Dark Castle (The Dazzling Court Book 1) Read online

And the fun had only just begun.

  7

  Amber

  I woke up with a smile on my lips that wouldn’t go away. The events of the previous night replayed in my head over and over again.

  Olivier…

  Yes, I decided. I made the right decision coming here.

  The girls gathered in the common room for breakfast, all of them already dressed in more casual clothes.

  I filled my plate with delicious-smelling pastries, pain au chocolat and fresh croissants with divine, flaky dough brimming with jam.

  Only when I noticed the other girls’ half-empty plates, I realized they were much more restricted when it came to food. It made me embarrassed, thinking how much restraint they showed while I’d piled my plate high.

  I was tempted to take off some of the food when Zara joined me, her eyes bright with new-found determination.

  “How was your night?” she asked, not stopping to let me reply. “I had the worst night’s sleep. I tossed and turned all night thinking of Olivier. What about you?”

  She stared at me with her eyes bright and innocent, and I had to swallow the nervous giggle making its way onto my lips.

  I couldn’t tell her the truth. What would she think if she knew about my night, with Olivier’s fingers between my legs? Surely, she wouldn’t approve, and I couldn’t lose my only friend in the competition.

  “It was okay,” I replied, flushing as the lie fell from my lips.

  Zara didn’t seem to notice, and she grinned at me, her eyes widening at my plate.

  “Those Danishes look amazing,” she exclaimed, and my heart warmed with affection for her.

  I was half expecting her to call me out on all the food I’d gotten for myself, but she was just as sweet as always, and filled me with wanting to be her friend.

  “I’m going to get some too.”

  While she got her food, I sat behind one of the round tables in the room and dug into my food. The maid from the previous day, Fleur, appeared with a jug of coffee I gratefully accepted. She gave me a conspiratorial glance that made me blush even more. I had a feeling she knew more than she let on.

  I watched the other girls as I devoured the delicious pastries. We were all so different, yet all the girls that were my competition were unmistakably beautiful.

  I couldn’t compare to them. I was just a petite, curvy redhead from the wrong side of the tracks.

  I felt even more inadequate seeing what all the girls looked like out of makeup and fancy clothes, knowing I wasn’t as beautiful, as articulate or as special as they were. Self-doubt nagged at me in the back of my mind.

  “Hey,” Zara breathed as she plopped down on the seat next to me. “I need to get up earlier tomorrow, all the good stuff is gone now.”

  I nodded my agreement as she launched into a speech about her family back at home. She had plenty of siblings, and parents that came off quite controlling when she spoke about them.

  But who was I to judge? My own family was far from perfect.

  “What do you think we’ll be doing today?” Zara finally asked, and I shrugged.

  “Probably something to do with the competition, right?” I offered, and she nodded.

  “I’m sure. God, I hope Olivier is there. I need to make a better impression than I did last night. Do you think I messed everything up, Amber?”

  “Of course not,” I replied, though jealousy bubbled in the pit of my stomach in a treacherous brew. “I’m sure you’ll get another chance today. Try not to worry, love.”

  She nodded, nervously twisting her hands in her lap while I devoured the most amazing raspberry éclair I’d had in my entire life.

  Just as I was finishing up with my food, Fleur and another maid appeared in the center of the room, this time sans the coffee jug, and asked for us to pay attention.

  I watched all the beautiful heads in the room turn toward the maids, not missing that only one of them turned to look at me instead.

  Freya.

  She glared at me before smirking, then turned her attention to the maids.

  Why is she so intent on making me miserable? I thought. She must hate me… Or maybe she just thinks I’m competition.

  Even though the thought was negative, it filled me with hope. I saw her as competition too, and since she was dead-set on sabotaging me, I was certain she and I would not be friends soon.

  I didn’t care. I had Zara, and one girl on my side was enough to get me by.

  “Girls,” Fleur spoke up. “Today you will have an exam to start your day off.”

