Nobody seemed to know how I had gotten back to the quarters that night, even though I didn't know. After my outburst I solely believed that Jonathan would have thrown me to the pigsty to feed with them but he had allowed me to go back to my quarters. My bed was now isolated to one corner of the room but I could be bothered less about that. I laid down on my back hoping that the gallons of water I had emptied in my stomach could sustain me till the next morning. My reality was dawning faster and faster on me. I had starved for a full day. I had eaten nothing for a full day. I was starting to become a joke and a hated and annoying one at that. I stared at the ceiling of the room, hoping that somewhere in my mind I'd realize that this was just a bad dream and I woke up back at home. I didn’t realize when I had slept off until I felt someone shaking me and I slowly opened my eyes, coming face to face with the enlarged face of my personal maid, Runa.“Runa?” I called out slowly as I trie
I don’t know why but I am surprised when Jonathan doesn’t tease me further. My eyes were lowered to the ground while he ate. The sounds of his food crunching together filled my ears and I could hear the silent grumbles of my stomach. In over four days, I hadn’t eaten anything besides the bread Juniper had been sneaking for me and I was getting impoverished.I stood throughout Jonathan’s eating process without a word and when he was done with his food I didn’t move because he hadn’t instructed me to but I was getting anxious, it would soon be time for the slaves to eat and I needed to eat, to put something in my stomach no matter what.I snuck anxious glances at him and Aurora but I didn’t dare say anything. After what seemed like eternity, Aurora finally asked me to pack the table and head back to the kitchen. Without a word, I quickly packed the table and carried the tray hurrying out of the hall before Jonathan remembered me and started calling me names.My legs moved faster and by
I have no idea when I got up from the floor and got back to work, the usual snide remarks and irritated glares at me were half gone and I was also surprised. Juniper as well was nowhere to be found. When it was evening, before Aurora found me and had me take food to Jonathan again, I disappeared. I walked aimlessly in the slave area trying not to think about my current situation, it was a situation that even I didn’t wish on my worst enemies.I didn’t bother going for dinner because I could already imagine the same thing happening and I had had enough embarrassment for a day, for my entire life. I sat down staring at the horizon as the sun went to its resting place but I knew that it was just the entire finishing a rotation, I wished desperately that I could turn back the hands of time but the Moon Goddess had favourite and I wasn’t on their list that’s why she had made me a Beta knowing fully well that a female Beta as a Princess would spell doom for her.That’s why no matter how sed
It’s been over a month and I was starting to see and I was able to trace the line of my bones with one glance. I had stopped fighting or even arguing; the bullying got worse after I stopped fighting back. The food I got served at the dining hall got smaller and smaller and I never got to eat it. My roommates either tripped, the food either ended in my hair and I was just wheezing around. The only person that was holding me was Juniper.He always had a hot meal for me or a loaf of bread and I was practically living on the scraps he had left for me. I was a wreck and I knew it but there was nothing I could do about it. Deep down, I was quietly already waiting to slump one day and never open my eyes again.I packed the pile of plates and slipped them into the bowl of water. I took one step and I staggered but a strong arm was immediately wrapped around my waist to steady me.“For goodness sake Amira, you have to rest." Juniper’s concerned voice washed over me and I slowly slumped to the
My consciousness started to blur at her words. Despite their conversation, I still couldn’t understand where I was or what had happened but I resolutely kept my eyes shut pretending to be still asleep but it became useless because they all stepped out of the room to resume their discussion. After several seconds of silence, I slowly pry my eyes open and I’m met with an empty room. The strong smell of herbs and disinfectants hit my nose again and with a quick look around; i realized that I was at the park clinic. I had heard about it a lot of times but I had never been there. I had no reason to be there. It didn’t matter how many times Juniper almost dragged me to see the doctor despite my injuries and falling over something.I winced as I tried to sit up on the bed and I looked around again. Their earlier conversation drifted into my mind again and I sighed softly. The beating my roommates had given me had obviously almost sent me to the arms of death, luckily death wasn’t ready to r
I blink my eyes in quick succession although Aurora had just spoken a language I did not understand.“What did you say?” I blurted out and a look of irritation and a look of impatience spread across her face, “You need me to repeat myself? Pack your things and let’s leave. From today you work in the King’s quarters” she replied and I was dumbstruck.I took a glance around. I wasn't the only one in shock, every one of my roommates had a dazed expression on their faces. I immediately shook my head in refusal.“I don’t want to,” I replied. There was no way I was going to go and work in Jonathan’s quarters. He already made life hell for me even though I was far away from him and now he wanted to punish me and make my life harder by asking me to work for him? I wasn’t going to do it.Aurora burst into laughter stunning me. It was laughter that made my bones ice over but it was the first time I was seeing her laugh.“You don’t want to?” she asked, “You are a slave, you do what you are told
