Chapter Eleven

I have no idea when I got up from the floor and got back to work, the usual snide remarks and irritated glares at me were half gone and I was also surprised. Juniper as well was nowhere to be found. When it was evening, before Aurora found me and had me take food to Jonathan again, I disappeared. I walked aimlessly in the slave area trying not to think about my current situation, it was a situation that even I didn’t wish on my worst enemies.

I didn’t bother going for dinner because I could already imagine the same thing happening and I had had enough embarrassment for a day, for my entire life. I sat down staring at the horizon as the sun went to its resting place but I knew that it was just the entire finishing a rotation, I wished desperately that I could turn back the hands of time but the Moon Goddess had favourite and I wasn’t on their list that’s why she had made me a Beta knowing fully well that a female Beta as a Princess would spell doom for her.

That’s why no matter how seduced the Crown Prince was, he wasn’t interested in me because I didn’t have a scent because even though I was a Princess, I was very ordinary. That’s why I had found myself as a slave, because nobody wanted me and because nobody thought I would amount to anything and it wasn’t their fault.

I trudged slowly back to the room and found my roommates chattering incessantly about what I didn’t know. I wasn’t interested in knowing either way but I was glad to have them off my back. For once, I wasn’t the centre of their attention but I was wrong because the moment I fell on my bed to sleep, I jumped off it immediately. 

My bed was wet, it was as though it had been soaked in water, the chattering girls stopped and burst into raucous laughter that was deafening and I stared at them wordlessly. It was useless trying to talk sense into them or arguing with them, I was the one going to end up in prison, I was the one who was going to suffer.

Still keeping my silence, I dragged the bed out of the room leaving it to dry outside and when I walked back into the room, I lay down on the cold floor ignoring my shivering body and curled up while staring into darkness.

“Our princess sure knows how to adapt quickly” someone said and the room burst into laughter.

“The King’s words today definitely made her like that,” another one added.

I quietly listened to their taunts and their insults without a word and tears streamed down my cheeks and I closed my eyes. I was tired, really tired and there was nothing I could do about it. It was no use stopping my roommates as their taunts continued.

Why was I suffering on behalf of my father? Why did I have to repay his sins on his behalf?

—----------------------------------------------------

By the time I stepped out for work the next morning, I noticed everyone giving me weird and funny looks.

“What’s going on?” I asked no one in particular until I started hearing them whispering.

“She bedwets”

“What? She bedwets?”

“Yes. That’s why her bed was outside overnight”

“She’s a princess yet she bedwets”

“Her family as royalty must have spoiled her rotten because how do you bed wet at that age?”

“I feel sorry for her roommates who have go through all of that”

“That’s so disgusting”

I froze at the words drifting into my ears and chuckled, “I slept on the damn floor” I said to myself.

I didn’t have to think hard to know that my roommates were behind the rumours. They were devil incarnates and I hated them from the bottom of my heart. Their only joy was making my life hard and making me cry. They were all bastards.

When I walked into the kitchen, Juniper was already waiting for me. He beckoned to me and we quickly rushed into a store and he locked the door.

He opened one of the clay coolers and shoved it towards it. “Eat it quickly” he commanded and I smiled at him, reaching for the food and scooping a spoon into my mouth hungrily.

“It’s hot Amira, slow down” he added and I nodded slowing down. He stared at me and I could see that he wanted to say something but he was hesitating.

“You can say what you want to but I’m not a bedwetter. Those bastards poured water on my bed and I slept on the floor” I quickly clarified and Juniper laughed.

“I know you are not a bedwetter. All kinds of rumors spread here, don’t pay attention to any of them” he replied and I nodded, “I won’t”

“I didn't know you were a Princess” Juniper finally spoke and I chuckled, “I’m sure you are the only one who didn’t know” I replied quietly.

“That’s why you didn’t know how to wash plates or do anything at all” He said and I slowly nodded my head.

“I heard about everything from other people” he said softly and I lowered my head, concentrating on my food. I didn’t want to hear what he had to say, I didn’t want to. That’s why I had hidden it from him in the first place.

“I think that you are very brave” Juniper’s words made me freeze and I slowly turned to him. He had a small smile on his face as he nodded his head at me.

“When I heard everything, I tried to imagine how you would be feeling and I just couldn’t. You are very brave for daring to live here, for daring to go against the odds. Your father’s sins have nothing to do with you and it’s just unfortunate” He added and I chuckled while finishing my food.

“Well, thank you” I replied and Juniper nodded.

“Let me know if you need any kind of help okay” he said and I almost burst into tears right there on the spot.

“I mean what I said the last time” He continued and I frowned, “That being alive is the most important. So I want you to keep being brave and I want you to survive here” he added and I lowered my head, a small smile tethering around my lips as I nodded.

“Thank you Juni” I said and his eyes widened in surprise. I didn’t let him say anything else before I stood up and walked out of the store.

Aurora walked in two seconds after, “Amira, it’s time to serve the King” she said and without a word, I carried the already arranged tray and walked after.

Juniper’s food seemed to have digested in a few seconds but I knew that it was because I hadn’t had anything to eat in a long time but I kept my feet firm till we reached the king’s dining hall. The same woman from the day before was stepping out and our eyes met for a brief second before she disappeared down the corridor.

I wondered who she was. She was obviously the doctor but she seemed to have some kind of power here.

I quickly arranged the table and Jonathan turned to me with a smug smile, “Look who we have here, our bedwetter” he commented and I winced.

I didn’t know that rumours easily reached the ears of the King and that fast but I was not about to say that out. I kept my head lowered without a word as he started eating.

“Before I forget, I am a man of my word so..” he trailed off and I raised my head to see me pouring some plates of the food on the floor before turning to me with a wide smile, “Eat” he finished.

I stared at him and the food on the floor and Juniper’s words drifted into my ears, So I want you to keep being brave. I want you to survive here.

Without another word, I bent down and moved towards the heaped food on the floor, using my hand as a spoon, I started gobbling up the food quickly. It tasted very different and it was sweet and rich, my movements sped up but I had shocked both Jonathan and Aurora with my decision.

Jonathan burst into loud laughter as I paused, “Are you a dog? You are eating from the floor and so fast” he said with an irritated look and I smiled.

“Didn’t you say that yesterday?” I asked my smile getting broader, “That I am a slave and I will do what I’m told and take what I’m given” I continued bowing my head slightly, “So I thank His Highness for granting me the grace to share out of his meal” I finished and the next moment, the air seemed to be suffocating me.

I fell to the floor and forced my head to look at Jonathan who was glaring hard at me. His Alpha powers were pressing me to the floor and I was struggling hard to breathe.

“Get lost. I don’t ever want to see your face again”