◇NO POV◇
There is no right destination in life, sometimes even right choices may keep us in the worst situations, at the same time some wrong choices might help us to reach the destination.
Kylie was upset with her family for hiding the truth from her, the moment she realized her mistake it's already too late; she didn't even get a chance to apologize to them heart fully.
The regret that's burning her heart, and a guilt burning her soul, like all these are not enough she was destined to suffer as a slave to the most dangerous white lion family.
Just by hearing the stories told by elders about them brings goosebumps out of fear, whereas Kylie was brought as a maid to serve them.
She doesn't know how the night passed in blink of seconds, all she remembered is scary darkness outside and unbearable pain inside her, didn't realize when she dozed off into a deep sleep.
Not even bright sun rays dared to ruin her beautiful sleep, but a knock on the door made her to wake-up from the sleep, for a second, she has forgotten where she is and ran towards the door to open it just to get a warm hug from her mother in the morning.
Without even realizing the person in front of her, she hugged straight, "mom, I missed you."
She felt a smell, which was unfamiliar, quickly realizing everything she moved away with a quick apology, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to."
"Never mind dear, I can understand" a motherly warmth made Kylie to feel comfortable.
"I'm Ruby, the head maid of this palace, Mr. Ray asked me to make you familiar with the works and palace" a small intro given by Ruby which was warm "so I thought about introducing myself to you before introducing you to the work."
"I'm Kylie, I don't have much to speak about myself, I will be glad to be under your care, hope you'll guide me regarding work" Kylie's politeness impressed Ruby but still, she felt an unknown pain in Kylie's words.
"How about you getting fresh up first, later help me with kitchen stuff?"
Kylie nodded her head obediently, "fine, you can leave to get fresh up meanwhile I'll bring a dress for you to get dressed" Ruby left from there.
Kylie went to take a shower, after taking a quick shower, she came out and noticed a maid uniform on the bed.
Getting dressed in the dress prepared by Ruby, Kylie started wandering in a search to find the kitchen, but unknowingly she caught the attention of king "what made you to wander here?"
Just after hearing the dominant voice, Kylie understood who it is, "I'm searching for the kitchen my Lord" Kylie stammered out of fear.
"Kitchen is in the left corner, this way leads to dark dungeon" hearing his answer Kylie felt quite thankful to him, "thank you my Lord."
Without turning back, Kylie ran away towards the direction of kitchen like a frightened kid, "such a naive little kid" the Lion King chuckled.
Kylie noticed Ruby and other maids in the kitchen, she greeted them politely, they greeted her back, "she is the new maid brought by Mr. Ray" Ruby introduced Kylie "take her help if you need, at the same time teach her all the work."
All maids smiled and introduced themselves to Kylie.
Within a short time everyone liked Kylie, unlike others who taunted her for being not a beauty, all the people in the palace are quite warm and understanding towards her.
She liked it, but deep inside she missed her family every single minute.
"Kylie… Kylie, are you okay?" The voice of a maid brought Kylie back to her senses, "I'm sorry, I was just thinking something."
"That's okay, head maid asked me to clean the garden, can you take this tea to the Lord Benjamin's room in behalf of me?" Though the request of maid seems simple, but the fear of Kylie made to back off "I'm sorry, I'm scared to go there, why don't I clean the garden for you?"
The maid sighed "oh dear, it is the favorite place of Lord, even a slight change can anger him, so it's better for someone who is familiar with that place to clean it, don't be scared, it's just a matter of serving him tea that's it."
After a long hesitation, Kylie agreed and took the tray into her hands, forwarding steps towards the room of king, Kylie proceeded to walk like a newborn tortoise.
"My Lord!" Kylie knocked on the door while her palm is sweating out of fear, "come in" calm yet magnetic tone made Kylie to breathe in relief and enter into the room without making the noise.
She noticed him playing chess by himself, "it's a wrong move" Kylie bitten her tongue after realizing what she said, "I'm so sorry my Lord."
Though she apologized, still there is fear clearly visible in her eyes, but he felt it's quite interesting because, it's been a week since Kylie arrived in palace but the girl who kept running away whenever she has seen him took initiative to speak for the first time "why don't you show me the right move?"
She felt him challenging her, but she knows she is not someone to compete with a king "I'm sorry my Lord, I must've forgotten my place and spoken, please spare me."
"Play a game, and I'll spare you" she no longer have an option apart from playing, after serving the tea in the cup, she sat on the floor opposite to the Lord Benjamin.
The game was quite challenging as both people are competing seriously, to speak about an issue in borders, Mr. Ray entered inside the room as door is open but got quite surprised after witnessing Kylie and king playing the chess because it's something new as they never witnessed a scene like this.
Even the head maid was frozen in the same place, "Mr. Ray, are you witnessing it as well?"
Mr. Ray hummed, as he doesn't have words to speak apart from watching the quite challenging game right in front of him.
Passing time, made the game more interesting, when there is only last move left for both sides, victory and defeat is lying in just one single move.
"Who is going to win?" Head maid can't help but to feel nervous, "this single move decides everything" Mr. Ray's reply made head maid to sigh.
Finally, Kylie took the last move into more challenging and won against the Lord Benjamin, which made both the butler and head maid to froze once again.
Lord Benjamin got defeated in a chess game after such a long time by a slave maid. In just a mere moment, he recalled one of many important memories in his mind that he might never be able to forget.
Kylie looked towards the Lord Benjamin who is just smiling, "it's quite interesting to see that there is someone who can defeat me."
"I'm so sorry my Lord" Kylie quickly stood up and bowed, "there is nothing to apologize, I'm impressed by your skills." Lord Benjamin can't help but to praise Kylie.
Both head maid and butler came in, Kylie quickly hid behind head maid, "Who taught you this game?" Kylie's eyes filled with tears after hearing this question, "my father."
Lord Benjamin doesn't want to talk much about it after witnessing teary eyes of Kylie, "I wish we could play again" Kylie was surprised.
Butler and head maid smiled, Kylie left from there with an excuse, head maid followed her.
"I think the little girl didn't offend, your highness" butler can't help but to think about knowing Lord Benjamin's mind.
"No, I felt refreshing and peaceful mind after a long time" Lord Benjamin's words left butler speechless.
Days passing in a blink of time, Kylie is getting adapted with everything, in a midnight, while she is in a deep sleep, she heard few loud noises.
Out of curiosity, she came out of her room, the more she took steps towards the noise, the more voice turned audible "if you never wanted a child, then why the hell you intended to get one?"
She was frozen in her place after hearing that as it reminded her harsh words to her parents, but a sound of slap brought Kylie back to her senses, "I never wanted a child, at least a child like you, someone like you never deserves to be my child, I wish you were never born."
"I wish, to not to born as well, at least as a son of father like you" one voice belongs to Lord Benjamin, but she doesn't get the other voice belongs to whom!
When she heard footsteps, she hided quickly behind the wall and noticed a person going out from the main door.
Kylie glanced towards the main door at the disappearing person, Lord Benjamin walked out as well, she didn't understand where he is going at this hour.
So, she followed him sneakily and noticed him walking towards the garden.
She is in a hesitation to follow him or not as she felt it'll be like invading his privacy.
"What you're doing at this hour?" But this question landed her in a tough situation.