Page 9 of Undertow
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Sagan
Saying the next days were trying was an understatement. Being shipped off to school in a foreign country and being the only dragon during my formative years was trying. It was downright painful at times.
It was nothing compared to dealing with soul-crushing grief and everything I was dealing with. At every turn, someone was trying to undermine me or act like I was an outsider.
And the worst part?
They weren’t always wrong. I was an outsider because of how my parents had rigged so much against me. I’d barely spent any time at my own home and I knew the names of very few.
While Elira was beloved and knew all of them. I would have been impressed if it wasn’t all an act. From the first time I’d come home and visited and she’d faked a soap opera-worthy fall to try and pin me as some bully, I’d known the type of person she was.
Unfortunately, others weren’t as bright and were not raised to see snakes at every turn. Maybe it was mean to insult their intelligence for that, but they worked in a castle where court games were always at play.
Yeah, they were idiots then.
Unfortunately, someone I needed most was completely under Elira’s spell and treated me like I was the adopted daughter trying to take Elira’s place. Raquel, the head of the castle staff and Keeper of Keys—which was an official title granted by my parents—had served them loyally for decades.
As had her mother before her.
And her mother beforeher. Their family had generations of serving mine, so a rift with her would look bad on me no matter how valid I was.
I was quick to assess that and decided to give the breadcrumb of allowing Elira to handle the job of managing all the floral arrangements under Raquel’s watchful eye. Easy enough, right?
Apparently not.
“It’s just a few changes, Your Highness,” Raquel defended, pressing her lips together and giving me a disapproving look.
I studied her closely and held up a hand to Elira when she tried to speak. “You are in charge of how many staff, Raquel?”
She blinked at me a moment. “Over two hundred.”
“And if they disobey your instructions? Do you just shrug it off as a minor change? Forgive that and don’t bat an eyelash?” I raised an eyebrow, knowing I’d won the point when her lips pressed tighter. “So to everyone around us, I’vefinallyreturned home and I’m being undermined and overruled by people Ishouldbe able to trust most.”
“Your point has been made, Your Highness,” she begrudgingly accepted. “I will make sure everything is followed exactly as instructed.”
I was about to let it go but then couldn’t. “I understand you have a favorite and it’s not me, but these aren’t even my instructions, Raquel. They are my parents’. This is whattheywanted. I would never have thought you would go against them.Not even in their deaths. They adored you and trusted you more than maybe anyone else.”
The blow landed harder than if I’d struck her physically.
I turned to Elira then, ignoring that she was over six inches taller than me. How she could always play the victim and be a taller female dragon—fragile and bigger than most—always annoyed me. She still looked delicate somehow with her big eyes and magenta hair streaks for her fauna dragon.
Whereas I was short and had ugly orange streaks. She was somehow always more feminine, and people wanted to take care of her.
“And you the same. I understand you wanted to bring more color into the arrangements because my mother loved that. I think the sentiment iswonderful. But not when they laid out their wishes so specifically so no one had to make these calls while grieving.”
“You’re right, Sag—Princess Sagan,” she rasped, bobbing her head and wiping crocodile tears. “I wasn’t thinking and I’m sorry. I won’t make a mistake like this again. I just—I just miss them so much.”
I was sure she missed the power and privilege they gave her more and was trying to capitalize on that before I took it all away.
“Later, I think it would be perfect to have a public garden dedicated to Mother, sponsored by all the wards of the royal family, that anyone can enjoy with all her favorite flowers,” I continued, deciding to turn it around on Elira even more.
But also, it was something Mother would have loved, and she deserved to always be remembered for her dedication to helping others.
“People should never forget how many Mother cared for and gave better lives to—had faith in when so many were willing to ignore them,” I continued, my voice genuinely cracking. “Ithink that would be a great project for you to work up with some of the other wards, and I will find room in the budget or pay for it myself because…”
“Your mother would have loved it,” Raquel rasped, getting choked up herself. “Yes, something beautiful that others can enjoy. Well done, Your Highness.” She reached out like she was going to rub my arm but then dropped her hand.
