I was in my room when the housekeeper burst into it without knocking. She looked worried and confused, but her whole behavior showed that it was better not to argue with her, otherwise she would kill on the spot without looking.

- You! Get ready quickly. You will go to our guest. – she rapped out quickly, in a commanding tone.

I, who had been lying impressively on the bed before, jumped up sharply and almost fell to the floor from the haste of my movements. What does all this mean?

- Mrs. Rose, I’m not feeling very well and His Majesty has given me the day off. – I hurried to withdraw from all obligations.

- The King didn’t give me any orders about you, so stop talking and get yourself cleaned up. Go up to the third floor of the east building to the guest quarters. Don’t forget all your manners and upbringing, our guest is most likely the future queen of Abion. - so that’s why the housekeeper was making such a fuss.

I didn’t say anything, just bowed in agreement. And what could I do, the wounds on my body magically disappeared all to one and I didn’t look sick. Although the idea of going to this very princess, and even after the housekeeper’s words that she might become the next queen, I did not like it at all. I was in a disgusting mood with a huge heartache, which seemed to have been picked out with a finger.

I took a deep breath, I need to get ready. I can’t because of just one kiss... oh, what a hot and sensual kiss it was. I was ready to move mountains for one more of the same. My whole gut was smoldering from one memory. But the inner voice is right, one kiss means nothing in our uncertain relationship. And there is no relationship.

Raphael did not make any promises to me, did not say that he loved me or had warm feelings. Nothing at all. I suppose all the passion was just a product of a temporary arousal. Or maybe he hasn’t had a woman for a long time? And here I am a new victim, so he pounced on me like a hungry lion on a piece of raw meat.

When I got to the guest room, Charles the butler was waiting for me at the entrance.

- Miss Burton, hello. – he was very polite even as a servant, despite his higher status. - Milady is not in the best mood right now and categorically refused the royal maid provided by Abion Castle. You’d better not go in there yet. Wait at the door, she’ll need help anyway.

I nodded in agreement and waited.

...

- Did they send you to serve me? - Her coldly arrogant voice sounded and I raised my gaze to meet her gaze.

Insanely beautiful, statuesque and mesmerizing to the eye, Adaman`s princess towered over me by almost a whole head. Tall and slender, like a doe. Even I, being a girl, held my breath from her magnetism.

The aura she radiated was heavy and overwhelming, not at all equal to her appearance. I swallowed nervously and bowed low to greet the foreign princess.

- Since they sent you anyway, you can’t be standing here doing nothing, can you? Show me the way to the Council, now. – she gave orders skillfully, even the thought did not arise to say that the king would be enraged by such arbitrariness.

But it won’t be my problem anymore and I calmly turned my back on her and offered to follow me.

The Council office was located in the central building and we had to walk a lot. And all this time, Princess Giselle was walking behind and was displeased with her ladies-in-waiting that she was moved so far away.

At that moment, I was jumping in the shower with happiness. Stupid, but a fact, it was nice to realize that the king did not put her in the central building next to him. While my room, as well as the rooms of other servants, were located in this building. And only two floors separated us from Raphael.

Ignoring Giselle’s displeasure, we approached the doors we needed, and by order of the princess, I knocked and, to the question "who else has brought there", opened the door and entered.

In the Council office there was a huge rectangular table, in the center of which sat the king. And on both sides sat more than a dozen men of different ages and statuses. They did not hesitate to look at me with contemptuous glances. How could an ordinary servant interfere with the meeting in such an impudent way.

It is worth paying tribute to the guards standing inside on both sides of the door, they immediately detained me, grabbing my hands with strong and even slightly painful movements. They worked quickly, but I would have placed guards outside, so it would be more practical.

Raphael looked at me without taking his eyes off me, aiming and probing. But I couldn’t afford the luxury of looking back at him, so I took only a fleeting glance and lowered my eyes to the floor again. My heart was pounding treacherously in my chest, completely knocked out of its usual calm rhythm. And it’s not that everyone was judging me, but that Raphael didn’t do it. His lips stretched into a teasing smile, and his posture was relaxed.

- Did you have something to say, Miss Burton? – he turned to me, slowly drawing out the words and emphasizing the fictitious surname.

At the same time, he waved his hand to the guards, ordering them to release me from the clutches.

I wanted to say that I brought the Adaman princess here, but I didn’t have time. The door opened from behind and she entered by herself with all her greatness and status, pushing me aside so that I almost fell to the floor. Fortunately, the guard helped to prevent this and offered his hand, which I grabbed in search of support. I thanked him and straightened my clothes and stood next to him again as if nothing had happened.

What a bitch she is.

No one commented on this incident, well, of course, who cares about an ordinary servant. The expression on the king’s face was completely unreadable and did not express any emotions. It’s like not a face, but a brick instead of it. But the next moment, he got up from his comfortable chair and slowly waddled up to the princess, completely ignoring my presence next to him.

He took her outstretched hand and bent down to plant a welcoming kiss on the back of her palm. And somehow, as it seemed to me, he imprinted it for a long time, collecting all the germs from her hand on his lips. Ugh. I snorted inwardly. Well, wow, what a ladies’ man, just waiting for the opportunity to cling to someone with his lips. Pervert.

I looked away from them, pressing my lips into a thin, hard line.

- Lady Giselle, you are as charmingly beautiful as ever. – he gave her a compliment and a radiant smile showing his snow-white even teeth.

Asshole.

Yes, in my heart I was eloquent about him and these were still the most adequate words that my sophisticated mind picked up.

The princess, theatrically embarrassed, laughed timidly. That’s an actress, too.

- You embarrass me, Your Majesty. – she curtsied deeply, expressing her deep respect to him. And she did not forget to bend gracefully to show him the neckline of her dress, tightly squeezing her lush breasts.

- Forgive me for my unceremonious intrusion, I must have distracted you from important matters? - she asked, as if she didn’t know what she was really distracting. - I couldn’t wait to see you in person, my king, and it was too long to wait for dinner. - She batted her thick eyelashes innocently.

Her "my king" sounded so frivolous and intimate, but she didn’t seem to care about the people in the office who heard it all. How I wanted to get away from here somewhere far away as soon as possible.

- You did not interfere in any way, we’re done here. It is a great honor for me to spend more time in your wonderful company. Do you mind?.. - he held out his hand to her, urging her to take it. And she quickly accepted his offer, after which the king took Princess Giselle out of the office.

The remaining attendees silently exchanged glances, realizing that apparently the meeting was over. But the indignation and irritation from some individuals was clearly felt. I continued to stand in place until the chairs were pushed back by the ministers.

Only after that I moved and ran to catch up with Giselle. It completely slipped my mind that I was assigned to serve her. When I came and stood behind her ladies-in-waiting, the princess seemed to sense my presence and turned around.

- I don’t need you anymore today. Go find yourself another job. - her voice was haughty and cold. She waved her hand at me, letting me know that I was out of her sight.

The king stood nearby and silently watched what was happening. He did not interfere and did not show disagreement with his companion. My heart sank again. I couldn’t understand how yesterday he was so gentle with not indifferent look, and already today he behaves as if I’m garbage under his feet and don’t mean anything. My ego was hurt.

- Thank you, milady. – I answered formally in a dry tone, and bowed properly.

I can’t believe I’m free from this suffocating society. And also those terrible tart perfumes of hers, I had been struggling with nauseating urges for some time, but I held on with the last of my strength.