Chapter 5: Green like your eyes
There was a shift in Anabel's expression. "I..don't want to forfeit being the princess's maid." She lowered her head. After a short pause, Sarah grabbed her ear.
"You foolish girl! Can you hear yourself? You want thirty lashes?" Sarah's face contorted in detest, "You…you like being on top of the other maids, don't you? You prideful thing." Sarah walked away while muttering "I can't believe I tried to convince you otherwise"
Anabel smiled helplessly watching Sarah leave. Sarah went through the trouble of helping her and even suggesting what she thinks is best, but Anabel promised.
She wants to do this for Kaius, besides, her beef with Ceaser just shot up the charts. She would rather get whipped than become a stable maid and watch Ceaser get the princess.
At sunrise, Ceaser came. While Anabel was being released he asked with a mocking smile "Bedheaded woman, I'm sure you've made your choice"
Her head lowered, Anabel answered "Yes, I will not be forfeiting as the Princess's maid"
"What!?" Ceaser's brows snapped together in shock. "Are you foolish!?" He asked.
Anabel responded cooly "No. Let's go."
Outside, with a few maids, guards, and guests to witness, Anabel was tied down with chains, her arms spread.
The executioner's hand held onto the whip tightly, awaiting Ceaser's command. King Dimitri had permitted him to see through Anabel's punishment. It's no wonder he came to taunt her.
Ceaser hesitated to give a command, he didn't expect Anabel to choose this, but she had to be punished. After all, she dared to land a hit on his beloved Katy's face.
Ceaser nodded.
*Whip*
The first hit landed on Anabel's back. She was wrong, it hurt like hell. Just the first whip, and her body was quivering already, but Anabel didn't let out any sound.
She pressed down the pain by biting into her lower lip. She chose this, she must endure it.
At the fifth, Anabel heaved with pain. Her lower lip trembled and her back ached. Hot tears fell from her eyes, but not once did she complain. 'Just 25 more to go' she gritted.
The executioner lifted the whip to continue, Anabel sucked in, bracing herself for it.
"Stop!" Ceaser stood up, and the executioner halted. Gasps filled the area. Ceaser pinched the middle of his brows, exhaling. He didn't know why Anabel getting whipped bothered him so much. "That's enough" he declared, and in no time, the crowd dispersed.
"Ouch!" Anabel winced while Sarah applied ointment to her wounded back. Sarah hissed, "You foolish girl, you never listen, now look at you"
"It's not so bad," said Anabel "I only got five lashes"
"And look at how your back is! You would've died if Prince Ceaser hadn't used his good heart to pardon you," Sarah nagged. Anabel rolled her eyes.
"Chief maid Sarah," Ceaser walked in. His eyes landed on Anabel, where she sat on the bed, with only just a translucent white cloth covering her breast. Her shoulders and stomach were exposed. A flush crept up his face, staring at her.
"Hey!" Anabel lifted her hands to cover herself. Sarah gasped "Oh prince!"
Ceaser immediately turned around and left hurriedly. He only came to see how pathetic Anabel must have looked, to think the sight he beheld was different from what he imagined. And now, the image of her bare skin glinting in the light couldn't leave his head.
He rushed to the guest chambers and shut himself in. Hopefully, sooner, he would get the image of that bedheaded woman off his mind.
•••
Falling dramatically before Katy, Anabel displayed sadness and remorse. "Please don't take my position as your maid away; I want to keep serving you," Anabel pleaded.
Katy stared down at her while sitting on her bed. The look in her eyes was similar to how she often viewed commoners— like trash. "Why should I? You dared to hit me, and not only that, you threw my meal away despite knowing I was hungry. Why shouldn't I debase you to a stable maid?"
"Please forgive me, princess; I don't know what came over me. I was possessed. You know I would never disobey your orders," Anabel pleaded, using the past Anabel's loyalty to hold face.
"That is true, maybe something did come over you, but-"
"Please, Your Highness! I'll serve you better from now on, I promise. I'll listen to your every command and do as you say; please accept me back," said Anabel, her voice raw with desperation rather than remorse.
