Chapter 9….Days and nights have passed, and like the tales being told, it got worse, my whole body has gone sour even more worse than it was back at the slave Quarters. Almost like the castle never runs out of dirt to clean. I hear the mumbling of the workers, their backs arched on the floor as they clean, speaking in their native tongue which I strangely understand for some reason… From a good distance I could hear Edna approaching and right beside him, the prince. His face stoned as usual as he approached while Edna and Anakim followed him, I immediately dropped my rags as I strengthened my back waiting for him to approach fully. I lowered my head in greetings so did every other person. Not paying any attention to us he walked ahead, I followed behind immediately. Ten steps behind like instructed. For the past few days the prince has been out and thankfully with his knights as we cleaned every nook and Cranny. While at the slave Quarters no day passed without a story going round
Chapter 10…The silence grew deafening almost enough to choke me. So out of place I know I am. “Who is she?” I could hear a mumble from somebody. I cursed my sensitive hearing as I bite my tongue forcing my eyes to continue looking behind the prince's head. He suddenly paused making me stumble on my feet.“Greetings… Father,” The prince's voice the loudest I have heard him speak. I watched him take a kneel as I looked around confused. My eyes met that of a devious one, it was obvious who she was. I didn't recognise her right away the last time but today there was no denying she was the queen. She sat by the left side of the king and sitting by the right a younger fellow, the other prince. And by his left is a lady, her skin so flawless it could blind even an already blind person, the princess. She sat like a goddess. And behind them were palace maids who stared directly at me, my reaction wasnt the best but quickly I lowered my knees kneeling behind the prince.“Rise, I am your fath
Chapter 11…“Henrietta,” she bares a smile on her face.“I was told you were out, good thing I waited,” she said as they began to walk in. I hesitated to walk in his direction as I yet again found myself wondering what their relationship is. His mate perhaps? His lover? Or even deeper than I thought.. wife? “Freyja,” the sound of my name snapped me out of my delusion as I looked towards them.“Your highness,” I answered immediately, rushing towards them.“Three steps behind remember?” He said annoyed as I apologized.“Three steps behind?” She asked me to look from him to me with a concerned Expression.“Yes, she is my Maid,” He said to her as she slowly nodded. I could see the shift from her smile. It was subtle but enough for me to notice.“I didn't know you allowed girls to serve you,” she said as he smiled. His smile towards her wasn't forced nor condescending. It was genuine at least from my perspective.“For the past years all I did was go to war. Unfortunately there are no mai
Chapter 12….Close, too close that all I could perceive is his scent, too close I forget to even focus on the door. Strangely, I was supposed to be irritated by him but every time I try to think about it I find out that I truly don't have a deep resentment for him. Perhaps because I know deep down I don't deserve to be resentful. I simply have no right rather my hatred comes from a pretentious act.No matter what and how I try to paint it, I didn't suffer enough in him and his men's hands, not like the other slaves who clearly have a strong resentment. They have every right to be. They were taken from their land where they could have a say in their lives, their properties probably destroyed and brought to ruins and the rest of the people who were not brought back now under new leadership tied to the Empire of LYTHRIA. Even if they escape one day there is no home to return to. You can see it in their eyes. The strong resentment and willingness to continue living. And I on the other ha
Chapter 13…Two nights passed right before my eyes with ease, I overestimated myself, I spoke too soon with so much confidence, there was nothing that would have probably given me the illusion that I could overcome this, well expect delusion.Every he counts it for me, here I am on the third day and I am afraid it will soon come to an end without a single clue, turns out pretending to be friendly with the rest of the maids wasn't really a good idea, it's clear as day they avoid me almost like they fear me, perhaps because of my wolf blood or my position, becoming the prince's personal maid means I am closer to him so perhaps they fear I will report every of our discussion to him.Just every time I think I am close to figuring it out something off happens proving it's not the person.“Why are you not with the prince?” I immediately recognised the voice as I looked up from the bucket of fruits I was washing. The head maid, I haven't laid eyes on her for days. I have always wondered where
Chapter 14…“Your Highness?” I questioned as I slowly turned around, my eyes grew wide upon seeing him barely clothed, his chest bared, trails of either water or sweat tracing down his bare chest to his narrowed waist area where his pants started. His long hair all over the place sticking to his face because of the sweat perhaps. His arms are toned, of course, he is a warrior. A general I learned recently. Scars ran through his arms and across his chest perhaps from the battlefield. How can he look the way he does and still have a perfect body to accompany it…“My face is up here Freyja,” he said, his voice filled with irritation, embarrassed I looked away, how could I shamelessly stare at a man like that while unmarried?“What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice still filled with annoyance, his mood must be sour. Of course, that is his thing, his mood never stays consistent, I remember leaving him in a good mood hours ago.“Uhm I was…oh yeah…I was this close to finding out ... w
