A low-life devil

Alicia's POV

The moment I anticipated one last deep cut, a notification came from a thick voice guard "The Princess of Oceania has arrived, your Highness!!!"

"I will be there in a few minutes" he answered.

"Yes, your Highness," the guard answered loudly.

"I want to go back" I whispered. "Just let me go. I promise not to tell anyone about the Prince in disguise" I weep as my lips tremble.

I was beginning to feel feverish.

"You are still as naive as I could remember. You are not leaving until I tell you to. It's a command, not a statement and if you try to escape, you will be killed by the security guards before I might show up. Be obedient" He muttered rudely and motioned towards the entrance of the majestically built room.

I followed behind while blood continued to drop from my neck. I placed my hand on the spot to stop the bleeding until two guards tugged me from the back. I cried out but one of them hurriedly used his strong hand to clasp my mouth.

Arnold didn't make a move about noticing my disappearance from his back.

Slowly, I began to feel unconscious till darkness enveloped me.

A week later~~~~~

"His Highness summoned you" the head of the maid quivered and urged me away from the heap of clothes I was washing.

"Why is he calling me?" I frowned and touched my bruised neck which still hurt like hell even though it got treated before I regained consciousness a few days ago.

The heads of maids stared at me like I had grown two strong horns. "If you know that your parents still need you to be their daughter, run like a chased cheetah to the chamber" she ordered.

"I do not have a parent though" I murmured and walked out of the backyard sluggishly.

The part I was residing in was the least beautified part of the palace. You are restricted to so many things including the time to say a word.

I prefer and miss the Prime minister's household.

I had not made any friends among the ladies and I wasn't ready to have any at the moment. I heard them gossiping about the dangerous and inhuman things Arnold had done to people who defied him and I couldn't help it but get rattled.

The one I had lived all my life was now a totally different person. A devil, not an ordinary but a low-life devil.

However, a tiny hope still lingers in the profound part of my heart about his regard for me even after I heard that he was going to get married to the princess of the neighbouring Nation, Oceania.

Arnold is a bastard and I am a callow maid.

I stare at my hand which had gotten peeled from excess washing of clothes.

The guard glared at me in an indication for me to hasten my steps. I obeyed and walked faster.

I was led to a room that was different from the one I was taken to before.

Without raising my head and eyes, as I was feeling a shade of contempt toward Arnold, I knelt and bowed down while the guard exited the chamber.

"Rise" Arnold muttered in a boring tone.

I arose with my eyes lowered to the neatly tiled floor.

"Look up dear," an annoying feminine voice urges.

My heart shattered to see a shirtless Arnold with a princess-like dressed woman rubbing his chest.

I had promised not to cry.

I can't, I won't

I continued to chant to myself while my eyes became blurry.

I was too weak to bear it and I did the exact thing they wanted me to feel.

Miserable.

I couldn't control my feelings as tears fell from my eyes.

"Those are forbidden!" Arnold thundered and stretched his muscles.

"Don't be annoyed darling. It's bound to happen. Ladies tend to feel hurt when they find their mates intimate with another individual. Their wolf cries and yearns for one, " She smiles mockingly and pinches his breast.

Aaron groaned at her seducing acts and pecked her cheek as he relaxed himself on the enormous chair. "I'm the luckiest man in the world. I can't wait to claim you when the time comes" he smirked and touched her palms affectionately.

"It's within your limit, your Highness. I have told you several times that you can do whatever you want. We are getting married soon and I will be your queen while you rule the great Genovia. You love me don't you?" She mewled seductively while tears gushed out of my eyes.

It hurts.

I couldn't bear to listen to his reply and without thinking twice, I stood up to walk away.

I heard a faint gasp from the Princess and I stood still after realizing my action.

What have I done?

"Allow me to intervene, your Highness," she muttered.

He probably permitted her as I felt her pull me by my hair.

I winced at the pain while she pushed me on my knees.

She scoffed.

"Your Highness, am I missing something? This tiny lady is capable of disrespecting you! What is happening?" She winced and strode to Arnold.

"Fatou, I told you about an ore mine didn't I?" Arnold began.

The mention of the ore mine made the Princess whom I realize goes by the name Fatou calm. She settled beside Arnold and listened carefully.

"This slave is the only one that knows the whereabouts of the mine. I don't want her dead for now" he declared, earning a gasp from the dramatic Fatou.

"What do we do about that? I still can't believe that she's your mate," she stated with a disgusted expression.

"Don't call her that," he warned.

"I'm sorry" she apologized.

From his casual interaction with Fatou, It seems that he is in love with her. My mind got occupied with the reality of what was going on in my front.

Arnold is not mine anymore. We are now strangers, probably foes

"You can leave" He dismissed me and I scampered out without looking back.

**

In the middle of the night, after working non-stop. I have no idea why half of the works of the low-status maid were distributed to me.

At the same time, I couldn't complain.

I carefully lay on the tiny bed and wrapped the gown around myself. It was cold and my other two clothes were not an option because they were my uniforms.

I shivered continuously till someone spread a warm and thick blanket on me. My eyes became teary at the comfort of the blanket and I looked up to see one of the maids. I recognized her as the only one who didn't give me her laundry to take care of.

She held a pitiful stare that made me feel vulnerable. I was on the edge of crying again.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"Yeah," I faked a smile.

"I want you to feel warm before the guards get here. I sighted them from afar and it seems they are here for you" she declared and my heart dropped.

"I had always wanted to sneak into your room but I am scared that the others will see that I'm nice to you. Are you anyhow acquainted with His Highness?" She asked curiously but I shifted to stare at the wall.

"We were ordered to treat you that way. I don't want you to see us as bad people. His Highness must not know that we are lenient with you. I only heard that when he is angry, he executes his offender without mercy. But why is he being cruel to you?" She continues and I rashly fling the blanket away from my body.

Feeling sympathy and still making me recall the reason for my misery.

"You ought…"

"You are summoned Alicia" the head of the maid bagged in.

I ran without being sluggish like the last in the morning as I had gotten more chores from the instruction of one of the guards.

When we got to the chamber, I met a naked Arnold sitting on the bed. My heart skipped as I stepped backward.

"Don't dare to take a step backward!" he hollered.

"What do you want from me?" I cried out.

"Strip" he commanded.

The word made me feel numb. At that position, my soul cried for my deceased parents.