CHAPTER 4 - TREPIDATION

As I sat there on the bed, frozen in fear and uncertainty, my heart pounded in my chest and questions raced through my mind. What would the king do now? Would he seek revenge for my refusal? He looked angry and curious at the same time, what could be going on in his head?

Suddenly, the heavy chamber doors swung open and a group of maids entered, their faces bearing a cold and distant expression. I watched them cautiously as they approached me, their steps deliberate and their eyes devoid of emotion. My anxiety deepened and a chill ran down my spine. What had the king instructed them to do?

"Why did you barge in that way? Why do you all lack courtesy in this kingdom? Couldn't you have knocked before coming in?" I asked them, angry that they didn't even notify me before entering the room.

Without uttering a word, the maids motioned for me to follow them. I hesitated for a moment, contemplating my options but the weight of their gaze and the uncertainty of the king's intentions compelled me to comply. I would have question them again but they looked like who could slap me hard across the face if I didn't comply. With a mixture of fear and curiosity, I moved forward allowing the servants to lead me away from the familiar confines of the king's chambers.

We walked through long corridors adorned with untold riches, tapestries hanging from the walls depicting scenes of grandeur and power. My eyes darted left and right trying to absorb the grandeur of my surroundings while also searching for any signs of danger. The silence was deafening broken only by the soft echoes of our footsteps.

Finally we reached a heavily ornate wooden door, its intricate carvings revealing a sense of mystery and foreboding. The maids opened it revealing a dimly lit room beyond. Reluctantly I stepped inside my heart pounding with anticipation and trepidation.

"What are you doing to me? Where have you broug..." Before I could finish my words, they shut the door. As the door clicked shut behind me the darkness enveloped me leaving me feeling vulnerable and exposed.

I strained my eyes in an attempt to acclimate to the dim light. Gradually the chamber revealed its secrets—a large bed draped with luxurious fabrics dominated the room alongside meticulously arranged furniture that exuded an air of opulence. Despite this apparent extravagance a subtle sense of unease hung heavy in the air. Why could they have brought me here? Could it be that this is a room for second chance?

My gaze fell upon a massive mirror positioned against the far wall. It seemed out of place amidst the lavish décor, reflecting the uncertain atmosphere back at me. I regarded my own reflection with trepidation, noting the fear in my own wide eyes. The uncertainty of my future gnawed at my soul and I fought to steady myself. I was feeling dizzy and I felt like I could black out anytime with the way my head was pounding.

"What is this place? Why am I here?" I whispered to myself, the echoes of my own voice adding to the eerie ambiance. But the silence remained unbroken and my questions remained unanswered.

As I cautiously explored the chamber my fingers grazed the surface of a beautifully adorned vanity. I caught sight of my tired reflection resembling a mere pawn caught in a cruel game—alone and defenseless against the whims of those in power. Fear mixed with determination surged through my veins and I resolved to face whatever awaited me in this mysterious place.

Minutes turned into hours and I found myself lost in the confinement of the chamber. The anticipation and uncertainty gnawed at my spirit leaving me weary and on edge. The lack of contact with the outside world only heightened my anxiety, intensifying the feelings of isolation and bewilderment.

Suddenly, a soft click disrupted the silence followed by the creaking of the door as it swung open. My heart leaped in my chest my mind racing with thoughts of who could be entering. Could it be the king? I moved back slowly and gently and all of a sudden, the sound of approaching footsteps stopped. I strained my ear, wondering if there was still someone there, but I couldn't hear any sound. I took a deep breath and fell to bed, trying to catch my breath.

Just at once, the door flung open with no notice. I jerked out of the bed, my eyes popping out of their sockets in horror and everything went blank immediately.

I slowly opened my heavy eyelids after what seemed like eternity, the morning light from the window blinding me for a moment. As my eyes adjusted, I realized I was back in my chamber lying on the lush silk-covered bed. Confusion washed over me as I tried to recall the events of the previous night but my memory was a hazy blur. All I could remember was collapsing after screaming out my lungs.

I sat up and glanced around the room; everything seemed calm and serene. The familiar sight of my elegant furniture brought a sense of comfort but also a sense of unease. How did I end up here?

As I tried to piece it all together I noticed my Meemaw, moving gracefully around the room. Her face wore a mixture of concern and relief as she prepared a tray with a steaming teapot and delicate porcelain cups.

"Meemaw?" I called weakly and I could see her yank up. She looked behind and when she saw, that I was awake, she hurried to me and pulled me into her arms.

"Oh my baby, I'm so glad to see you awake. I hope you feel better now." She said, kissing my forehead now and then. I held her tightly as I wept, finally recalling what happened last night. She patted my back slowly and comfortingly.

"You will be fine baby, I promise you everything will be okay. It didn't hurt, did it?" She asked and I slowly pulled back to see her face.

"What are you talking about?" I asked. I guessed I knew what she was talking about but I needed clarity.

"Losing your virginity, did it hurt?" She said, pity all over her face.

"Eewww..." I spat, expressing my disgust. "We didn't let anything happen last night, he did nothing of sort to me."

"What!? Are you kidding me? Nothing happened? Then tell me, what happened?" She asked me, her face lighting up in surprise. She couldn't believe her ears, but she wasn't the only one. I also still couldn't believe that he didn't touch me last night. How could he just let me go like that? It didn't seem normal to me, he could have forced me.

"I told him to stop and he did. I told him I he can't force me to become his breeder." I explained, feeling that sense of pride which I knew could eventually lead to tears.

"And he left you just like that? That's a wow. If someone else had told me this, I wouldn't have believed it. It does seem that man has a good heart." Meemaw said as she stood up from the bed, heading towards the table at the doorway.

"I was preparing this tea for you, you would love it." She said while she approached me with the tea tray her hands steady as she carefully poured the aromatic liquid into a cup. She handed it to me.

"Yes, so where were we?" She asked, sitting back beside me.

"In my own opinion, that man is a demon. I didn't expect him to be like that." I blurted out as I remembered his gesture last night.

"I thought you said he didn't touch you." Meemaw looked at me again with confusion.

"And that doesn't make him a good king. Only if you were there - Let me tell you the truth, I didn't ask him to stop and he stop. I had to stop him somehow not with my mouth but with my actions." I said and I knew what Meemaw would say next. I sipped the cup of tea and tried to divert the conversation a bit but it didn't work.

"Melina...." She drawled my name, staring into my eyes with suspicion. "What did you do to the king?"

"I didn't do anything wrong because he also punished me for it. I only kicked him in the balls and bit him on the neck when he was trying to force himself on me. None of it is my fault, so don't yell at me. Could you believe that after he left, he sent some maids to come take me and throw me into an unknown eerie chamber, it was so scary and I blacked out of fear. How did I even get back in here?" I said everything very quickly, thinking it would work in calming Meemaw down as I realized I had upset her.

"You blacked out right in front of me last night and I was the one who brought you here." She said and held my hand. "Melina, being violent with the king is a very bad idea, I wonder what he's going to do to you now." She told me in a way that made my heart leap in fear again. Would the king really do something more worse?

While I was thinking about every possible thing he could do to me, we heard a knock on the door and Meemaw went to answer it. I peeked through from where I was sitting, to see who it was and I saw a guard.

"Miss Haephastus, Beta Kristen urgently requests your presence." The words of the guard echoed through the room, causing Meemaw's expression to darken with fear and she glanced back at me.