"what!!!" exclaimed Skylar.
"Did you just utter the word 'what'?" he inquired with a nonchalant expression.
"Did I?" she questioned, realizing her mistake. "I apologize, your highness. What I meant to say was 'wow'."
"'Wow'?" he replied with a dull tone.
"Yeah, I was taken aback. It caught me completely off guard, you know that feeling, right?" she asked, a smile gracing her face, but he remained silent.
"Your highness, forgive me if I may be so bold, but could you consider changing my punishment? Anything else would do, except for cooking. I fear a scenario where the entire royal family suffers from an upset stomach because of my culinary skills," she pleaded.
"I see. What do you propose, then?" he asked, still sporting a neutral expression, which unsettled Skylar even more.
"I could clean the chambers of the royal family," she muttered, looking down, but received no response. She mustered the courage to look up.
"Sure, go ahead," he replied.
"Pardon?" she said, thinking she had misunderstood.
"You may proceed and make sure to complete the task," he stated, and a smile lit up her face.
"Thank you so much, your highness. You are truly kind," she said gratefully.
"Skylar," he said with a sinister chuckle, sending a chilling shiver down her spine, as she remembered she was sitting on his lap. She swallowed nervously. He gently touched her chin, making her meet his gaze.
"I advise you not to look at me directly, for I am not the kind person you assume me to be. I am the epitome of... evil," he said, the last word uttered with a low, spine-chilling tone.
"You may leave now and proceed with your punishment. You will be shown to the chambers. And thank you, for a moment, I was losing touch with my true self. But thanks to you, I am back in control," he spoke, and Skylar stood up, at a loss for words. She was now afraid, for he was indeed sinister. She hastily left the room.
"I thought she was different, as she believed," he spoke with a cold gaze, a smirk appearing on his face.
••••••••••••
Outside Ramiel's chamber,
Skylar stood there, attempting to calm herself.
"What just happened?" she gasped, breathing heavily. She stared at the door, sensing the dark aura emanating from the room. It wasn't just a dark aura; she felt her energy being drained away, leaving her completely weak. This feeling began after she heard him mention evil. She couldn't help but wonder why he referred to himself as such and why she felt so frightened in his presence. Shivering, she made her way downstairs, trying to regain her composure. There was something different about Ramiel, and she was determined to find out.
At present, Skylar's life held great significance, although she would eventually discover its true purpose.
Descending the stairs and reaching the final floor, Skylar encountered a maid. Approaching the maid, she asked, "What is it that you require of me?"
"Come with me," the maid replied, leading the way.
"Am I expected to dance alongside you?" Skylar inwardly quipped, laced with a hint of sarcasm.
"The three princes' chambers are situated in various corners of the hall. Princess Arya has requested that you attend to her brothers' rooms, excluding hers, as they have likely departed the palace by now," the maid explained.
"Understood," Skylar responded with a slight bow. The maid departed, leaving Skylar to continue on her path.
"Should I not possess cleaning supplies?" Skylar inquired of the lady who had already moved ahead.
"You can acquire those items in the storeroom," the lady replied without turning back.
"As if I reside here," Skylar added with agitation as she walked away.
"What is her problem?" Skylar wondered, shifting her attention away from the lady and beginning her search for the storeroom. Upon locating it, she retrieved the necessary supplies and resumed her journey. Spotting a room adorned with a royal seal, Skylar entered, certain that its occupants had already vacated. Commencing her task of cleaning the room, she meticulously restored its order. Suddenly, the sound of water flowing from the bathroom caught her attention.
"No one should be present," Skylar muttered as she glanced towards the bathroom door, unaware of any haunting that may have plagued the palace. Abruptly, the water ceased, causing her to conclude that it must have been a mere malfunction or plumbing issue. Resuming her cleaning, Skylar was taken aback as the bathroom door swung open. Her eyes widened as she turned to behold a well-built man dressed in a bathrobe – Prince Derek, she quickly recognized. Subsequently, she averted her gaze downwards.
"Your highness, please accept my apologies. I was unaware that you were still here," Skylar expressed with heartfelt remorse.
"I suppose my delay served a purpose. How fortunate. Now, who might you be?" Prince Derek inquired, a seductive smirk gracing his lips.
"I am Skylar, maid to Prince Ramiel," she replied, feeling a tinge of fear.
"And what brings you to this place?" he questioned further.
"I was assigned to clean the rooms of the royal family, and yours happened to be the first I encountered," Skylar responded, her head still bowed.
"Ah, Ramiel. He really is something else, isn't he? Did he bestow this task upon you as a punishment?" Prince Derek asked, to which Skylar simply nodded, well aware that she had imposed this penance upon herself.
"Now, strip," he commanded with a sharp tone. Unable to resist, Skylar glanced up at him.
"You heard me correctly," he sneered, his disgust evident to Skylar.
Stammering, she addressed the highness.
Closer, Derek approached, causing her heart to sink as she suddenly comprehended Ramiel's remark and Derek's intentions. He was indeed the promiscuous prince the maids were gossiping about. Ramiel, the prince, had requested her to prepare a royal feast, to which she declined and proposed an alternative concept.
"I should have simply accepted the consequences," she lamented.
Seizing a lock of her hair, Derek inhaled deeply.
"Your fragrance is entwined with your beauty," he declared, surveying her form. Skylar instinctively took a step backwards.
"No need to flee, sweetheart. You made the correct choice by coming here."