Yohana returned from outside and finally got to eat the food. She ate till her stomach was full and felt delighted. After washing her own utensil in which she ate, Yohana went to the manor of the King.
As she walked through the corridor, a servant stopped her telling her that Madam Jolie demanded her presence in the West Hall. "Please follow me."
Yohana went with the servant and reached the West Hall. It was a hall, where usually the palace servants would gather and the chief head, Madam Jolie, would instruct them about their duties along with announcing the punishments for those who failed to work well.
As Yohana entered the hall, she found rows and columns of the servants. Yohana went to the front and spotted Madam Jolie. Unlike her name, she didn't look like a fun loving lady. Yohana greeted her and told her how she had to accompany the King outside.
"Don't you know a slave can only go out if he or she reports it to Madam Jolie even after the King's orders?" The question was directed from the assistant to Madam Jolie.
"Pardon me, but I don't find the need to inform Madam Jolie when King Iskander holds the supreme authority. Because His Majesty has given me the command to leave immediately with him, I couldn't ignore it," Yohana answered without any fear.
"What is this language of yours? Shouldn't you at least be humble and beg forgiveness from Madam Jolie?" the same assistant asked her.
"I did nothing wrong. I only followed the command of the King, my master. Please talk to His Majesty regarding this matter," Yohana stated. She felt if she would not behave well with Madam Jolie, she might complain to Iskander about her. Because Madam Jolie was a senior, using her authority, she could throw Yohana out of the palace.
Yohana smiled internally since she felt she could find her freedom through Madam Jolie.
"Hera, stay quiet," Madam Jolie finally spoke. She glanced at Yohana and continued, "You will do the entire laundry of the palace residents from now onward."
Yohana found her smartness backfired on her. She got punished instead of being thrown out of the palace. "I don't think the King will let me leave his sight. He wants me to be around him all the time." Yohana used Iskander's name to get saved from the punishment.
"A slave doesn't need to be present around the King all the time, except for the night. Don't deceive me with your words," Madam Jolie spoke. She had already seen through Yohana's plan to escape the punishment. "Report to me in an hour. I have some more duties for you. Now, stand at last. I will remind everyone about their palace duties and work," she instructed.
Yohana nodded and stood at the last of the nearest row to her. 'Why does it seem Madam Jolie is angry with me for being Iskander's favoured slave?' she thought in her mind. She keenly listened to the rules that every servant and slave must follow in the palace.
After the meeting ended, Madam Jolie left first, followed by the others. Ria came to Yohana. "You should have informed Madam Jolie," she murmured.
"Where is the laundry house?" Yohana asked her.
"In the Southern part of the palace," Ria answered and took her there. As they entered the laundry room, they both widened their eyes to see how many baskets were filled with dirty clothes.
"Madam Jolie was harsh this time. She never punished anyone like this before," Ria said with a worried glance at Yohana. "I will help you. Since I'm in the King's service, I am free for two hours because he is in the court." She offered her kind help to Yohana.
"I'll do it. You don't have to take the trouble," Yohana refused her help.
"There is no trouble in this." Ria rushed to the first bucket and carried it with both hands. She walked ahead to the well constructed within the room while Yohana carried the other two buckets, which were quite heavy.
They washed the clothes together and in an hour, finished the entire work. While hanging the clothes in the open yard under the warm sun, Yohana complimented Ria for being so nice to her. "I'll surely return your favor one day," Yohana promised her.
From the pavilion to their left, Hera watched them smiling with each other. She scrunched her brows together and decided to teach a lesson to Yohana.
"Finally, everything is finished. Without your help, it would have been difficult for me," Yohana told Ria and thanked her. Both of their hands' skin had worn out using the water too much.
"I am used to this work," Ria said.
"When did you join the palace?" Yohana asked her.
"When I was fourteen. My father sold me to a merchant because he was unable to pay off the debts. Because I was good in appearance, the merchant sold me to the palace for a good price," Ria told a little about her past to Yohana.
"It must be tough for you," Yohana said. "A father is supposed to protect his child," she added.
"I think Father has no other way to save the family," Ria murmured. "What about you, Yohana? You don't seem to be from a poor family. How did you become a slave?" she curiously inquired. "If you are uncomfortable, then you don't have to tell me."
"Have you heard of the Night Silver Pack?" Yohana asked her.
"I think I know. This was the last pack in our King's eyes to conquer," Ria stated. "Are you from a pack?" She widened her eyes.
"Yes. I am Yohana Arlington. My brother is the alpha of that pack. He sold me to the Werewolf King," Yohana briefed her with a tinge of sadness in her voice.
Ria was shocked to learn Yohana's real identity. "So, you are a werewolf?"
"I am. Why?" Yohana questioned her.
"Strange! The King never bought a werewolf as his slave," Ria pronounced.
Yohana knitted her brows together as it was something new for her. Iskander never let a werewolf be his slave, so why did he choose her?