Stay away from the prince, stay away from Corion, stay away from the prince if you want to live and yet they decided to put me in the one room that is right next to the prince's room.
I mean how am I supposed to avoid him when my room is right next to his?
Well, it seems they don't even have to worry about me staying away. The prince seemed to be doing a fine job of that by himself. Corion was avoiding me, that much was clear. I haven't laid eyes on him since that night, and I've listened to the maids too. I know he shows up at breakfast and when he's supposed to eat. If I were still working with the maids who feed the king, I would have caught a glimpse of him.
I should have caught a glimpse of him since I walk the castle grounds, but it seems he doesn't want anything to do with me. Talk about an ungrateful bastard! He must have forgotten who nursed him back to health. I wasn't expecting a grand gesture, but a thank you would have been nice!
Motherfucking bastard! I thought to myself as I glared at the door, contemplating whether to open it and stomp over to his room to yell at him. More like curse at him, but that would only land me in the dungeon, and it would be off with my head.
Since I don't feel like visiting the dungeon anytime soon, I decided to stay still.
I could still feel the tension in my body, every nerve on edge as my thoughts circled back to him again and again. The audacity of it all. I had risked my life, my position, and maybe even my soul for him. And now… nothing. Not a word, not a glance, not even a whisper of acknowledgment.
Well, fuck him, not like I care anyways! I thought to myself as I went to the bed, which squeaked terribly underneath my weight.
The room was a small one, nothing fancy, and I dare say the maid's quarters were better than this. The mattress was so thin I could feel the iron underneath digging into my back, each spring pressing into my skin like a constant reminder of how far I'd fallen.
The walls were bare, painted in a dull, lifeless gray that matched the overcast sky outside. A single, narrow window let in a sliver of light, just enough to make the dust motes visible as they floated aimlessly in the stale air. There was a chair in the corner, its wood splintered and worn, and a rickety table with a washbasin that looked like it hadn't been cleaned in ages.
I tried to shift, hoping to find a more comfortable position, but it was impossible. Every movement made the bed groan, and no matter how I turned, the metal frame seemed determined to poke at my ribs, my spine, my hips.
I stared up at the ceiling, which was just as uninspiring as the rest of the room. Cracks spider-webbed across the plaster, and there were water stains that told stories of leaks long neglected. The room had a musty smell, like it had been closed off for years, trapping the scent of old wood, dampness, and something I couldn't quite place.
It could be worse! I told myself as I struggled to find a comfortable sleeping position. It took a while before I finally managed to drift off to sleep.
My few minutes of sleep were short-lived because I was suddenly awoken by a loud thump. My eyes snapped open, quickly scanning the room for any possible danger. My heart pounded in my chest as I strained my ears to catch any sound that would give away an intruder, but the room was still. Then I realized the noise was coming from the other side of the room.
I sat up, the thin blankets sliding off me as I listened. The silence was broken by a low moan that sent a shiver down my spine. It came from the other side of the wall, Corion's room.
"Really?" I muttered under my breath. It's bad enough that I have to sleep in this crappy room, but now I have to put up with this?
I shot the wall a glare just as another moan slipped free. The sound was unmistakable, a mix of pleasure and pain, and it made my stomach twist. Did he really have to start this in the middle of the night? Some of us have an early day tomorrow and don't have the luxury of disappearing whenever we wish! I seethed, the frustration building with every passing second.
I glared at the wall as if I could burn a hole through it with my gaze. The thin plaster was no match for the intensity of my annoyance, but it held firm. I imagined stomping over there, pounding on the wall, demanding he shut up—but the thought of facing Corion, with his smug grin and arrogant eyes, made me hesitate.
Whatever! I'm just going to ignore it! I decided, flopping back onto the mattress. I pulled the blankets up to my chin, squeezing my eyes shut. If I could just block it out, I'd be able to sleep. I focused on my breathing, trying to let the rhythm lull me back to sleep.
But every time I started to drift off, another sound would jolt me awake—another moan, another thump, another reminder that Corion was having a much better night than I was. Each noise chipped away at my resolve, making it harder to keep my anger in check.
Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I sat up, threw the blanket off, and stomped over to my door and yanked it open. The hallway was surprisingly empty, eerily quiet with not a guard in sight. Usually, they were posted at every corner, ready to spring into action at the slightest disturbance. But tonight, the corridor was deserted—not even a shadow of a guard in Corion's hallway.
My mind raced. There was no one to protect him if there was an attack. The thought briefly crossed my mind that he might deserve it, but it was quickly overshadowed by the realization that something was off. I've passed the king's bedroom countless times before, and it was always impenetrable, guarded like a fortress. But now, with no one around…why was Corion left so exposed?
I hesitated at my door, feeling the chill of the cold stone floor seep into my bare feet. Something wasn't right. As much as I disliked Corion, this situation made my skin prickle with unease. My hand hovered over the doorknob, debating whether to retreat back to my bed or to venture further into the dimly lit hallway.
The moans from his room persisted, but they took on a different tone now—less pleasure, more…pain? My pulse quickened, and I couldn't tell if it was fear or curiosity that drove me to step out into the hallway. Each step felt heavier than the last as I approached Corion's door.
I stood there, my hand trembling as it hovered over the handle. The silence was oppressive, broken only by those haunting sounds. Something deep inside warned me that whatever I was about to discover wasn't going to be good.
But I couldn't ignore it any longer. I took a deep breath, steeling myself, and slowly pushed the door open and the state I saw Corion in made my stomach churn.