Beauty's Bell by Brittany Fichter

Author:Brittany Fichter [Fichter, Brittany]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: This story should be read between Blinding Beauty (#2) and Beauty Beheld (#3)
Published: 2019-12-18T05:00:00+00:00

4

Twisted

Walking into the chancellor’s house was like walking into a bad dream, each step taking Isa deeper into the pieces of childhood she’d tried to forget.

At one time, the stone floor with its thick, plush rugs and red draperies on the wall had seemed so luxurious. As a child, when Isa had come here to play, she always wondered what it would feel like to live somewhere so opulent. But now, compared to the Fortress’s splendor, everything here felt cheap, as if the owner was trying too hard to impress people. Pine boughs covered nearly every surface imaginable, and there were even several glass stars, beautiful little copies of the crystal ones in the Fortress. Raoul’s father had commissioned a local glass blower to make them back when Isa and Raoul were small. And he’d made sure the whole town knew about it.

In spite of the bright decorations, the house was dark and silent. Servants stayed in the shadows and whispered quietly to one another, but no one actually spoke aloud.

Isa put on her best “queen face”, as her mother called it, but inside, she felt like a typhoon, whirling from emotion to emotion without lingering on any one long enough to know why it was there.

I don’t understand, she told the Maker silently as they passed the vast kitchen. They’ve been utterly awful to everyone they’ve ever met, and you gave them everything they could ever want.

As usual, the Fortress’s warm, playful spirit seemed to dance around her in response. Do you wish this was your home instead of hers?

No. Absolutely not. That wasn’t it. It was more…

What was wrong with her? Isa was above this. Hadn’t she just been telling Ever and Gigi about how she was a different person from who she had been during the last Etulle? In the last year, Isa had broken a curse, survived the Tumenian princess, and helped destroy the Glass Enchanter. She was queen of the most powerful kingdom in the western realm. Of course she didn’t want anything to change.

So why was this place making her want to cry?

Just as the servant stopped at a large wooden door, the silence was broken by the piercing wail of an infant. Isa closed her eyes.

Maker, this isn’t fair.

But she didn’t have time to wallow in the mire of her thoughts.

“She’s in here,” the servant indicated to a large mahogany door. “But I have to warn you, Your Highness, she’s not speaking much sense.”

Isa had to work to keep her voice from squeaking with unshed tears of anger. “I understand.”

The maid opened the door, and Isa walked in. But two steps inside, she froze.

Harriet was lying on the window seat, her face covered by a little bag filled with herbs. Her skin, which had always been flawless, was blotchy pink and red. Her hair was unkempt, and her dress rumpled. She looked ten years older instead of one, and there was nothing perfect about her.

“I told you,” Harriet said, her low voice growing louder with each word.

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