Page 32 of Blood of the Fairest

"I think so."

I mean, I am stuck in a world full of fairy tales, so who fucking knows?

"Then I'll be of little help. Humans can neither see nor hear me in reflections."

"I see and hear you just fine, and I'm human," I point out.

"In your world, perhaps. You're in Queen Reinhilde's skin now, and she's far from human."

I open my mouth to ask what he means, but there's a loud knock on the double doors.

"Your Highness, don your veil at once," Schultz's voice calls.

"This bossy fucker again?" I huff.

"If he's irritating you, have him executed and be done with it," Eris suggests.

On second thought, maybe I need to find a more human friend and not just a mysterious, mildly sadistic model stuck in a mirror.

Throwing the sheet I'm holding back on the bed, I move to stand by the double doors, fold my arms, and raise my voice.

"Cut! Let's try that again. This time, start with good morning or any other basic, respectful human greeting. And, action."

It's quiet for a very long minute before Schultz grits, "Good morning, Your Majesty. Now, you really must don your veil. They are all waiting for you."

"They who?"

"Come and see. Your breakfast shall be brought up only after this has been sorted."

I can't believe this asshole is trying to control when the queen eats—but since my stomach is panging with desperation, I decide to get this over with.

Quickly, I tame my hair, change into a new chemise and dark grey dress, and throw on another sheer veil. If I don't find a way out of this world soon, I might boycott the whole "veiled queen" bullshit.

I find the silver crown sitting on the queen's vanity. I guess the Huntsman left it there after returning me from the shitshow yesterday.

Setting it atop the veil, I open the door and come face-to-face with Frisbee Mouth himself.

"Schultz."

"Your Majesty. Where precisely did you go yesterday, after meeting with the Huntsman?"

The fact that this castle's security is so lacking that no one noticed me being abducted from the chapel puts me on edge. As much as the Huntsman's life debt thing is ludicrous, I bet even he could do a better job guarding me than whoever Schultz has standing around.

Not that I want that terrifying man to guard me, or be anywhere near me. I kind of hope he changes his mind and leaves the castle so I don't have to see him again.

I arch a brow at Schultz. "Wouldn't you like to know? Now, who the fuck am I meeting?"

He grumbles something under his breath before leading me down the hall. We descend a staircase and take a left turn, then another.

It's probably not a bad idea for me to try memorizing the layout of this castle—except that would almost feel like admitting I'll be here for a while, and I plan on getting back to my world as soon as possible.

After descending two more long flights of stone stairs, Schultz stops in a large, sunlit courtyard. It's full of a dozen or so lined-up, well-groomed men, all standing straight but keeping their eyes on the ground. I'm jealous that they're dressed warmly enough to fend off the spring chill out here that Schultz didn't bother warning me about.

This courtyard is bordered on all sides by covered walkways, their stone pillars leaving the corridors open to the crisp air. It's the most public part of the castle I've seen so far. Several castle guards are posted along the corridors. One guard chats with two knights in full armor, their polished plates catching the sunlight, but he cuts off when he sees me. A couple of kitchen servants are crossing through the back of the courtyard, but they stop and stare when they notice the veiled queen has arrived.

Near the stairs I just descended stands a small group of groomed, finely-dressed people—nobles, I guess. Their attention shifts between the lined-up men and me.

"Here we are, Your Majesty," Schultz announces.