05

Desire had just a few days left to become a housemaid and how her destiny changed in the past few days left her bewildered and baffled about how she had been forsaken by her creator. 

The image left on her head was that of her being hanged or worse, burnt at stake. She couldn't stop the tears from rolling down her eyes. 

After she had picked the death wish, Mr Ho had her sent to the dungeons for two days and when a tiny bowl of food was given to her, she consumed it hungrily and wished she could ask for more or perhaps had eaten the food her master ordered for her in peace. 

After she had spent two days at the dungeon; two lonely, cold and dreadful nights, she was sent to the Harem. 

The place recked of sex and alcohol and for the first three days of being there, Desire was   disgusted and threw up every minutes she could find. The ladies glared at her at intervals, concerned and angry about why a maid would be brought into the Harem for no just reason. 

She always watched the different set of men waltzed in there like they own the place and enter any room of their choice to pick any woman they desire and sleep with her no caring if the woman wanted them or not. 

Desire cringed at the sight always, was she scared for the way women are treated here? 

Was she angry at how some women are subjected to this type of life just because their families are born to serve the Harem from generation to generation? 

On getting to the Harem, Desire was introduced to the Head lady, the woman in charge of the activities of the court and even though Desire couldn't hear what the knight who had brought her from the mansion was telling the Head lady, she knew it was something bad. The woman eyed her with disgust after that and took her to the far end of the house, a room that belonged to rats and rodents. 

Desire could barely sleep through the night. 

Even the Dungeon was far better than this room, she had thought. 

The next two days were occupied as all she did was clean the whole building; every room available in the house including hers. 

The head lady of the Harem had made her do it out of hatred and disgust. 

Just as much as Desire was disgusted by the Harem so was the court lady disgusted by Desire's presence in their abode. 

The ladies all gossiped about her most of the time and Desire would hear their conversations and wondered if those ladies wanted her to actually hear what they were all saying about her. 

She was finally able to sleep peacefully on the third day; away from dirt and gossip. 

It was past midnight when Desire heard noises coming from outside her door, she first thought it was the one of the men coming to visit the ladies once again but got scared when the noise began to become clearer, nearer and she realized it was heavy footsteps coming closer to her room. 

The noise suddenly stopped at the door of her room and before she could stand up to check what it was, the door of her room was opened and she realized who it was. 

A dazzling young lady who looked a few years older than her was accompanied with guards as she entered Desire's room. She was beautiful and her blue eyes reminded her of her Master's eyes. Her elegant dress resembled that of royalty and so does her hair. It was shining bright and the pins used in holding it down were so beautiful you could look at it for hours. 

Before she could look away, the lady walked towards her and sat on her bed. 

"You're Desire"

"Yes, My lady" Desire answered even though it didn't sound like a question. 

"You should stand properly and look at me, Desire" The lady demanded. 

"The rules forbid————"

"Forget the rules, it's an order and failure to follow my command—-" Desire whipped her head in her direction and the lady smiled as their eyes met. 

"Good girl" she praised her act and patted a seat beside Desire's bed, signaling her to sit. 

"I heard you came from the Prime Minister's mansion"

"Yes, my lady"

"How's it at the mansion these days?" Desire was baffled by her question and didn't have any other choice than to answer. 

"Same old, My lord"

"You're free to say anything you want to say"

"Have you ever been in the mansion?"

"Yes, for a few years" Desire wondered how a celestial lady like this could ever live in the mansion. Could she be a Slave? It just wasn't possible. 

"The court lady is still the same and her assistant is just as amazing as ever"

"Lady Nor is still working there" Her eyes were sparkling as she said those words. Lady Nor is just a special lady who everyone loves. 

"And how's your Sylvester?"

"Who?"

"Pardon me, I meant your Master" Desire never knew him other than Prime Minister or Master, she didn't even know his name was Sylvester despite being in his house for years. 

"He's the same" She replies shortly not wanting to say something that'll put her in serious trouble with her Master later on. 

"Well, I heard he sent you here. Why?"

"I offended him, my lady"

"How?" Desire didn't want to go into details but after much pestering from her, she ended up telling her everything. 

She didn't leave out any details. 

"I can see he hasn't changed at all even after so many years. But this is strange somehow. How can he do that and then ask me to do such a huge task?" Desire wondered what the lady meant by her statement but she decided against asking her about it. 

The Nobles were never to be questioned no matter what. She knew her boundary and she knew never to cross it. 

"You'll see me more often from now on, especially at this hour and when I'm not able to come, someone will always be here"

"I don't know why you're doing such a thing, My lady, but thank you"

"I'm only performing my duty, Desire. I also enjoyed your company. Till next time darling" She made her way for the door and before walking out, she turned back. 

"I'm Naomi Chen, formerly known as Naomi Ho, the Second queen and the younger sister of your Master"