MORTIFIED

Centuries ago,

A week after Zelda's forceful separation from her father, she was already trying to adapt to the routine that was now her life. Her life till an unforeseeable future.

She did not want to think too deeply about what this new life meant even though she knew.

It meant she might have to be glued to the Fifth Prince’s side, setting aside all her ambitions, goals, thoughts, and fantasies just to see that he doesn't have an episode for the rest of his life.

A part of her pitied him but a greater part of her couldn't help but resent him because it still stood that because of his existence, hers had to take a new turn.

The burden of this knowledge had woken her up so early that she sat outside her room, her Pipa in her hands, and her fingers began to pluck the strings ever so gradually. It was like she was stripping her emotions bare.

Being a light sleeper, Kamaz's eyes fell open at the sound. It was almost as silent as the ripples formed by a body of water yet he could still hear it - hear and feel every frail and strong passion she was expressing.

He laid awake listening to it till the darkness in the dawn cleared a little.

As he sat upright on his bed, her soft knocks lifted his eyes to the door. It was time for her to prepare his bath.

The general maids for the palace had heated his water in a large cauldron and through the back door, they had transported the water to the Fifth Prince's bath area.

No one ever dared come through the front door for fear of coming face to face with the Fifth Prince. Once, a brave maid had tried, just so she could sneak a peek at the Prince, and apparently, she had seen something she could not explain. It left her looking dumb and dazed for days.

“Your bath is ready, My Lord," Zelda said.

He did not respond to her but she knew he had heard her. He was always awake by that time of the day. She leaned her ears to his door to try to hear his steps as he walked and yet again, she couldn't hear a thing.

It wasn't because of the make of the door or of the room but it was because of the person in it. It was almost like he didn't walk at all.

All she heard was that he had opened the door to his bath area.

She walked to the back door and rapped her fingers against it. A rough grunt was her cue to come in and she did.

His bath area was more luxurious looking than her room. The intricate floor and wall mosaics featured mythological scenes and geometric patterns beautifully.

Whoever the artist was, he or she had done a very beautiful job.

Through the white flimsy linen curtain, her eyes watched as his fingers unbuttoned his sleeping kilt garment. When he was about to push the clothing off his body, she immediately dropped her eyes to her toes.

She heard the soft splash of water - an indication that he would soon settle into the water. She waited for some seconds before she approached the curtain and joined his space.

His eyes were closed but Kamaz could hear every cautious step she took closer to him. She settled behind him as she went on her knees.

For the past six days since she began this role, he could not help but notice that she didn't act like other maids who were either too scared or too excited about the task.

He knew she had been given the general basic training on how to be a proper attendant the second night she spent in the palace but there were some things she did not bother implementing.

She doesn't salute or ask him unnecessary questions about how his night was. Even though he wasn't disturbed by this observation because he wouldn't respond to her questions anyway, he could not help but think that it was either because she was trying to be extra careful or because she wasn't terrified of him.

A part of him hoped it was the latter.

Rose petals and marigold fragrant flowers had been added to the bath for their scents and antimicrobial properties to give him a soothing bath.

Zelda made sure to keep her eyes on his back as she scooped some water with the natural sea loafer. Her fingers began to work their magic on his back to help loosen the bunched-up knots evidently visible.

After some seconds of going in circles, Kamaz’s nerves loosened a little. She went on for a few more minutes before she stood up. Her job was done and she rose up to give him the privacy required from that point on.

But as she rounded the tub to walk away, the water that had splashed on the mosaic-patterned floor caused her to slip, and before she could summon or try to regain her lost stamina, she fell into the tub.

Kamaz's eyes opened to meet his maid inside his bath.

Zelda was scared for her life, and her racing heart immediately lifted her to the surface as she sought to catch her breath.

Her pants soon took a descending slope when her eyes came in contact with the eyes of her master.

“For someone who knows how to use a weapon, you sure are as clumsy as you appear,” Kamaz said, the sound of his morning voice filling the room.

"I do not appear clumsy ” Zelda retorted calmly, an undercurrent of anger clear in her tone.

Kamaz arched one of his brows questioningly.

Immediately she hoisted herself up from the water, forcing her eyes to remain on his face rather than on the water that had pulled away from his body by her movements.

She realized she had just spoken back to him, and she almost face-palmed herself.

“I meant to say how sorry I am. This will never happen again, My Lord," She said before she gave the courtesy bow. She pulled herself and the maid uniform she had been made to wear away from Lord Kamaz and the bath area.

‘Stupid gown! Stupid floors! STUPID PALACE!’ Zelda cursed in her mind as her face flushed crimson with mortification.