I couldn't speak.
I couldn't move. I was dumbstruck and numb. I could see my father's body shake slightly for a while, then stopped, with blood spilling out enormously and swiftly from his open throat.
I was shaking so badly, from the immense shock I felt.
I had just watched my father die so brutally.
The thought processed in my head, leaving me to puke out nothing, since I had not eaten for days.
I could see the crowd cheering and beaming excitedly. Some were even singing and dancing to their tunes.
Soon, fortunately, the crowd dispersed and the king, his shirt so bloody and stained with my father's bodily fluids walked up to me.
He had a smirk on his face which he had seemed to had made to ridicule me.
"What shall we do with her, my Lord?" One of the guards asked, causing me to feel much apprehension. I gulped in, to maintain my dread and not seem too trepid.
I knew I was going to die but I didn't want to give them the satisfaction of me being overly fearful.
"Take her to Evelyn. She would be working as a maid until I change my mind."
Huh?
I was quickly untied and pulled up. I couldn't still walk so thankfully, instead of dragging me again on the ground, one of the hefty guard hauled me on his shoulder and took me all the way to the palace and into the seemingly maids dormitory.
"Madam Evelyn." The guard called and a middle aged woman, possibly in her early forties came out of her chamber, her short hair trimmed and laying gently on her shoulders.
Her eyes were brown and her expression held confusion.
"Who is this young female?"
"Daughter of king Rupert." The guard answered coldly and dropped me suddenly on the floor.
"She is to be a maid now. The king desires you to brief her on maids protocols." Turning to me, his face went more hard and sour. "Do anything stupid and you're dead."
He left then and the woman, Madam Evelyn stared at me.
I expected her to be enraged at me like the other people out there but her eyes were soft and tender as she looked pitifully at me.
"Poor child." She voiced, gently trailing a finger over my injured forehead. "You must be so hurt."
I calmed down as she studied me. Somehow I could tell she didn't have the intention to harm or hurt me. I felt somewhat a bit safe with her.
"Are you hungry? Thirsty?" I nodded instantly, wanting to voice out a 'yes' but my throat felt so dry I couldn't even croak out a sound.
"Stella!" She yelled out and a girl, plainly a little older than me came in but as soon as she took a sight of me, a frown settled on her face.
"Madam Evelyn?" She bowed a little but her eyes were still on me.
"Get some bread from the kitchen and some cheese also. Bring a filled jug of water along."
"Yes, Madam Evelyn." She left while the woman resumed staring at me.
"You need to change. Your clothes are all dirty."
I looked at my night dress, which was now shabby, squalid and stained with blood patches.
She prepared a bath for me and gave me some privacy while I washed myself.
I delayed in the bath, not just because I was too dirty but I couldn't stop zoning out, trying my hardest not to remember any painful memories of recent.
I didn't want to pass out, as I was beginning to feel too lightheaded.
I finished washing out the dirt off me and wore a slack dress, which Evelyn had probably borrowed from Stella. It fitted me perfectly so I didn't have to worry about it falling off me.
My hair was highly tangled, so it took quite a time to comb through it but when I was finally done, I rushed to her to eat my meals.
I didn't care about the taste or its temperature. I swiftly made haste and guzzled into it, my tongue fighting it way over to feel every piece of the food.
My stomach swayed as it landed over, although giving me a painful feel, understandable, since I hadn't eaten for days.
Evelyn noticing how hungry I was and how most of the food was almost finished, requested back for Stella who she sent again to bring another tall loaf and cheese.
I drank nearly all the water in the jug and was amazed at how water could taste this delicious and satisfying.
It moistened my mouth and cleared off the thick dryness from my throat, making me to breathe out a heavy sigh of relief.
"So, what's your name? I only know you to be the daughter of Rupert." She suddenly asked, watching me eat like some starved glutton.
I felt I should behave and eat responsibly but I didn't care, my stomach just keeps demanding for more.
"Almira." I did mutter. I didn't want to speak, but I didn't want to ignore her also.
"Almira?" She beamed. "What a beautiful name."
I didn't know what to say.
I was named by my Mother. It was indeed a pretty name. Everyone had complemented it.
I took a breathe out, blocking thoughts of Mother.