I didn’t know when I slept back but after that terrible dream of my father, my sleep after was sweet and quiet and even enjoyable. It was the first time in a long while that I had a good sleep. By the time I woke up, Lillian had gone out of the room already and Serena was dressing up.“Good morning” I greeted and Serena offered me a smile.“Good morning Amira, are you okay?” she asked and I am immediately reminded of the fact that Serena had rushed to my bedside when that nightmare had woken me up concerned and worried. I nodded at her with a small smile.“Yes I am, Thank you” I replied.“Do go have your bath and let’s get started with work” she informed me and I nodded walking into the next door that I figured out was the bathroom. My lips parted when I stepped inside.I had to bathe in the open with the other slaves in a poorly constructed large expanse bathroom and I always made sure to wake up extra early to take my bath even though it meant that I had to sleep right after. I alwa
I wandered towards the kitchen slowly. My altercation with Jonathan was almost a week now and I had been successfully avoiding him. I was still scared and the thought still made my blood freeze over. It was not surprising that Jonathan had taken such a measure, what was surprising was why I had never imagined or thought that he would. I must have given him the benefit of doubt. He wasn’t human like the rest of us, he was a devil and he deserved death but death for him would mean the annihilation of my family, my clan and my kingdom. Our existence would be raised from the world. Just the thought made me freeze over and I hurried towards the kitchen again.Juniper was taking a break by the time arrived. He shot up to his feet as soon as he saw me and rushed towards me.“Are you okay?” he asked worriedly and I managed a small smile nodding my head as we found a place to sit down.“You fainted and we weren’t allowed near the clinic no matter what. I was so worried and the next thing I wa
“I was shocked as well when he requested to see me and then he told me a story about a young boy who had been in love with someone all his life, he watched her grow up into someone he even fell in love more and I was getting honestly invested curious where the conversation was going and then he told me that the boy was him and the girl was Masoma” Jonathan said and Amira’s eyes widened.“SO they had met several times before?” she asked and Jonathan nodded her head.“But since Masoma can’t remember, I guess she has forgotten” Jonathan replied and Amira laughed.“He’s a strong man, he’s trustworthy” she replied and Jonathan nodded.“I sent it to his father the very next day and then we talked. He's like her since he was 15 and his mother had a lot of things to say about him and the way he followed her” Jonathan continued and Amira laughed.‘So we can say that he has been waiting for her?” she asked and Jonathan nodded.“Yes. H’es quite patient you know” Jonathan replied and Amira hummed
“I was shocked as well when he requested to see me and then he told me a story about a young boy who had been in love with someone all his life, he watched her grow up into someone he even fell in love more and I was getting honestly invested curious where the conversation was going and then he told me that the boy was him and the girl was Masoma” Jonathan said and Amira’s eyes widened.“SO they had met several times before?” she asked and Jonathan nodded her head.“But since Masoma can’t remember, I guess she has forgotten” Jonathan replied and Amira laughed.“He’s a strong man, he’s trustworthy” she replied and Jonathan nodded.“I sent it to his father the very next day and then we talked. He's like her since he was 15 and his mother had a lot of things to say about him and the way he followed her” Jonathan continued and Amira laughed.‘So we can say that he has been waiting for her?” she asked and Jonathan nodded.“Yes. H’es quite patient you know” Jonathan replied and Amira hummed
Night had fallen before any of the women in the room decided it was time to go back to their houses. They slowly walked out of the room talking and laughing, their voices filling the ears of everyone around while the rest of them looked on with both respect and healthy envy.“So have you decided how you are going to host the bouquet?” Masoma asked and Amira shrugged.“Well I have no idea yet but we never can tell” she replied rubbing her chin.The Berg kingdom had a lot of traditions, traditions that Amira wanted to bring back, there was an upcoming bouquet where everyone in the kingdom would eat together, dance and laugh together. It was more of aftering bonding kind of festival and event and it was always richly enjoyed and Amira wasn’t about to stop that anything soon but planning it had been proving a little bit hard for her as she wanted to try something different.“You know we’ll always be available to help,” Serena said and Amira smiled.“Yeah, like I would forget that” she rep
