The moment breakfast was over and the king had retired into his chambers, the Queen was back to her old self. She shot him a look of disdain, "What are you waiting for? To the servant quarters."
"Um actually," the princess Getrude started, "I need his help in doing some work for me."
"Is that so?" Candace asked with a tight smile giving her daughter a suspicious look. She wondered if Getrude did not deem any other person fit for the task she needed Logan to help with. She did not like her daughter being in the company of Logan.
"Well then, go ahead and help her." The Queen said, walking away after a few minutes of thought.
"What is it you want me to do for you?" Logan asked. On his face, a look on disinterest was settled.
"Um," Getrude replied, tucking a strand of her Titian blonde behind her ear. She usually felt shy and most of her confidence dwindled around Logan. "I just thought you might not like to be burdened with work that is not meant for you," she said, swallowing hard.
"Your point being?"
"Maybe you could spend some time with me instead."
"I have better things to do," Logan said walking away. The statement was hurtful to her but she tried not to show her emotions. Logan on the other hand did not care. He barely looked at her, let alone meet her eyes.
"Wait!" Getrude called out, running daintily after him. "My mother will not be pleased if she sees you doing something else other than that which I asked of you. She will be suspicious."
"I do not care," Logan said, walking away. He did not look behind him at all. "She is never pleased with me no matter what I do. Do not act like you are not aware."
Getrude sighed, watching his figure as he slowly disappeared from her vision. She wished Logan could be a little more friendly towards her.
Maybe it's because of mother. A voice in her head suggested.
Maybe it's because of you. There's nothing good about you. Another voice in her head countered.
Getrude groaned in frustration.
Since he had come to live in their pack after his father had been killed. He never seemed to take notice of her. He always treated her like she was of no importance and constantly avoided being in her presence.
"My lady," a voice called out to her. "What are you doing standing here?"
Getrude turned to the sound of the voice and gave a polite smile. It was her one of maidservants and Getrude's favorite in fact. She was the closest thing Getrude had ever had to a friend.
"Sierra." She smoothed her dress. "I have just finished breakfast."
"No, you have been standing there for quite a while. After your conversation with Logan."
"Shh," Getrude said her eyes wide. She placed her index finger on Sierra's lips. "You are to address him by Lord."
"The Queen said he is not a Lord and should not be addressed as such." Sierra's eyebrows were squeezed in confusion. "There will be punishment attached to those who do."
It was Getrude's turn to be confused. "The Queen? You mean my mother?"
"Yes, were you not aware?"
"Excuse me," Getrude said, running in the opposite direction of Sierra, knowing that she would find her mother sitting with some of her noble friends— or subjects. She raised her dress up to her knees and sped off, getting strange looks from the servants that were working in that vicinity.
"My lady, do not run that! It is not good manners for a lady!" Sierra called out but Getrude was deaf to her warnings.
"Goodness me!" The queen gasped as her daughter burst into the room she sat. "Getrude! Where are your manners? What were you thinking running with your skirt up like that?"
Panting like a dog, Getrude had her tongue out and her finger raised in objection. "Let me be," she coughed out. Once she had caught her breath, she straightened up and gave a polite smile to all the women in the room who gave her judgemental looks on having her skirt up. "Mother, might I have a word with you?"
"As you can see dearest, I am in the middle of a discussion." Candace smoothed her dress. "Can it wait?"
Getrude sighed and fought an eye roll. She knew that it was going to be the case. Her mother always had something to do when she came to see her right from when she was a child. She had often relied on maidservants instead of her mother while growing up.
"Why should Logan not be addressed as a Lord?" She asked, not caring that her mother had visitors.
"He does not belong to the pack," replied Candace in a calm voice. She took a sip of her tea. "Can an Alpha from another pack come here to rule over us?"
"No but…"
"Then a Lord from another pack cannot rule over us."
"But father took him in, he deserves a title as he has made numerous contributions," Getrude argued. "Let us not forget that he is the son of ths—"
"Be quiet!" The Queen commanded angrily. "He is an outsider; a refugee. What happens if we give those outcasts a place and power in our lands? It won't be long before the feeling of entitlement comes in and they want to take over."
"Is that why you have made most of them servants without father's knowledge?" Getrude spat, her chest heaving in anger.
"I did not make them servants" Candace had a sly smile. "They chose to serve the king to repay our kindness."
"You mean you blackmailed or guilt tripped them into becoming servants?"
"Getrude you are becoming a nuisance," her mother said, picking up her tea cup daintily. "Kindly leave us be. Are you not meant to have lessons with your governess?"
"Oh consarn!" Swore Getrude as she stalked off. Tears had begun to sit at the corners of her eyes but she was not going to let it drop. This was not the first time her mother had made her feel unloved and unwanted.
How dare she call me a nuisance? Thought Getrude to herself angrily.
"My lady," Sierra called out from where she stood in a corner just outside the tea room. "Is everything alright?"
Sierra got her answer from the look of disdain Getrude gave her. "Your governess awaits you my lady," was all she had left to say.