An hour later, Anastasia was mopping the floor along with Theresa.
The excitement for Charlotte had disappeared from her eyes and was replaced by disappointment. In some corner of her heart, she wanted to give Charlotte the benefit of doubt, but the sight of charcoal powder on Charlotte's hands didn't hide the betrayal that had happened.
To go so far as to steal… Anastasia could only guess that Charlotte had used her sketches to get a close enough position to work under Princess Niyasa. She noticed Charlotte walking from one end of the corridor to where she and Theresa were working.
"Are you going to visit Princess Niyasa, Charlotte?" Theresa asked, not knowing what Charlotte had done.
Charlotte smiled, and replied, "I am. I am in a hurry now as Princess Niyasa doesn't like to be kept waiting." She turned to look at Anastasia, who made no attempt to speak to her. She pursed her lips and said, "Take care of yourself, Anna. If there's something to clean in the princess's room, I will be sure to ask for you." Saying those words, she left the corridor.
On noticing Anastasia's unfriendly behaviour towards Charlotte, Theresa said, "I thought you weren't upset with Charlotte's promotion..."
Anastasia replied, "It isn't her promotion that upsets me. It is the means by which she promoted herself."
Theresa frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"
"She stole something that was mine. Truthfully, it isn't that she used it as an opportunity that makes me sad, but that she broke my trust," Anastasia stopped mopping the floor, clutching the wooden stick with her hands. She said, "What she took… they were all very dear to me. But had she asked, I would have happily given them to her."
Theresa's eyebrows furrowed, and she asked, "What did she steal, Anna?"
Anastasia shook her head, "It doesn't matter," she said before continuing to mop the floor. "After a few days, it won't matter anymore." Because she was sure she would escape this place where people attempted to move up ranks by trampling on others. Once she and her sister left this place, all these things would be just a memory.
Away from where lowly maids like Anastasia or Theresa weren't allowed to enter, in the heart of the royal palace, Charlotte made her way to the inner garden, where Princess Niyasa was.
Princess Niyasa was the second daughter of King William Blackthorn, whose mother was the King's first concubine, Lady Maya, and the sister of Prince Maxwell. The princess had let down her brown hair, and had a jewelled pin fixed on the left side of her head. Though she was only nineteen years of age, her arrogance was as if she had collected it for far too long.
"The talented maid is here," Princess Niyasa remarked on seeing Charlotte enter the garden. She then said, "What are you doing standing that far away? Come closer."
Princess Niyasa remarked, "Your sketches are unlike anything I have seen. I had them placed in the parlour so that everyone can enjoy the sight of them." To the princess, having talented maids was nothing less than her owning beautiful jewels or dresses. They were an accessory to show off to others. Her blue eyes stared at the plain maid, and asked, "How did you draw them again?"
Charlotte bowed deeply and replied, "I draw them as they come in my dreams, Princess."
"So gifted. I hear that you haven't dreamed of anything lately, which is why you haven't been able to draw new ones?" The princess questioned, while crossing her legs on the chair she sat upon in the garden.
"That is right, Princess. Once I have had a good dream, I would be happy to show it to you. I am delighted to hear that the princess is pleased with my drawings," Charlotte continued to bow, while hoping she would be able to sketch like Anastasia.
"Which is why from now on, you will be my maid," Princess Niyasa smiled with the corner of her lips pulling up.
And while Charlotte reaped the temporary benefits and praises from the princess, on the other side of the palace on one of the above floors, Anastasia walked with one hand carrying a bucket of water, and the other carrying a mop. She walked in the corridor where the wind blew, as there were no walls or windows, but only pillars after a length of railing.
Anastasia had come here to clear her head. Even though she told herself it didn't matter, she was still sad about what Charlotte had done.
She placed the bucket on the ground and leaned against the railing, watching the vast kingdom that went beyond the high walls and the desert. A minute later, she heard a metal clatter. Her eyebrows furrowed, wondering what it was. She slowly walked near the end of the wall, when her eyes widened at the sight of a thief!
The thief seemed to have just climbed over the wall, and was now pulling up the rope with which he had climbed. The person wore a black cloak and a hood that covered his head.
"Oof!" The thief wheezed and placed his hand on his back to stretch it. "Why are there so many guards?"