I feel slightly emotional.
I didn't want to cry, and even if I wanted to, not here, not in front of Evelyn.
"So, you are actually a Princess, am I correct?"
Were, actually?
I had obviously been deposed from my position.
I have no kingdom anymore, no people. They all belong to the evil king now.
Sighing, I slowly chewed my bread crumbs roughly, earning a concerned look from Evelyn.
"Did my question in anyway upset you?"
"No." I quickly cut in, not wanting her to feel bad. She had been the only one to show me kindness and I was really thankful. I didn't want to seem ungrateful and cause her to spite me.
"I was just in thoughts." I added.
"Poor child." She spoke ruefully, pity in her expression. "You must be so wrathful inside, but King Luther isn't so vicious as it may seem. He'd cause the death of your loved ones but am sure he didn't mean to."
He didn't mean to? Seriously?
I almost sniggered.
Her words vexed me but I ceased it from being obvious.
He had clearly slaughtered my loved ones with a smile. All he did he must pay for it with his life.
My stepbrother, Barney, I didn't even know if he was yet alive or not and my people, I didn't even know how he was treating them... Probably enslaving them like he did to me.
I frowned again and stared at Evelyn, a sudden curiosity and bemusement engulfing me.
"Why are you treating me so nicely?" I was indeed confused.
For the days I've been captured here, everyone has been horrible to me. Why then was she different?
"You have done nothing wrong to me." She shrugged with a smile
"I had done nothing wrong to those people out there or even to King Luther himself, but yet everyone hates me and demands for my death. Why then are you an exception?"
"You want me to hate you?"
"No. I just... I'm just confused."
I sighed.
Her smile widened. "I don't transfer aggression on innocent people and besides, am not a Sihasian."
What? She is not a native of this kingdom?
Seeing my heightened confusion, she made to explain.
"I came here ten years ago. My native kingdom is Zaturus but I came here to start a new life."
A new life? Why would anybody in their right scenes come to this kingdom filled with horrible people to start a new life?
Like if she knew what I was thinking, she said tenderly. "Sihasin isn't all that awful, Almira."
Of course it is!
This kingdom, its people and king were terrible and detestable. If I were her, here would be my last option for a new life.
"Do you have a family?" I asked.
Maids are not allowed to marry or reproduce, until age 20. Same goes to guards. But Evelyn was much older. She must have a family of her own.
"I don't... anymore." The last word was said reluctantly.
Drawing my brows, I queried;
"What do you mean?"
"When I was in Zaturus, I had a husband but we got separated and then I left to this kingdom."
"What happened?" I didn't know if I should have asked. I didn't want to open up sad memories.
"I couldn't give birth. I was sterile. We waited for six years after marriage but no child came forth. He got a second wife but yet no child came. Then he married again a third wife but it was just the same. He was very furious and puzzled but then he blamed me, saying I was some witch, using some sorcery to prevent the birth of his children. The rumors spread fast and I was avoided and made fun of by my community. I was seen as indeed a witch. I was thrown out of gatherings and even my home. No one, especially the women wanted me to contaminate them with barrenness. It got to a point, my parents believed the rumors too and despised me I had to run away and so came to Sihasin. The kingdom was just rid of slavery and was beginning to prosper again. It was perfect time to engage in business here. But then I met King Luther. He was only fifteen years old then, an orphan but was working so hard to raise back the economy of the kingdom. He took me into the palace and made me a matron over all maids. I got so much respect I had never had before, which is all thanks to Luther."
She seemed glumly but content.
I felt wanting to comfort her but I needed much comforting and consoling myself.
I had so much pain in me, so I kinda understood her pain of losing her family and the love she once had.
"It might be a fault of your husband." If her husband had married to multiple wives but yet couldn't impregnate any, the fault must be his.
"It was but he was a prideful man, he dared not admit it." Forcing out the wistfulness off her, she held my palm, gently caressing it.
"All I'm trying to say is how nice of a man Luther is. He does have so much anguish in him that he hides from everyone else. Only if you get to understand him, then you would see the genuine side of him that you would undoubtedly take a liking for."
'I had already seen the real side of him and he was a monster' I wanted to say but I kept shut, trying hard not to remember his taunting smirk as he slayed my father.