Fairest One: A Snow White Retelling (The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles Book 3) by Kayla Eshbaugh

Author:Kayla Eshbaugh [Eshbaugh, Kayla]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-08-08T04:00:00+00:00

“Where have you been?” Helena growled at me as I walked down the corridor to reach my father's room.

“I was in the orchard.”

“You are a disgrace. Your dress is torn and filthy. No wonder your father expressed how embarrassed he has been.”

“Father said that he is embarrassed?”

“Your face may be beautiful, Scarlet, but he doesn’t love how you behave.”

“Father loves me—He understands, because of my curse—”

She dug her fingernails into my arm. “Your father wishes you were never born, Scarlet. He tells me every time he sees you what a disappointment you are to your mother's

memory.”

The tears fell down my face then, and I yanked my arm away.

“He told me—he said—” I could barely speak because of the tears. Helena drew me into her arms and acted like she was going to comfort me, but after ten years, I knew better, as she overly squeezed me. I remembered all those years ago how I wondered what it would be like to have a mother, what it would be like to have a real mother's touch, love, and care. There was a time when I longed for it. Early on, I was even excited about Helena being my mother, after Ronin had told me that it could be a good thing. Helena did not want to be my mother, however; that was made clear to me early on. My vision grew fuzzy, and I choked, bringing me back to the present. Helena let me drop from her embrace and shoved me against the stone wall.

“You know it’s true—and you are a young woman now, and you should be made aware of truths. I will not lie to you and tell you all is well when it isn’t.”

“I just—” I gasped.

“Clean yourself up and go to the ball after you’ve fixed your hair and put on a new gown. You must be there.” She stood straight with a smile.

I had to be there? How convenient for her.

“Your father and I do love you, Scarlet. Sometimes, we have to be honest with you even though it’s difficult to hear.” She turned and left me in the hall, calling my maid to prepare me ‘correctly.’

“Princess?” Sarah said, standing beside me. I was still in a daze from the choking and her vile words.

“Oh, Sarah, I’m going to see my father. You do not need to prepare me for the ball.”

Sarah nodded and curtsied as she made her way back down the hallway to my room.

I walked slowly down the corridor.

How was it possible to be so happy with Ronin, and yet, once I entered the castle, a place that was supposed to be my home, I felt horrible?

Helena.

It was all her fault; she was a disease, the curse our kingdom needed to break.

I stood before my father's door, wiping away the tears that had escaped. Ronin said he would give me some of his bravery. Like I imagined Ronin would, I mended my mental armor against Helena and her next blow, whenever that would be.

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