Brielle stared at her with a clenched jaw and piercing eyes. For several long seconds, she said nothing at all. Just taking long breaths with her nose flaring out. It was a reaction she’d seen once before. The same stare and simmering pressure underneath that she’d shown when they were sixteen, and Lord Treveon said Luci couldn’t come to court. The storm that quiet Brielle reined down on Blythe was enough to have him concede.
Oh no.
“Brielle-” Luci began.
She shouldn’t have. It was the catalyst for the brewing storm. As if she hadn’t spent a week nearly dying in bed, Brielle jumped up, throwing blankets to the side, and made quick work of sliding out of her nightgown and thrusting a corset onto her chest.
“Strap me in!” she ordered.
“Absolutely not,” Luci said, standing in horror at the side of the bed.
With wild abandon, Brielle threw the corset across the room and proceeded to pull a blue dress over her head.
“You can’t go out like that!” Luci screeched.
“I can and I will!” she said, popping her head through.
Half-crazed, not even Brielle would walk out of here half-presentable. It was maddening. Yet, there she was, shoes slipped on and stomping towards the door.
“Brielle!” Luci yelled.
Ignoring her, Brielle opened the door, and none other than Gladys stood with her mouth hanging open, holding a tray of cookies and milk.
“Brielle?” she asked, mouth falling open.
“Excellent, I need your help,” Brielle said, stepping aside and holding an arm out for Gladys to enter.
“Please help.” Luci pleaded with the princess.
“I need you to help lace up my corset because Luci refuses to,” Brielle said, grabbing it off the floor.
Gladys clutched the tray of treats and darted her wide eyes from Brielle to Luci and back to Brielle.
“You are awake!” she finally said.
Huffing out a breath, Brielle took the tray of cookies and set it down on the dresser before handing the corset to Gladys and lifting up her gown, giving her a back.
“I am, now if you wouldn’t mind,” Brielle said.
“You look very well,” Gladys said, beginning to lace up the corset.
“Please don’t help her.” Luci pleaded.
“Why ever not?” Gladys asked.
“Because Luci is a coward, and I won’t have it any longer. I’ve done far too much work to leave her in charge of her own fate.” Brielle said.
Oh no. There was a fire in Brielle's cheeks and rage in her eyes. They were past the point of return. There would be no calming her down. So Luci did the only rational thing to do and ran to the door, planting her feet firmly on the floor.
“Why are we in such a hurry? Also, I’m concerned that Luci is guarding the door.” Gladys said, finishing the last of the corset.
When she was done, Brielle smoothed out her dress and gave Gladys a pleasant smile.
“Where is Ira?” she asked.
Luci groaned.
Clearly not expecting the question, Gladys darted her gaze to Luci and then back to Brielle, a frown planted on her ethereal face.