  “An exam?” Freya asked, her light brows shooting up. “What kind of exam?”

  “Maybe you should listen,” Fleur frowned, glaring at the Nordic beauty. “Instead of interrupting so rudely.”

  “Listen?” Freya let out a breath. “You would do well to remember your place. You’re just a maid, aren’t you?”

  I felt uncomfortable for the poor maid, but it seemed like she could handle her own. She sighed, smoothed down the white apron of her uniform and approached Freya, lingering above her sitting form with a beatific smile on her face.

  “Yes, I’m just a maid,” she replied, her voice sugary sweet. “But I am in charge of you girls, and I’m reporting directly both to the Queen and Olivier. Now, would you like me to tell them you disobeyed me?”

  This was a different girl than I’d seen the previous day. The scared little mouse was gone, and a strong, capable woman stood in her place, ready to defend herself.

  I felt proud for Fleur. It must have been difficult to stand up to a bully like Freya. I had barely managed it myself.

  The ice-blonde stunner swallowed her words, though her eyes were shooting daggers at the poor maid. But Fleur took no offense at it, grinning at the girl before returning to stand next to the other maid, a beautiful dark-haired brunette with the most mesmerizing gray eyes.

  “This is Carlotta,” she said. “We’ll be overseeing everything in the castle, and most of all, you girls. So, try to stay on good terms with us, if you value your time in Luxuria.”

  She directed the last statement right at Freya, who held the weight of her gaze with her lips pursed.

  I bit back a giggle. It serves her right, I thought.

  “Now, the exam will begin in thirty minutes,” Fleur went on, smiling at the rest of us. “Please finish your breakfast, then join me back here in the common room so I can take you to the east wing of the castle.”

  She left with Carlotta, and a moment after, Zara leaned down next to me to whisper in my ear.

  “An exam? What do you think it’s about?”

  “Probably something to do with etiquette?” I guessed aloud. “Or maybe they’ll be testing how much knowledge we have of Luxuria, or worldwide events?”

  “Oh God.” Zara turned pale, swallowing thickly. “What if I fail?”

  “Didn’t you go to Oxford?” I asked her, remembering what she’d told me the previous day.

  “Yes,” she nodded, twisting her hands in her lap yet again. “I just hope it’s not an oral exam. I am so bad when it comes to answering questions in person. If it’s a written exam, I know I’ll do well.”

  I was hoping for the opposite. While I knew my knowledge was adequate, if only above average, I sometimes struggled with grammar, and I hated the thought of my weaknesses being exposed during the exam.

  The two of us were joined by another girl, the one whose name I recalled being Safiya. She was strikingly beautiful, but she also had an air about her that suggested she didn’t take any nonsense, and I knew right away she was my kind of woman.

  “Hey, girls,” she said, a shy smile lighting up her pretty face. “Mind if I join you?”

  “Not at all,” I replied, though Zara seemed a bit more hesitant about having another girl at the table. “I didn’t see you earlier, Safiya.”

  “I overslept,” she grimaced. “Barely made it out in time for the announcement. Is all the food gone?”

  She glanced hopefully at the self-serv
ice breakfast, but the maids were already tidying it up.

  “You can have my last croissant,” I offered, pushing my plate toward her.

  She gave me a grateful glance, and I only noticed then Zara still hadn’t said a word to her. I wondered whether there was animosity between the two of them, but I didn’t want to question my friend out loud.

  The half hour passed in a flash, and as Safiya ate the flaky apricot-jam filled croissant, even Zara joined in the conversation.

  I found out a little more about both girls, like the fact that Safiya was interested in all kinds of art, and Zara hated how oppressive her parents were. But I deliberately kept information about myself sparse.

  After all, the two women were my competition… even though we were starting to build a friendship, I couldn’t let them see my weaknesses. They could so easily be turned against me.

  Before we knew it, Fleur appeared in the common room again, ushering the twelve of us toward the east wing.

