with tears streaming down her face.

The bed wasn't as nice as the one in her chambers. The mattress wasn't as soft... it was rather uncomfortably actually.

There has to be hundreds of chambers in this stupid place that I can be 'kept safe' in...

"I don't want to be here..." she cried quietly as she thought of what William had said.

Tomorrow would be the start of the rest of her life in this wretched place.

Jade laid down and tried to fall asleep. It was very hard due to the fact that the servants and the kitchen staff was still working and made a lot of noise.

Elizabeth showed up after a while to help Jade out of her clothes but couldn't due to the locked door.

The next day William came very early to unlock the door for Elizabeth. He himself didn't speak to Jade. Not even a greeting. He unlocked the door and left before Jade got the chance to even get a glimpse of him.

"Come on, little one. The tailors are going to start working on your dress for the wedding today!" Elizabeth chirped friendly and pulled Jade's cover off of her. "My lord! Did you sleep in your dress?" she asked Jade and laughed a little when she saw that Jade was still fully dressed. Jade sat up and nodded.

"Yes. I had to since you weren't here when the prince locked me in here.
What was I supposed to do?" Jade muttered and rubbed her drowsy eyes.

She barely slept that night. Her corset had kept her awake for almost the entire night. She had a very hard time keeping her drowsy eyes open. If she would have been allowed to choose for herself, she would have gone back to sleep after getting out of that god damned corset. Instead she rolled her neck and felt it crack from the poor bed William had provided her with.

"I am very sorry, dear." Elizabeth apologized. "I was going to see you but I didn't want to disturb the prince. He is very concerned about the attempt on your life." She continued. Jade didn't want to hear it. If William's concerns were more important than her comfort, she didn't want to hear another word.

"I don't care." She muttered.

"Why not?" Elizabeth asked, almost offended.

"Apparently, not to disturb him is more important than whether or not I get out of my corset or not."

"He had already gone to bed." Elizabeth defended her actions.

"I didn't get any sleep." Jade parried the answer. "Do you know how hard it is to sleep in a corset?"

"The prince had gone to bed and I didn't want to disturb him. He is not one that you wish to disturb if it can be avoided." She answered in a harsh tone.

Jade was drawn to her feet and Elizabeth helped her out of her clothes. Her fingers undid all the buttons and lacing with such speed it impressed Jade. When she removed the corset, Jade noticed that it had left prints in her skin.

"No, you let me sleep in this instead." Jade muttered back and hoped that this was the last they would speak of it. Lines from the metal pins in the corset ran from her chest down to her hips.

"Trust me, child. Nothing good comes from disturbing that man." Elizabeth said quietly as she worked. Jade stood in her underwear and enjoyed the ability to take deep breaths again.

"What else can he possibly do to me?" she sighed and held her hands up while Elizabeth pulled a thin underdress over her head. She mumbled something but Jade couldn't tell what. Instead she ignored it. It didn't matter what she told Elizabeth. She always sided with William anyway. He seemed to be everyone's favorite while also being their biggest fear.

For Jade, he definitely wasn't her favorite... and she was afraid of him. But now, she didn't know if she was more afraid or simply just hated him. Her emotions couldn't decide.

One part of her was fuming, hated him for locking her in this room... Another part of her couldn't stop thinking of that kiss...

"It cannot be as bad as you say it is." Elizabeth suddenly said as she wrapped Jade in a robe. "You will be a princess soon. That is every girl's dream."

"Not mine." Jade muttered.

"And later, you will be his queen." Elizabeth continued, she had ignored Jade's words. "It is not everyday someone from your..." Elizabeth went quiet while searching for a word that suited Jade.

"My what?" Jade sighed. "Social class?" She added.

Elizabeth grimaced but shrugged her shoulders at the same time. She had no other word for it.

"Not everyone who comes from your background gets this chance. I mean, queen! Imagine it!" Elizabeth said in a low but excited tone.

"I'd rather not." Jade mumbled.

"Well, it is what it is." Elizabeth said.

. . .

After Jade was wrapped up in her robe and her hair was in a messy bun in her neck, Elizabeth led her to the room were the tub was. Inside a couple of servant girls were waiting alongside three men with very pale skin. It was white powder.

