It's an order, Winter

"You won't kill me, Raphael. You know the answer well," Winter pronounced with a confident tone. 

He furrowed his brows together and settled the teacup on the saucer. "Because you think you are my mate, so you are in an illusion that I will show mercy on you. If I had considered you my mate even for a moment, I would have kept you above my eyes. Now, speak respectfully to me, or else I'll have to teach you a lesson on mannerism," Raphael elaborated to her. 

Winter was hurt to hear his words. But she couldn't even keep high hopes. She felt her feet hurting since her body was still weak. 

"Come here," Raphael said. 

Winter stepped up when he asked her to sit. She gazed at him for a few seconds before pulling out the chair and sat on it. With that, she felt better. 

"Since you were a princess, you must know how to read and write. Help me in my writing work daily. I am not used to writing decrees, orders, etc." Raphael said.  

"Shouldn't His Majesty be asking someone more prestigious in rank?" Winter inquired him. 

"Since you are my personal attendant, a maid, then I shall ask you to work for me," Raphael opined.  

"I refuse," Winter replied. 

"You cannot refuse," Raphael said. 

"You can't force me," Winter affirmed. 

Raphael quirked up his eyebrows and asked, "When did I force you? I gave you an order, but you refused to take that. Could you elaborate me which part of my statement appeared like forcing you?" 

Winter chose to remain silent and lowered her head. She continued to fiddle with her fingers, waiting for him to finish the tea. But it appeared to her that he was deliberately sipping the tea slowly. 

"Brew one more cup for me," Raphael said. 

Winter momentarily gazed at him and then stood up from her place. She prepared another teacup for him and placed it on the saucer for her. 

"Sit back," Raphael said and she complied with his order. 

"Do you know how to massage?" He asked a question, which made her dagger-like eyes look at him. "If not, then you need to learn. I love taking a massage," he stated. 

"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I have to decline this," Winter humbly said. 

"You can't refuse. It's an order, Winter," Raphael reminded her. His fingers tapped on the rim of the teacup. 

"This way His Majesty will ask me to give him a bath too," Winter muttered, anger suddenly lacing in her voice.  

"Well, I didn't think of that. However, now, you have suggested this to me, so I'll call you only to assist me in the bath. Why to call the other maidservants when I have you?" Raphael musedly asked and took another sip again. 

Winter kept glaring into his eyes. "Finish the tea quickly," she said. 

"I'll drink at a slow pace," Raphael affirmed. "Why did you get abused by your father?" he asked. 

"Why should I tell you?" Winter inquired. 

"Perhaps only I can feel your emotions since I'm your mate," Raphael remarked. 

Winter scrunched her brows. "Why are you making me feel low? I understand you loath me, but don't play your dirty game this way," Winter proclaimed. 

"I think your brain has a problem. I asked you a simple question, yet you took an entirely different meaning of my concern," Raphael clarified to her.

"That night in the dungeon Ezkiel blamed you, which confused me. I thought in the last moments, parents were usually worried for their kids, but it didn't happen," he further explained. 

"Father hated me since the moment my mother died," Winter said. 

Raphael felt pity for Winter. "I wish you weren't Ezkiel's daughter," he proclaimed. 

"Don't pity me. You are also like the others. I don't care what you think of me anymore," Winter asserted while controlling her tears from falling.  

"Don't compare me with your evil father. He didn't kill only my parents, but hundreds of others along with many kids. You are the daughter of the most evil person and you will pay for all his crimes," Raphael stated, boring her eyes with his penetrating gaze. 

"I understand," Winter said and left her seat again. She snatched the teacup from him, spilling a little on his waistcoat accidentally, and put it on the tray along with the saucer. Collecting the teapot, she left his sight. 

"What a nasty temper she possesses!" Raphael muttered as he looked at his white waistcoat. The tea stain was now there. 

Winter reached the kitchen and placed the tray on the counter. 

"Winter, you need to wash the utensils in the backyard of the kitchen," said the head servant, Lady Emelia. 

Winter picked up the tray too and went outside to wash the utensils. Her eyes widened to see hundreds of utensils big and small, placed in the washing area. She never had done such work before. 

"Don't delay anymore and do the work quickly. You need to do the other chores as well," Lady Emelia said in a terrorizing voice. 

"Lady Emelia, but how will Winter wash so many utensils? Should I help her?" One of the servants asked out of kindness. 

"Whoever will help Winter be punished!" Lady Emelia said in a loud enough voice, causing the servant to lower her head. 

Winter sat on the stool and took the water in a wooden mug. Using the charcoal she was supposed to wash them. She began applying it on the copper plates, glasses, and bowls first. It was a tiring task. Lady Emelia was no longer present there. 

It took more than an hour for Winter to wash those utensils. Her back was hurting badly because of the weakness. Her hands were soar too and looking red.

"I wish I were never born as a princess," Winter whispered, cursing her bad fate. She collected all the utensils to take them to the kitchen when Lady Emelia suddenly appeared and checked them. 

"Wash them again," Lady Emelia ordered. 

"What? I just washed them," Winter said. 

"They should shine," Lady Emily gave a crisp answer and asked Winter not to talk back with her. 

Winter nodded and apologized for her mistake. 

"His Majesty wants to see Winter," Nathan's voice reverberated in their ears. "Follow me," he said.