THEA

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Bright rays of the sun made their way through the curtains, falling on my face with sunbeams. I squeezed my eyes shut and pulled the blanket tighter around me, trying to hide from the annoying glare that wanted to wake me up. I lay there for a couple of minutes and realized that I couldn’t sleep at all anymore. The dream was dispelled like a hand.

Stretching, stretching my body, I sat down on the bed and greeted the new day with a smile. Finally, I feel really rested and rested. When was the last time this happened? I can’t even remember already.

But then I felt like I was doused from head to toe with boiling water. I jumped out of bed abruptly, as if scalded. First of all, how did I end up in the room? I remember for sure that I was in the stable and probably fell asleep there. Maybe it was Oliver who brought me here? No, it’s unlikely, because he doesn’t even know where my room is located. Then who? Only one person came to mind at once.

I made a sour face, snorting under her breath. Why would he come for me and take me here. Although, no matter how much I tried to come up with excuses, thinking that it wasn’t him, my mind still stoically made it clear that there was no one else. Well, it doesn’t matter, it’s not my concern that the king has nothing to do at night and he prefers to work as a loader.

A chuckle escaped my lips as soon as I imagined him in this role.

But all this is not as important as it turned out. The thing that bothered me the most was that I completely overslept work. The sun was already shining so high that its whole appearance promised me a lot of trouble.

I hastily changed into new clean clothes, put my hair in order and ran out of the room, hurrying to meet my punishment. It took me half an hour to quickly run to the east wing, where the Adamanian princess was staying. Having plucked up the courage, I entered the door, the voices behind which immediately subsided. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

- Come in. - Giselle said sharply.

Her gaze appraised me from head to toe while I stood rooted to the spot, my head lowered to the floor. Oh, my fifth point felt that she was not in the mood today.

-Dear Katie, tell me, what am I going to do with this idiot maid? - Giselle turned to one of her ladies–in-waiting. - Perhaps I should cut her open with rods? Or gouge out her eyes that can’t tell when the sun is rising? - her voice was full of malicious sarcasm that made goosebumps dance down my spine.

- Milady... I... - I tried to find words to soften my sentence, although I was moderate that Raphael would not allow me to put out my eyes. Otherwise, I would have become completely useless to him.

But even the threat of being whipped with rods did not give me more joy, making me cringe with fear. My pain threshold was too low, will I survive such tortures?

- Shut up, bitch! - Giselle’s voice boomed across the room, making even her own servants jump in fright. – How dare you open your filthy mouth at all, when in place of this you should now lie at my feet and ask for forgiveness for your insolent disregard for your duties.

She’s such a bitchy lady. Even among the noble persons, such as Giselle is not a frequent occurrence, I have a feeling that it will definitely not be boring in the castle with her appearance.

I looked up and looked straight into her eyes, thinking in my head that my pride would not allow me to crawl at her feet, even if my head was cut off on the guillotine.

And the moment I dared to meet her eyes, she slapped me hard in the face. This is the second time in this castle, I get hit in the face. Why, this is the second time in my whole life.

Even my father’s new wife, Lilian Rivaldi, Dinua in her girlhood, despite all her dislike for me, never raised her hand against me. She always used more sophisticated methods of suppressing my character.

I gritted my teeth, suppressing a painful groan, and in order to avoid further deterioration of Giselle’s mood, I bowed low, as servants usually do.

- Milady, I am very sorry for my unforgivable act. I will accept any punishment you see fit. – my servile little voice sounded. Did I have any other choice but to comply?

- That’s it? Do you think that’s enough? - She arched an eyebrow at me and laughed. Her ladies-in-waiting picked up her mocking taunt.

- On your knees. - She said very slowly and arrogantly. - And maybe I’ll think of a lighter punishment for you.

I was shocked by this statement and did not express any desire to kneel at all. Clenching my hands into fists, I tried to calm the anger growing in my chest.

