Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The night time candle light is dim. The Princess was resting in her bed when she opened her eyes. She does not feel like sleeping any longer, so she got up. Unexpectedly, the door knocked. Her heart started jumping wildly. She started stepping towards the door slowly and hesitantly. The door knock paused, she was leaning to the side silently. The door knocked again. She questioned, her voice trembling "who is it?". The response was given immediately and calmly, "It's me, open up!".

Nia didn't want to open it at this hour but had to, because the person behind the door could not wait any longer. The creaking sound of the door immediately changed to slam, closed. The Princess was forced to the wall, a palm placed on her mouth, a dark tall shadow was breathing to her face. Her chest was rising up and down, touching the man's chest every time it was rising. The man placed his face on hers, she could feel warmer skin temperature because she was all cold and sweating a bit out of fear. He was clinging to her, pressing her there standing. In a speed he threw her to the bed.

That's when she opened her eyes. She was feeling cold and could not help trembling. Turning into a cocoon, she started crying. This nightmare felt so real and unreal at the same time. In the morning Mek came and helped her with grooming. Nia was in a daze the whole time, even though Mek asked her why several times, she didn't give any relatable answer no more than she couldn't sleep well at night.

Her painful nightmares repeated, the similar kind of plot continued day by day. Mek sometimes helped her to bathe her feet with warm water for bed time to cure her. It did help her a bit at first, she would go to sleep with a warm, calmer body.

Today she woke up near the sunrise. Her stomach was rumbling. Sneaking into the kitchen at this hour would not trouble much. The kitchen adventure starts here…

She took the smallest blanket over her shoulders and went out. The corridors were empty. She sneakily went into the kitchen and saw no one. That's when someone entered there with a handful of baked stuff from the bakery next door. She almost dropped her heart on the floor. It was Pete, who came to practice cooking earlier in the morning.

"What are you doing here this early?" asked Nia this young boy bravely.

"Nothing much. I…I was baking." replied he while putting the tray in his hand on the table.

She rapidly got closer to him, leaned a bit to see what he was doing. Pete's blushing ears were so adorable but Nia didn't pay attention to that.

- Can I know what you are making now?

- I'm trying to make a dessert with fruit jem but some of my cakes failed.

- I guess that's alright. You can use the rest. Can I try some when you are done?

Her eyes were glowing, begging him in a cute way.

- Yeah, sure! It's my pleasure.

Nia sat there on the chair, in front of Pete at the same table. The room seemed cozy and warm, the warm color of light was completing that atmosphere. She was watching him, the boy didn't refuse her. Pete shared some fruits for filler with the Princess. Princess said "By the way, what is your name?" before putting some berries in her mouth.

- It is Pete, Mylady.

- Mine is Nia. Nice to meet you.

- "It's nice to me too." replied Pete, his eyes looking down, shy.

Nia giggled, "Do you know that you are cute? Girls will be whipped to you once you grow a little older".

- Huh, what does "whipped" mean?

- I mean, they will adore you a lot.

This time the boy replied with a little bit of grump "I wouldn't like to be adored by many girls".

- Alright! Alright. I take my words back.

While Pete was decorating the cakes, they kept their conversation. Once it was done, Nia congratulated him, they both were joyful. She was the first royal tester for him, and she even suggested that he shares whatever he makes with her in the future. That's how they became friends. That day she had a better mood, also that night she slept peacefully for the first time in a while.

The other day, Nia took Mek to have a tea time in the garden, absorbing some sun rays, flower fragrance and having Pete's custom sweets.

- Oh, now you became a sweet-tooth!

A woman with another pregnant woman and their servants approached Nia with an unpleasant sound of speech. Previously they have met, they are concubines of the Khan who always tend to compete with the Princess. Lafa and Petra are Khan's favorites, so they prefer to hang out together. Lafa is an arrogant one, Petra, the pregnant woman, isn't that arrogant, but she relies on Lafa a lot as if they are sisters only for the benefits. They might be in a lower position than the Princess, however, they like to look down at her.

Nia prefers to ignore them, she doesn't want to waste her time on arguing with them. That ignorance tickled Lafa's anger, Petra was the one who ceased her. Because Nia didn't go further, they chose to leave her alone this time, seeing the Princess's confidence. Lafa mumbled while they walked away. Nia kept on with the tea party for herself.

Evening came, she returned to her room. The servant helped her to clean up and dress for the bed, then she also left her alone. Nia was brushing her hair when the door knocked. She thought it was her servant who came back and she opened the door. She looked straight, no one was there, she looked left, no one was there, but all of sudden someone opened the door wide open and he approached Nia. She backed down when he went straight. She thought it was another dream again, so she pinched herself noticeably, but it wasn't a dream.