His Favorite Concubine

Soon after he left, the door to the room opened again and entered a young and beautiful girl. She looked some years younger than me. Her eyes widened at my hunched form on the floor, but she quickly composed herself and bowed at me.

"Hello, Young Mistress. His Highness send me here to take care of you, if you'd follow me I'll help you to the bath house." All the time while speaking, she kept her head down and not once did she look in my eyes.

Is she scared of me? Well, I can be indimating sometimes...

Sniffing and clearing my throat, I got up from the floor and fixed my nightgown into its place. "Look at me." I ordered firmly as her body tensed at my words. Hesitantly, she lifted her head and her auburn eyes met mine. I smiled warmly, hoping that it would make her feel a little comfortable in my presence. "What's your name?" I asked with a soft tone once her form didn't look tense anymore.

"I-its Maya, Young Mistress." She whispered lowly as if she was afraid that I'll sentence her to death if she spoke any louder. Laughter bubbled within me at her antics. "Please call me, Yvonne." Her sudden widened and frantic eyes told me, that she already hated the idea.

"Y-young Mistress? I c-cant! His Highness will cut my head off!" Maya turned pale and looked like she'd faint anytime.

"Let me worry about His Highness." I smiled as Maya slowly nodded her head in agreement.

"Show me the bath house, Maya."

• • •

After a long and relaxing bath, I was now dressed into a new dress and was currently being toured all around the palace by Maya. From the corner of my eyes, someone wearing a war's armour was parading all along the place. Judging by his fiery-red hair, he looked like a foreigner and not from this state.

"That's Sir Knight, Richmond Claville. He's the second in command and the General of all the guards." Maya explained as I watched Richmond walk around like he owned the place. "He looks a little cocky." I heard Maya scoff, then as if immediately realizing her mistake she started apologizing to me.

Letting a laugh of amusement, I shook my head and told its okay. "Sir Knight Richmond is the leader of the army. Even though His highness is the king, the army is lead and ruled by Sir Richmond." Maya explained as I watched and calculated his every movement.

That's it!! He could be my way out! If I could speak to him then maybe he could help me out of here. Last time I checked, I was brilliant at interacting with people.

"Pardon if I say too much, Young Mistress but I don't think that involving Sir Richmond in your plan of escaping will be a good idea." I looked at her with my eyes wide and mouth agape.

How did she-

"How did you know what I was thinking?" I asked as Maya this time looked at me with a face of amusement. "Your face pretty much reveals everything, Young Mistress."

I tried to act nonchalant but who was trying to fool? I couldn't lie or act to save my life.

I looked around to check if anyone was in the hearing range and thankfully, no one was. Grabbing Maya's hand, I pulled her to one corner of the hall, away from all the bustling people. "Young Mistress, what are you doing-"

"Shhh!!" I quickly cut her off. "What did you mean by that sentence earlier?"

At my hushed tone, Maya looked around her cautiously and then turned around to look at me with a serious face. "You couldn't get Sir Richmond to help you even if you wanted. Even though the army is controlled by him, he is extremely loyal to His Highness. So, if you want to live longer then please do not talk to Sir Richmond about your plan to escape because trust me when I say this, he wouldn't hesitate a split second before ratting you out to His Highness."

All the time Maya spoke, my ground kept shifting under my feet. The moment I thought that I would have a chance of escaping, the tunnel of hope was blocked.

Heaving a sigh, I clenched my eyes tightly trying to stop the tears from escaping. "Young Mistress, please do not cry it pains me." Maya exclaimed as I chuckled drily.

Before I could speak any further, a sudden yell of anger stopped me.

"WHERE IS THE GLASS OF WINE I ASKED FOR??!!" A beautiful and elegant woman entered the hall as two other women trailed behind her.

"Who's that?" I asked Maya as the woman was now screaming at all the other maids, and crossed the extent of pushing one to the ground. "That's Mistress Anya, the favorite concubine and childhood friend of His Highness."