"What are you doing here, Priscilla?" His voice came as a whisper. Silently, Jared covered her mouth and quickly pulled her a long distance away from there.
"Priscilla, what do you think you're doing?" He hushed again.
"Let me go. Mind your business. What I'm doing don't need you concern." Priscilla shook his hand off.
"Let you go? Mind my business? And you, were you minding your business when you were there eave-dropping on them? You know Princess Vanessa can smack your head off in just a go if you don't mind what you do. Anyway, what were they talking about in there?" He asked in a lower tone.
"How I'm I suppose to know what they said? Why don't you find somewhere else to stick your nose and stay out of other people's problem." Priscilla said and made to leave but Jared drew her back, pressing her against the wall. His breath heaved heavily and he spoke.
"Just to remind you, Priscilla, I'm the guard of princess Vanessa and anything that has something to do with what you did now also has something to do with me because it's my job to know she is protected. I have been trying to be nice to you but you keep pushing me to the wall. Do you think if I want you dead right now I can't do it? I can easily expose you to Princess Vanessa."
"Then go ahead and report me, make them kill me if you wish." Priscilla bravely stated.
Jared was one of the most feared guard in the castle and a watch man for Vanessa. Anything that goes off never slip his eyes and those who he caught misbehaving were severely punished by Princess Vanessa.
Jared pressed Priscilla's jaw and brought his face so close to hers. "Just because I love you Priscilla, doesn't mean I should let you act any how you want. If princess Vanessa notices I protect your wrong acts, you know that you and I will never see the face of this earth again."
"Then that will be better. You will not get the chance to disturb me ever again with your stupid advances. While I lie in bed my sleep will be at peace." Priscilla's words made him now loose his temper.
"It's so unfortunate that you take yourself as a brave person now." Jared scoffed hard. "I pity you because it's not going to help you at all." He made to place a kiss on her lips.
"Dare do that and I will scream until everyone gathered here. I have been playing cool hiding that you enter my room in the night asking for stupid sex. You think I'm a fool? I hope you've not forgotten the consequences of trying to assault a woman in this kingdom."
Jared took his hand off immediately and shoved it into his hair. "Is it so wrong that I love you? That I want you? You're a beautiful woman and I find it hard to resist the fire in my manhood when I can't have you as I wish. I'm a man, Priscilla and you give me headaches, do you understand me? I want to have you. Why is it too hard for you to let me in?" He lowered his head to kiss her again but stopped when he noticed someone approached. When they turned to see who it was, it was non other than the queen.
"What is happening here?" Asked Catalina as she approached the area in domineering footsteps.
"My Q–Queen." Stuttered Priscilla. "I was feeding your new cat but it suddenly got off the cage and ran towards this area. I was about to catch it but Jared stopped me. I've been trying to explain it's yours but he keeps persisting..."
"That's enough!" Queen Catalina ordered "To my chamber right now!" Catalina shouted, pointing at Priscilla.
"And you," She pointed at Jared. "Return to your duty post right now."
"Yes, my Queen. I'm sorry for disturbing you." Jared bowed. With the hard look on the Queen's face, she turned towards her chamber. He was left with Priscilla whose feet's were ready to leave.
"You know even a kindergarten wouldn't use such stupid lie. That is why you still act like a child. Your boobs are big for nothing." Jared hushed in an angry tone.
"At least I came up with something to save your stupid head."
"Say that again,"Jared fist clenched.
"What? Do you want to hit me? Go on, try hit me." Priscilla retorted glaring up at Jared, she stood poise as if ready to fight back.
"Priscilla!"
Priscilla about to keep retorting was cut off by the queen's voice. Priscilla hurried out quickly to answer the queen.
"Shit!" Jared mumbled desperately and went towards Vanessa's chamber.
★★★
In the queen's chamber, Priscilla held her trembling hand to her chest, afraid of what the queen might do to her.
"What happened?" Asked the queen as she faced her.
"Princess Gabriella had ordered me to get ice and medicine for her to treat her bruises. I was about to get the medicine when I saw mistress Alexia going to Princess Vanessa's chamber so I decided to listen to what they would say."
"And why would Gabriella ask for medicine to treat bruises?"
"Sh–she had a fight with princess Vanessa just now." She stuttered again.
"She what?"
"My Queen, it is princess Vanessa that started the fight and princess Gabriella is not to be blamed for it."
Priscilla saw the queen felt annoyed hearing this and she was afraid of her lashing her anger on her.
"I have always told you to be very careful with whatever you do around those people. How could you let Jared see you in the first place?"
"I'm so sorry, my Queen." Priscilla bowed and pleaded. "He... He did see me but I believe he won't say anything to mistress Alexia or anyone."
"How sure are you about that?"
"I'm very sure about it."
"What made you so sure?" The queen asked, caught with surprise with her confidence.
"I... I know that he wouldn't say anything." Priscilla said.
The queen monitored Priscilla for a while before she said, "Do be too confident that he would say nothing to anyone. I am the queen and nothing in this castle goes unseen by me. I believe Jared must be interested in you for him not to say a word to that mistress and her daughter. But you must be careful. Do not feel over confident about yourself. Some interest especially built in lust fade easily."
"I will be more careful from now on, my Queen."
The queen remained silent for a while before she suddenly asked. "And the cat?"
"My Queen, you know that was not true at all."
"I know and that's very stupid of you to think of such excuse. If it was that mistress Alexia who caught you, is that what you would cook up for her? That you were trying to catch a cat? Don't make me assume you are not fit for this task"
"I plead that you don't take it in that way. I am always ready to do whatever you ask me to do, no matter what it takes."
"Did you get any information?"
"The mistress and her daughter is planning something outrageous to your daughter and they want to do that after the Masquerade ball."
"They think they can eat their cake and have it?" Catalina's fist clenched by her side.
"My queen, I believe they will not have enough until they have her head six feet under the ground," Priscilla replied.
"I have to remind you again. Never let Gabriella know that you do this for me."
"I will always keep that in mind,"
"Fine. You can return to your room and make sure that Gabriella's bruise is properly taken care of. I will talk to her later."
"Yes, my lady." Priscilla bowed and humbly left.