Chapter 15…I had a realization watching his retreating back as I followed him slowly behind, he knew all along, he knew who it was, how sure I am that he also didn't know that somebody was off to kill him before I even told him. Come to think of it. That day while I was eavesdropping, Anakim saved me. Who am I to think he didn't overhear as well?Seeing how nonchalant and how fast Anakim swung into action it was obvious, he wasn't just a royal guard like said he was, he was a knight like the rest and hadn't left the East palace since he entered except when he followed the prince out of the gates, it's obvious his loyalty lies with the prince.So where do I come from in this strange ordeal? Am I a pun or just a means of amusement? Have I only been here just for formalities? Or truly could there be a reason deeper than what meets the eye? Like the head maid said… Getting to his wing of the castle, still speechless, I followed him dying to speak my mind, so many questions, what does h
Chapter 16….“Keep going!” I could hear from ahead me Edna’s agile voice as I dragged my weary body forward, each step felt like lifting a mountain. The weight tied to my legs pulled me down with every stride, draining what little energy I had left. My lungs burned with each gasp for air, my chest heaving in protest. But amidst the exhaustion, there was a flicker of determination, a stubborn resolve pushing me onward. My vision blurred, my eyelids heavy as if weighted themselves, threatening to shut out the world. Yet, I pressed on, knowing that on the other side lay something worth every ounce of effort, Victory. Every drop of sweat and tears. So, I trudged forward, one agonizing step at a time, refusing to let fatigue or despair claim victory over my will to reach the other side.“You did it! Yes!” Slowly I opened my eyes to see an excited one looking back at me. It was Edna’s as energetic as ever. I didn't even realize that my legs had given up on me, on the floor with my face faci
Chapter 18…A moment passed between us, awkward it was. My confidence slowly slipped away as it suddenly felt like I was caught in a severe situation. “Well I will excuse myself now,” I said to her as she nodded visibly forcing a smile as I watched her swallow back her words as she smiled brightly.“Let's continue our conversation later,” she said as I nodded while walking away. Before going I made sure to cast a glance at Anakim, his face bore the typical neutral but slightly angry expression…As I walked toward his chamber I raised my head high, tensing up my shoulders and putting up my most serious face, everybody had spoken highly so far about my change in demeanor. But his judgment is the most important. Lowering my head to smell my armpit to make sure I wasn't going to meet him with a stench smell thankfully there was none.‘Knock knock’ I waited for a response, it took several knocks for him to finally usher me in. At the sight of him, I immediately turned around. Shirtless wi
Chapter 17…The sun hung mercilessly overhead, casting a scorching blaze upon the earth. With each step, the heat seemed to seep through every pore of my skin, enveloping me in a suffocating embrace. The air felt thick and heavy, as if I were wading through molasses. Sweat trickled down my back, forming rivulets that soaked into my shirt, clinging uncomfortably to my body. My throat felt parched, each breath I took like inhaling hot coals. The horizon shimmered with waves of heat, distorting the landscape into a mirage of illusion. In this sweltering inferno, time seemed to slow to a crawl, each moment stretching out endlessly beneath the relentless sun.How unpredictable the weather has seemed to be, only but yesterday it was cold and now it's hit all of a sudden.“If Sir Edna went on an errand, would that mean his Highness sent a letter?” I quickly recognized the voice as Rebekah’s. Two weeks have passed since the prince’s departure and it's been a whole week with my new friendship
Chapter 16….“Keep going!” I could hear from ahead me Edna’s agile voice as I dragged my weary body forward, each step felt like lifting a mountain. The weight tied to my legs pulled me down with every stride, draining what little energy I had left. My lungs burned with each gasp for air, my chest heaving in protest. But amidst the exhaustion, there was a flicker of determination, a stubborn resolve pushing me onward. My vision blurred, my eyelids heavy as if weighted themselves, threatening to shut out the world. Yet, I pressed on, knowing that on the other side lay something worth every ounce of effort, Victory. Every drop of sweat and tears. So, I trudged forward, one agonizing step at a time, refusing to let fatigue or despair claim victory over my will to reach the other side.“You did it! Yes!” Slowly I opened my eyes to see an excited one looking back at me. It was Edna’s as energetic as ever. I didn't even realize that my legs had given up on me, on the floor with my face faci
Chapter 15…I had a realization watching his retreating back as I followed him slowly behind, he knew all along, he knew who it was, how sure I am that he also didn't know that somebody was off to kill him before I even told him. Come to think of it. That day while I was eavesdropping, Anakim saved me. Who am I to think he didn't overhear as well?Seeing how nonchalant and how fast Anakim swung into action it was obvious, he wasn't just a royal guard like said he was, he was a knight like the rest and hadn't left the East palace since he entered except when he followed the prince out of the gates, it's obvious his loyalty lies with the prince.So where do I come from in this strange ordeal? Am I a pun or just a means of amusement? Have I only been here just for formalities? Or truly could there be a reason deeper than what meets the eye? Like the head maid said… Getting to his wing of the castle, still speechless, I followed him dying to speak my mind, so many questions, what does h
Chapter 14…“Your Highness?” I questioned as I slowly turned around, my eyes grew wide upon seeing him barely clothed, his chest bared, trails of either water or sweat tracing down his bare chest to his narrowed waist area where his pants started. His long hair all over the place sticking to his face because of the sweat perhaps. His arms are toned, of course, he is a warrior. A general I learned recently. Scars ran through his arms and across his chest perhaps from the battlefield. How can he look the way he does and still have a perfect body to accompany it…“My face is up here Freyja,” he said, his voice filled with irritation, embarrassed I looked away, how could I shamelessly stare at a man like that while unmarried?“What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice still filled with annoyance, his mood must be sour. Of course, that is his thing, his mood never stays consistent, I remember leaving him in a good mood hours ago.“Uhm I was…oh yeah…I was this close to finding out ... w
Chapter 13…Two nights passed right before my eyes with ease, I overestimated myself, I spoke too soon with so much confidence, there was nothing that would have probably given me the illusion that I could overcome this, well expect delusion.Every he counts it for me, here I am on the third day and I am afraid it will soon come to an end without a single clue, turns out pretending to be friendly with the rest of the maids wasn't really a good idea, it's clear as day they avoid me almost like they fear me, perhaps because of my wolf blood or my position, becoming the prince's personal maid means I am closer to him so perhaps they fear I will report every of our discussion to him.Just every time I think I am close to figuring it out something off happens proving it's not the person.“Why are you not with the prince?” I immediately recognised the voice as I looked up from the bucket of fruits I was washing. The head maid, I haven't laid eyes on her for days. I have always wondered where
Chapter 12….Close, too close that all I could perceive is his scent, too close I forget to even focus on the door. Strangely, I was supposed to be irritated by him but every time I try to think about it I find out that I truly don't have a deep resentment for him. Perhaps because I know deep down I don't deserve to be resentful. I simply have no right rather my hatred comes from a pretentious act.No matter what and how I try to paint it, I didn't suffer enough in him and his men's hands, not like the other slaves who clearly have a strong resentment. They have every right to be. They were taken from their land where they could have a say in their lives, their properties probably destroyed and brought to ruins and the rest of the people who were not brought back now under new leadership tied to the Empire of LYTHRIA. Even if they escape one day there is no home to return to. You can see it in their eyes. The strong resentment and willingness to continue living. And I on the other ha
Chapter 11…“Henrietta,” she bares a smile on her face.“I was told you were out, good thing I waited,” she said as they began to walk in. I hesitated to walk in his direction as I yet again found myself wondering what their relationship is. His mate perhaps? His lover? Or even deeper than I thought.. wife? “Freyja,” the sound of my name snapped me out of my delusion as I looked towards them.“Your highness,” I answered immediately, rushing towards them.“Three steps behind remember?” He said annoyed as I apologized.“Three steps behind?” She asked me to look from him to me with a concerned Expression.“Yes, she is my Maid,” He said to her as she slowly nodded. I could see the shift from her smile. It was subtle but enough for me to notice.“I didn't know you allowed girls to serve you,” she said as he smiled. His smile towards her wasn't forced nor condescending. It was genuine at least from my perspective.“For the past years all I did was go to war. Unfortunately there are no mai
Chapter 10…The silence grew deafening almost enough to choke me. So out of place I know I am. “Who is she?” I could hear a mumble from somebody. I cursed my sensitive hearing as I bite my tongue forcing my eyes to continue looking behind the prince's head. He suddenly paused making me stumble on my feet.“Greetings… Father,” The prince's voice the loudest I have heard him speak. I watched him take a kneel as I looked around confused. My eyes met that of a devious one, it was obvious who she was. I didn't recognise her right away the last time but today there was no denying she was the queen. She sat by the left side of the king and sitting by the right a younger fellow, the other prince. And by his left is a lady, her skin so flawless it could blind even an already blind person, the princess. She sat like a goddess. And behind them were palace maids who stared directly at me, my reaction wasnt the best but quickly I lowered my knees kneeling behind the prince.“Rise, I am your fath