Her second day in the palace had ended but not very well because she was worried about the punishment that would be handed to her the following day.
She was a person of no status which was why she had always been careful with everything she did but at the end of day she was just a human who was always meant to make mistakes and with what she had grown up knowing was that her apology would never suffice when it came to the rich people.
As a servant, one was free to a certain extent but was she? Her aunt had promised her a better education but she was no longer sure if that would happen. She didn't know whether Andrea had left or not and it made her wonder how her aunt and cousin would react if she didn't go back to them. She would find a way to send a letter to them. She thought with a sigh.
She was somehow lucky to work for lady Louisa who always gave them a choice as to whether they would continue working or if someone found a greener pasture, they could always go for it. She was just eighteen and she wanted to better her life but it seemed like that opportunity slipped away from her fingers.
Getting into the room that she shared with Stella, she untied her hair which was currently tied loosely and removed her shoes ready to get to bed and when Stella heard her quiet movements, she uncovered her face which was fully under the blankets.
"Where were you the whole day?!" Stella asked in her sleepy voice while trying to open her eyes. She had tried looking for her since morning with every opportunity she got and the last answer she got had made her worried.
Even though she had known Rose for less than two days, she believed that the girl would not do something stupid just so that she could get into the king's good grace which made her not to believe in any of the words she heard from the servants.
"I passed out while in the king's room and now I am in trouble."
Her reply made Stella's sleep to disappear and she quickly sat up to see Rose who was preparing herself to sleep.
She had been unconscious throughout the whole day just because of a cold and Rose who had never fainted before wondered how weak she had grown to be if a mere cold affected her to that extent.
"I hate to say this, but I told you so. How will you clear the rumors that have been circulating around between the servants." Stella who saw Rose who seemed not interested in the words she had just uttered or even affected by it added.
"Is it true?" This time, Rose who was fluffing her pillow turned to look at Stella who held a disappointed look. She had thought that Rose was different from the others who were always ready to climb onto the king's bed. It was more of pity that stella felt for her because she had seen both women of the higher Society and also servants getting dusted of by him as if they were just insects in his eyes and she did not want the same to happen to Rose.
"Of course not Stella. I would never do that for God's sake. You people are so quick to judge." Rose stated in annoyance. She had been misunderstood for some other reasons but this...,
"Rose, I am just looking out for you. He is handsome, and every woman who gets the slightest attention from him thinks that she will be his last but it never happens. He loses his interests very quickly and I don't want you to be one of his victims."
Rose who had placed the pillow back to where it was walked to the other side and sat on Stella's bed. The only person who was left worried about her was her aunt but seeing someone else truly concerned about her made her emotional. But with friends, came betrayal and she had personally experienced it which made her worry if her friendship with Stella would do her any good.
"I won't because he is not the type of a man that I always envision myself with okay? You should not be worried about any of this because the king doesn't see me that way, and neither do I."
Her explanation was an honest one because she didn't have any ounce of interest in that man. She wanted a person who would love and value her and not some temporary lustful relationship that would leave her heartbroken. Fate would bring the right person for her and she had always believed in that.
"Vampires are never interested in humans. And if they do, it is just for sex and blood so just promise me that you will be wary of them because I had been there once and I would not want such a thing to happen to anyone."
"Stella, if one day I would come to find the right person for me, you will be the first one to know. And do you want to talk about it?...,the vampire relationship?"
Stella whose wounds of heartbreak had not healed yet shook her head and Rose whose hand was on her shoulder gave her an understanding nod and got up from her bed. Maybe some day, they would get to open up about their lives but the time was not right and Rose who totally understood blew off the candle and wished her roommate a good night.
"I wish you were still alive. Maybe I would have had a better life." Those were the last words that Rose uttered in a whisper before she finally closed her eyes.
Though the nights always brought sorrows, they also brought hope that with the beginning of a new day, something good would happen and Stella who always believed in that also closed her eyes and slept.