  We walked down beautiful arched hallways made of marble, and once again, I found myself marveling at the stunning architecture of the castle. And if I was impressed by its beauty, Safiya must have loved it, knowing way more about architecture than I ever would.

  We stopped in a large room with several sofas, couches and pouffes.

  The girls settled on them, with Safiya, Zara and me going for a velvet crimson loveseat and an accompanying armchair. I could feel my own nerves getting the better of me, but I did my best to quieten them and listen to what Fleur had to say.

  She pointed to a door in the hallway, a little way off from where were sitting.

  “You’ll be going in one by one,” she explained. “After you’re done, you’re free to go back to your rooms. Come on, Kendy, you’re going first.”

  The African beauty got up and followed Fleur into the room. We all tried to glance inside, but apart from noticing the room was white and bright, I couldn’t see much more.

  “I’m so nervous,” Zara groaned, and I patted her hand to calm her down.

  “Why?” Safiya asked, grinning at her. “I’m sure it’s nothing. You know how to answer questions, you’ll be just fine.”

  “I guess,” Zara muttered, but her face was pale, and she offered me a grateful look as I squeezed her hand. “I’m just panicking about what will happen if I don’t do well. Indian customs are so different to yours… if this is an etiquette challenge, I’m worried I don’t know enough.”

  “Safiya, you’re not from Luxuria, are you?” I asked softly, and my new acquaintance shook her head.

  “I’m Egyptian,” she replied, not offering much more information, but instead admiring the rosettes above the crystal chandelier hanging above us. “This place is exquisite. I wish they’d allowed us to bring cameras. I would’ve taken some astonishing shots, especially with this light pouring in through the windows.”

  I had a feeling she was a little too distracted by the castle’s beauty, but figured it was just her way of calming down her nerves. My own were wreaking havoc on me, and I had to remind myself of the reason I was there – Olivier, and his money, the money that would change everything. It was worth it just for that.

  Kendy left the room a few moments later, her head held high, but her eyes not meeting those of the other girls. We were all eager to ask her what happened, but she went straight back to the common room. When Freya tried to follow her, Fleur stepped in her path.

  “You’re to remain here,” she reminded her. “Her Majesty’s orders.”

  Freya balked at the maid and sat down muttering something to herself. Those two did not get along, and I made a mental note of it.

  Perhaps I could eventually use it in my favor.

  Safiya was called in soon after, and uneasiness twisted my stomach into knots. Her exam took about ten minutes, but when she reappeared, Freya was on her like a hawk. It made me even more scared.

  This time, Fleur didn’t object, though from what I overheard, Safiya wasn’t willing to share what happened in there.

  The girls disappeared into the room one by one while I got more and more nervous.

  Marceline was the last one to walk into the all-white chamber, and I still had no idea what they were doing in there.

  The door burst open moments later, and Marceline exited in tears.

  I leaned over to whisper in Zara's ear.

  "What's wrong with her?"

  She shrugged, and we kept watching as Marceline ran down the hallway, only to be stopped by a tall ice-blonde.

  Freya.

  Again.

  We watched the two girls talking, and saw Freya cover her mouth as Marceline launched into an explanation, crying even more.

  Whatever had happened in there had been bad. Now I was even more worried about what lay in store behind that door.

  Freya gave the girl a brisk hug, and I was surprised by her sudden kindness. Maybe she didn't think Marceline was her competition.

  She sure as hell didn't feel the same way about me, and she ignored me completely as she made her way to the dwindling group of girls waiting outside the room. She started whispering something to the others, and Zara and I watched them all pale as Freya delivered the news, whatever it was.

  "What do you think is happening?" I asked, and Zara shrugged again.

  "I'll go find out," she finally whispered in response, winking and nudging me with a conspiratorial grin before walking over to the other girls.

  I watched her talk to them out of the corner of my eye, eager to find out what Marceline had said.

  Surely the exam couldn't have been that awful? Whatever could have happened to make her cry?

