Chapter Four - the satisfaction of rising almost to the peak before she mercilessly crush her down.

She smiled at Julia and said" Why thanks for your concern My dearest Julia.... I'll make sure to eat the fruits your brought" 'since she wants to play,then... let's play ' Anna Sue thought deviously.

" But I'm rather curious about something... How did you know that I wasn't feeling so well? I never sent any message to anyone from" Afar" " Anna Sue said putting heavy emphasis on the word Afar. No body in the kingdom except his Highness, his secret soldiers and Mary knew that she was harmed. Julia lived rather far away from the palace. She was the daughter of the Country's Count whose name was Ven D'Arcy.

Julia's smile faltered a bit before she recovered herself. " There was a gossip amongst the palace maids saying that you were ill and coincidence has it that my maid who came to deliver a message to you heard it... so I came here as fast as I could" She lied smoothly with an earnest face while moving towards the bed, standing by Anna Sue left hand side.

If Anna Sue hadn't read her mind previously,she would have believed her lies. Also,in her past life as an assassin,she had met countless liers that could make you lower your guard against them. One second they are smiling with you and the next.... You'll never know what just killed you. Anna Sue sneered inwardly and pointed out something with an innocent face.

" But nobody knew that I was harmed in this castle....I merely went out for a walk... though I don't remember what happened, but I found myself here" True...at that time Mary found that suicide note, she secretly alerted the secret soldiers that were in the castle to go look for her. Anna Rose had a habit of sneaking out of the castle to view a commoner's life that only Mary knew of. Never did she expect that some one also new....

Caught again, Julia had no choice but to fake shedding tears and replied" I guess it was too much of a coincidence or something because my maid specifically told me so...*sniff ....Oh Rose.. I'm so worried about you!" she gauged Anna Sue's reaction as she changed the subject: She appeared to be moved to tears at the sight of her teary face. So,she continued."I know it's been really hard for you all this while... Nobody really cares about you at all! I truly appreciate you and if it's okay by you I'd like to stay by your side till you recover.... I'll let My Father know that you are unwell so that he can visit you". Of course he wouldn't.

If it was Anna Rose who heard this,she would have believed her. That was true because everyone else in his Highness castle despised her - maids included and aside from Mary, Julia had been her only help. Even his Highness seemed not to like her. That was because of Lady Julia D'Arcy who had won their heart proving that she was the favourable candidate for the responsibility of becoming the Crown Prince wife.

Since when Anna Rose came into the castle, everyone viewed her as a shameless flower vase who had seduced his Highness to marry her. Little did they know that it was a secret arranged marriage of the Princess of a fallen kingdom and the Crown Prince of the entire Country H. Not even his mother knew of that arrangement by his late father.

But still she was showered with the most expensive and exquisite things by the Crown prince when he was around. Once he is away, she is always bullied by the queen ( His mother)and everyone. Which left Anna Rose the responsibility of trying to get the Prince's attention and trust. It was rather depressing for Anna Rose because any thing she does annoys him. This was also because Julia her closest friend,had been giving her wrong advices.

Anna Sue who was pretending to be moved to tears, suddenly held Julia's hands. She wept along with Julia pretending to forget about the whole matter." I don't want us to be parted my dearest friend... You've been by my side for as long as I can remember...I don't deserve a friend like you!... Neither does the Prince deserves a loyal subject like you"

Julia's hands suddenly stiffened at the last words Anna Sue uttered. [ loyal subject?!!... You d*mned minx!!! I'll soon wipe you from the face of this castle!! I'm supposed to be the future Crown Princess of this family! Just wait... before the crown prince coronation, I'll make sure I severe your marriage and he will marry me]

Anna Sue looked at her with an innocent smile but her eyes chilled as ice. The kind that makes shivers run down one's back. Julia suddenly felt that something has changed about Anna Rose. She moved backwards in fright.

" Well...I better get going now my dearest friend... I'll come back tomorrow morning to check on you. right now you need to sleep"

"But... you said that you'll stay with me...*sniff"Anna Sue pitifully said looking like a real abandoned kitten.

[ Maybe it was an illusion.... she doesn't know it was me at all of course she is a goofy country bumpkin who'll believe anything I tell her... so stupid and useless] Julia thought. She inwardly relaxed in relief. " Not now my dear... I'll go check on things at my family's,then I'll go get you something nice to eat.. okay" She rubbed Anna Sue's hands with fake affection. Anna Sue pitifully nodded her head.

Julia turned to leave the room while Mary sourly closed the door behind her. What she failed to notice was Anna Sue's face which had a curled chilly smile behind her.

"Mary fetch me a bowl of water and some soap and a towel" Anna Sue commanded and Mary obeyed. Mary who had initially been angry at their previous interaction could not help but to blurt out.

" My lady should stay away from that dangerous woman!!... she is no good for you...I understand that you are closest of friends like you and I ....but I doubt her sincerity!!"

While furiously scrubbing her hands with soap as she washed her hands, Anna Sue's stoically raised an eyebrow" Oh?...I never knew that you noticed her fake affection towards me"

Mary was surprised at her change of demeanor. Wasn't her lady a weak and kindhearted person who was too innocent? What the sudden change in her after they found her?

" My lady knew also?... I'm beginning to suspect she was the reason you went missing yesterday!". Mary exclaimed in a hushed voice.

" No she wasn't.... but she is rather interesting" Anna Sue lied to Mary while wiping her hands with a hand towel Mary gave her. She can't afford to expose Julia to anybody yet. She would have to give her the satisfaction of rising almost to the peak before she mercilessly crush her down.

" Alright my lady.... but.... You seem a lot different from the way I knew you...." Mary questioned feeling rather curious about what happened to her yesterday.

Anna Sue suddenly chuckled and threw the towel through the window with utter disgust. "Listen Mary... I'm sick and tired of people toying with me and trying to get rid of us...if you have any objections, just know I'm doing this for our survival " Her lips suddenly curled up again but this time with a blood lust expression." And it's high time I changed the way things works here because..."

I. AM. ANNA. SUE.

Mary smiled slightly scared but elated. Finally, there was a change for her. She had been a seriously bullied by other servants and a couple of times the palace guards also joined in as an order from the queen even though her status was the highest of all the maidservants.