- Don’t you want to? Well, forget it, it’s not a big deal, I’ll forgive you for the first time. So be it. – it’s like a stone has been lifted from my shoulders. – Don’t stand there, pour me some water.

I perked up and moved towards the table on which the crystal jug was standing. But as soon as I took a step, my legs stumbled, and I fell down with a crash to uncontrollable malicious laughter.

Giselle came closer to me and poked me in the leg with the toe of a pointed shoe. I leaned back a little and looked up at her. No, there was no question of forgiveness, I could have guessed that it was not worth waiting for forgiveness from her. But tripping up was too mean.

- Ask for forgiveness! - her voice still sounded haughty in my ears. And in my head there was only one thought "when will it end".

I had to hurry up exactly at the moment when she grabbed me by the hair and pulled me up with force, making me squeal and cry from the sharp pain.

- I’m very sorry, please forgive me, milady, it won’t happen again! - I rattled off like lightning, trying to ease her anger. Fortunately, this time it was possible and she let go of my hair, not forgetting to push me at the same time.

My heart was pounding in my chest, and I was breathing raggedly, trying to regain my composure as much as possible.

A knock on the door distracted Giselle from paying too much attention to me.

Mrs. Rose came into the room with the butler Charles and immediately assessed the situation, measuring me with indignation.

- Milady, does His Majesty request your presence in the greenhouse, if you are not busy right now? - The butler informed her modestly.

Giselle instantly changed in her behavior, put on the mask of a modest sweet lady again and accepted the invitation with a smile, following the old man outside, not forgetting to take her faithful retinue.

- Get up, why are you lying on the floor? - Mrs. Rose’s voice was stern as always, but there was something different in it now. – Follow me.

I got up, straightened my clothes, rubbing my slightly swollen cheek, followed the housekeeper. I didn’t ask any questions, we walked absolutely in silence.

Surprise overtook me at the moment when we entered a small room and Mrs. Rose put a rag soaked in cold water to my cheek. It seems that at that moment I looked like the most pop-eyed fish that can exist.

I stared at her with my mouth open in complete incomprehension. I thought she would swear, punish me, but none of this happened. But I did not expect any manifestation of care from the eternally strict and severe housekeeper.

- That’s it, stop looking at me like that. I may be strict, but I’m not devoid of humanity. - her voice was softer than usual and this one made my eyes involuntarily fill with tears.

- Thank you more, Mrs. Rose. - I wanted to bow respectfully, but her hand stopped me immediately.

- Sit down here. - She pointed to a small chair, and I obeyed.

- I’m really sorry that I caused problems again, I really have no excuse. I am to blame for what happened. I said softly, almost in a whisper.

- Lady Giselle is very wayward. On the surface, she may seem like a nice and nice person, but this is just an outer shell, you must have already noticed this. I don’t want you to think that I have any special relationship with you. I treat each of my girls as they deserve and seeing your pain does not give me joy. – the housekeeper said.

- Unfortunately for you, you are now serving Lady Giselle. Whether you like it or not, it will be better for you if you do not show your self-willed character in front of her. If you want to survive - bend over.

- But is eye gouging a normal punishment for simply being late? I asked in amazement when the tears dried slightly on my cheeks.

The housekeeper took a deep breath, considering the answer for me. She pursed and relaxed her lips, and I realized that she could hardly find the words.

- If it had been earlier, I would have said that she has no right to it. But now everything has changed. - she paused for a moment. - His Majesty’s engagement to Lady Giselle was officially announced yesterday. You have to understand what that means. Although they are not yet married, but her rights are not so limited now.

I understood perfectly well that now her hands are more untied and no one can help me except myself. The housekeeper said right, if I want to survive, I must be able to spin like a squirrel in a wheel. I need to become more flexible and be able to bend, my pride will only bring my death closer.

- Sit a little longer until the swelling subsides and get back to work. And remember what I just told you. Shove your character away if you want to survive in this castle. – Mrs. Rose’s last admonition sounded before she left, leaving me alone.