CHAPTER 3 ( THE PALACE OF SHADOWS )

As Ivana prepared to set off on her journey, she was suddenly surrounded by a group of palace guides. They were dressed in fine robes, with intricate designs that shimmered in the sunlight.

"A stranger in our midst," one of the guides said, his voice firm but polite. "Where are you from, young one?"

Ivana hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But she knew that she couldn't arouse suspicion, not now, when she was so close to finding her mother.

"I'm from this kingdom," she said, trying to sound confident. The guide raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.

"A river that is not clear will not reflect the sky," one of the guides said, his eyes narrowing. "You're not telling us the whole truth, are you?"

Ivana's mind racing, she tried to think of a convincing story. But before she could come up with anything, one of the guides spotted her sword.

"Why are you dressed like a warrior?" he asked, his eyes narrowing. "What are you preparing for?"

Ivana shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "I'm an orphan," she said. "I don't have any other clothes to wear."

The guides looked at each other, clearly unconvinced. "We'll take you to the palace," one of them said. "The king will decide what to do with you."

As they rode towards the palace, Ivana couldn't help but think about her situation. She was taking a great risk by coming here, but she was determined to find her mother.

"When the wind blows, the tree bends," she thought to herself, her heart pounding with anxiety. She knew that she had to be flexible and adaptable if she was going to survive.

The guides seemed to sense her unease, and one of them leaned over to whisper, "A sheep that is not led will get lost in the wilderness. But don't worry, we'll make sure you get to the palace safely."

Ivana nodded, grateful for the reassurance. But as they approached the palace gates, she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was walking into a trap.

"A trap set for a lion can also catch a leopard," she thought, her eyes scanning the horizon. She knew that she had to be careful, that one misstep could lead to disaster.

And with that, Ivana steeled herself for the unknown, ready to face whatever challenges awaited her in the palace.

As they entered the palace gate, Ivana quickly removed her necklace and stuffed it into her bag. She knew that she couldn't risk being discovered, not now, when she was so close to finding her mother.

The guides dragged her to the palace, where King Malakai and Prince Lucas were deep in discussion. The king's face was stern, his eyes narrowed in concentration. Prince Lucas, on the other hand, looked relaxed, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

The guides bowed low, their voices trembling as they spoke. "Your Majesty, we found this girl along the road to the Unholy River. She looks suspicious, and we've brought her to you."

The king's eyes snapped towards Ivana, his gaze piercing. "What's your name, girl?" he asked, his voice firm.

Ivana stood tall, her heart pounding in her chest. "My name is Ivana, daughter of Lorato the warrior" she said, her voice steady.

The king's expression changed, his eyes clouding over with memories. "I remember Lorato," he said, his voice soft. "She was a brave warrior, one of the best in our kingdom. But I also remember that she had a daughter, one who ran away after her mother's death."

The king's gaze turned cold, his eyes narrowing. "You're that daughter, aren't you?" he asked, his voice dripping with disdain. "A coward, who ran away from battle instead of fighting for her family's honor."

Ivana felt a surge of anger, but she kept her cool. "I was just a child, Your Majesty," she said, her voice respectful. "I didn't know what to do."

The king snorted, his face twisted in disgust. "A true Ebenebe child doesn't run from danger," he said, his voice firm. "They face it head-on, no matter the cost."

Prince Lucas spoke up, his voice smooth. "Father, perhaps we should give her a chance to prove herself," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement.

The king turned to his son, his expression skeptical. "What do you propose, Lucas?" he asked, his voice firm.

Prince Lucas smiled, his eyes never leaving Ivana's face. "I think she should be my personal maid," he said, his voice smooth. "That way, we can keep an eye on her, and see if she's worthy of our trust."

Ivana felt a shiver run down her spine as Prince Lucas's eyes seemed to bore into her soul. She knew that she had seen him before, but she couldn't quite remember where.

"A bird that flies too high will have its wings clipped," she thought to herself, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that she had to be careful, that one misstep could lead to disaster.

The king nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Very well, Lucas," he said, his voice firm. "She'll be your personal maid. But remember, she's a potential threat, and should be treated as such."

Ivana felt a surge of fear, but she kept her cool. She knew that she had to play along, at least for now.

Prince Lucas ordered the guides to take her to his room, where she was instructed to dress the room quickly. Ivana's heart was racing as she followed the guides, her mind reeling with thoughts of her predicament.

As she entered Prince Lucas's room, she was struck by its opulence. The bed was adorned with fine silks, and the walls were lined with intricate tapestries. Ivana's eyes widened as she took in the sight, her hands moving quickly to dress the room.

As she worked, Ivana's thoughts turned to her mother, and her determination to find her. She knew that she had to be careful, that one misstep could lead to disaster.

When she finished dressing the room, Ivana went outside to greet her fellow maids. They were all gathered in the courtyard, their faces filled with pity as they looked at her.

"I'm so sorry dear," one of them said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're so young, and now you're stuck as Prince Lucas's personal maid."

Ivana smiled, trying to reassure them. "It's okay," she said. "I'll be fine."

But one of the maids, Stella, looked at her with a serious expression. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into," she said, her voice low. "Prince Lucas is not what he seems."

Ivana's heart skipped a beat as Stella's words sent a shiver down her spine. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Stella glanced around nervously, making sure no one was listening. "Prince Lucas is a demon," she whispered. "And when his demon spirit starts to disturb him, he always kills anyone who's close to him and sucks their blood."

Ivana's eyes widened in horror as Stella's words sunk in. And then, suddenly, she remembered where she had seen Prince Lucas's face before. It was in her dreams, where he had been the demon who had fought her.

She remembered how she had transformed into a handsome human being the first time she met him in her dream, and how it was exactly Prince Lucas's face. And now, she had ended up as his personal maid.

But she also knew that she couldn't back down now. She had to find her mother, no matter what dangers lay ahead.

And so, Ivana steeled herself for the challenges ahead, ready to face whatever lay in store for her as Prince Lucas's personal maid. Little did she know that her greatest enemy was now her master, and that her life was hanging in the balance.

STORY CONTINUES...

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MEGASTAR J