#Chapter7
ISABELLE’S POV
/"Now follow me/". She orders and leaves my room. Where is she going? I follow her because I do not want her to be angry at me. Her anger is something that slaves like me should fear. I have seen how dangerous her anger is.
Whenever she is angry at some slave, she throws that girl in the dungeon. The reason could be anything like not following her orders, doing something in a wrong way, or not following the rules. She has the power to throw anyone in the dungeon for punishment and I have heard that it is a very dark place. I have heard that there is no light and rats are also there. They don’t give you food or water there.
As I don’t want to spend nights and days in the dungeon so I follow whatever she says like an obedient girl. I never give her any reason to be angry at me.
/"Now listen carefully, Isabelle. The king will return to the palace tomorrow, and still important works related to you are unfinished/". My legs involuntarily stop moving after hearing her and my mind goes into shock for a second.
The king is returning tomorrow. Like TOMORROW! I knew he was coming but I did not know that it would be too soon. I thought it would take almost four to five days and I would have time to think about some escape plan but now this seems impossible. I do not want to face the king. I know what will happen to me once he is here.
As her words register in my mind, one more thing catches my attention. What unfinished works related to me have anything to do with the king? What does she mean by this? I am not understanding anything.
/"Why the hell have you stopped walking? Isabelle, don’t irritate me today. I have too much work to do and I have no time to waste. Follow me quickly/". Lillian orders angrily and I just noticed that she is too far from me. I quickly run towards her.
/"I am sorry/". I mutter and she just waves her hand.
We take many turns and I don’t know where we are going. I want to ask her something but I fear that she will get angry. She would definitely become angry if I asked any questions. But I don’t think she should get angry at such a simple question. Yes, I should ask her. It is related to me. She should not have any problem answering this.
/"Umm… Lillian, I want to ask something. What unfinished works are you talking about?/" I ask Lillian in a low voice. She glances at me for a second and then again looks forwards.
/"The dresses, the accessories, the shoes. You should have all these things. We have to take you to a hairdresser too/". She tells me. Her answer increased my confusion instead of decreasing it. Why would I need all these things? From what I know, slaves are not given those things. These things are like a luxury only destined for queens then why Lillian is talking about giving these things to me.
/"Why should I have all these things?/" I ask Lillian. I could not stop myself from asking this question because I know if not answered then it will keep bugging my mind. An angry growl comes from her.
/"Because you are a special slave and hold value in the eyes of the king. Now don’t ask me any more questions. You ask too many questions/". She says rudely as if tired of my questioning.
She stops in front of a big beautiful door and opens it before entering inside. I also enter behind her and I am surprised to see such a room. I have never seen a room as beautiful as this. This whole room is filled with dresses and dresses. The dresses are too beautiful to be even worn by someone as low as slaves. These elegant clothes are perfect for a queen.
The dresses are of different designs. There are dresses of every color. There are some colors which I have never seen in my life.
/"She is Isabelle for whom you have to prepare dresses/". I hear Lillian's voice and look towards her. I just noticed that she is not alone anymore. Along with her is standing a lady quite old in age with a straight face. Her age is reflected in the wrinkles on her face, and the gray hair on her head. She looks like a strict person.
/"Isabelle, the lady here is the royal seamstress/". Lillian starts telling but stops when the lady looks at her. /"Let me introduce myself, Lillian/". She says in her sharp voice.
/"My name is Edith. I am the royal seamstress of this palace. I have been here for years and the late queen loved my dresses. She even gave my dresses as a gift to the queens of the other kingdoms/". She tells me. Why is she telling me all this? What do I have to do with any of the things she mentioned? Why would I care if her dresses were loved by the queen or not? I don’t say anything and just continue to look at her.
/"Edith, as I have already told you that you have to make clothes for her. You have the whole day for this. Take her measurements carefully. Not even a needle should prick her skin/". Lillian says and then they both look at each other as if telling something through their eyes. I wonder about what they are secretly talking about? What is so secretive between them that they cannot talk in front of me?
Lillian comes towards me and stands near me. /"Be cooperative. Edith knows her work and doesn't trouble her. I will be back to take you from here in some time/". She instructs in a strict tone.
She was going when I stopped her by calling her. /"Lillian, just tell me one last thing, are we still in the harem?/" I ask her while looking around me. I have hope that if we are not in the harem then I can escape. The chances are few, but I should try. She smirks at my question. The smirk she gave me is not any usual one but a cruel one.
/"Yes, Isabelle. We are still in the harem. I know what you are thinking. Let me tell you one thing, what you are thinking is impossible/". She says and leaves me with Edith.
/"Come here Isabelle. I have too much to do. I have to start right away/". Edith calls me and I stand where she tells me to stand.
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I look at the ceiling above. It was such a long day. I am very tired and I don't even have the strength to stand up. It took hours for Edith to finish up her work. First, she took my measurements then she made a dress with pins and small pieces of clothes. She asked which colors I liked. When I told her that I have never seen some colors of dresses which were present in the room, she was surprised.
After some time, Lillian came and brought me back here. A hairdresser was already waiting for me here. I did not want them to cut my hair but they still did a little cutting. I do not mind it because now they are looking more beautiful.
When I think about tomorrow, certain questions fill my mind. What will happen tomorrow? I feel like my life will completely change tomorrow and I don’t see it changing for betterment. I hope that tomorrow brings a new light to my life. I hope to leave this palace soon. I pray to God that I meet my parents soon.
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