Are they wearing powder? Jade wondered and quickly noticed that they had also a little bit of color on their lips and cheeks.

Their clothes were exquisite. The jacket one of them was wearing looked like it had been sewn by someone with very skilled hands. Jade might be from a common family, but even she recognized good craftsmanship. The men all turned around to see who had entered. All three of them were smiling from ear to ear as soon as they saw Jade.

"Oh my-! Elizabeth!" One of them exclaimed. It appeared that he didn't know what to do with his hands, in what Jade interpreted as excitement. His hands were kind of waving in front of his face and they gesticulated at Jade.

"Am I dreaming?" Another of them said and smirked while he studied Jade.

"You must be playing a very cruel joke on us, Elizabeth!"

"What are they talking about?" Jade leaned back towards Elizabeth but didn't let the men out of her sight.
"What is happening?"

"They are talking about you." Elizabeth answered.

One of the men almost skipped up to Jade, grabbed her right hand and twirled her in front of him.

"I am not joking." Elizabeth said with a smile on her lips. "This is the prince's future wife, and he wants you three to sew all of her future garments." She continued.

One of the men placed his hand on his chest as if he was deeply grateful for her words. Afterwards Elizabeth herded Jade into the room and placed her on a low stool. Jade crossed her arms because she felt insecure with all these people staring at her.

"The prince wants you to start with her wedding dress this instant." Elizabeth instructed them and one of them clapped his hands silently in eagerness.

"I am completely over the moon. My name is Oliver." The one of them who had talked first said. "Her body is incredible, Elizabeth! How did the prince come by such a beautiful girl like you?" he asked and smiled at Jade. She reciprocated the gesture but didn't intend to lie.

"He made an agreement with my parents without telling me." Jade answered. "So... here I am. Whether I like it or not." Oliver's smile disappeared but soon returned.

"Well, what a lucky little thing you are!" he said and turned around to his friends. "Let me introduce to my colleagues. This is Bernard and Geoff."

What unusual names... Jade thought. They must be from a different kingdom. At least several kingdoms away. She tried to study the men's complexions but it was very hard with all that powder they were wearing.

The only thing she could make out was the color of their eyes. Oliver's were green as moss, Bernard's were a light shade of blue but not as light as her own and Geoff's eyes were the hardest to determine. They seemed to be a mixture of blue and green.

Bernard walked up to Jade and placed his hands around Jade's waist. It felt very strange and Jade acted without thinking. She slapped them away, very hard and gave him a stern look.

"Hey! Keep your hands to yourself!" she hissed and also slapped one of Oliver's hands away. It was on her ribcage, feeling its way up.

The men and Elizabeth started laughing but not with Jade. They were laughing at her, but it wasn't to mock her. Their laughter seemed more amused and warm.

"Jade, relax. Oliver, Bernard and Geoff are the tailors and they need to take your measurements." Elizabeth chuckled and untied Jade's robe and quickly pulled it off her before she could give her consent. Feeling very naked even though she was wearing the underdress she covered herself with her arms.

"Do I really have to be wearing so little?" she asked Elizabeth, ashamed of her situation. Elizabeth smiled at her with a warmth in her eyes that only a mother could. It actually calmed Jade, a little, but she still felt very exposed. "I usually don't let men see me without my clothes..."

"Don't be ridiculous!" Bernard suddenly opened his mouth and Jade could hear that he had some sort of accent. But none that she had ever heard of. "Your body is fantastic and I am so pleased that we get to make your dresses."

"Imagine if we had to make another for the queen." Geoff suddenly said in a snide comment and the other two smirked at him.

"Hush!" Elizabeth suddenly said. "I will not have you speak ill of the queen in Jade's presence!"

Why not? Jade thought. The woman hates me and I think I hate her as well.

"Apologies." Geoff said and bowed his head.

The tailors started taking her measurements as soon as the formalities were over. Oliver's and Bernard's hands were all over her while Geoff was taking notes of everything they said. Jade felt like an object.

They didn't talk to her anymore and she couldn't determine if it was because they were focused or because all they cared about was her body and the dress they were planning for it.

Two hours or more passed, Jade wasn't sure. Elizabeth popped her head in.

"Do you need anything, child?" she asked and it took Jade a while to understand that she was speaking to her.

"What?" she asked. Elizabeth smiled at her.

"Do you need anything?" she repeated herself.

"Not right now..." Jade answered while Oliver made her stretch her neck by pushing his index finger under her chin until the back of her neck couldn't go further back. He then took a measurement that Jade didn't even understand what it could be useful for.

"Well, if you need something just call on the girls. They will bring you food or whatever you need." She said.

"Are you not going to be here?" Jade asked and felt a bit anxious. She wasn't too fond of being alone with three men in practically no clothes and their hands all over her.

"I have to go. I need to prepare your clothes for tonight's dinner." Elizabeth answered. Jade closed her eyes when a needle almost pricked her skin. She gave Bernard a stern look and he grimaced and apologized.

I should have asked for some food... I haven't eaten breakfast yet. Jade thought.

Another hour passed and Jade was getting quite hungry. It must have been past midday when Jade finally had had enough. Her stomach was growling and she felt light headed.

"Can you call on one of the servants?" She asked quietly and tried to keep her balance as she felt dizzy. "I think I need to eat something..." she mumbled.

"Stand still!" Oliver demanded. "I just need to do the last part in the back." He answered.

"I feel..." Jade became quiet when her stomach sent her angry signals that it needed something.

"I will get you some food in a minute." Oliver sighed and continued working. "Just stand still and this will be over a lot faster."

Jade became more and more hungry. She was seeing spots here and there. Every now and then she asked for some food but the tailors either hissed at her or ignored her. After a while she stopped asking. They didn't listen and she hoped that if she didn't rush them they would finish faster.

A girl entered through the door and looked at Jade. Her whole face turned full of concern. She closed the door behind her and walked up to Jade-

"Miss?" she asked "Are you alright? You are very pale." She whispered. Jade turned her head very slowly at the girl. She felt like she was going to collapse any minute.

"I need something to eat." Jade answered her.

"I will get you something right away!" she exclaimed when she realized why Jade was so pale.

While the girl was getting Jade something to eat and the tailors kept working Jade could feel her body give up. She felt her eye roll back into her skull and how the support from her knees disappeared. Before she knew what was happening she felt her body descend to the floor, and fast. But it felt like she was falling in half an eternity before everything suddenly stopped.

Everything turned black.

The sounds of the tailors voices sounded like Jade was underwater as she slowly came to it. She had fainted.

"ELIZABETH!" Oliver screamed in terror and the other two got on their knees next to Jade. "Geoff! Run and get her!"

"Oliver, if he gets word of this..." Geoff mumbled.

"He will hear of it no matter what." Oliver hissed. "Just get Elizabeth!"

Oliver and Bernard were stroking Jade's hair and patting her cheeks gently to wake her up. She whimpered as her body came to life, and with it pain also awoke. Her face hurt terribly and she felt the cold stone of the floor against it. Next, she felt her knees and hips ache as well.

"He is going to kill us..." Oliver breathed close to Jade's face as he tried to get her to open her eyes. His voice was frightened.

I truly hope he does... Jade thought as she felt the rest of her body ache from the fall. I hope he screams his lungs off at you three!

It felt like forever but it had only went a couple of seconds when Jade could finally draw a deep breath. The excruciating pain that came from her ribs made her whimper and cry from pain as she opened her eyes.

"She's awake!" Oliver exclaimed in relief. Jade tried to brush their hands off of her but stopped when her ribs screamed at her not to move. She cried out in pain and felt her tears form streams down her face.

"Miss!" The servant girl that had went to get Jade food had returned. The sound of glass breaking erupted. "Move!" She screamed and Jade barely noticed how the girl pushed the tailors away from her. She knelt down next to Jade and took her face in her hands while studying Jade's face. "Miss!" she whispered and lightly hit Jade's cheeks. She was forcing Jade to keep her eyes open and to look at her.

The door opened again and Jade recognized Elizabeth's scream.

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