Page 6 of Princess

“I thought my husband and the men under his command were cruel,” she bemoaned, her voice heavy with theatrical despair.“I never expected it from another, umm, another woman.”

“You’re more than welcome to say how you feel,” I said coolly.“Would 'monster' be more appropriate?I have no problem being a monster.”I let the words settle before adding, “And on that note, Missy will no longer be helping you.You can help yourself or do without.I’ll check on you once a week if I have time.Otherwise, you’ll be locked in this room or in the workroom we’ve set up for you.”

A single tear slid down her cheek.

I had no idea how she managed to cry on cue, but she did it flawlessly every time.The woman was a backstabbing viper, and I was done wasting energy on her.She was too dangerous to allow free roam of the citadel.We couldn’t afford for her to learn anything about us.Worse, she would have no problem stirring discord among the island’s women.And I had just gotten them settled and made changes that gave them a sense of stability.I wasn’t about to let this woman unravel my progress.

Lesley crossed her arms, her expression shifting from sorrow to pure defiance.Then, to drive home her so-called crippled state, she tapped the foot of her injured leg against the floor.

The sound was deliberate.

Annoying.

Calculated.

She wasn’t fooling me.It had been a clean break, and Axel, our doctor, had set and immobilized it properly.He’d said it would be as good as new in a couple of months.Lesley had milked her injury for long enough.Her days of idleness were over.

“Come with me,” I ordered, turning toward the door.

“I’m simply not up to it today,” she whined.

“No problem,” I said with a touch of glee.“Your food will be discontinued until you are.”

Without another word, I marched to the door, opened it, stepped through, and shut it behind me just as the wailing began.

I turned to Togg.“Unfortunately—” I cut myself off as a bloodcurdling scream rattled the walls.I waited for her to take a breath before continuing, “—she’ll be without food until she complies.If she doesn’t, her screams should grow weaker within a day or two.”

Togg straightened, his lips twitching with something dangerously close to amusement.“Yes, my Queen.”

Somehow, I doubted he’d mind the screaming as much.

I went to the meeting with the household staff.

Four women sat with me at a table tucked off to the side of the main kitchen.They ranged in age from twenty to sixty, each with a distinct presence that radiated the quiet confidence of women who knew their worth.

“My meal this morning was excellent, thank you,” I began.

“You are very welcome,” Beatriz said with a warm nod.As head of the work staff, she oversaw everything from the kitchen to the team of workers who kept the citadel running smoothly.At five feet nothing, she didn’t seem particularly imposing until she got angry.Then, she might as well have been a giant.She was also bilingual and served as the spokesperson for the others.I was slowly learning Spanish, but I wasn’t confident enough to hold a full conversation without butchering it and possibly causing an irreparable incident because I used the wrong words.

“How are things going in the kitchens?”I asked.

“Much improved,” Beatriz answered.“Axel has asked us to add more fruit to your diet, and we received a nice shipment from the south island this morning.We have guava and mamey sapote for you.They will be included with your evening meal.”

I had no idea what mamey sapote was, but at this point, food of any variety always sounded good.“Thank you,” I said, offering a smile to everyone at the table.

Then I added, “Lesley will not require additional food today.She’s been assigned work duty and has refused to comply.When she’s hungry enough to work, her meals will resume.”

The soft smiles around the table transformed into full-fledged grins after Beatriz translated.

“Do you have enough staff now, or do you need more?”I asked.

Beatriz leaned forward slightly, her expression shifting to something more serious.“Por favor, please do not place the evil señora on kitchen duty,” she begged.

I couldn’t help but chuckle.“You have nothing to fear.She will work in a solitary room where she has no chance to poison us.”

“Gracias,” she said with a relieved nod.Then, her expression brightened again.“We have much help now, and it is easier to feed the large beasts.They are also thanking us for the work we do.”

That last part caught my attention.Thebeasts,as she referred to them, weren’t known for showing gratitude, but if they were making an exception for the citadel’s staff, it meant they were finally figuring out that a simple thank you went a long way and improved our living quality.

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