Aria POV:

It was evening so soon, I was in the room with Clara and Maya as I rushed my meal like my life depends on it. I missed breakfast and lunch I can't miss this one. After eating, I'm going to clean the kitchen and fetch some firewood for cooking.

"Aria are you okay?" Maya asked.

"Yeah I'm cool".

"No you're not". Maya said.

Why can't she see I can't talk right now. I've got lots to do after eating this meal.

"You aren't looking healthy".

"I am". I said disagreeing with her.

"No you're not". Maya replied.

"I said I am".

"Aria. Maya here has a point. You aren't looking healthy, you skip meals all the time and either end up eating once a day or not at all. The duties you do everyday is draining and weakening you. Just tell the king to reduce the chores you do everyday". Clara suggested.

I crackled as they both stared at me weirdly. Although she has a point. I'm already stressed out but how do they expect me to meet the king and tell him this. Is just like standing in front of lion and telling it not eat you.

"I understand but I'm fine, okay".

I said as I got up from my bed heading out with my empty plate.

Heading straight to the kitchen to keep my empty plate, I saw prince Kiran walking towards me with a smile. Aww... Such a cutie.

"Good evening maiden Aria". He greeted. Oh my he's greeting me.

"Same to you prince Kiran".

"I'm happy I've finally found you. I was thinking of day we could spend time together and get to know each other but it seems you're always busy, I can hardly see you in a day".

"Oh, well I apologies, when I have spare time I'll inform you". I replied but deep down I knew I won't.

He smiled and said.

"You know you're the nicest royal maiden here. There was a maiden named Tianna, she's so sassy. She has a big problem". He complained.

"Oh really".

"Yeah she thinks she's better than her minions and any other maidens here".

Just calling Tianna friends minions made me laugh out loud. This boy is something else.

"Just through the way she behaves and her attitude problem, I can never marry such person". He said shaking his head in grimace.

"Wow! What do prince Kiran know about marriage?" Surprised by his choice of words.

"Marriage is the coming together of a man and a woman to form a home, and whereby a woman can't manage home or has a very bad characteristics the home is scattered". He elaborated.

Oh my I never knew he could be this intelligent.

"That's nice, your highness I'll be on my way now I've got duties to carry out now".

"Aren't you meant to be resting by now?" Kiran asked.

"Well not now, once I'm done with my chores I'll then..."

"You servant, may I know why the hell you're standing there doing nothing". I heard the king ask walking towards us.

From far or near you'll recognise the king's voice anywhere. He has a sweet masculine voice.

I quickly bowed and answered.

"Your majesty I'm heading to my duty post right this instinct".

"Standing around and doing nothing attracts a punishment, I hope you know that?" The king asked staring at me sternly.

"Yes your majesty".

"Arh...brother this is my new friend I was telling you about. Isn't she beautiful?" Prince Kiran complimented.

"I don't have time to discuss rubbish with you. And you, for such action performed today as a punishment, you shall fill a drum close to the guards chambers tomorrow evening".

What is wrong with this man? I felt like tearing him into pieces, no, I felt like grabbing that nose of his and shove it into his ass. He keeps stressing and frustrating me with work and badly enough it works.

"Come on brother she has so much to do why such punishment?" Kiran ask in disbelief.

"Just keep quite".

"Brother there's no need for such punishment I was the one who delayed her". Kiran explained. Thank you so much Kiran.

"Shut it Kiran, Instead leave this place now". King Anthony ordered being a bit annoyed with his brother reply.

"Your majesty there's no need to chase him away he has a point".

I said defending most of myself because I didn't want to do such work tomorrow evening. I won't be able to eat evening meal but what shocked me was when king Anthony slapped me on my face hard which almost left me stumbling.

"You idiot, did I ask you to speak? You've got no stupid right to interfere with our discussion, who gave you the useless right to tell me what to do?" He asked arrogantly.

I felt like screaming at him, I felt like yelling at his face but who am I to do so?

"Brother stop yelling at her. Why slap her like that? She's a woman? " Kiran asked with shock.

"Kiran leave this place now".
"And you get your idiotic self out of my sight, now". King Anthony yelled out angrily.

Without wasting a sec I ran towards the kitchen.

"Anthony why are you mean towards her all the time?" Kiran shouted at his brother.

I quickly entered into the kitchen and started clearing the dishes. Why am I treated like this? I tried my best to avoid troubles, make sure I carry out my duties, I skip meals or end up starving because of all the chores. And at the end I get slapped on the face and insults are been thrown at me same time.

Tears filled my eyes but I refused to cry, I swallowed my tears, my feelings even though it hurts so much .

I was done washing the dishes as I headed to the garden to fetch firewood. I was finally done and was heading to my room for a rest when Tianna and her friends stopped and surrounded me.

Not in the mood to argue I tried following the left and one of them blocked me, I tried the right but another did, I turned around but they still did same and I became angry and faced Tianna.

"What's this nonsense?"

"Why bother asking?" She replied with an evil smirk.

"Stop being idiotic and leave me alone". I said looking at her in the eyes.

"Oh my! Look at who is calling me idiotic while some minutes ago you where called such name". She said in sarcasm.

"What do you mean?"

"Stop acting Aria, your charm was effective on prince Kiran but will never be on king Anthony. Don't think you're special because being slapped by the king just down graded you to abrupt nonsense. Instead does charm you try using on the king is teaching serious lesson. You walk like a slave and you've become a punching bag". Tianna said and her girls laughed in mockery

Where was she able know all this. Have I suddenly become a gossip topic to them.

"Funny enough this not like the first time I've seen the king slapping you on the face, that means you're a nonentity to him. To elaborate we maids here... I mean we royal maids here serves as an important to him and you... I mean you hahaha, serves as a slave and foot rag before him".

She mocked me and her girls laughed out loud. Her words pained me so much and there was no denial that she was right. She mocked me so well and they enjoyed it more because of the king's attitude towards me.

I tried walking away from them but Tianna pushed me back.

"I'm not done with you". She said and continued.

"Just look at yourself from up to down, your are so useless, according to what the king said. You're a frustrated human and might never have a normal life here, I'll enjoy to see you suffer retch".

She insulted and left as her girls followed her behind. Tears filled my eyes quickly, I tried to suppress the tears but it betrayed me. I dropped down and cried my eyes out. Her words were like sniper which could suffocate you and the kings words where like a poisonous digger stabbing within. They both added to my misery. And true enough I was indeed useless.

Someone placed their hands on my shoulder, I instantly clean my tears and looked up to see a handsome... I said handsome not very handsome but a handsome guard who smiled at me. That smile was encouraging.

I got up from the floor and replied.

"Mr, how may I help you?"

"I saw you crying, I was just being concerned why a beautiful maiden would be crying by this time, what's the issue?".

"Was there ever any appropriate time for a beautiful maiden to cry?". I asked

He was shocked by my answer and tried to reply but I spoke immediately.

"Besides It's non of your business". I replied a bit arrogant and turned around to live.

"But miss may I know your name". He asked.

"No you may not".

"Okay if you need someone to talk to, I'm here, my name is Joseph". He said.

"No!"

I answered walking away from him and he laughed out loud.
Why is he laughing? I never said anything funny?

I hurried to my room, laid on my bed and slept off, tomorrow is a long run.

But I'll never forget what the king did to me, he made a mockery out of me in front of people, he made me look like a slave, he called me so many hurtful names and I'll never forget this day.

I'll never forget.

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
Okay guys I hope you enjoyed this one.
A new character is in.

How do you feel?
Lets see how things goes 😁😘

Thanks for reading 💙💙💙💙