Anastasia parted her lips, ready to shout for the guards, but at the same time the thief turned and she caught sight of his face.
'W—was that Juan?!' Anastasia's mouth fell open. Was he here to steal?
But she didn't get enough time to think, for when Juan ran his hand through his hair, his appearance began to change. Her mouth went dry when she saw Juan take his original form, and that was of Prince Aiden.
Anastasia quickly hid further behind the wall, while she felt her heart beating loudly in her ears. The young man she had met twice in the Bazaar was the prince! For a brief moment, she was glad that she didn't pick up the nearest available object to hit his head with as she had done to the drunk man at the Bazaar.
She peeked from behind the wall, watching Prince Aiden discard his black cloak and fix his clothes. As he rolled the rope and anchor, she heard him whistle,
"Today was a good day. To leave the palace twice."
Anastasia had heard about the Blackthorn family members holding different abilities, but no one knew what abilities each of them held. But King William's powers were no secret to anyone in or outside the palace. It was said that he could read one's mind, making a person vulnerable in his presence.
Did she just agree to meet the prince and have him get her a camel? Anastasia felt her head ache.
Previously, the person she was going to deal with was a simple townsman and she believed her plan would be risk-free. But now… this was trouble knocking on her door. And the most important thing was, did he know she was a servant of this palace? She would only know when they next met, she thought in her mind.
She prayed they wouldn't meet!
Upon hearing Prince Aiden start to make his way toward where she was, Anastasia looked back and forth before she ran as fast as she could, so that he wouldn't see her. She felt as if she was being followed, considering how she couldn't get rid of the footsteps that weren't too far behind her.
When Anastasia entered the floor below, she failed to realise that she had picked a corridor which led her to the heart of the inner palace. With Prince Aiden's footsteps following hers, she turned the knob of the door next to her and entered the room.
Anastasia closed the door, her heart beating loudly, and waited for a minute. Feeling it was alright to step out again, she opened the door for the light to spill, but it was for the briefest moment.
Because the moment she opened the door, at the same time a hand appeared from behind, forcing the door closed. She heard a husky male voice speak right behind her,
"You have some nerve to enter the room without permission and think you can leave as you please."
Even though the room was slightly dark, as not all the curtains had been pulled away from the window, the room felt hot to Anastasia. The gloved hand on the surface of the door didn't pull away until she let go of the doorknob.
Anastasia turned from where she stood while making sure she didn't touch the person who stood too close to her, towering over her.
When her eyes met Dante's midnight eyes that held a hint of glare and curiosity in them, she heard him question her,
"This is the second time that you have followed me in less than twenty-four hours. Who put you up to it?"
What? Anastasia quickly shook her head.
Her eyes fell on him, seeing that his hair was ruffled, he was in loose trousers, with a plain white shirt with its sleeves rolled to his elbow, and the top three buttons were left unbuttoned.
Dante didn't take it too kindly when women were sent to seduce or follow him to know what he was up to, and it had happened more than four times in the past. His gloved hand shot to the maid's neck, his fingers curling around it and his thumb pressing on the space between her collarbones.
Anastasia froze, feeling the grip of his hand, not expecting things to escalate at such a speed that her life was left dangling by a frail thread.
He's going to kill me! Anastasia screamed in her mind in alarm.
"What are you doing here? Are you going to answer?" Dante's glare turned more evident.
Anastasia, who couldn't speak, raised her hands, ready to use signs to explain to him. But the moment she brought her hand forward, Dante's other hand caught hold of her wrist and pressed it against the wooden surface of the door.
Her heart skipped a beat at the forcefulness of his hands, and her body shivered. A drop of sweat trickled down the nape of her neck and slipped down her spine before being absorbed by the back of her dress.
Dante wondered if his father or grandmother had sent this woman. Was she even a maid? Or was she another concubine or courtesan disguised as a maid to catch him off guard? Young women who were sent to him were always eager to gain his good side, as he was a prince, ready to strip for him and please him.
Before Anastasia could use her other free hand to convey her words, Dante leaned forward and brought his lips next to her ear.
"As you seemed too eager to enter my room without my permission, I should perhaps take the matter into my hands… and punish you," Dante's breath brushed against her ear, which left her heart stuttering. "Make sure it is hard for you to show up in front of me ever again," his words held an underlying threat in them.
