Cursed Beauty (A Fairy Retelling #1) Read Online Free Page A

another butchered potato into the pot.
    “Because he looked positively frightened of you,” Merelyn replied. “I don’t think he’d do something so carelessly hurtful. He wouldn’t want to get on your bad side. I mean, look what you’ve done to those poor potatoes, and they didn’t even do anything to you.”
    Adelaide stopped slicing another quickly shrinking spud and looked at the two tiny white nuggets lying helplessly in the pot. She sighed. “Alright, perhaps he didn’t mean to be intentionally cruel, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’d be a laughingstock if I showed up at a royal ball.”
    “Adelaide, I know I don’t know you very well yet, but after the way you treated the prince, I’m willing to bet that you’re not the type of person to worry about what other people are thinking.”
    Adelaide smiled, and wished that were true. “Well, it doesn’t really matter now, does it?” Adelaide said with a sigh. “I’m can’t go to the ball without an invitation, and I practically threw the only one I’m likely to get back into the prince’s face.”
    Merelyn took up a potato and knife, “Probably not,” she agreed with a smile.
    After teaching Adelaide once again how to boil water, and make boiled potatoes for that night’s supper, it was time for Merelyn to return home. “I’ll be back again tomorrow,” she told Adelaide as she reached for the kitchen door.
    “I’ll be glad to have you. But come to the front. You’re my friend, and my guest, and I am still a family member here, even if it seems like I’m becoming more and more a servant. In fact, let me escort you to the front door, Lady Merelyn, and see if perhaps another prince is waiting on my doorstep.”
    “Oh, certainly. Maybe the Elder Prince is standing outside waiting to ask you to the ball as well, and wondering why you refused to grace him with your presence at his own birthday celebration,” Merelyn joked.
    Adelaide opened the front door and nearly stepped into a basket full of croissants. Merelyn pulled her aside just before Adelaide’s foot landed in the buttery bread sitting on the front step. An envelope bearing the royal seal was sitting tucked just inside. Adelaide reached down, and pulled the envelope out of the basket, brushing aside a few flakey crumbs. She broke the wax seal, and pulled out a royal invitation.
    “I suppose you don’t have an excuse not to go after all,” Merelyn said.
    Adelaide frowned. “I suppose I don’t.”
     

CHAPTER 3
     
     
    “Adelaide, where are you?” Celeste barked from the top of the staircase.
    “Here, Stepmother,” Adelaide called out. Just waiting to do your bidding, of course!
    Adelaide carried a basket of laundry with her. In just a few short hours she had been demoted to housekeeper and given a long list of household chores. It seemed that Celeste wasn’t kidding about her regard for Adelaide’s future as a servant.
    “I need you to come help Thalia get ready.”
    Ready for what? Adelaide almost asked, but stopped herself just before opening her mouth. It wouldn’t do to anger Celeste. Just as Merelyn had left, Celeste started ordering Adelaide about, giving her task after task to complete. Adelaide barely had time to put the basket from the prince in her room before Celeste thrust a mop and bucket in her hand to clean the floors. Besides, Thalia had no shortage of friends and suitors who came to call on her. She must be going out again for another night of fun and frivolity.
    Adelaide put aside the basket of wash, and climbed the stairs to her former room. Thalia had a half dozen dresses strewn about, each one more lavish than the one before. 
    “Lace me up,” Thalia ordered, holding up the bodice of her gown. Adelaide began cinching the laces, pulling them tighter and tighter.
    “I can’t wait for tonight,” Thalia said, ignoring the fact that Adelaide was not in a talkative mood. “It’s going to be so magnificent!”
    Adelaide could barely keep her