Nerina's POV
I let out a groan as I shifted my position on the bed.
Bed.
I couldn't find any building around me.
Where was I? Was this place still on Earth? I whispered the questions to myself. Suddenly, a movement caught my eye, and I turned to the right, only to realize it was just a mirror.
I gasped as I saw what I was wearing. It was a long, flowing silk white dress that felt incredibly soft against my skin, cascading down to the floor. My hair was loose, falling in waves down my back.
My beauty had often felt like a curse; men always seemed eager to exploit it. However, the silver lining was that I had managed to make a living from it. I couldn't help but think about how furious my boss would be if I didn't show up for work. After all, I was his best employee, and he would definitely be upset.
The doors were suddenly thrown open, startling me. I turned in shock to see a girl stroll in. She was dressed in a black dress that clung tightly to her pale figure, leading me to assume she was the maid based on her attire.
"Miss Nerina, I'm glad you're awake," she said, and I raised an eyebrow at her in surprise.
"And who are you? What does this mean? What is this place?" I snapped at her, my tone rude. She maintained a poker face, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but I have been instructed to bathe you and prepare you for dinner," she replied. At the mention of dinner, my stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten in days.
Somehow, I sensed that escaping from this castle would not be an easy task. The men who had taken me seemed determined to ensure that I wouldn't leave them. I had no idea what they wanted, but I instinctively knew that it wasn't money.
I found myself pondering what they could possibly want from a woman like me. Many men had paid for my services, yet none had ever shown any interest in kidnapping me. This left me questioning whether Ryan, my boss, had truly sold me to the highest bidder. I had witnessed some of the girls being sold off, never to return, and I never imagined that I would be in such a situation one day. I had fought hard enough to ensure he never had the option to sell me.
The young woman remained silent as she moved toward the bathroom, opening the door for me. I didn't protest as I walked into the bathroom, which was just as stunning as the rest of the place. There was even a small pool inside.
"Who took off my clothes? I distinctly remember that this isn't what I was wearing when I arrived here," I inquired, looking at her.
"I did," she replied flatly, devoid of any emotion, which suggested she wasn't in the mood for conversation.
She instructed me to remove my clothes, and I complied as I stepped into the bath. To my surprise, she followed suit, and I stood there, wide-eyed, bewildered by what was unfolding.
"I'm sorry, but what is happening?" I asked her, but she continued undressing until she was in her underwear.
"I have been instructed to bathe you, ma'am. I apologize for the inconvenience," she stated.
I let out a laugh, and she remained standing there, looking at me with eyes that were completely devoid of emotion, making me feel foolish for laughing.
"In all my years of being alive, I have never heard of anyone bathing an adult woman," I remarked, but she merely scoffed.
"The queen mother has instructed me, ma'am. Please get into the pool," she urged, and I stood there, staring at her as if she were out of her mind.
I wasn't sure if they had brought me here for some sort of sex show, but I certainly wasn't going to fall for something as ridiculous as having another woman bathe me.
"You don't need to do this; I can bathe myself, so please excuse me," I said, and she remained there as I stepped into the water.
I turned around to see her eyes not focused on me but rather fixed on the wall. If I hadn't noticed her human features, I might have mistaken her for a robot, but I had my doubts about that.
"Can you please leave?" I asked her rather rudely. However, before she could respond, the doors were flung open, and two maids entered. My eyes widened in surprise as they began to remove their clothing.
"What the hell is going on here?" I snapped at them, but they stepped into the pool, moving closer to me. Just as I tried to back away, the two maids grabbed me, holding me firmly in place while one of them started to bathe me.
I struggled against them, but they continued to wash me. My screams were muffled by one of the maids, while the other meticulously cleaned every inch of my body. Once they finished, they stepped out of the pool.
"Please step out of the pool," the maid who had been with me since the beginning instructed, while the other two got dressed and exited the room.
"I will sue all of you! Once I reach my lawyer, I will ensure that you both pay for the harm you have inflicted on me," I snapped at her as she watched me. I should have mentioned how strong these women were.
The ones who worked here were athletic and stunningly beautiful.
I stepped out of the pool when I received no response from her, as she continued to clean me up and helped me put on a robe.
We walked out of the bathroom, and she opened another door. As she did, I froze in place.
It was the wardrobe, enormous and as large as the room itself. I had only ever seen something like this in movies, never in real life. I walked in, filled with awe, and as I looked around, the first thing that caught my eye was the elegant crowns at the end of the room, protected by a glass display.
I rushed toward it, and as I stood there gazing at it, I knew without a doubt that I was looking at real diamonds and jewels crafted from rubies, emeralds, and so much more.
I stepped back in shock as I took in the sight of the dresses, some displayed on mannequins—ball gowns designed with all kinds of rubies, dresses I had only ever seen on television, and they truly stood out.
The maid cleared her throat, prompting me to turn and look at her. She was holding out a simple, plain white dress that was quite pretty, especially when paired with some shoes.
"Can't I at least choose something to wear?" I asked her, rolling my eyes in frustration.
"The queen mother instructed me," she replied, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes again at her response.
Without saying another word, she dressed me in some underwear that I wasn't certain belonged to me, followed by the dress.
I attempted to engage her in conversation, but my efforts were futile. I asked her about various topics, but she remained tight-lipped, even refusing to share her name.
Once she finished dressing me, she styled my hair in a way that I found unappealing. I knew that even if I protested, she would insist it was what the queen mother wanted.
When she stepped back, I gasped at my reflection in the mirror. I looked beautiful and, for the first time, quite elegant. I had never worn a dress that extended past my knees, let alone a dress that did. I had no jewelry on, and my hair was pulled back neatly.
I admired myself for a moment before the maid cleared her throat again, as if signaling for me to follow her. I complied as she led me out of the room.
As we reached the staircase, I froze in awe.
Running down the stairs, I marveled at the beauty of the castle; it seemed timeless.
The entire structure was white, but what struck me as odd was the presence of wolf statues surrounding it. Guards patrolled the halls, and the maid walked ahead of me as I hurried to keep up, captivated by every detail.
The men in the castle were dressed in white and gold, standing watch at nearly every corner of the hall.
"You are meeting the queen mother for dinner. You are not to speak unless spoken to, you are not to sit until she sits, and you are not to eat until she eats. You will stop when she stops," the maid instructed me, and I rolled my eyes once more at her strictness.
From the way she spoke about the queen mother, it was clear that she was revered here. Was this really the seventh century?
It was annoying how much i had to listen to her talk about what the fuck the queen mother want sand what she does not, i hated it.
The woman ripped my dress, exposing my underwear—who does something like that?
As we approached the door, I was distracted, scanning my surroundings when the maid knocked, and the door swung open.
At the head of the table sat the older woman I had witnessed transform into a monster earlier, but it wasn't just her that frightened me; it was the enormous portrait behind her. In that painting, my kidnappers stood proudly together, with her seated in the center. That's when it all clicked for me.
The monster was the queen mother, and she was also the mother of my captors.