Anastasia knew she should be scared of him right now, but why was she feeling light-headed and it wasn't because of his hand around her neck. He was handsome, but that didn't mean her mind could give him a pass for the way he threatened her.
Dante pulled away and remarked, "What a compliant woman."
As the hand that held her wrist was about to slide lower as he leaned forward, Anastasia quickly placed her hand on his chest. Thankfully, her fingers didn't touch his bare, taut chest. But as fast as her hand stopped him, she also quickly pulled her hand away from touching and stopping him.
Anastasia didn't look at Dante. Her eyes were lowered, while blood rushed up her neck, with her hand hanging midair. She brought her hand to her lips, and this only caused the prince to narrow his eyes at her. She shook her head.
Dante stared at Anastasia for a second before he realised, "You cannot speak…?" She nodded, her heart thudding in her chest.
Anastasia felt the snake-like fingers that had earlier slithered around her neck release, along with his grip on her hand. She brought her hand in front of her, feeling the skin of her wrist as if the prince's hold had burnt her skin.
Dante's head tilted to the side as he examined her, and it turned Anastasia nervous. Did he doubt that she could speak? Did he know? No, there was no way for anyone to know, she thought.
He stared at her, because he hadn't heard of the head in charge of the servants taking in deaf or mute servants to work in the palace. He asked her,
"Have you always been unable to speak?"
Anastasia had hoped this question would never be asked, so she could avoid lying as much as possible, but she felt stuck between the rock and the wall. She moved her hands,
'Since I came here—'
"Forget it," Dante cut her actions off, as he was quick to lose interest, and his eyes narrowed. He took a step towards her, and Anastasia wondered if her lie had been caught. He leaned forward and said, "Consider this to be your first and last warning, if you enter the room without permission."
Anastasia heard the doorknob click as Dante unlocked the door, and a little light spilt in from outside, and some of it fell on him. The glare in his eyes had not left. She quickly offered a deep bow, and taking the opportunity, opened the door wide and bolted away from there.
Never had she shared such close space with any man before, and especially not a prince, Anastasia thought to herself as her feet quickly moved on the floor. She turned back, making sure she was all alone, but when she was about to turn at the end of the corridor, she crashed into someone.
"Ah…!" Princess Niyasa gritted her teeth, feeling the impact from how the lowly maid had crashed into her.
Anastasia quickly bowed to offer her apologies. It seemed like she was having the worst luck today.
Behind the glaring princess stood Charlotte, whose happy smile slipped and turned into worry. These corridors were for the royal family, and other influential members, and only chosen servants and maids had access to them. Noticing Anastasia here, she believed the person had come to tattle-tale the truth about the sketches.
Princess Niyasa demanded, "Don't you have eyes to see where you are walking?! Or is your mind in your feet?"
"It appears that she's a lower maid. A high princess like yourself shouldn't bother with her, Princess…" Charlotte spoke, hoping they could leave Anastasia behind and her lie wouldn't come out.
Princess Niyasa turned to the side where Charlotte stood and said in a foul mood, "I didn't ask for your opinion. Don't speak out of turn unless spoken to." This had Charlotte close her mouth immediately while bowing her head as to not irk the princess, who seemed to have little patience. "How rude… it looks like the lower maids truly lack manners. To stand rather than kneel to ask for forgiveness," she taunted.
Anastasia could hear the arrogance and pride from the tone of the princess's voice. She didn't want to cause any trouble, and ever since she began to live here, she had realised it was better to obey than go against the people who were higher in position compared to her.
She did what the princess wanted by kneeling on the floor and bowing her head.
Princess Niyasa's lips twisted and she murmured, "What is a lowly maid doing in these parts of the palace?" Looking down at the lowly maid, she took a step forward before stamping on the woman's fingers that were pressed on the floor. "I will be sure to question Norrix on what a lowly maid is doing here."
Anastasia felt the pain shoot up her fingers. She clenched her jaws and closed her eyes to stop herself from screaming in pain.
Princess Niyasa stepped away from Anastasia and said, "Remember to use your eyes and ears next time," before walking away with her two maids following her.
您可能也喜歡