"Even though he is a sadistic monster? Are you happy to bed him?"
"Who wouldn't be happy to bed the king? To get on their knees and give him the pleasure he deserves." Her eyes were shining as she shrugged her shoulders and continued with her work.
"I wouldn't. I prefer good looking people, not those whose bitter ugly past reflects on their faces."
Mary didn't even know what to say again. How is she so able to say things that are bad about the king and still remain so confident? She felt that these kids that are born in wealthy homes with silver spoons have a particular courage that the poor ones lack.
Dan, who wanted to lighten the mood, interfered with a comment that made Mary and Zoe laugh. A dry laughter. "You know... considering that the King only allows you in the East palace, and even bothers to talk to you instead of ignoring your existence, if I didn't know better, I would say he is in love with you."
Both Mary and Zoe gave a dry laugh in response.
"That is incredulous. Dan, you read too many books. Try to slow down."
Zoe agreed with her. "Absolutely irrational."
Maximus liking someone was something she could not even imagine.
"I think the only person he is in love with is Lady Luminita."
Mary and Dan gave her a look before they resumed their work.
"You two know something. Seriously! You really need to stop leaving me out of things I should know." She complains.
"Lady Liminita is the mate and wife of the king's dead alpha. Also his best friend and most trusted companion." As Mary explained, Dan closed his eyes as if trying to contain his emotions.
Now this was new.
"Dead? Mate? So she is also a wolf?" They both stare at her like she was Fool. Did she really think the King would keep a human by his side and cherish her for that long? Well...there are a few humans that the king gives affection to, but they don't even live in OO1. "What? I didn't know." She felt defensive against their stares. "Well..maybe I should have known. Maximus would never keep a human that close."
Dan gave her a tight lipped smile and Mary looked away, suddenly taking interest in the dishes that were now well arranged. "What? Is everyone keeping me in the dark about everything?"
"You are still new. You can't expect to be told everything at once."
Zoe scoffs and wraps her hands around herself. "I have been here for more than a month. I have witnessed the heart shattering Thursdays and Maximus tyrannical behaviors. How am I still new?" But whatever it is they were hiding, was not of her concern at the moment. She simply wanted to know more about Lady Luminita.
As if Dan had read her mind, he said. "She used to be so strong. Always guarding the south palace and her wolf was more than friendly. She was in fact the Beta and Luna of the pack till she lost her mate. Now she cant even change anymore and she keeps falling sick." Mary rubbed Dan's shoulders as a form of support and Zoe tightened her arms around herself.
She could understand why they would be that sad. Lady Luminita was like a light bulb for everyone. Even for Zoe. She is always concerned about how the workers were doing and if she was settling in well. Apart from Madam Cardboard, she was the only one who told her to go easy on the King. Back then, Zoe thought she sounded like she knew the man but now, she is aware the Lady truly knew the man.
"So Maximus has been nice to her since then?" They both didn't give her a response, and Zoe's imagination began to run wild. Is there anything Maximus couldn't do? Even if this acclaimed late werewolf used to be his best friend, she doubts Maximus really took the friendship that real. Voicing her opinion, she almost caused chaos. "Maybe he is nice to her because he killed her mate."
Before she could say another word, Mary splashed some water on her. Dan had a flushed face while Mary pointed a finger at her. "How foolish! I understand that you don't like the King but don't jump into silly conclusions when you don't even know what happened!"
Shocked, she wipes her face with the sleeve of her dress. She took a step back and gave Mary an incredulous look. "Why are you always with him? Good goddess Athena help me. You could have just explained. Judging by how cruel he is, anyone would think in that direction first."
Perhaps Mary realized she might have gone overboard, she rinsed her hand which was an unnecessary gesture and dried it. She then threw Zoe some tissue and apologized. "I am sorry. I was just annoyed. You think the worst of the king."
"Because he is the worst!" She angrily dapped the tissue on her neck to soak the water and threw it back at her.
"It is a sensitive topic for everyone at OO1 so be careful how you thread it."
"We almost went to hell." Dan agrees now, patting Mary by the shoulder.
She was thinking of what to say to lighten the mood when Madam Cardboard suddenly appeared. It was not that it was rare for her to appear in the kitchens, but this wasn't even the East palace main kitchen and she rarely comes here so it was a shock to everyone as they quickly straightened their backs and went on with their work. No one wanted the strict old woman to find fault with them. She is one the humans the King keeps by his side. Although it was unsure if she is even human.
"Zoe." She calls and Zoe turns to give her a slight bow.
Certainly, everyone knew the old woman would be here for Zoe. Who else but her would dare to anger the King? And making the King angry would be making Madam Cardboard angry as well. She was like an overprotective mom. Some workers were glad she was about to be reprimanded. Zoe was a stranger brought from nowhere, and given the treatment of a lady, but still takes it for granted. Because of this, she seems to have made lots of enemies that even she was unaware of.