Poisoned Heart Sneak Peek

  I stood in front of my elongated mirror, taking a long look at my glowing reflection. The early morning sun reflected off the glass, making my outline appear ablaze along the edges of my slim figure. Being the princess and only heir of a powerful kingdom meant that appearances held a heavy importance, and I stepped closer to observe the efforts of my beauty sleep. My dark brown eyes looked extra big this morning, and my hair shone a silky sheen as the loose strands framed my face. The new dressing maid stood quietly behind me, watching as I undid the braided bun she had just twisted into my sleek ebony hair.

“Sorry, Edith,” I apologized halfheartedly. “I think we can both agree that this isn’t the most flattering look. The braids are nice, but the whole kingdom knows that my hair is one of my best features. If it’s all tucked away, then my face has to do all the work, and smiling can get exhausting after a while.” I gently tucked the curls behind my ears alongside a small pearl-embellished pin.

“Yes, Princess, please forgive my ignorance,” Edith replied in a shaking voice. Today was the young girl’s first day working without supervision, and she still hadn’t quite grasped the unspoken rules that existed in my presence.

“Oh, don’t be so hard on yourself! I’m not going to throw you into the dungeon.” I laughed playfully, trying to help the panicked girl relax. “But you really should apprentice with the senior dressers a little longer. It took a while to properly groom them into understanding my needs, and they never mess up my hair anymore. Don’t worry, everyone gets there with time.”

I put the pins down and slowly turned in front of the mirror, taking in the regal dress I wore. It was a dark green velvet gown with silver vine embellishments along the bodice and skirt. The heavy material was perfect for the harsh winter outside the castle walls—not that I was ever going to endure more than a few moments of the cold before returning to the sanctuary of the stone walls. However, it was always good to look the part for any visiting nobles or merchants who attended our winter events. The cold seasons always grew so dull, so mother often held social gatherings and small feasts to connect with the royal court’s families. 

I, on the other hand, could hardly be bothered with such annoying guests. All they ever did was stand around gossiping while encouraging their sons to flirt with me. Instead of bearing the obnoxious company, I often tried to make things more interesting by creating stirs with a harmless prank or two. There was nothing quite as entertaining as watching schmoozing nobles embarrass themselves by sipping tea steeped in hot peppers or wiping their nose into peppered handkerchiefs. Most of the servants had already caught on to my tricks by now, but the court would never imagine that such a perfect princess could be up to no good. So I continued to use my own methods to pass the time during the lifeless winters.

I performed one final twirl in front of the mirror before feeling satisfied with my look. I then strode across the room to where the nervous maid stood politely.

“I must say, you chose well for my dress,” I complimented, and the girl’s shy blue eyes brightened at my words. “This color truly highlights my complexion. Most of the ladies’ skin grows fair and light during the dark winters; therefore, it benefits me to wear colors that help my skin tone appear more vibrant than the other girls I’m compared to. Don’t you agree?”

The maid jolted slightly at being asked a direct question. “Why yes, Your Highness!” she answered quickly. “I wouldn’t dare dress you to appear inferior to the other ladies at court. You must always look your best amongst the other members of nobility. Not that it’s difficult to achieve!” She hastily continued, “Your Highness is already the most beautiful girl in the kingdom!” For the first time, she sounded confident, as if she’d rehearsed this moment before, whereas she had only muttered meek responses previously.

I smiled, acknowledging the girl’s praise. Then I sat down in front of the vanity and began to shuffle through some jewelry.

“I’m glad you agree, but Edith, dear…” I started, “don’t worry so much about trying to flatter me. I already get enough of that from the gentlemen at court.” Edith froze at the subtle scolding, posing with her hands clutched tightly in front of her. Her gaze drifted to the floor, all her previous confidence shattered beneath her. I turned back to meet her gaze and softened my eyes.

“I assume the other servants trained you to compliment my every feature long before you ever saw me. While I do appreciate the kind words and attention, I prefer my dressers to be a little more honest with me. After all, if something didn’t look right on me, I would certainly need to know before I ever left the confines of my suite.” I took her stiffened hands in my own and smiled gently. “And relax a little, dear. I’m not going to eat you. I may be picky about my appearance, but it’s nothing for you to get so nervous about.” I dropped the maid’s hands and could visibly see her release a held breath.

