Chapter 03~ Assigned to be His Maid

ASHLEY

By the next morning, I had made up my mind about going to the palace. I didn't care whatever it would take me, I wanted to get my legs in that hell, and remind that monster that he messed with the wrong village.

I didn't know where I was walking, but I didn't stop. I needed to take this dress off, he'd definitely suspect me if I have to show up looking as hell as this.

Finally, I approached a narrow wooden porch where an old woman sat knitting what looked like a sweater.

“Good day,” I muttered, barely maintaining my gaze on her.

She looked up slowly, the look in her eyes told me just how much I had interrupted the most important moment of her life. She didn't offer any reaction, she just kept her gaze on me, like I was appearing more idiotic than I already was.

“Good day…” she replied after a long pause, staring at me up and down.

I didn’t blame her. I wouldn’t trust me either, not when I was looking this way.

“You realize just how much you look like a mess, don't you?”

“I know,” I simply said, and there was no denying that.

“How may I help you?” She finally asked.

“I’m lost,” I replied almost immediately. “I just need to know where the palace is.”

A look of uncertainty flickered again in her eyes. She studied me like I had just asked the most absurd questions.

“It is just ahead, just around the North flank." She muttered.

“Thank you,” I whispered, stepping back. Then, I stopped mid-step.

I looked down at myself, then back to her. “One more thing, ma’am,” I said, forcing a pleading tone into my voice.

She sighed and rolled her eyes, clearly done with me.

“Nevermind, thank you." I said quickly hurrying away while aware that she was staring.

As soon as I stepped out of sight, I crept around the side of the house, ducking beneath her open window.

“Surely, there must be something here of use to me." I whispered to myself.

A bundle of washed clothes hung nearby, drying on a loose line. I hesitated only a moment then snatched the simplest ones I could find: a faded brown tunic and a scarf that could pass as a headwrap. I shoved them under my arm and ran into the woods.

By the time I found shelter beneath a low-hanging tree, guilt was already crawling up in my inside.

I didn’t want to steal, I didn’t want to become the kind of girl who had to. But at a time like this, survival didn’t care about what I wanted.

I changed quickly, wincing as the rough fabric scratched against my sore skin. When I was done, I stood back and took a look at myself in a brook.

“No, Ashley, he would recognize you in a flash." I frowned.

I searched around for something – anything to hide my identity. There was a sharp rock by the edge of the brook which I used, scratching its rough side on the right side of my face.

It felt painful at first, but suddenly, I wasn't feeling the pain anymore. I could feel my blood slowly roll down my cheek, but they felt like sweat and water.

I wasn't satisfied yet, I knew those scares would heal and become almost invisible. So, I roughly ran the stone across my right eye, damaging only the upper and lower skin of my eyes. But definitely not my eyes.

Then, I packed my hair in the most stupidest way, before tying it with the scarf. Staring at myself, I let out a small smile. “Here I come, monster!”

****

The palace was nothing like I imagined. It wasn’t just big, it was massive. Like they had spent a hundred years just to build it.

I kept my head low as we approached the gates. There were other girls with me; some older, some younger, some even of my age. They were quiet, and they looked scared.

Guards stood at every corner, with their heads raised high, like they'd dared them never to look at anyone. The ones who stood in front, their eyes felt like daggers piercing the skin. They weren't even smiling, and they weren't talking either. Just watching.

Suddenly, we were told to line up. So we did. Even as the wind blew cold air, I felt my hands sweaty and shaking. An older woman dressed in dark green robes walked out of nowhere. Her grey hair was tied back tight, her eyes were everything cold. She walked slowly down the line, looking each girl in the eyes like she could see right through them.

No one dared speak. She stopped in front of the first girl, stared at her for a moment, then moved on.

The second girl, “Step aside,” she said, pointing her cane. The girl walked quickly to the side, with her head bowed low.

She kept going, picking some, leaving others. I swallowed hard. "Please… Pick me. Just pick me…" I prayed.

When she reached me, she paused. Her eyes narrowed. She looked me up and down, and then, her gaze stopped on the cloth tied around my neck.

Her nose wrinkled. “What’s this?” she asked, pointing her first finger to my neck. “Is that for damn fashion or what?”

The other girls turned their heads. I froze.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out for a second. Then I managed to speak. “It’s my family’s mark, ma’am. It's taboo to show it in a stranger’s land.”

“And the marks on your face are also taboo?”

I shook my head. “No, ma'am.”

She stared at me for a long time. So long, I thought I’d ruined it. That she’d tell me to get lost, that I looked suspicious, that I wasn’t wanted here.

But then, without a word, she pointed her cane at me. “Step aside.”

I blinked. “What?”

“Step. Aside,” she repeated, louder.

I quickly joined the others she had picked.

She finished walking the line, and when she was done, she turned to the guards and waved a hand. “The rest, send them away.”

The girls not picked began to cry or beg, but no one listened to them. The guards chased them off without pity. And just like that, we – the chosen ones – were told to follow her.

We walked through the heavy gates, into the palace walls. Everything inside looked cleaner, the atmosphere felt quieter, even colder, like this was a different world itself. We were led to the servants’ wing, where baths had been prepared.

I scrubbed myself clean for the first time in days. The dirt, the blood, the smoke – all of it washed down the drain. They gave us clean clothes, a simple long gown, tied with a rope at the waist. I touched the cloth over my neck again, still trying to hide the mark.

After we were cleaned and dressed, we were taken to a large hall. The same woman from before stood in front of us.

“I am Madam Hilda,” she said. “I’m the chief maid in this palace. You will all be given your posts now. From this moment on, you obey orders. You speak when spoken to. You do not roam where you are not assigned. And above all…” She paused and looked around. “You do not cross the Lycan King unless you wish to die.”

The room fell silent.

One by one, she began calling names. Assigning girls to clean the halls, cook in the kitchen, work in the gardens.

My fingers twisted the edge of my sleeve. My plan was to work in the kitchen, since that was the easiest way to have access to the king's food. I'll poison him, and end this once and for all.

That was all I wanted.

But then… she looked at me. Her eyes narrowed again. “You,” she said, pointing. “Step forward.”

I did.

She looked me over once more. “The Lycan King’s last personal servant has been reassigned. You’ll take his place.”