Chapter Nineteen: Visitors From Mpariah

Her last words made me shiver. Of course, I suspected this might be the reason she approached me but I wasn't so sure. Now hearing her say it got me more nervous and uncomfortable.

I didn't really like joining in or talking about Luther. Talks about him makes me feel discomfort.

She noticed my countenance. "Are you not fine with that?"

I couldn't tell if she was displeased with my expression. I didn't want to dare offend her.

 "Of course not. It's just...."

 "It's just, what?" She gave me a bemused look.

I sighed.

 "I'm Rupert's daughter. I apologize, I'm not qualified to talk about the King Luther."

I didn't want to be here with her anymore. I didn't want any trouble.

I knew now as a slave, I wasn't supposed to talk of a master who hated me. It was quite plain.

I glanced at her. She looked astounded.

 "Oh, I'm taken aback. I don't really go out much that was why I didn't recognize you as royalty and daughter of the late Rupert. Accept my apologies, it must be hard being a slave now and facing all the condemnation and criticisms from people."

I sighed sadly.

She sounded sincere.

For a moment, I was truly pleased someone else apart from Evelyn understood my pains.

 "Thank you." I managed to say.

 "Also, about King Luther, I heard he slayed your family and those in the Perston royal palace. How are you taking all this dear? You must feel terrible inside."

 "I... I don't know. I just keep on living, I guess." I huffed.

I didn't want to remember myself in the dungeon struggling without food and water for five days, mourning my dead mother without any consolation, mourning my ruined family consisting of my dead stepmothers and my lost brother, watching father die and then being forced into a maid.

It was all too traumatizing and depressing for me. I still wet my pillows at night and my hate for this kingdom and its cruel king keeps on growing.

 "What's your relationship with his highness?" She sudden asked, astonishing me.

I was baffled she asked such a question. How could I have a relationship with someone who had caused me extreme sufferings?

 "We are not close." I briefly said, uncomfortable.

I didn't really want to talk about Luther. The thought of him only made me sick in the stomach.

 "Really? I thought you were.... I mean... I found you in his chamber and you seemed to had excited him."

Excited? How?

The Luther from that night didn't look excited, he looked cold, angry and yet, impassive.

There were no jot of joy in his countenance.

 "He wasn't smiling." I said uprightly.

I had never seen him smile.

 "Oh no, that's wasn't what I meant. I meant he was more into me, you know."

What?

I almost choked on my tea.

The emphasis on 'into me' was much glaring. It made me feel awkward than I already was.

 "Pardon me?" It was obvious I didn't desire her to go more into the topic. It wasn't the kind of stuffs suitable for a maiden to hear.

 "Forgive my blunt utterances. You must feel uneasy but I didn't know how to put out what I meant. I hope you would like to continue with the conversation."

 "I don't have a say in that, my lady." I voiced. I badly wanted to say no and head back to my dorm but I didn't want to be rude.

Besides, I was a maid now and I was expected to make her pleased.

If I dare disrespect her in anyway, then I knew Luther would punish me heavily.

She was his mistress after all, while I was nothing to him.

 "Then, you must know, you made his highness mood heighten sexually." She smiled, sipping from her tea while my toes curled up, embarrassed with her words.

I knew she must had done her duty with Luther that night but hearing her confirm it made me feel much disgusted.

How shameless of them both.

 "Congratulations." I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to say anything but yet couldn't ignore her also.

 "Do you like him?" She gazed at me scrutinizingly and I scowled, the taste of the tea feeling very bitter on my tongue now.

 "No, I don't."

 "I thought you might. You were in his room half naked. I knew he must had called you."

 "Yes, he did but not to touch me. I don't know his reasons however but I was on my undergarments because he had to perhaps save me by removing my wears."

She paused for a second sharply, looking baffled.

 "Save you?" She scoffed with a chuckle. "His highness would never save any of Rupert's lineage from whatever disaster."

She was laughing in total disbelief.

I didn't try to clear her doubts. I was bewildered about it also. Did Luther really save me? But why? He had been the one to intentionally drown me .... What a weird man.

I fidgeted on my seat, hoping she gives me the order to leave.

Like if she heard my thoughts, she asked. "Do you have any other chores to do today?"

 "Yes, my lady." I answered expeditiously.

I lied but I didn't care. I just wanted to leave. The conservation didn't go well with me.

 "Fine then. You may leave."

I made a small bow and headed for the door.

 "Wait!" She called, stopping me.

I turned to her, trying my hardest not to look annoyed.

 "Yes, my lady?"

 "You don't know my name?"

 "I do, my lady. It's Tesha."

She smiled, pouring more tea into her glass.

 "Visit me some other time, would you?"

I hesitated before answering. I wasn't sure I would like to converse with her again. She would always bring Luther into the topic and people might not let me be at peace if am seen with her.

 "Sure, my lady." I said anyways and went out of her chamber.

When I was finally out, I took out an heavy breath.

In there suffocated the daylight out of me.

I was glad I left, I didn't want to hear or worse still answer any of her disturbing questions.

I went to my dorm room and took a long sleep.

The next day arrived as a bright morning. It was the weekend and the palace was busy and brisk.

I wondered how the kingdom settlements would be if the palace could be as busy as this.

I hadn't really seen Sihasin's cities, towns and other areas, just solely the palace.

I had heard from Evelyn about how large the kingdom was and how one would have to ride for about seven days and night without rest before seeing the borders.

Somehow, I desired to step out of the palace if possible, and see these areas.

I spent a lot of time in the kitchen rinsing dishes, I also helped a bit in washing them before I was finally allowed to leave.

I ate breakfast at noon and groaned when I at last felt the satisfying feel in my stomach.

My stomach had been upsetting me a whole lot recently, so am always prepared to eat as much as I could just to avoid the pain.

 "Maids!" Evelyn had yelled as she approached the maid's dining hall.

Everyone stared at her curiously. She always had an announcement to make whenever she yells out the maids like this.

 "Our kingdom would be having very important guests from the kingdom of Mpariah. They would be staying over at the Palace for a while. When they come, treat them with utmost respect and diligence, and anyone found faulty of none would be severely punished!"

She warned and left, her tone strict and stern.

I gulped nervously. I had a bad feeling about these visitors and the feeling was destroying my appetite.

I forced myself to eat and after doing so, I washed the dish myself, rinsed it and then dropped it.

I went to the maid's dorm and then headed off to my room.

When I got there, I slipped off to the lowest berth.

It was a bunk bed and as expected, the lowest bed was left as mine.

I laid on it, listening to my roommates gossip about the incoming guests.

I usually do block out their voices or ignore them atleast but this time I was curious to know about the guests myself.

I had three roommates but I had never spoken to them before. I avoid them and they do same to me.

Though, they had gossipped much about me in my presence but all that stopped after what the king did to Cassandra, perhaps they now talk about me when am not in the room.

They were afraid I guess but I didn't care. I was only glad I no longer was disturbed by ill talks of me or my family.

 "Do you know that Princess Charlotte would be coming along?"

 "Gish, that one! She is too bossy and acts like she owns the world!"

The third roommate tapped the last speaker to lower her voice.

Suddenly a knock came up the door, interrupting them before they could speak further.

One of the roommates sluggishly went to the door and opened it, revealing a maid, obvious fear in her expression as she peered her eyes on me.

 "Princess Charlotte of Mpariah seeks for you, Almira." She said.