“Thank you, Princess. Please forgive me for fawning, I’m just a little anxious having been assigned such a high position so early,” she explained with a more eased expression. “I simply hope to serve you to the extent you deserve.”

“And I’m sure you will do just that. Now, would you mind assisting me?” I asked, holding up a detailed, silvery-jade necklace. The girl nodded and jumped into action, helping me secure the clasp behind my neck. I smiled at her, happy to see her less stiff. If she was going to be my dresser long-term, then I needed her to feel comfortable with me. This might be the most important role a servant could have when serving a princess like myself.

I had always known I was beautiful. Since the day I was born, news had spread across the kingdom of the dazzling princess who’d blessed the king and queen of Isalla. Princess Arabella Ivory Zakaria, the name of King Victor’s most prized treasure. No matter whom I met, my father always introduced me as the most divine creature seen by man. He would take me on trips across the country to show me off to the citizens of the land, simply to prove that he alone possessed the finest treasure. Of course, I knew he was exaggerating, at least a little. 

Ever since he died when I was fifteen, the servants had recited compliments to me as if I would crumble without them. I couldn’t say for sure that I wouldn’t have, though. My father’s praise was all I’d ever truly had in life. Sure, I was an adored, well-educated, stunningly beautiful princess, but the title didn’t exactly come with the perfect life. I had only ever seen my father during dinners or when he was flaunting my beauty to the kingdom, which was rather often. Those moments of praise had become my most treasured time with him. His adoration was his act of love, and when he was gone, I supposed the servants just felt I would miss that. It wasn’t as if my mother was going to give it to me.

“Done!”

My thoughts were interrupted by Edith, who had just finished securing my everyday tiara. It was a dainty platinum headpiece, encrusted with a few simple jewels that rested elegantly just behind my hairline. While I was lost in thought, Edith had completed attaching my jewelry and was now staring at me expectantly, no doubt awaiting feedback. 

Wow, she had some talent when it came to adornments, as each trinket glittered in perfect contrast to the one next to it. No wonder she’d been assigned as my dresser at such an early age. Perhaps making friends with her would be a better idea than I had imagined, especially if she could make me look this good.

“Perfect!” I exclaimed proudly, examining myself in the mirror. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I should probably head down to breakfast. I’m sure I’m already running late.” I stepped into the satin slippers she’d set out on the floor for me, then made my way across the massive royal suite to fling open the large oak doors. I rushed through the grand corridors as quickly as deemed appropriate for a grown princess whose stomach was already growling at her to hurry. As I passed the occasional servant, I was greeted with the usual friendly comments of “Good morning!” and “You look lovely today, Your Highness!” 

I nodded my gratitude but mostly ignored them as I strode past with my head held high. I wasn’t sure when it had become appropriate for the servants to address me so directly, but frankly, I was getting annoyed by it. Speaking with my dressing maids was one thing—we needed to be in constant communication about the quality of my image—but being approached by housekeepers, cooks, and even the occasional guard was growing obscene. All they ever did was compliment me, just like everyone else. At this point, they should have seen that I got enough praise from the various suitors and court members who came during the week. 

I’d need to have a word about their behavior with the butler, Earl. Any information told to him would get passed through the whole staff within a moment’s notice. Though he may still be a little distant from me after discovering I had poured elderberry juice into his jug of mouth rinse. The poor man thought his purple tongue was caused by a rare disease. As humorous as it was having a purple-tongued butler, eventually I’d had to confess when he started getting the royal physicians involved. While he wasn’t happy, he’d agreed not to tattle since I admitted my fault.

As I rounded the corner into the dining hall, I was surprised to see my mother already seated at the table. She sat at the far end with her gaze directly on her food, tapping her nails against the deep-red tablecloth. Strangely enough, she was dressed rather incoherently. 

