Page 19 of Blood of the Fairest

Schultz looks at me sharply. "You must eat, my queen."

"So bossy. Go on, take a bite of everything and see if someone tried to poison me again."

He clamps his mouth shut, his cheeks turning ruddy. "A-again? I don't know what you mean."

He's not very good at lying.

I'm getting really tired of this guy questioning, second-guessing, and challenging every word that comes out of my mouth. Maybe after I meet the Huntsman, I can track down Merrick and beg him to please bring some kindness and common sense back to the castle.

The servant wheels the table back out of the hall like his ass is on fire as I get Schultz to tell me the Huntsman is waiting in the chapel of the castle. Even though I don't know exactly where that is, I call the chamberlain a "doll" for all his help and shut the door in his sputtering face.

It's more than a little satisfying.

After a lot more weeding through the queen's disappointing options inside her wardrobe—except for the gauzy sheer veils, which aren't bad—I open the single door in Rhinestone's room, hoping it will lead to a more promising closet.

Instead, it's a medieval-looking bathroom. The large vanity in one corner is covered in stained-glass jars, tinctures, a jeweled comb, and candelabras.

A silver crown rests on a velvet cushion beside another veil. For a moment, I admire its elegant slopes and points.

"Not bad," I muse aloud.

Otherwise, this is just a small, windowless stone room with one unlit sconce mounted above a hole in a stone bench. I have no idea where it leads, but it's safe to say plumbing is not a thing here.

Gross.

But hey, at least I don't have to share a tiny stone toilet room with Schultz and everyone else living in this castle.

Ten minutes later, I'm ready for the day. I've combed my hair and tried out one of the tinctures, which turned out to be a lotion. I found dark velvet slippers to wear. I've also thrown on a new chemise with a light cream dress over it.

Out of everything in the wardrobe, this was the least offensive option, even though it's completely shapeless. I'm surprised Rhinestone seems to give zero shits about her clothing, considering how well-dressed and appearance-obsessed her subjects are.

Although from everything Schultz told me, maybe she just spent a lot of time naked.

Like…a lot of time.

On the bright side, bras don't seem to be a thing in this world. As someone who personally loathes bras, especially those fucking underwire torture chambers, I consider that a plus.

With a sheer blue veil over my face and the crown anchoring it atop my head, I take a deep breath and leave the queen's rooms.

Time to meet the Huntsman and get Snow White back.

After getting lost in vaulted stone hallways filled with ornate stained glass windows for an embarrassing amount of time, I get another terrified manservant to give me directions to Isenmere Castle's chapel.

Descending a long staircase into a small upper courtyard, I turn right into a new hall, cross a short stone bridge, take another turn, descend another staircase⁠—

"Jeez, no wonder the real queen rarely left the castle," I gripe to myself. "Even she was probably intimidated by this damn labyrinth."

Finally, I reach a set of beautifully carved double doors. Slipping inside, I take a second to admire the pretty space.

The chapel is filled with polished wooden pews. Winged, horned statues of faeries line the room's perimeter. I recognize Ayna at the front, smiling into another mirror with more offerings at her feet. Behind her, the entire back wall of the chapel is made of stained glass depicting a weeping goddess and three hooded figures.

But my attention is quickly drawn to the man in here who turns around to face me.

All at once, my dwindling hopes that this is all just some far-fetched product of my brain reignite—because are you kidding? This tall, broad-shouldered, Viking-like beast of a man is exactly what I'd expect my horny lizard brain to supply for an incoming wet dream.

A face that belongs on the big screen? Check.

Brows drawn down over ice-blue eyes? Check.