I was heavily surprised and infuriated with what she said. I couldn't believe it but I knew Evelyn couldn't be lying but why? How could Luther do this? How could he command me to serve at a ceremony where he was celebrating conquering my father's kingdom?
I felt anger swell in me. I was sick, so sick of the Sihasians, most especially their vicious, sadistic king.
But I was as well helpless. I had been made a slave, I couldn't dare oppose his authority or else I'd be killed.
The thought made me shiver....
"Hahaha!" I heard the maids sniggered directly to me, making me even more cheesed off.
"I can't believe his highness did this!"
"Can't believe? Come-on, it was expected!"
"She deserves every pain. It gladens me the king knows how to deliver such!"
They again laughed and I clenched my fists, glaring deeply at them.
"Aren't you all tired of wasting your time poking your nose into my business and gossiping your brains off?" I spat out loudly to them and they all paused, shocked I spoke back.
I hadn't spoken this fiercely to anyone here.
I shouldn't but I couldn't help it. It had taken me every of my being to keep quiet these days and not talk back but now, I was tired and lacked strength.
"Are you talking to us?" One of them snarled, obviously furious.
I felt a want to ignore them and resume my duties but I just couldn't.
I was enraged and it was on its peak.
"Yes. Why so surprised? Weren't you all talking trash about me just a minute ago?"
"What audacity!" Another gasped, a frown making its way onto her ugly face. "Have you no fear for us, you slaved turd?"
"I did have but you all seemed to have no brains, I kind of lost it I guess."
All the maids seemed taken aback by my words. Perhaps they hadn't expected me to be this daring.
I didn't care. I knew I could be fought and beaten up. I was getting myself in tough trouble but I was just sick of hearing these maids constantly speak nonsense of me and my loved ones.
"Did you just say we have no brains?"
"You called me a turd, I don't see no worst."
I declared but one enraged, began approaching me but another pulled her back speedily.
"Don't touch her, Sarah!"
"Why? She needs to know her limits! She is just some slave awaiting death, we can give it to her vigorously since she wants it so much."
"Yes, but Madam Evelyn.... Remember how Katy got punished, you don't want that for yourself, right?"
She seemed to have calmed hearing Evelyn mentioned. She passed me a scornful look, retreated her steps and left the kitchen, slamming the door loudly behind her
~~~
The maids, most especially the kitchen maids, all without hesitation kept passing me angry or irritated glances as I worked.
I tried to ignore them and just focus on my work but it was quite hard as they would intentionally bump hardly into me or spill things on me.
Throughout the morning, most, if not all of the maids kept mumbling to each other about how I spoke rudely to some maids.
Even Evelyn got to know of it and questioned me at noon as I ate my lunch.
"I heard the gossips." She had said as she sat near to me on the bench. I stared at her. The look on her face could tell it was indeed the gossips of my 'rude' talks with the maids she had heard of.
I nodded, with a low rueful bow.
"I'm sorry." I quietly apologized. I knew she must be disappointed. She had always told me to ignore those maids and I always obeyed until today.
"No need to apologize. Tell me what happened first."
"They were gossiping about me as usual but this time I got more upset and couldn't control my anger. I got fed up and told them to not speak of me and mind their own businesses but one of them called me a turd and I told them they had no brains, and then..."
"Then what? A fight occured?"
"No."
"Good then. You guys only had an argument, nothing serious."
I was surprised. "You are not angry with me?"
"Why should I? You just stood up for yourself which you had never done here before. You kept silent when those maids mocked you but today, you finally did make your voice heard, causing them to realize you are not so tolerating anymore."
I was astonished and glad someone understood me so well. Evelyn was somewhat like Mother... Mother was the only one who knows what I feel deep inside.
Thinking about Mother depressed me more and I lowered my head a little towards the floor, my eyes moistened with tears.
"Are you okay, dear?" She noticed my sour countenance.
"I'm fine." I forced a smile, subduing my tears back in.
"Almira... " She held my shoulder. I turned to her, hearing her call.
"Huh?"
"Don't think about anything else. You have a duty at the king's rouse tonight, that's the only thing you should worry about."
The thought of that even made my mood sourer. I couldn't believe I had forgotten about tonight. Oh goodness!
"That vicious king!" I clenched my fists, riled. "Why is he so cruel? Ordering me to serve at a ceremony where he would be celebrating his conquering of Perston? Does he not have a heart?"
I voiced out, the detest in my voice much obvious.
"Shh! You don't talk about the king negatively in such a tone!" She warned intensely, as if it was a crime that would take my head.
Yes, it was. Cursing or speaking bad of high nobles or royals was indeed highly punishable but I couldn't control myself. I desired to even curse at him more.
"Sorry..." I did say, knowing I must have frightened her. Both of us would have been punished together if I was caught, since she was near to me at the scene.
"But what if I refuse to fulfill his orders?" I asked.
"You know you can't, Almira. The king didn't give you a choice, meaning you can't defy him or you'd be risking punishment. Besides, it's just for tonight and you won't be the only one serving the guests. Some maids will join in too, so don't be afraid."
She was right. It's just for tonight but why was I worrying so much? Possibly because I haven't seen the king for sometime now?
It's being almost two weeks since I last saw him at the courtroom and if possible, I didn't want to see his ugly self again.
'You know he isn't ugly, Almira' A voice in my head whispered to me and I scoffed instantaneously hating the voice.
I knew he wasn't ugly. At least not his features, but his heart was.
He not only captured me but slaughtered my family, kingdom army and maids. He even is currently ruling over my people now, possibly maltreating them.
I pinched my palm hard, remembering how he decapitated my father in front of me. My father's blood gushing... His beaten body... His last breath.
The memories of it still yet pained and made me shiver.
I frowned.
I didn't even know where my stepbrother, Barney was! I didn't even know if he was dead or not.
The thought of him being dead scared me but I held myself, trying to be calm.
He isn't. I assured myself but I wasn't even that sure.
~~~
Evelyn had called me down to her room. It was late in the evening now and the rouse was about to begin.
I was already dressed in the neat maid's uniform and my hair was styled in the usual maid's hairstyle — a Ponytail.
I sat near her and watched her stare at me scrutinizingly. I noticed she was uncertain about something but just when I wanted to ask what that was, she held my arm and slowly caressed my palm.
"Be careful." She gazed at me with a look of concern. "I don't want you to get into any trouble tonight."
"I won't." I assured her but I wasn't certain myself.
The king must have planned some evil against me.
I felt so and I trusted my guts.
"Smile till you are done with your duty."
Smile? I knew that wasn't possible, unless it was forced. I hardly smiled genuinely ever since I found myself here.
The deaths at Perston and my father's death here just took my happiness away.
"It's okay. Everything would go fine." I tried to cheer both her and myself.
I was highly worried too but just like she said earlier, the ceremony was just for tonight, then why must I worry much?
"Have you eaten?" She questioned.
I shook my head. "I will eat when I return."
I was nervous. I didn't have the appetite for food.
"You have to eat, Almira. You might return late at night, at midnight probably."
"It's okay, am not hungr....."
"Excuse me, Madam Evelyn." A young girl stood by the door, dressed neatly in the same uniform as I but she was holding some silver cups on her hands. She was one of the maids assigned with me to serve the king's guests at the ceremony.
"Yes?" Evelyn asked.
"The rouse had begun minutes ago and the king's guests have arrived. We have to leave now."
Sighing, she stared at me and muttered again. "Be careful, Almira."