Her dress was simple, a plain sky-blue day dress with a floor-length skirt and a simple gold band circling the waist. However, her hair and makeup were done as extravagantly as if she were preparing to attend a ball. 

Detecting the scent of a fresh, hot breakfast, I walked across the elaborate dining hall. My eyes fell on the plate full of cooked eggs and thick toast, but suddenly, I wasn’t so hungry. 

What is she doing here? 

She never joined me for breakfast unless we had a visitor for whom we needed to keep up appearances, or if she had urgent news, or if I was in trouble... Anxiously, I sunk into my drawn chair as I thought through any recent pranks I had pulled. She couldn’t have known about the frog I’d let loose in Baroness Eliza’s room, could she? I apprehensively placed my napkin on my lap as my chair was pushed in behind me by the steward. 

“Good morning, Arabella,” my mother said flatly as she stirred a lump of sugar into her tea, though her eyes never once looked up as she addressed me.

“Good morning, Mother,” I replied, matching her flat tone. She clearly wasn’t interested in making conversation, and I wished she would just hurry and tell me what brought her here. I tried to read her expression to see if she was plotting a method of discipline, but her distant demeanor gave no clues. She didn’t appear interested in speaking until she was done with her breakfast, so we sat in silence while we chewed our eggs and toast. 

Queen Minerva Zakaria was a very social, charismatic woman, though you would never know it when she was with me. Even before Father’s death, we never spent time together, except when propriety called for it. Instead of being raised by my mother, I’d often been pawned off onto nannies, governesses, or the occasional noble family for most of my upbringing. Unlike Father, the queen didn’t like to be seen with her daughter, partially because being a mother made her feel old— at least, that was what the servants used for gossip. I’d never understood why, though, because despite her age, my mother was still very beautiful. I’d gotten my porcelain skin and most of my features from her, but my dark eyes and hair came from my father. The queen, on the other hand, had light golden hair and shiny blue eyes, and she must have been every bit as beautiful as I when she was younger. Aside from maintaining her image of youth, I’d never fully understood why my mother cared so little about my existence. Nevertheless, she wanted nothing to do with me, and by now, I was happy to comply. Plenty of other people wished to spend their time doting on me. Why would I need a mother to do the same?

I had just finished my last piece of toast when she spoke. “Arabella, darling…”

I inwardly cringed. I hated when she called me darling or sweetheart or any other name that would indicate we had a relationship beyond sharing a dining table.

I looked up, swallowing the annoyance before it could seep out of my voice. “Yes, Mother? Did you need something?”

“Yes, dear. I needed to inform you that we’re expecting a visitor late this afternoon. An ambassador from the kingdom of Drancos.” She sipped her tea with an inquisitive look on her face, as if she was looking for my reaction before choosing her next words.

Realizing she remained unaware of the frog incident, I breathed a small sigh of relief and then chose my next words methodically. “How exciting. Did you wish for me to join you for the official welcoming?” I asked innocently. Per custom, the entire royal family was expected to greet any foreign visitors to the castle, especially those representing neighboring kingdoms like Drancos. However, I highly doubted my mother wanted me around for this visit, considering she was already taking careful effort in bringing it up. She was well aware of my antics with visitors and probably didn’t want to take any risks with my presence.

“Well,” she started, finally looking me in the eyes, “customarily I would insist you join us in order to provide a respectful greeting.” I raised an eyebrow at her words, wondering how she was going to talk me out of attending. “But in this case, it would seem that the ambassador is coming to prepare for a visit from King Garrett, along with his son.” She paused, folding her hands in her lap. “I haven’t received any official news, but I anticipate the king will offer a proposal of marriage between you and Prince Jasper during their visit.”

I swallowed my tea. What exactly was she getting at? I’d been offered marriage proposals before and presented with many suitors, but none of them were ever worth my time. What did it matter if the prince of Drancos wanted to vie for my hand as well? Perhaps she worried that if I refused a proposal from a royal contender, we would risk sullying diplomatic relations. The only time I had ever denied a royal betrothal was when Father was still alive, and no one had ever dared question him. 

