Chapitre 4: The Masked Stranger.

~Arianna~

No one came. The door had closed, and that was it. I waited, hoping the king wouldn't come, and it seemed my prayers were answered.

He didn't show up. Relief flooded me, but I didn't realize how tired I was until I drifted off to sleep. When I woke, it was morning.

Marissa was already in my room, cleaning quietly. I yawned, my eyes scanning the room. Everything was the same. The uneaten food from last night was being replaced with breakfast.

"Did we wake you, my lady?" Marissa asked when she noticed I was awake.

I shook my head and threw the blanket aside, still in the gown I'd worn for the king. But he hadn't come.

The look on the maids' faces told me they were disappointed. I wasn't. His absence was a relief, and I hoped it would stay that way.

"I'll take my bath and…" I paused, realizing I had no idea what to do next. Back home, I would've been working in the kitchen by now. This palace life was making me feel lazy.

"What will I do now?" I asked, getting out of bed as the maids moved to help me undress.

"You'll take your bath and have breakfast," Marissa said as she set the tray of food on the table.

"And after that?"

"We'll go sightseeing around the palace. The queen mother has requested it," she explained, smiling. "Your welcoming ceremony is tonight."

"Welcoming ceremony? For what?" I stammered, confused. The king hadn't even shown up last night. Why would they want to celebrate me?

"The queen mother holds one for every new concubine," Marissa said, her tone light as she worked. "Tonight is yours."

"Wait, does that mean there are others?" I spread my arms as the maids helped me out of my gown, still in disbelief that I'd slept in it.

"Yes, my lady. There are ten others," she replied, matter-of-factly.

"Ten?" I muttered. So, I wasn't the only one. It made me wonder if they were all sent here as payment for debts, just like me. But why would the king need so many?

I pushed the thought away. At least I wasn't going to die. Not yet, anyway. Not until they found out I wasn't Princess Anna.

I headed to the bathroom, my bath taking longer than usual thanks to the oils and scents added to the water.

When I finished, I slipped into a soft yellow gown and sat to eat my breakfast.

The door creaked open, and the queen mother entered, looking much brighter than yesterday.

"Your highness," I quickly stood, bowing.

"You may sit, my dear," she smiled warmly, and I obeyed. "I heard what happened last night. My son was busy, that's why he didn't come."

"There's no need to explain, mother," I tried to smile, but my lips didn't quite cooperate.

"If you say so," she glanced around the room before asking, "Is everything to your liking?"

I nearly laughed. Everything here was beyond perfect, far more than I deserved, especially since I was living a lie.

"Everything is perfect, your—"

"Call me mother," she interrupted, her smile growing softer.

It was hard to adjust to her kindness. She was nothing like Lady Poria. She was kind—too kind to be the mother of the devil.

"Mother," I repeated, managing a genuine smile for the first time.

"Good. Marissa will show you around. I have a lot to prepare for the evening," the queen mother said before leaving.

After I finished eating, Marissa led me through the palace, showing me the different sections.

We passed by the concubines' quarters, and I met a few of the women. They were stunning, graceful—so much more than I felt I was. I couldn't help but feel out of place, but I didn't dwell on it long.

As we continued, a small crowd near the entrance caught my attention. I couldn't see what was happening, so I stepped closer. What I saw stopped me in my tracks.

A young girl, no older than sixteen, was tied up and being whipped. The man with the whip hesitated, clearly uncomfortable, but someone more powerful was forcing him to continue.

"You are nothing without me," a woman in her mid-twenties declared, standing from her seat. I hadn't seen her before, but her presence was commanding. The other women stood silently, their fear of her palpable.

"What did she do?" I whispered to Marissa, unable to tear my eyes from the girl being beaten.

"She's accused of stealing," Marissa murmured back, her voice low.

"Accused or guilty?" I asked, stunned by the scene before me.

"She's just a suspect," Marissa replied, clearly uneasy. It was obvious she didn't agree with what was happening, but like everyone else, she was too afraid to speak.

"This is a warning to all of you," the woman continued, addressing the crowd. "Anyone who dares to steal from me will suffer far worse. Do you understand?"

I couldn't stay silent any longer. "Haven't you heard of an investigation?" I blurted out, my voice shaking with anger. I knew I shouldn't get involved, but the injustice was too much. "Where I come from, you investigate before calling someone a criminal. Did you even try to find out the truth, or did you just decide to do whatever you wanted?"

The woman's eyes snapped to me, shock and fury flashing across her face. She clearly wasn't used to being questioned. The women around us, though scared, nodded in agreement with my words.

"How dare you? Do you even know who you're speaking to?" she hissed, her voice dripping with anger.

I didn't back down. "It doesn't matter. What matters is doing the right thing. And I don't think this girl is guilty."