Katy pondered for a bit. Anabel has been her maid for a long time now; she knew the princess's likes and dislikes, plus she was very easy to boss around.
A new maid will certainly be another work.
"Alright, alright. I'll only forgive you because I'm sure Ceaser has given his punishment already, but if this repeats itself another time, you'll be thrown out into the streets." Katy warned.
Anabel's face lit up. She exhaled in relief. The five lashes weren't vain after all. Standing up, Anabel dusted her clothes and asked politely, "Is there anything Her Highness needs me to do now?"
The words stung the back of her throat as she said them.
Was service seriously all Anabel did in the game? Being unimportant sure is tiring, thought Anabel.
Katy stood up and walked up to the mirror "Actually yes. The Voldar queen is just returning, a ball will be held in her honor. I must wear something befitting someone like myself." she looked at Anabel, "Anabel, you must get the royal seamstress and have her sew me the best dress ever made"
'What a drag' thought Anabel with a smile plastered on her face. She responded, "Yes, princess."
"You'll tell her to make do with different shades of blue to match with this.." Katy pulled out something from her jewelry box and showed Anabel.
Anabel's eyes widened; it was the blue pendant, the one she advised Kaius to gift the princess. "Are you going to wear that?" Anabel asked
Katy nodded "Is it bad?"
"No, not at all. It's the most beautiful thing ever. May I ask who gifted such a precious jewel to her Highness?" Anabel asked just to make sure it was Kaius and not Ceaser.
"Why it is Prince Kaius of Ashar Empire" Katy smiled
Anabel grinned from ear to ear "Such a thoughtful gift. Surely, a man who gifts a lady like this should be worthy enough as husband material"
Katy responded with a smile.
In high spirits, Anabel skipped, happy that things turned out well. All of a sudden, her steps slowly stopped. "Wait, who is the royal seamstress?"
"Anabel!" Anabel's attention was drawn outside to the imperial garden. Kaius stood near the rose flowers where they first met. Anabel quickened her steps to reach him.
"It's a lovely sunny noon, isn't it, Prince Kaius?" Anabel bowed slightly. To her, he was the only one worthy of worship; for being both devilishly handsome and extremely wealthy.
Kaius greeted with a smile. "I have done as you suggested and gifted Katy a unique blue pendant. I went through quite a lot to get it so I hope you're right"
Anabel grinned. "Prince Kaius, the princess, loves it. Her adoration for you just got higher"
Kaius chuckled. Shouldn't he be the one all happy? Why was Anabel beaming with so much joy? He wondered.
"Seems like I might have a chance," he said, and Anabel nodded.
Kaius brought out a small case, "I anticipated success, so I've brought this as a gift" he opened the case and revealed an emerald necklace.
Anabel gawked, it was the finest stone she had ever laid eyes on.
"Green, just like your eyes," said Kaius, "I just hope you don't refuse it"
'Who am I to refuse such shiny jewelry?' Anabel thought to herself while staring at it.
"Let me put it on for you; take it as a gift for a job well done." Anabel turned around and swept her hair to the side, exposing her neck.
Kaius was just about to put it on when he noticed the wound on her neck. His expression turned grave "What is this? How did you get injured?" He asked
Anabel's eyes darted around, searching for a quick lie. The executioner's whip must have reached her neck. Stuttering, she answered, "I..uh..tripped?" She pursed her lips.
Her back was still facing him, so she couldn't tell what his expression was like, if he bought it or not. Anabel quickly added "It's not a big deal, evil chief maid Sarah helped me apply ointment. It doesn't even hurt anymore"
"Is that so?" Kaius asked and locked the necklace. Anabel looked at him with a smile while nodding.
"Thank you, it's beautiful," Anabel remarked, staring down at the necklace.
She raised her head, suddenly remembering, "Ah, yes, I told the princess to meet you for brunch in the heart of the garden. It's almost time; run along now," said Anabel.
Before he left, Kaius told her "Be careful next time. If you're injured, no one else would help me win Katy's heart."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone