Chapter 17: A Lesson in Royal Ridicule
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Afternoon.
Garden, 3rd Prince Chambers.
Wyfkeep Castle, Wyfellon.
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Meanwhile back in the castle, Salviana sat stiffly on a delicate stone bench in the chamber’s private garden, she was now dressed in a gown of deep burgundy with fine gold embroidery. The soft breeze carried the scent of fresh roses, and the calming trickle of a nearby fountain might have been pleasant under any other circumstances.
But now, Salviana was at war—with herself, with what transpired between her husband and her falling on her butt on the bridge, with the ridiculous situation, and with the woman standing before her who was supposed to be "teaching" her how to behave like royalty.
Lady Margaretha—Salviana’s newly appointed lady-in-waiting—was no ordinary quack. She was a disaster dressed in ill-fitting silk, the sort of woman who carried herself as if she knew exactly what she was talking about when, in truth, she had no idea.
Salviana believed Alaric, had carelessly left her in this woman’s hands, probably unaware—or unconcerned—that Lady Margaretha had clearly been hired for her proximity to court gossip rather than any actual expertise in royal etiquette.
She was a total whacko.
"Now, my dear princess, when entering a room full of courtiers, you must always ensure your presence is known by..." Lady Margaretha paused dramatically, waving a hand through the air as if she were conjuring the answer from thin air. "...by making a very, very loud entrance." she declared.