Chapter 5

    I held my skirt as I raced up the stairs to the Prince's bedroom. It's my second day working as his personal slave. I was relieved of a few of my duties, I feel sorry for Gwen and the others because they still had to work the mines today. I stopped to catch my breath as I reached the last floor. Was I really ready to face the prince today? I remember yesterday when I hurriedly finished my work and literally ran out of the castle just to avoid seeing him. I guess I just have to deal with seeing him everyday. I reached my destination which was exactly in front of his room and met two guards there again looking like their faces were made to frown. I greeted them but they just kept looking at me like I'm some dumb fool. One of them, yes I recognized him, he was the one who came into the room to call the prince yesterday. He turned and opened the door for me.

    I opened the room and met the prince and the Queen in a heated discussion, i didn't even get the chance to hear what they were arguing about before they both paused to look at me. I bowed my head "good morning your highnesses." Silence. Not like I was expecting any answer at all. I looked up and saw the Queen looking at me like I'm some kind of disease that would infect her.

    "Who's this wretched thing Luciano?" She asked with a scornful look on her face.

    "She's my personal slave." The prince answered with an expressionless face.

    "Whaaaat!!!!" The Queen nearly screamed. Okay I'll rephrase that, she actually screamed. "How could you get a slave to work for you..!!!! in your personal space?" The Queen yelled her eyes wide open in fury. "How could you?!!.....after all they did to us!! To Eagan!!!...how could you take such a risk." Her voice boomed thunderously in the room. "You could've asked for a maid, Luciano!! a maid!!! not some scumbag!!" She yelled with her hand stretched towards me.

    *ouch! that hurts, really hurts*

    She laughed humorlessly turning to look at me with pure hatred in her eyes before saying "who knows, maybe one day she might murder you in your sleep."

 *Ugh??* I bowed my head not wanting her to see the pain in my eyes I still don't know what king Conrad did to these people to hate us this way

    There was silence in the room; only the Queen's ragged breathing was heard. "It's my decision mother, you don't have to worry about a thing." Prince Luciano said with a calm voice, I wonder how he manages to compose himself all the time.

    "Worry?? it's my duty to worry Luciano."

 The prince looked frustrated for a while running his hand in his hair. He was about to speak when the Queen turned around and pointed her fingers at me "you, if anything should ever happen to my son, if you dare lay a finger on him, I would not hesitate to kill you and every single last one of you." She spat out angrily before storming out of the room.

    I would be the greatest liar in history if I should say I'm not hurt right now, why are we all being punished for something we know nothing about? What is really going on? What is the source of this deep bone of hatred towards us? Did King Conrad do something really bad to these people that was worth all this despair. I really don't know.

    I looked up and staring at me, he stood up and said "you should get to work." and walked into the balcony. I took the broom and began sweeping the room.

                       *Luciano's POV*

    I signed exasperatedly as I ran my fingers through my hair. What the hell is wrong with me? How could I forget what they did? How could I take such a risk?. Mother was right. I understand the pain she feels. How could have been so stupid to choose a slave from the kingdom that betrayed and hurt us? I made a deadly mistake by making her my personal slave. Well I'm not going to back out. If she thinks she can pull up any stunt I would show her who and what I am. I'm not going to let her be a threat to us, and if she thinks she can put on bravery I'm going to let her suffer, all of them would suffer what they did to us.

                      *Eleanor's POV*

I used my skirt to wipe the sweat off my face. I was through with cleaning the prince room and I'm really tired and hungry but what can I do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I walked to the balcony to inform the prince that I've finished cleaning his room. I met him standing there holding the railings, his back to me. "I'm through your highness." I said, waiting for his response. He turned around to look at me. I raised my head to look at him and dear gods why was he looking like he could kill me, did I do anything wrong? He had this deadly look in his eyes like I'm the cause of his misery. What is seriously wrong with these people today? He left the railings and walked to....wait!!...me?? He stopped right in front of me and with that deadly look in his eyes he said "Master." 

*huh?? What did he mean*

    "I am your master and you are my slave, from now you would call me master not your highness or prince. I am not your prince and would never be. Do you get it??" He said with venom in his voice. I swear if looks could kill, I would be 15 feets beneath the ground.

 I bowed my head and said "yes...your....Master." It's not like I have a choice here. Without a word again he walked past me, I took it as a cue to follow him.

    He got to the room, brought out a bag from beneath his shelf and threw it at my feet. He also took his sword and walked out of the room . I picked up the bag and followed like an obedient dog. We walked down the stairs and out of the castle. We got to what looked like a field . I saw warriors with swords and arrows. Wait..are...we are here to train. I snapped out of my thoughts when he stopped and collected the bag. He opened it and brought out a bunch of arrows. Oh I get it, he's here to train.

    It was then a few people noticed us. I sighted a young man, who looked a lot like the prince, just a little younger, walking towards us. 

 "Hey brother." He looked at me "who is this?" He asked. Okay here we go again.

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                     *King Axel's POV*

"I received a letter today." I said, opening the scroll in my hand.

"From who?" Ariel asked brushing her already brushed hair.

"Elliot." I replied.

"Elliot?" She asked surprised pausing for a while to look at me.

"Yes, he says he's returning to Cordenia." I tell her

"Wow, I guess we should get prepared to give him a welcome party, huh, what do you think?" She suggested.

"Maybe." I said focusing on reading the scrolls.