Fated Eclipse: The Illegitimate Princess And Her Alpha Suitors

Chapter 249: The Head Maid’s Duty

The Head Maid bowed deeply.

”Elinor, Your Majesty,” she said.

The Queen’s frown deepened. She turned to Jacinta, her brow furrowed in genuine confusion.

”Has the Head Maid always been named Elinor?” she asked.

Jacinta shrugged.

”I am not aware, Mother,” she said. ”I have never paid much attention to the servants.”

She turned to the maids standing near the wall.

”Is Elinor truly the Head Maid?” she asked.

The maids bowed quickly.

”Yes, Your Highness,” one of them said. ”She has been the Head Maid for over fifteen years now.”

The Queen’s frown did not ease.

”Perhaps age has caught up with me,” she said. ”I do not recall her.”

She settled back into her chair, her fingers resting lightly on the armrest.

”Elinor,” she said, ”do you know why you have been summoned?”

Elinor bowed again.

”I do not, Your Majesty,” she said.

The Queen nodded slowly.

”Since you are in charge of the maids,” she said, ”you must know which among them are suitable to serve the Princess.”

Elinor’s brow furrowed.

She bowed again.

”Forgive me, Your Majesty,” she said, ”but has Kyia or the other maids done something to upset Princess Jacinta?”

Jacinta scoffed loudly.

”It is not for me,” she said. ”The maids are for someone else. Someone who does not deserve them.”

Duke Aurelgrave’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. Lyria deserved even more than Jacinta deserved, but she always spoke as if Lyria did not.

He hated it, but he could say nothing outright.

The Queen continued though.

”Can you assist us, Elinor?” she asked. ”We require suitable maids for the Princess. Women who will serve her fully and know their place. Who know when to speak and when to remain silent. Who know to whom they should report.”

She paused.

”The Princess requires clever maids around her.”

Elinor said nothing.

Duke Aurelgrave said nothing.

But they both understood what the Queen was truly asking. She did not want servants. She wanted spies. Women who would watch Lyria, listen to her, and report her every word and movement back to the Crown.

Elinor’s expression did not change.

Beneath her calm façade, however, her thoughts were racing.

She had already received information from Tommy, after all. And though she pretended like she was surprised by the summons, she had also anticipated it.

”Your Majesty,” she said carefully, ”what you suggest will take some time. I have a few women in mind, but I must ensure they are capable of meeting your requirements.”

She paused.

”Give me a few hours. I shall report back to you.”

The Queen studied her for a moment.

Then she nodded.

”If you perform this task well,” she said, ”your pay may be increased.”

Elinor bowed deeply.

”Your Majesty is most kind,” she said.

The Queen waved her hand.

”There is more,” she said. ”The corridors in the Princess’s wing are bleak. Her chambers are worse. Gather some maids and see to it that they are improved. I will not have visitors to the palace see such squalor.”

She paused.

”You may go.”

Elinor bowed again.

”I understand, Your Majesty,” she said.

She turned and walked toward the door, her steps unhurried, and when she reached the door, the guards outside pulled it open and she stepped through.

The door closed behind her with a soft click.

---

Duke Aurelgrave sat very still.

His thoughts had turned inward, churning beneath his composed exterior. He was already considering which of the maids might be trusted. He had a few names in mind—women who owed their positions to him rather than to the Queen.

But he would need to be careful.

If he placed the wrong person, the Queen would notice. And if the Queen noticed, she would ask questions. And if she asked questions, she might discover the truth.

He could not let that happen.

He had tried once to gain Elinor’s loyalty. He had approached her quietly, offered her protection, and promised her rewards. She had refused. She had told him, in that low, even voice of hers, that she served the palace, not any particular person within it.

He had respected that.

But now, with the Princess’s life hanging in the balance, he wondered if he should try again.

Elinor was neutral. She had survived decades in the palace by refusing to take sides. But she was also observant. She knew things. She saw things. And if she could be persuaded to help...

The Queen’s voice cut through his thoughts.

”Your Grace,” she said, ”do you think we should post guards as well?”

Duke Aurelgrave’s eyes nearly lit up in delight, but he forced his expression to remain neutral.

”Guards, Your Majesty?” he asked.

”For the Princess,” the Queen said.

Duke Aurelgrave nodded slowly.

”That seems wise,” he said.

His mind was already racing.

He had people in the guard. People he could use. People who would be able to protect Lyria.

Jacinta spoke up.

”She does not deserve guards,” she said. ”You are already doing too much for her, Mother.”

Duke Aurelgrave turned to her.

”Your Highness,” he said calmly, ”do you believe that protecting the image of the royal family is doing too much?”

Jacinta frowned.

”That is not what I said.”

Duke Aurelgrave inclined his head.

”That may be true,” he said. ”But with respect, Your Highness, the way you spoke insinuated it.”

Jacinta’s frown deepened.

She opened her mouth to argue, but the Queen raised a hand.

”Enough,” she said.

She turned to Duke Aurelgrave.

”What is your suggestion, Your Grace?”

Duke Aurelgrave leaned back slightly in his chair.

”The best way to achieve what you mean to achieve,” he said, ”is to not act as though you do not aim to achieve anything at all.”

The Queen’s eyes narrowed.

”Explain.”

”Your Majesty should pretend to care,” he said. ”You should act as though the Princess’s well-being matters to you. You should give her guards, give her new maids, give her everything she requires as the princess she is.”

He paused.

”Meanwhile, you achieve your aims quietly, without drawing attention. The court will see only what you wish them to see. The kingdom will see only what you wish them to see.”