Masooma frowned as she slowly dubbed the wound in front of her with care. She had spent a really long time trying to stop the incessant bleeding. The man in front of her had a frown on his face and even though he wasn’t saying anything, his face told her that he was showing great restraint and she knew because she had opted for an herb that stung the blood cells but was the fastest way to stop the bleeding and make it heal.“Can you be more careful?” he finally spoke and Masoma turned to him with a frown.“Careful?” she barked at him, “More like you are the one who needs to be careful because how do you use your sword to very conveniently slice yourself? Weren’t you looking?” she barked back at him and he stared at her speecles.s'I injured myself and you are blaming me?’ he questioned and Masoma was the one who was now speechless. She dropped the herbs in her hands and glared at him.“Who asked me to be careful?” she yelled at him, suddenly irritated.“You injure yourself and you wit
THIRD POVKareem’s hand slowly slid away from the door and he turned to see that the Queen was right, Serena was standing right behind her, based on how she was looking, she had obviously been tricked there as well.“Kareem” she whispered and ehr voice carried so much pain and hurt that it almost made Kareem crumble.Amira’s words echoed in his head and he didn’t know what to do. What happened between the two of them was something that no one had seen coming, it was something that neither of them could control. It had been over four months since he found out Serena's true identity and he still couldn’t wrap his head around it. Not that she deceived him, contrary to what everyone and including her believed he was way past that.He could see clearly that she didn’t look good, her voice was so small, so quiet that he could barely hear it. He knew that his actions had also hurt her and on the spot he regretted it. He had been avoiding her, refused to speak to her or even do anything with
AMIRA’S POV“Is it ready?” I asked and Elora nodded her head.“Ready my queen” she replied and I smiled mischievously.“They have to settle whatever is wrong today” I said and Elora shook her head.“Hopefully it doesn’t backfire” she commented and I snorted.“More than anything what they both need is this. He needs to listen to her, that’s how they get past what happened” I responded.Holding a crying Serena in my arms two days ago that totally broke my heart. I knew she was hurt and I also knew that Kareem was hurt and I also knew that they loved each other. I had caught Kareem throwing a few glances at Serena in the throne room during meetings each time she wasn’t looking so I knew that he didn’t hate or despise her, he was just angry and maybe there was some other emotions for him but that exactly wasn’t my business, the both of them could sort it out themselves.Serena had been a support and pillar for me, while I was a slave, in my earliest days here as a girl who loved and as Jo
THIRD POVSerena closed her eyes as Julianna kept fanning her. She was tired, metally, physically and emotionally. There were a lot of things happening with her but the most important was Kareem’s obstinate decision not to speak to her unless he had no other choice and all of her efforts had proved abortive.She didn’t think that hiding her identity from him would cause something like this and would make him so angry. It wasn’t her choice to keep or hid her identity is secret, It was something that was very important to her, it was for her safety, for the safety of Jonathan so that no one would think she was trying to usurp the throne, she was also trying to protect herself, she just didn’t know that this was what was going to happen. She had thought several times about how she was going to tell him but the time was never right and besuche f what happened to Amira, she had to come out and show her true identity and surprisingly, Amira hadn’t even bothered to hold it against her, it h
I left the Zadok kingdom with the greatest fanfare anyone could leave with. Everyone was both excited and elated to see me go, it was such a beautiful sight and by the time the carriages were rolling out from the gates of the Zadok, I had tears in my eyes and Jonathan merely held my hand tightly and tighter.“You can always come back whenever you want” he said softly and I nodded my head softly. It is very comforting to hear people tell me that I could always come back. It had been a long time since I left home but luckily for me I experienced how it felt for home to be called home. It was a sweet feeling and I loved it but luckily for me, I have more than one place to call home.I used to think that whenever I got married, I wouldn’t cry when leaving Zadok, that my parents wouldn’t cry or even be bothered but I saw my mother’s red eyes as I left, I knew her status was the only reason why she was trying her best to hold her composure and I didn’t blame her, deep down we both knew the
I was now a married woman.The feeling was too much and I just couldn’t help but keep smiling, my smile was about to tear my mouth to the back. The wedding lasted till late in the night where I and Jonathan danced so hard and we retired to our beds in the early hours of the morning. I snuggled into Jonathan’s arms as we slept as husband and wife. It was beyond my imagination, the excitement I was feeling as Jonathan’s wife.By the next morning, we were done packaging and we were about to leave. I walked back to my room to stare at the place I had lived for so many years. I didn’t know how hot it would feel to leave. Of course I knew that Zadok would always be home but leaving in this way made it look as though I wouldn’t be coming back anytime soon and it made me laugh. The Zadok kingdom held a lot of memories for me and I was going to leave those memories behind. Luckily for me, the last few months I had lived in Zadok were full of happy memories and my terrible and worse memories w