My mother’s words interrupted my stirring thoughts. “Although you have now reached the age of nineteen, I understand you still have shown no interest in marriage.” She leaned back in her chair, looking bored. “I suppose we could arrange for you to take an excursion away from the castle while they complete their visit. Then there would be no reason for the prince to establish any connection with you and request your hand. While you’re away, I would be sure to maintain proper hospitality and ensure their visit is still one that will uphold positive relations between Isalla and Drancos. This way, you’ll have a little more time to consider your marriage options before you are ready. What do you say, darling?”

I sat back in my chair for a moment, processing her words. Something didn’t make sense. Was my mother actually trying to help me? Why now? Why would she suddenly start acting like… well, a mother? 

There had to be more to this that she wasn’t willing to share. I searched her eyes for answers, but they were cool and even showed the same level of familiarity as a stranger. I took a moment to consider her proposition before I grew angry. I didn’t know why I was mad, but it seemed unfair that the only time my mother appeared to show any concern for me was in a situation where I didn’t even believe it. No, that was it. I didn’t believe it. For whatever reason, she didn’t want me around. She didn’t want me to meet the king or prince, but I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of getting rid of me without at least a better lie. Nice try, Mother, but it’s no surprise that you don’t know me well enough to know that I create tricks instead of falling for them.

“I appreciate the consideration, Mother, but I hardly think that’s fair,” I began with a devilish smile creeping across my face. “It wouldn’t be right for me to run away from such an important visitor; besides, if you’re right and the prince intends to propose, then I’m sure I could politely decline without disturbing the peace terribly. Who knows, perhaps he’ll be a worthy contender for a husband after all. I just can’t imagine missing out on such an important visit.” I looked for a reaction, and I got one. For just a second, she cracked, and I saw her inattentive façade slip to irritation, but she corrected it too quickly for any observers to notice.

“Very well then.” Her tone was calm and collected. “In that case, I’ll be expecting you in the front garden just after teatime to greet the ambassador with me this afternoon. Wear something nice, but not too flashy.” She eyed my attire. “What you’re wearing now will do, but perhaps less jewelry. We wouldn’t want to make the wrong impression” She smiled sweetly, yet I still felt slightly offended, for Edith’s sake.

“Of course, Mother. I look forward to it,” I replied, matching her sweetness. With that, she gracefully stood from her chair, bid me a dull goodbye, and left the dining hall with only the sounds of her skirt sweeping the floor to mark her exit. I left moments after her, staying only long enough to finish my tea before rushing back toward my suite. 

Mother was planning something, and if she wouldn’t tell me what it was, then I supposed I would just have to ruin it. 

I rounded the corridor that led to my bedroom and flung the doors open without hesitation. As expected, Edith was still there, pressing wrinkles out of my nightgown for the evening. I usually spent my mornings in the parlors, so there were two chambermaids present in the midst of making my bed. Surprised by my bold entrance, they all stared at me, but I ignored their puzzled looks and ran across the large room to Edith.

“May I help you, Princess?” she asked, clearly startled by my presence.

“Yes!” It had been a few days since I’d made a fool out of anybody, and I had an excellent plan brewing in my mind— but I needed Edith’s help for it. “You coordinate with the queen’s dressing maids, right? You ensure that our attires never clash?”

She looked confused by my question. “Why yes, Your Highness.”

“Excellent!” I exclaimed. “I need you to do me a small favor. Find out what dress the queen will be wearing for the official welcoming of the ambassador tonight, then come tell me immediately.” Before she could reply, I spotted her small sewing kit on top of my carved wooden wardrobe and trotted over to it.

“If you wish, then yes, I should be able to inform you within the hour,” she replied, still perplexed as she watched me dig through her sewing supplies.

“That would be perfect. Thank you, Edith.” I felt my fingers clasp the tool I was searching for. “I’ll just wait here until you return, and then I’ll take it from there.” I spoke with a dark smile on my face as Edith rushed out the door with the two chambermaids.

“Don’t worry, Mother… we’ll be sure to make an impression,” I whispered to myself as I raised the seam ripper into my view.