Daughter of Death -Chapter 11 (Patreon)

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

It had been a fortnight since Princess Reina had wormed her way into the lives of the dwarf men of Brickwall Cottage. In that time, she had learned much. All ten worked nearby in a mine. They were the ideal group for the job as because of their size they would easily get through the tunnels –among other reasons.

Because of their work this meant Reina would be free from early morning until evening. But this soon grew boring. So, she began convincing one or two to stay home for her amusement. She had Oskar show her how to knit, Wendall how he made such good pie, Ansel read aloud to her (she was surprised to learn that he had been educated) and upon discovering Errol’s singing voice she had him trilling until he was almost hoarse. Not that anyone really noticed –he barely spoke anyway. The dwarves found The Princess a wonderful house guest who cleaned from top to floor. She had done no such thing. She was a princess, after all, used to being waited upon.

The men did their best to accommodate Her Royal Highness and provide as best they could a life such as she was accustomed. Every evening they tried to have a meal prepared that would be hearty and tasty. “You won’t find a cook anywhere this side of the kingdom as good as Wendall,” Jakob praised on Reina’s second night before she tried their dinner. She truly doubted the words spoken would be found true and yet when she took her first bite she could hardly tell the difference between this meal and that of the castle’s. Over the fortnight following, each day’s meal seemed tastier than the last.

It of course helped that Rutger had gone into town with Ulrich and Wendall and brought back some luxuries which included a bigger variety of food. They also brought back a few new (but plain) clothes for Reina to change with and fabric which Oskar was all too happy to put together into proper gowns for Her Royal Highness. They were not made of fine fabrics such as she was used to but she found herself content anyhow considering the forest was a dirty place and wearing brocades became tedious. She also found it easier to wash blood from some of these other plainer fabrics following her other ‘meals’ during the day.

Though she’d sampled a few forest animals out of boredom and curiosity she found the taste of human blood much more appealing and thus her dwarf companions were unknowingly treating Reina every couple of days.

By the time Hulbard and Ulrich returned from town with news that would be of interest to their charge, Reina had started to grow used to her daily life that she’d lived for almost two weeks. “You Maje— Your Highness,” Hulbard panted as they entered, “We have news! News which concerns you!”

“Well go on then,” she encouraged.

“There is talk in the village that an announcement was made officially regarding your death—”

“Yes we already knew this,” Reina interrupted –realizing she might have to start being more careful in altering her companions’ memories from this point on.

“Yes but word spread and apparently the man you spoke of; your...betrothed he returned to the castle seeking answers!”

This indeed piqued The Princess’ interest.

“Some of the castle servants spread the story in the village that he was quite upset; quite moved by the news and set out from the castle at once in the direction of the forest. The guards upon The Queen Dowager’s orders attempted to stop him from committing some brash act in grief seeing as he was but one nobleman and dozens of trained men had already searched for your body.”

“But he would not hear of it,” Ulrich pitched in finally. “He supposedly told them that he was headed home via a shortcut through the forest to return the news officially to his people and to mourn in private at once.”

“Did they make mention of when these events transpired?” she questioned eagerly.

“All but yesterday Your Highness.”

‘He therefore is probably in search of me—’ Reina thought to herself excitedly. ‘Surely he must know that I would not be murdered so easily by a wild boar... after all he taught me and the gifts he bestowed upon me.’  It gave Princess Reina great pleasure to think that soon she may see Ferdinand again. She felt intoxicated imagining the praise he would bestow upon her for her resourcefulness and adaptability.

Immediately she set her dwarf companions to work to prepare for Ferdinand. 

Two were sent back into town to fetch fabrics and threads that Oskar might sew her a gown befitting to be seen upon a Princess. He almost worked his hands raw with the effort of it under her influence.

Soaps and perfumes were also fetched so that she may bathe away the weeks of living so simply. Taking swims in the stream near the cottage and managing the rest with their rudimentary soap would no longer do.

She forced the twins Jakob and Wilhelm to learn how to arrange her hair for her. It felt like a mistake at first seeing as their hands were neither soft nor delicate but with practice they began to manage it to her satisfaction.

When the gown was complete and she freshly bathed (as she now did every day with the dwarves’ help), she had her hair arranged and stood in front of her companions seeing as the small mirror they owned would not cast her reflection.

“Begging your pardon, Your Highness, but you look so lovely,” Ansel spoke softly; feeling timid for saying so.

Reina grinned happily. “Thank you Ansel. Will you all see that I look this way every day? Will you help me?”

“Yes Your Highness!”

“Of course, Princess Reina!”

“You will find help and solace in us until Lord Ferdinand’s return!”

“We swear!”

“We vow!”

With plans in place for herself, she also influenced the dwarves to bathe properly themselves. She didn’t want Ferdinand to take too much pity on her because of the smells she’d had to live with in addition to the ‘poverty’.

If she had known the effect a proper bathing routine would have, perhaps Reina would have left alone. After all, how was she to know that with the dirt, grime and sweat from their every day that the dwarves would smell overwhelmingly intoxicating?

Ferdinand had never taught her about that... He probably should have, for everyone’s safety. Yet, how was he to know his young and lovely Reina had less self-control than he gave her credit for?

These careless mistakes would be paid for in blood —and death.