The princess was still for the whole time she was alone, her attention directed in front of her.
Perpendicular to where she stood was a wooden closet. Aside from her bed, it was the only furniture that she could see inside the desolate room. The princess sat down at the edge of her bed, and looked over to the dusty window where the moon shone brightly.
Elys thought of Cordelia back at the slaves' quarters, and that of the other women that they slept with in one tiny, cold, and rickety room. She didn't have the right to be sad over non-existent furniture.
At the very least, she wasn't going to till rock-solid lands once more and face the injustice and insults of that Ugly Pig.
She released a deep and long sigh, and a knock suddenly came from her door.
"Come in," she said.
"Your highness," Henry poked his head and fully entered the room, "the water is ready. However, there is only cold water available…"
"Goddammit," Elys muttered under her breath, but immediately corrected herself as Henry's eyes widened with her comment to the cold water. "It's fine," she said as she raised her head, "I will make do."
She was fine with the cold, but a little warmth would have been better.
Before Henry could exit her bedchamber, Elys thought of something and then quickly called out to him, instantly making the old man stop on his way out.
"Henry!" Elys called out as she took quick strides to reach the door where Henry was about to close.
The attendant raised his head in surprise, as the bed had been a few meters away from the door that he stood at. How could she have walked so fast like that? The slave – rather, the young prince's wife - had him utterly more confused than she initially did.
"Yes, your highness?" he answered politely, meeting her crimson eyes that seemed to draw him closer the longer he looked.
It was kind of an awkward position, with her holding the door's frame to stop him from entirely closing it. His master's wife released her strong grip on the door, and Henry slightly held it wider to convey that he wasn't going anywhere. He waited for her to speak her mind.
Henry hid his hand behind him, his fingers twitching with anxiety. Every second the clock ticked was a second longer of unease that he wanted to get out of.
"I know someone who can be my maidservant," she finally said in a rush, "can we have this woman serve me instead? I won't be bothering you or the prince to get her. I will do it myself."
Henry started to sweat under her series of ideas. How was he supposed to react to such suggestions? He wasn't in the position to be giving approvals.
The only one who could do so was the prince he served. And knowing Aleksander's hatred for his new wife, Henry knew there was no chance for her to have a maidservant in her own terms. He would even bet that the prince hadn't even considered giving her one at all.
"Your hi-highness," Henry stuttered a bit, "I think the prince wouldn't -"
"Let her be, Henry," a commanding voice came from behind him.
Both Henry and Elys raised their eyes towards the voice. To their astonishment, it seemed like Aleksander had overheard their conversation regarding the maidservant.
Elys didn't think he would appear anytime soon after she attempted to kill him. Who would in their right mind do so, right? The princess found herself conflicted by the vampire prince's sudden approval to her suggestion – if it really was an approval to say the least.
He couldn't be plotting against her now, was he?
Glimpses of the things that happened between them flashed in front of her eyes – the threats, the cockiness, and then his cold piercing eyes that seemed to probe deep into her soul. Suddenly, a wave of rage filled the fallen princess. She bit down her tongue to prevent herself from speaking anything that could provoke the prince.
She needed a maidservant – specifically someone that would be loyal to her.
If she wanted her plan to succeed, she will need to find a way to work around his volatile attitude. At the very least up until she can totally learn everything about him and what she could do to dance around the obstacles that he brought. His status as a bastard prince was already as bad as it is, but Elys believed that there might still be a chance it could still help her.
It was not the best of options, but she has to make do with what she has now.
Elys gazed at Aleksander and their eyes met. She noted his cold eyes had now reverted to its normal silver pools, and they were seemingly dead compared to the last time she saw them. What could have made him agree to her idea?
He quickly turned away after speaking his mind on her suggestion, but Elys was curious as to how far he would be lenient with her.
"Husband," Elys boldly called out, but then found nothing else to say to him. So instead of leaving the call hanging, she then added curtly, "thank you."
"Don't thank me, slave. It doesn't matter who comes into my manor as long as she knows her place," he replied icily.
"What do you suggest I say then?" Elys responded.
"If you insist on a maidservant, then she must know that I will also need a blood servant as well." The prince gave her a mocking side glance, "Would that woman you know be willing to serve her blood to me?"
Elys wanted to, but she couldn't even retort.
Aleksander didn't wait for her to utter another word and immediately walked dead straight ahead. His silhouette melted into the darkness of eerie manor. The last thing she saw of him was that of his broad shoulder making a sharp turn around the corner.
With that being said, the vampire prince vanished entirely from Elys' sight for the rest of the night.