Chapter 11

That night, Alexis balled her eyes out to sleep.

Why?

Because it was unfair. Here she was, in a magical world, filled different creatures, magic and people with different hair colours, but she was stuck- captive- in a confining palace with a set of terms she might never accomplish, all because of that stupid bastard!

‘That ridiculously handsome one... what a waste of good genes...’

Her eyes blinked up at the ceiling above her and she groggily lifted her tired body, while rubbing her eyes.

'I want to go home...' 

Her parents faces flashed before her and her lip quivered. ‘Why didn't I study harder? They supported me all the way, and I just screw up everything like this...’

She remembered her little brother who would beam at her every time he saw her. how he would proudly tell her that he bragged about how she was a lawyer and she would laugh at how cute he looked when he said it. 

Wiping the tears away from her face she tried to distract her miserable thoughts. She glanced around looking for a distraction and her eyes landed on the mirror.

She turned to it, sitting idly on her dressing table and took in her appearance.

The girl that glared back at her had a messy nest of hair framing her face, her brown eyes had bags underneath them and her skin looked to be... green.

She looked awful. 

She touched her face and a sense of shame came over her at the thought of sitting next to someone as beautiful as the Emperor.

'No- not the Emperor! That scumbag! That's his new name!' She clenched her teeth, 'he bought me here just to be a bitch when I asked for help! He's beyond help!'

Her thoughts were clear as day on her face which scowled at her in the mirror. Then it started to look kind of depressed...

'But if I can't help him, then I'll...'

She looked down at the nightdress she was forced into. Her normal clothes that she wore all day yesterday were tucked nicely on a shelf.

The pink dress she only wore for special occasions , paired with skinny jeans because she planned to have a night out and it was cold. Though, she had plans on getting the jeans off at the club.

She traced a hand over it, a determined look on her face as she rose with a clenched fist.

'I'll do this!' 

Before she could think any more, the dwarf maids scurried in and looked surprised to see her up.

"You're awake miss?" Angela looked to be having a mental crisis, "but, humans aren't supposed to wake up now?...." she was near tears so Alexis just grabbed a book from the stack and waved a hand at her.

"Just do what you were planning, I'll read a book." And with that Angela's face relaxed and she nodded.

'So they really do struggle to think for themselves...'

Angela and the two other dwarfs started warming a water tin, mixing oils and leaves in it. And then preparing a basin. The water seemed to take a while to warm up and Alexis couldn't help but be interested in the way they all surrounded it, holding their hands out towards it and closing their eyes.

She decided against questioning them because the idea of stressing them out made her feel bad.

Soon, the water was warm and their happy faces beamed as they strode over to Alexis.

"Miss, the water is ready for you. Please wake up." Already awake, Alexis smiled at them.

"Thank you." She stood up ready to throw of the comfy night dress she was starting to sweat in. She paused and turned around to see the dwarfs eagerly waiting for her. "Um? Can I ask why you're still here?" She frowned slightly.

"To help Miss bathe" the red headed girl said.

"Oh I don't-" the faces started to falter and she stopped her words and turned away, "alright, I'll take this off then" she squeaked and threw off the nightdress while simultaneously hopping in the bath.

'Did they see anything?' She glanced consciously at the dwarfs, but they continued to move about getting more things ready.

Soon Alexis was getting her hair washed and her arms and feet scrubbed down while a sticky layer of something was slavered over her face.

'Ah... luxury...'

It didn't last long.

"Miss please, just a little tighter." Angela cried.

"N-No your trying to kill me!" Alexis all but screamed in return.

"But miss! Otherwise the dress won't fit!" The platinum haired girl also cried.

"To hell with the dress!" She shouted and then noticed the stream of tears pouring down their faces, "alright. Fine. But please hurry."

And thus, she found her self wearing a simple Victorian style dress, it was plain, except for the lace around the hem of the skirt and the sleeves. 

She shrugged. It messed with mobility and breathing was a bit harder than usual but she could manage. 

Maybe...

Breakfast strolled in and soon she was feeling much better.

Agathus also appeared, looking nervous and hesitant.

"Miss Alexis, his majesty seems to be in a bad mood so if you could stay clear of him until I tell you otherwise that would be appreciated."

"Hmph. I don't want to see him regardless of what mood he's in." She scoffed, "Agathus, how long have you known his majesty?" She glowered at the small green man.

"Since he ascended the throne?..." he answered, baffled by her behaviour.

"And when was that?" She clicked her tongue.

"Four months ago...?" 

"What? He hasn't been emperor for atleast a year?" Her brows raised in surprise.

"No."

"..."

She hadn't expected this.

"Can you tell me why he had a bad reputation? I asked him directly and he just got mad." Another scowl appearing on her face.

"Oh, that's why he's in such an awful mood right now" Agathus held his temples with an exhausted face, "I'll tell you, since nobody else can give a clearer account."

"Thank you."