Her fury deepened, and she stormed toward me. "Who is she?" she demanded, looking at Marissa.

Marissa, who had been trying to stop me the whole time, lowered her head in fear. "The new concubine, Your Highness. Please forgive us."

"Ah, I see," the woman sneered. "No wonder she's showing off. She just arrived and already thinks she can speak out of turn."

"I'm not showing off. I'm speaking the truth. If I'm wrong, prove it," I said, my voice steady. I knew I had pushed too far, but I couldn't stop.

Her eyes narrowed, her lips curling in disdain. "Fine. We'll see," she said, before turning on her heel and marching off, her maids trailing behind her.

As soon as she was gone, I turned to Marissa. "Who was that?"

Marissa just stared at me, her face pale with fear.

I tapped her arm gently. "Marissa, who did I just speak to?"

She jolted back to reality, whispering, "That was Queen Fortuna… the king's wife."

"Wife?" I gasped. "I thought we were just concubines."

Marissa nodded as we walked through the imperial garden. She pointed out the beauty of the surroundings, but her words brought a chill to my heart. "Yes, Queen Fortuna is the king's only wife. That woman is powerful, your highness. You should be scared."

A cold shiver ran down my spine, but I didn't let it show. Trouble wasn't new to me. Maybe the king would send me back to Camelot, and I'd find my chance to escape, to finally be free.

"No one stands in her way," Marissa continued. "The king favors her more than anyone. She has his ear, his trust... she's like a second king. Please, your highness, be careful."

I nodded, turning my head away. Queen Fortuna fit the king's cruelty perfectly. She seemed heartless, unbothered by the maid's suffering. Perhaps she was a demon sent to keep the palace under her wicked rule.

"If you want to survive, stay out of her way," Marissa pleaded. "She can ruin anyone."

"Lady Poria out, Queen Fortuna in," I muttered to myself, feeling trapped by one cruel fate after another.

We reached the heart of the garden, and I was overwhelmed by its beauty. The rumors didn't do it justice.

The sweet scent of flowers filled the air, and the trees swayed gently in the breeze.

For a moment, I felt at peace. I wanted to stay here forever, away from all the palace's dark games.

"Wait until you see the farm," Marissa said, excitement in her voice.

I couldn't hold back. I hurried ahead, my fingers brushing the petals of flowers as I passed.

"Don't go too far, your highness!" Marissa called out, but I laughed and ran further, feeling a sense of freedom I hadn't felt in ages.

Before I knew it, I'd lost her in the vastness of the garden, but I didn't mind.

I wandered deeper, my curiosity leading me. That's when I saw it—the strawberry farm.

Rows of perfect red berries stretched out in front of me. It was breathtaking, but what really caught my attention was the man working under the sun.

He was the most handsome man I had ever seen. His long hair, tied back, fell in strands across his face as he worked, his movements strong and sure.

A mask covered half of his face, adding to his mysterious presence. He was tall, with broad shoulders, and his muscular chest gleamed with sweat under the sunlight.

Every time he moved, his toned arms flexed, showing off the strength in his body.

I stood frozen, mesmerized by him. I had never seen anyone like him before, and something stirred deep within me as I watched.

I couldn't look away. From the moment our eyes met, I was frozen in place, watching him like a lost sheep. He noticed me and stopped what he was doing, taking a few steps closer.

"Are you lost, my lady?" His deep voice sent shivers through me.

I couldn't speak. His beauty had stolen my breath long before he asked the question. He stepped closer, concern clear on his face. "Is someone after you?"

I finally found my voice, though it was shaky. "No, I came on my own... to see the garden."

He smiled, and it was like the world slowed down. "A beautiful explorer."

My heart skipped. Did he just call me beautiful? I tried to keep myself calm, not wanting to seem too eager. "Thank you, I'll take that as a compliment."

"It is," he said softly, stepping aside. "Come, I'll show you the strawberry farm."

I nodded, walking beside him, but he kept a respectful distance. His presence felt magnetic, and I found myself glancing at him more than I should.

"How long have you worked here?" I asked, trying to make conversation.

"In the garden?" He looked at me, slightly confused. "Five years."

He picked a strawberry from a basket, holding it out to me. "Would you like to try? They're the best."

I nodded, trying not to seem too eager. His companion washed the strawberry and handed it to me.

I took a bite, the sweetness exploding on my tongue. But I couldn't tell if it was the taste of the fruit or the thrill of his attention that made me want more.

"Do you like it?" he asked, his voice low, almost teasing.

"Yes," I said, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear, feeling my cheeks heat.

He stepped closer, and the space between us disappeared. My heart raced, the air around us charged with something I hadn't felt before.

His eyes lingered on mine, and for a second, I thought he might kiss me. I closed my eyes, letting the moment wrap around me, hoping it would never end.