"Are you okay, my lady?" Aurelia waved a hand in her face, rousing her back to reality.
"Of course, I am." Islinda expelled a deep breath before staring down at the meal set in front of her.
"You seem distracted, perhaps, it was a bad idea to let you have breakfast in bed," Aurelia said with annoyance in her tone while shooting Rosalind standing at the corner a glare.
The austere-looking Rosalind stood straight with her head lifted high. Her lips were pressed together firmly, yet she did not give Aurelia the satisfaction of eliciting a response from her. But, the strange tension between both women could be sensed from miles away and made it so hard to breathe.
Islinda’s stomach churned with guilt knowing she was responsible for the current quarrel between Aurelia and Rosalind. Aurelia must feel Rosalind challenged her orders and went on to do whatever she wanted all because she was Aldric’s lover and had his backing. Islinda never intended to cause such strife among the staff and disrupt their dynamics.
If Aldric returned and saw his staff behaving this way. He would undoubtedly blame her. The dark Fae prince already tried to kill her once because she found out his secret. He would surely attempt a second time especially if he believes she is trying to tear his "kingdom" apart.
The tension in Islinda’s belly wound tightly, she didn’t like this at all. She had to get out of this place before all of this exploded in her face. Rosalind was right, this decent treatment was not going to last forever. Not to mention, ever since that fight with Aldric, she has no idea how he would treat her from henceforth.
She needed to escape by all means.
Islinda’s gaze fell on the dinner knife and her heart skipped a beat. Aldric did not allow any sharp object in her possession and the servants were always careful, ensuring no cutlery was missing after each meal.
She lifted her face only for her eyes to connect with Rosalind’s and her heart missed a beat. As if the Fae knew what she was plotting, she gave her a subtle nod and a shiver washed over Islinda. This was getting real. Nor can she back down. She would have to make Aldric return by threatening her own life.
Nervously, Islinda stared across the room, and aside from Aurelia and Rosalind, there were two other Fae in there with her. Rosalind was already on her side and would probably distract Aurelia, but what about the other two? Unless they weren’t paying attention, she couldn’t steal the knife without them knowing.
"Calm down, Aurelia, it’s nobody’s fault," Islinda decided to take to talking to calm her nerves and distract them, "Who knows," She sighed dramatically, "It might have to do with the fact that I miss Aldric."
And yes, that shocking revelation was all it took to distract them for a split second.
"What?!" The Fae screamed, looking amongst themselves with shocked expressions. Oh yes, they were undoubtedly the gossip.
Islinda took the opportunity to slip the knife from the tray and place it beside her where their eyes couldn’t reach. Although it was hidden at her side, It was only temporary and if any Fae happened to come any closer, they would find it. She had to do something quick.
Just when she was thinking of what to do, one of the other Fae gathered the courage to ask, "M-my lady, do you mean what you just said? By chance, are you and Prince Aldric in a romantic relationship? I thought Valerie was -"
Aurelia at once cut her off with a disapproving hiss, a frown on her face as she wordlessly reprimanded the Fae for overstepping her boundaries. The Fae lowered her head, gnawing on her bottom lips in silent regret, and did not see the hungry glint in Aurelia’s eyes. She too was eager to know the truth.
Unknown to them, all Islinda did was throw a bait and they fell to it like hungry fishes. Instead of Islinda satisfying their curiosity, she yawned loudly, "I think I’m suddenly tired."
What happened next was intentional, not that any of the Fae present knew that. Islinda swung her leg to get into bed, only to kick the tray and it fell with a hard rattle, the leftover dishes spilling across the ground, making a huge mess.
The Fae gasped at the disaster, and Islinda let the startled shock show on her expression as well. She attempted to climb out of bed saying, "I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to -"
"Don’t move, lady Islinda. We have this under control." Aurelia stopped her with a gesture and Islinda halted, looking guilty.
"There’s nothing to be guilty about, my lady. Mistakes do happen," The other Fae who had been silent all this while, comforted her with a smile.
"I’ll take this," Rosalind quickly bent and cleared the plate and utensils before any of them could notice that a dinner knife was missing.
This way, even if she was caught, Rosalind could claim that she was too flustered by the small incident she hadn’t thought about the knife. That is if she could lie. She would have to find a way to twist her words or avoid the situation altogether.
"Clear the mess," Rosalind instructed the others while Aurelia watched her with a dark look.
For a moment there, Islinda’s heart skipped a beat assuming that Aurelia had caught up to their plan until she realized that Rosalind just shared the chores without her instruction. It seemed that Rosalind was trying to take over her position. Or worse, challenge her authority.
Rosalind must have realized her mistake because she hesitated for a moment. Usually, this wouldn’t be a huge deal, after all, it was for Islinda’s well-being, but with the latest fallout between them, Aurelia was reading too much into her action.
After a long look, Rosalind left without a word while a tick appeared in Aurelia’s jaw. Islinda watched the interaction between both female Fae with a complicated expression even as she successfully hid the knife beneath the pillow.
It hit Islinda that she would have to solve this unhealthy rivalry between Aurelia and Rosalind before attempting to threaten Aldric with her life. She can’t let them tear the castle apart.
Or was this the distraction she needed to execute her plan?