A Cold Bath, and Then She Met...

I woke up in an empty room, the cold air biting my skin. The events of the previous night—the prince’s contempt mostly—flashed through my mind and I shivered. The pain in my body was nothing compared to the ache in my heart. I felt like a worthless piece of trash, discarded by the one who was supposed to be my husband.

I couldn't help but wonder if agreeing to this marriage in exchange for freedom was a mistake. The low creak of the door jolted me from my thoughts and I snapped my head up to see Bernice lingering by the entrance.

She took in the sight of me on the cold floor with the pillow and frowned. Her eyes darted to the bed as if expecting to see the prince there. Shaking her head, she turned around and left the room without a word.

Confusion washed over me as I stared after her, trying to understand what had repelled her. Was it my appearance? My smell? My presence?

A short while later, the maid returned, carrying a thick duvet in her hands. She approached me with a concerned look. “To keep you warm at night."

“Oh.”

I met her eyes with a watery smile and whispered, "Thank you."

Nodding back in response, she folded the duvet and placed it in the closet.

Then she told me to relax while she went to prepare a warm bath for me.

“What?” I muttered, my eyes wide as I stood up from the floor.

“Run you a bath…” She arched her brow at me before walking off.

I followed her to the bathroom, wanting to help her with the water but she turned around and shook her head, gesturing for me to go back to the bedroom.

“No, no, you don’t have to do anything. This is my job. You are the guest here and I am your helping maid.” She said, pouring some oil into the tub.

The scent of lavender filled the air, soothing my nerves. I felt a pang of guilt and embarrassment. I wasn’t used to anyone making a warm bath for me. Hell, I had never gotten close to a bathtub except when asked to clean it.

“Are you sure? I don't want to be a burden to you.” I possibly couldn’t let her do this…right?

She looked at me with a gentle expression, “You are not a burden to me. As I said, this is my job and I am happy doing it.”

 A lump formed in my throat, at a loss on how to respond to her words. With a last glance shot at her, I walked away from the bathroom and ventured onto the balcony.

The breeze brushed my face, carrying the scent of wildflowers and grass once I stepped through the sliding door. As I leaned on the railing of the wild balcony, something snapped in me. For a brief blissful moment, I wasn’t Savannah, the pack’s outcast. It was just me, a young woman enjoying nature. It was something so simple and beautiful it brought tears to my eyes.

Suddenly, I felt a presence behind me. I whirled around, only to see Bernice standing right behind me, a small smile on her face. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

I jumped slightly, startled by her sudden appearance. I hadn’t heard her footsteps. She must have been very quiet and discreet. I wondered if she had been watching me the whole time.

“Yes, it is. It’s very beautiful,” I finally said, looking at the view again. “How long have you worked here?”

She tilted her head and thought for a moment. “I’ve worked here for about two years. I came here from a small village in the south. I was looking for a better life and I was lucky enough to get hired as a maid for the royal family.” She said, her voice tinged with pride and gratitude. Then she looked at me with a curious expression. “What about you? What is your story?”

I looked away from her, my cheeks heating, “I don't want to talk about it.”

She nodded and gave me a sympathetic look. “I understand. You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. I’m sorry if I was being too nosy. I just wanted to get to know you better. You seem like a nice person.” She said, smiling gently. She glanced at the bathroom door and said, “The water is ready. You should go and take a bath. It will help you relax and feel better.”

“Thank you.”

Bernice nodded in response and left me alone on the balcony, allowing me to take a moment for myself.

After some time, I decided to return to the bedroom. But as I stepped inside, my heart froze in shock. There, on the bed, was the prince. Our eyes met in an awkward exchange, the tension palpable.

“Good morning.” I said.

 I waited, hoping for some form of acknowledgment but all I received was an irritated glare. The silence between us felt suffocating, leaving me feeling small and insignificant.

Defeated, I made my way to the bathroom, hoping to find solace in the warm bath. I undressed myself and without checking the water's temperature, I stepped into the tub, expecting comfort and relaxation.

However, to my dismay, the water was icy cold. The shock jolted through my body, and I couldn't help but let out a piercing scream as I jumped out of the tub.

And in that very moment, the prince barged into the bathroom without as much as a knock.

“Do you think someone like you deserves a warm bath scented with expensive oil?” His words cut deep, reminding me of my supposed unworthiness. “It seems you are forgetting your place.”

That said, he stormed out of the bedroom, slamming the door behind him. Oh god. My knees almost gave out from beneath me as his cruel words replayed in my head. He hates me. Father hates me. Everyone that knows me hates me. I am worthless and scarred.

My eyes burned with tears and I managed to finish my bath.

Upon returning to the bedroom, my gaze fell on a glittering diamond necklace delicately placed on the bed, accompanied by a note. My heart skipped a beat at how beautiful it looked. It had to be Prince Reginald’s.

Unable to stop myself, I reached for the necklace, marveling at the rare gem against my fingertips. It was a sight I had never experienced before, and my heart twisted, wondering what lucky girl the prince bought it for. I could picture how flawless and beautiful the woman would be unlike me who he was being forced to marry. But as I read the note, shock washed over me.

"From the king, a gift to my beloved daughter-in-law. Welcome to the family," the note read. The weight of those words sank in, and I couldn't help but pinch myself, fearing it was all too good to be true.

I hadn’t met the king yet…so why would he gift this to me? Didn’t he know who I was?

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I hurriedly stashed the diamond necklace at the bottom of my suitcase, not wanting to draw any attention to it.

Maybe things wouldn’t be as bad as they already seemed. With this thought, I quickly dressed in one of the silk dresses Bernice brought for me, touching my lips with the red lipstick I found in the bathroom.

Just as I stepped out of the room, eager to meet the king, I inadvertently rammed into a solid figure.