Eastern window of the big room was opened and light cool breeze entered in the room, which refreshed the suffocating air inside the room.
A mere six years old child was squatting on the big soft bed, not giving attention to the crowd standing around him.
His face was full of indignation, and hatred for the crowd, he doesn't want to see a single one of them and also could not shoo them away because these servants and maids were ordered to take care the doted child of King, the third Prince!!
"There is nothing for all of you to wait for on_!!" he waved his small hand to dismiss their presence as his father.
"Our king would skin us alive if we left you alone_ without caring your meal third Prince_!!" they spoke in unison like programmed software.
"Then bring me the thrash pelt and stand in row_if anyone of you screamed during lashes_ I would not eat and also complain, my father, that you dumb pigeons were useless_!!" because of constant care and under look, the third Prince had become ruthless devil, despite being only six, he wanted to get rid these people who were always standing on his head to fulfill their assigned duties.
He devolved a habit to thrash them just to vent his anger toward his father.
~~~~~~~
The head maid was cruel and hate Jie Lan, this slave girl was not only more beautiful than the head maid but her attitude was up above sky too.
She wanted to punish Jie Lan so today she sent Jie Lan in the row of these doomed servants who were appointed for today to attend the youngest Prince.
Someone brought the thrash pelt and all the servants and maids stood in a row.
Jie Lan was standing second last in the row.
This was a new revelation for her, being a slave and work as an animal was not enough, she thought.
Third Prince stood up to thrash his servants, though he was only six years old the anger with which he thrashed was enough to take consciousness of an adult.
With every slash falling on other servants, Jie Lan felt her own body was wounded.
It was like to see coming death with one's own eyes.
Her body slightly trembled to see a maid get thrashed, and her legs finally gave in and she fell on the floor with a noticeable thud.
"Who is such insolent to interrupt my entertainment_ah you bunch of disrespectful_!!" he stopped his thrashing.
Everyone looked at the fallen figure and cursed her in their hearts, she was such coward.
In their eyes, it was the part of their duty for the third Prince to get thrashed too.
Someone hurried to send her away.
"Stop_no one is allowed to go and help her_ you chickenhearted bunch of palace crowd_get out of my vision_!!"
They silently emptied the royal room, they were sure, after thrashing, third Prince would eat his meal.
And he really sat on his chair and started to eat his meal, looking hatefully at the fallen figure.
He tasted every dish one by one and today it was tasteless to his stomach.
He went and stood against the opened window of his room to look out, as usual, his room was on the second floor of this fourth part of the grand palace, from here he could see the central fountain along with row of several small fountains after the big courtyard and then the garden begin, and one who would give attention to this garden would feel that it was extended on every side of this fourth Court but third Prince gave attention to something else, the children of servants were playing freely in their small servants quarters courtyards.
"They were not surrounded by unwanted care and fool looking servants, they were free to play around."
He looked at them until he was tired of looking.
"What a waste of time."
He turned around only to look at the fallen figure.
He put his hand on his cheeks while thinking something, he had an idea.
He poured some water from the cup on her face, and she frantically looked around thinking she was the next victim.
Third Prince saw her bewildered looks and waved his hands grandly.
"I come up with an idea just now_and this way you can be saved from thrashes_say do you agree_??" he said with the imitation of a king.
"Idea_What is it_my Prince_??" she saw some light in the darkness.
"Bring here your child and he could play with my toys with me for an hour_ then you will be free from thrashes_ and you have to keep your mouth shut too about this idea_if you did not, I will personally chop your head_!!" he threatened her.
Her eyes popped out to hear the idea of this six years old Prince, how she could bring her child, she had no child, she was not even married!!
She gulped heavy breath, "I don't have a child my young Prince_I am a maiden_!!" but this was not enough to convince six years old Prince, he did not understand her plight.
"All the woman here have child, why don't you have one_you are trying to hide him from me_??" he had reason to think it, she wanted to save her child from his thrashes that's why she lied to him.
Jie Lan was on the verge to burst in tears, "I did not get married yet that's why I have no child_!!" she was embarrassed head to toe.
"This simple_? Go get married and bring me your child for an hour to play_!!" he pointed her to go out of the room and do as he ordered.
°_° Jie Lan could not bear this rude Prince anymore and she collapsed again.
"I only wanted to play with her child and she is not ready to believe me_!!" he was distressed to think that he shared such sensitive idea with this woman and if she told others, he would be like laughing stock for the other royal children.