All Chapters of Spider King: The Legend Begins: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

The cold stung her ears and put an ache around them. That was one of her most hated things about winter, the pain. Muriel rubbed her palms on her ears and cringed at the protest her nerves' gave her. Then she got dressed and went to find her mistress in the dining room. Princess Arya was drinking hot chocolate as she waited on breakfast to be served. She offered Muriel a cup with a bitter thinness in her red lips. "This weather is absolutely disgusting and it hasn't even snowed yet." Muriel let the hot liquid fill her up and nearly giggled at the happiness that ensued. "I think you should be allowed to monitor your own diet from now on," the princess said after taking her own hot sip. "You've been so calm recently. You should be able to make wiser decisions." Breakfast turned out to be delicious. Pan fried slices of sweetened bread, drizzled with syrup and a bit of sugar. Omelets with chicken and veg

The women were preparing for their early trip to the city. They were going to do some shopping to prepare for the Capital Season. Muriel was in the princess' room, helping her with some last minute changes to her shopping budget, when there was a knock on the door. Since both women were fully dressed and nearly ready to leave, Princess Arya told the visitor to enter. It was the butler. His gloved fingers were curved in the handles of a small leather suitcase. "Pardon me, but His Highness has prepared a gift for Miss Devin, and he left instructions demanding that she receive it before you leave." Muriel hoped it was another doll, or a piece of embroidery, and not an expensive gemstone. The poor, dear man had already spent so much money on her. It wasn't fair. Her lips pouted and her fingers went to her bosom as she gave the princess an apologetic expression. But the princess was unfazed. She waved the

The Capital Season was here again, and even though Muriel missed the castle already, she was happy to witness all the excitement. She was even a little bit jealous when she saw a woman walking a small dog in a park. In the townhouse, Muriel and her mistress took a short rest and ate a light breakfast. Then they went to a pleasure garden so they could enjoy a small concert, and then a light walk through a world of nearly perfect flowers. Then, they had to go to some other woman's townhouse for a small lunch party. The host was a duchess of some kind. Muriel thought that she might have been related to the royal family. She was an old woman with a gray hairstyle that likely had someone else's locks weaved into it. When Muriel was first introduced to the duchess, she curtsied slowly and deeply, and she tried to be polite. Then she heard the duchess say to Princess Arya, "I've seen this girl before. Last year, at Count Freyl's ball in the Raver's

The Crown Prince's face reminded her of a painting she had admired some time ago, a painting of a young man wearing a pink outfit with a pattern of dandelions and leaves. A handsome face, angled cheeks, tanned flesh, black hair. But here was the coldest brown eyes she had ever seen. "Oh," the prince said down to her with an amused voice, "the rumors are true. You do have wintry sea eyes." "Emil!!" That was Princess Arya. She bolted up from her seat. Her skirts bounced and rustled. Her chair fell back and brattled on the wooden floor. She seized Prince Emil's wrist and tore his hand away from Muriel's face. Muriel touched her face, right where she had been gripped, still feeling the man's touch. And the back of Princess Arya's hand whipped through the air, right against Prince Emil's cheek. The cracking, prickling noise that sang in the spring air frightened Muriel. Her free hand

"Did any men flirt with you?" Prince Vidar asked. "Yes, Sir," Muriel said with a light nod. His fingers were on her right shoulder. He seemed to be crouching beside her. His warmth was on Muriel's right and the hand on her shoulder felt like a left hand. His voice shuddered a little. "Ahhhhh ... they must have been delighted. Your exquisite figure ... tightly kept in pretty gowns ... and your bosom shining in the candlelight. You must have enchanted them as you danced." "I wish you would have come to the capital," Muriel said gently. The fingers on her shoulder curved tightly, but Muriel felt no pain. "You should've used the word could." "Is that so, Your Highness?" His voice was a bit strained when he next spoke. "I ... I can't even set you free. I can't let you reach out to me. How can a creature such as myself go off to the Capital Season?"