5- The slave princess

Fiona's POV

Her words tore at my emotions, my heart clenched in pain. My mate has a mistress. I took in a deep breath, steadying my shaky fingers around the edges of the piece of paper bearing where I was assigned. I tried to hold myself together. It was no use breaking down in public—I was trained to be a ruler, not an emotional bagpipe waiting to be blown on to let out its feels.

"Are you alright, Fiona?" Olive asked, gazing at me with worry, "You look pale."

"I–I am fi–n–e," I managed to stutter as I blinked rapidly, trying to keep back the hot tears stinging my eyes. "I just ne–ed to bre–the."

"You should sit." She grabbed my arm, pulling me to a corner. There was a chair set against the wall, and she helped me into it. "Do you need water?"

I shook my head. "I am fine, thank you."

"Look," she began to speak, "I have been here for a while. I have some advice for you."

I looked at her. "What is that?"

"No one cares. They don't care. We are well-fed and rested, but deep in here—" she pointed toward where my heart was situated, "—they do not care about our emotional needs or how far we are broken. They only care for the value we bring, the work we have to do, and how we can contribute to the King expanding his empire. There isn't time to cry or whine or miss your former life. You work, you get a bed to lay your head and food in your belly, along with a few coins for you to get something at the market. That's all. If you prove useless and weak, you are out. So please, be strong, Fiona. You have got to hold your head up and be strong. Who knows, maybe you might gain favor with Jarek or even another lord, and your life would be better?"

I had no choice but to return her kind smile and soak in her words, even if she didn't know the half of it. She was just offering honest advice from her perspective.

"Thank you, Olive. I will do as you say."

"Good." She stretched her hand out. I placed mine on it, and she helped me up. "Now go ahead. Remember all that I said, and look forward to a warm bed tonight, a meal, and the money."

I gave a nod and bade her goodbye before joining the troop of slaves, going on to where we were assigned with my heart still heavy—for only I knew the weight of the pain that I bore.

The Lady's Court wasn't as bad as Olive had described. Most of the ladies weren't available. I learned from the gossip of other maids that they were off at court or about the kingdom carrying out their daily activities.

I was tasked with cleaning the rooms and taking out the laundry-a chore I found most tiring, as I wasn't used to any chores myself. But I had to carry them out, while feeling lucky that I wasn't given the baths to clean.

As I cleaned each room, struggling with handling the brushes and brooms, I could see older maids and slaves shake their heads at me when they passed. None came up to help, and when I tried to seek their help, I was ignored—for after all, I was the King's filth. It made me wish that Celia or Olive were here.

I managed to clean up as well as lay the beddings. I almost burst into tears at the times when I didn't have to do this myself, when I had people to do it for me. It was funny how fate could throw you in the most ridiculous positions. When I took out their laundry, my eyes admired the finery of silk and beaded dresses, my heart wrenching at the fact that I had to bid mine goodbye.

From being a princess to a pauper overnight.

I finished my work early enough and went to the headmistress for inspection. She made me redo it all over again, pointing out dusty corners and wrinkled sheets. I had to redo everything, paying much more attention this time.

After my third attempt, I was finally left to go. I got my coins in a small pouch. My arms ached, but I managed to squeeze onto it as I took brisk steps away from the Lady's Court and towards the slaves' housing—my mind set on seeing my daughter and Celia.

I got there as fast as I could. Maura was in the corridor, rocking Liora to sleep. A wave of ease washed over me, seeing that my child was unharmed.

"You are back, dear," The woman called as soon as she saw me. "You look tired."

"Yes," I nodded. "I am exhausted."

"Go on in the back. Your food is there, and when you are back, I shall show you to your room."

"My baby, has she eaten?"

"Oh yes. For such a tiny thing, she sure eats a lot." Maura smoothed Liora's blonde hair as she spoke. "Go on now. The mother needs to be well off to take care of the child."

I did as she bid and went to get my food. It was the most appetizing thing I had had, as the pangs of hunger were gnawing at my insides. I gobbled up my portion and chugged down some water before rushing back for my child.

Maura led me to a room. She explained that it was bigger than others and she had it reserved for Celia and me to share. She also mentioned that Celia finished long ago but said she had something to do and so she had to get back.

I bade Maura goodbye after thanking her and laid Liora down to sleep while waiting patiently for Celia to return. I rested my head against the wall, closing my eyes and crossing my legs hoping not to sleep off in this position.

I was already dozing off, but the creaking of the door snatched me back to reality. I looked up to see that Celia was creeping in like she was scared of rousing someone.

"Mind telling me where you have been?" I raised a brow at her as she gave me an uneasy smile, clutching the pouch in her hand. "And why do you smell of horses?"

"I was assigned to the stables, your highness ," she chattered excitedly. "And look!"

She came before me, dropping the pouch on the ground and working to untie it immediately.

"Are you alright, Celia? No one hurt you, right?"

"No, your highness," She shook her head quickly. "I am fine."

"Where did you get all these?" I asked in shock as she pulled out different items from the pouch.

"With the money I was paid today. I wanted to do something nice for you," she began to explain. "They may not be much, but you can use them for now."

"I don't need all these anymore, Celia."

"You are still a princess. You do."

I stared at the items, a sad smile curling on my lips. She had gotten me a pair of earrings, a necklace, a gown made of soft material, a comb, a hairpin, and a bottle of perfume.

"Celia..."

"When I was done at the stables, I took extra work in the kitchen." She took my hands in hers, covering them with her fingers. "You deserve more. I want you to have them. No matter what they do to you, you are still a princess."

"Thank you, Celia." I pulled her into a hug, my breath shaky. "Thank you."

"How did your interaction with the King go today?" she asked as she carefully put the items away. "What did he say?"

"I found out something, Celia."

"What's that?"

"We are mates."

"No!" she shrieked, and Liora stirred. "That can't be. The Ember's Pact—you can't be mated to another, could it be?"

"I am confused as well," I told her. "He couldn't feel it like I did. He felt something, but not as deep as I did, and whatever he felt, he claimed it false."

"What about Liora's father?"

"We do not speak of him, Celia." I hushed her immediately. "That is the past, and we must move ahead."

"I am sorry, your highness." She bowed her head in apology. "I will quickly run you a bath and help you prepare for the night."

"I don't need any more of those, Celia," I laughed softly. "I am not a princess anymore."

"You will always be to me," she smiled. "I'll check if the bath chambers are empty."

Just as she was about to get up, we heard the sound of fingers rapping against the door, and before we could answer, it was flung open. A King's guard entered the room.

He gazed upon both of us. "You have a royal command that must not be disobeyed."

"What is it?" I asked gazing up at him.

"The King summons the new court maid, Fiona, to his chambers."