I want a taste

Ellie shifted her attention from Mary and looked around her surroundings. Her mind could not afford to dwell on whatever was going on with the girl for now. The most important thing at that moment was finding a possible escape route from the palace.

Holding on to hope that Nicholas was still safe outside the palace, she would find him as soon as she escaped, and no matter how hard it would be, they would leave Alada for the next city.

But what her eyes saw made her almost cry out in frustration and defeat. There was a vast land mass staring back at her challengingly, covered in lush low grass. It was so beautiful and looked so soft, if she wasn't in her current situation, she would have yielded to the temptation of laying and rolling around on it.

The other buildings her eyes caught sight of were meters away from where they were currently standing, and there were a few men working on the grasses, some with mowing machines, while others handled other tools.

But all these were not the reason why Ellie wanted to scream her lungs out. It was the high and practically unscalable fence she caught sight of, and four men she suspected to be guards because of their uniforms, patrolling the area.

There was no way she was escaping through the fence or gate. That was unachievable. If there were this many guards here, she wondered how many would be swarming around the gate.

"That building over there is the men servants' quarters." Mary pointed at the building opposite the one they just stepped out from.

It stood about fifty meters away from where they were, and was an exact replica of the maids' quarters.

"Never go there for any reason. It's dangerous for you." Mary added, answering the unspoken question that popped up in Ellie's head after the warning.

"That one over there…" Mary pointed to the building next to the servants' quarters, finally moving her feet and walking away from the front of the maids' quarters.

Ellie followed, walking slightly behind Mary and learning the names and uses of all the structures her eyes could see at that moment. While some were simple minimalistic buildings just like the maids' and servants' quarters, others were magnificent, despite looking at them from the outside.

"And that is the aristocrats' mansion. Although they have houses in the city, whenever there is an important meeting or gathering, they move to this mansion, together with their family mem—"

"Taking a stroll during working hours?" A feminine voice echoed from behind them, cutting Mary's speech off.

Ellie turned her head toward the voice, but the owner was already walking around them. A beautiful, chubby lady came to stand before them, her brown eyes, probing, and her brows, perfectly arched, making her look like she was waiting for an answer to a previously asked question.

This was the first time Ellie was seeing her, but her completely bald head made Ellie know she was one of those direct servants Mary talked about earlier.

"Miss Jenna, I—"

"What do we have here?" Jenna questioned in amusement, cutting Mary off once more. "The stubborn maid…" She shifted her gaze to Mary for a second, before returning them to Ellie, a look of intrigue dancing in them. "... And the unbroken maid."

Jenna's lips curved into a smile Ellie didn't understand. The lady was taller and bigger than her, and she looked intimidating in her own special way.

"Come with me." Jenna suddenly ordered, puzzling Ellie and Mary.

"Miss Jenna, I'm sorry I can't release her. I was instructed to show her around as she would be resuming work soon." Mary stepped in, refusing the sudden intruder from taking Ellie away, but Jenna threw her a condescending stare.

"You can't release her? Who do you think you are?"

"I'm sorry if I used the wrong word. I'm only trying to say that Enrique personally entrusted her to my care, and gave me instructions which in carrying out right now. It would be best if you ask his permission before asking her to go with you." Mary explained again, this time, in a softer tone.

"Enrique's pet, go tell him to come beat me," Jenna smirked, then grabbed Ellie's wrist and started to walk.

Ellie, however, resisted. She planted her feet on the ground, refusing to willingly go with Jenna.

This didn't go down well with Jenna. She halted and turned her head to look at Ellie. "It seems you've not been informed. Do that one more time and you'll regret it."

"Just go with her, Ellie. I'll go get Enrique." Mary intervened, knowing the kind of person Jenna was.

Hearing that, Ellie gave up resistance, and quietly followed Jenna at a half-running pace, as the lady was walking so fast as if someone was pursuing her.

The few people walking around, and those working all saw what was happening, but they soon returned their attention to their work as if they had seen nothing. No one stopped them or intervened. Everyone looked away.

After all she had been through in the short time she was here, Ellie couldn't imagine what other horror awaited her. Why the sudden interest in her? And why the hell do they like dragging people? Can't they walk slowly, knowing it would be hard for the person they were holding to keep up with their pace?

She was already tired of it, but she kept her mouth shut. The last thing she wanted was a repeat of what happened with the stupid lab man.

In no time, they were back in the servants' quarters, the very place Mary just warned her never to approach.

Ellie was made to sit on a chair in an office-like space, and Jenna took her seat behind the desk.

Jenna stared deeply into Ellie's eyes and kept at it even after a minute ticked by. Complete silence enveloped them, and as the silence dragged on, Ellie was becoming more uncomfortable.

"Gosh, you smell so good, I want a taste so bad." Jenna finally spoke, shutting her eyes and drawing in a deep breath as if appreciating the aroma of a professionally prepared, mouthwatering dish.

"Can I?"