  I imagined a room filled with old-fashioned desks and writing an essay like I had in school. Maybe they'd be testing us on our vocabulary, on our abilities to write.

  However, the tears I'd seen streaming down Marceline's cheeks, and the pale faces of the girls who'd gone in the room before her, spoke of something else happening in the room. Perhaps even something sinister...

  Whatever it was, it sent a shiver down my spine, and I realized I was trembling in anticipation.

  Several excruciating minutes later Zara returned with a triumphant smile.

  "It's nothing bad," she told me, sitting back down on the plush velvet sofa. "I thought it would be so much worse!"

  "What is it?" I asked in a rush, twisting my hands in my lap. "Please, just tell me."

  Zara gave me a curious look before giggling.

  "It's a doctor's exam."

  "A doctor's exam?" I repeated, giving her a wide-eyed look. "But what kind of exam? Are they going to take our blood? Is poor Marceline afraid of needles?"

  "No," Zara gave me a sly look. "Something else entirely... Something to ensure we are pure for the wedding."

  She gave me a wink, and I knew instantly what she was talking about.

  A lump formed in my throat as I stared at her, my heart thumping in my chest.

  Fuck.

  I hadn't even thought of that.

  They were checking to make sure we were virgins.

  They were sure as hell in for a disappointment when it came to me, and I bet it would come as a surprise if I delivered the news – that their Prince had been the very one to take my virginity.

  I laughed out loud, realizing Zara was expecting a response from me.

  Shaking my head, I grinned at her, muttering, "Can you believe this?"

  "I guess it's part of their old-time traditions," she grinned in response. "But hey, at least we have nothing to worry about, right?"

  I stared into her eyes, my heart thudding even louder. I wanted to check, to make sure if we were on the same page, but I already saw the seed of doubt in Zara's eyes and I knew we were different. Maybe alike in many ways, but this was where I had the experience – with the Prince, no less – and she was as innocent as I hadn't been for years.

  "Amber, you're not..." Zara started just as the door opened, and Marceline's cousin, Chloe, exited looking pale.
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br />   "Zara Patel," the woman from before called out, checking the name off her list as she opened the door of the room wide. "Would you come inside, please."

  Zara huffed in annoyance and shot me a quick look before hissing, "This isn't over! You have to tell me everything later."

  I nodded half-heartedly and watched her walk over to the door and disappear inside.

  My heart was still pounding, doing nothing for my frayed nerves. I was about to be exposed. But surely, all the other girls weren't virgins... right?

  I looked at the remaining few girls waiting outside the room.

  Eva, with her flame-red hair just like mine. She was my age, and heart-stopping in her beauty. Surely, she'd had sex before.

  And Freya, with the confidence I could only dream of. She was so sure of herself. I was certain she'd felt a man's touch.

  I bought the virgin thing with Marceline and Chloe – they were so young, which made it even more terrible that they'd been involved in the exam at all. But the other girls seemed so experienced compared to me. At least one of them had to be like me...

  Zara was in there for ages, which only made me more anxious.

  Once she came out, she was eager to rush back to my side and ask all the questions in the world, but I was reluctant to answer. I just sat there, stewing in my own misery as she fired question after question. They all went unanswered, and she seemed to understand why I was so nervous.

  She sat close to me, pulling me in for a hug, and I let her hold me. I could smell her rose-scented perfume, and it was comforting, yet I still shivered with fear.

  "You're going to be okay," she whispered in my ear. "I promise. I'm sure they won't make a big deal of it."

  She didn't even say what we were both thinking, but she seemed to get nervous for me as the girls dwindled until the last one walked into the room, and only I was left unexamined.

  "Zara, I can't do this!" I panicked at the last minute. "They're going to kick me out of the competition, and I'll never forgive myself for letting this happen."

  "You have me on your side," she reassured me, squeezing my hand. "And the other girls. Maybe not Freya, but the others. We're going to fight for you."