You Will Neve Be Queen

Chapter 4 

Asha was drawn to the market by the sound of a young girl's scream and the whipping that followed. As a privileged member of Maribah, she knew she shouldn't be there alone, but guilt consumed her. She regretted challenging Soma, knowing it not only meant punishment for herself but also for the poor girl who was already suffering.

"Please! Forgive me! I can't take it anymore!" the girl wept, breaking Asha's heart. She wished she had the authority to order them to stop, but it went on and on. The mistress's hefty arm raised the cane, landing on the poor girl's back, tearing through her clothes. The onlookers gathered, some mocking the servant girl, Nemere, while others felt immense pity for her. Her heart broke each time the cane landed on the girl's back like she was the one being flogged. 

Asha reluctantly moved closer to the crowd, her feet feeling like they were made of lead. There, she saw Soma with her arms crossed, and the other royals had these wicked grins, finding pleasure in the poor girl's pain. It tore at Asha's heart, especially when Soma's wicked smile met her gaze, as if she had won some sick battle.

Holding back tears, Asha witnessed the mistress landing the final stroke, and the poor girl let out one last scream. Zeep and Nena showed up, questioning Asha's disobedience.

"What are you doing here, Asha? You keep defying Father, even with the beatings. How did you manage to slip out without telling anyone?" Zeep asked, joined by Nena.

"Leave me alone! I don't have a wicked heart like many of you. Why should she be flogged just for spilling a drink on Soma?" Asha argued.

"And see what your kind heart caused for the poor girl! She's paying for messing with me. It could've been you, but you're not a servant. I'm sure your father made sure of that," Soma taunted, surprising Asha as she stood behind her, wearing a mocking smile and staring into her eyes.

I hope you've gotten all your heart's desires fulfilled by punishing that poor girl! You wicked soul," Asha retorted, her words charged with anger.

"Asha!" Nena called out, trying to intervene.

"Cry all you want, Asha! One day, when I am Queen, I will do worse to the likes of her, and you will have no power to stop me!"

"And you will never be Queen!"

Soma's expression darkened suddenly, as if Asha had struck her in the face. They stood there, exchanging hostile glares, and for a moment, it seemed like another altercation was about to unfold. However, the sudden announcement of Prince Mayo's presence brought a halt to their clash. The young privileged ladies paused, their eyes fixed on the prince. Asha couldn't fathom what they all saw in him – handsome, yes, but arrogant and rude like the rest of the royal house.

Prince Mayo confidently approached the front of the market to inquire about the girl's actions. Soma quickly rushed to his side, feeding him lies about the girl, and the prince instructed the mistress to increase the number of canes.

The mistress was about to proceed when he commanded her to stop, claiming he would show mercy to the girl. They all smiled, as if the prince had just done something commendable, but Asha couldn't see anything nice about what he just did. Once the prince strolled away, the other ladies, including Zeep and Soma, who were the main contenders for his attention, followed like obedient followers. Zeep chatted as if engaged in an important conversation, though it was clear they were just pretending while trailing the prince. In that moment, Asha wished she could be Zeep's elder sister to caution her against being so silly.

With the show over, everyone dispersed from the market, leaving the poor servant girl alone, her back throbbing from the pain. Asha rushed towards her, feeling deep sympathy for her. She helped her up from the floor where she had fallen while enduring the lashes.

"I'm so sorry for causing this for you. I shouldn't have... I never thought it would escalate to this point when I stepped in to defend you. Soma is such a wicked soul."

"No, my superior. I'm fine; you don't need to worry. I need to get back to the house and help my mistress put things in order," the girl pleaded

"No, you're not going back like this. I'm taking you to the river to wash off your back. Then, I'll get you something to heal your wounds from my mother's healing kit," Asha insisted.

"You don't have to, please!"

"I must!" Asha was determined. She couldn't stand by while others suffered, despite the selfish nature of most privileged people in Maribah.

Leading the girl slowly to the river, Asha kept apologising to her. 

"You're kind, unlike others. I'm sorry to say, but they're all so wicked, and they make me wish I could die," the girl confessed, weeping as she took off her bloodied clothes to wash them by the river.

"Don't say that! You shouldn't talk about dying. I don't know what the future holds for you, but dying doesn't sound like an enticing choice. I should have sent for someone to bring me the healing medicine. But one of these herbs around the river should help."

Asha squeezed some green leaves and applied them to the girl's back. It was precisely at that moment that the king's younger brother arrived.

"What do you both think you're doing at the river when your prince needs to have this whole place to himself?" The king's son's barking voice startled them. The servant girl jumped up, bowing to the prince, while Asha slowly raised her head to see the arrogant prince and his friends. Despite being the younger son of the king, he always acted as if he would be king one day.

"I asked what you both are doing here. Do I see you washing the back of a servant close to the river where I spend my leisure time?" He screamed at Asha, but she didn't flinch because she wasn't afraid of him.

"I am truly sorry, my prince," the servant girl, Nemere, kept mumbling. However, the prince didn't listen to her pleas; he grabbed her jaw, forcing her to look into his eyes.

"Please, Prince Denna, this is not necessary. The poor girl has suffered a lot today and should not be subjected to any more punishments," Asha stated, holding her head high as the prince approached her. The way he gradually approached she knew he would harm her. It wasn't a new thing for him. He had the habit of bullying younger girls and poor servants.