After pulling away, he held my face. "I'm sorry, Allison. I misunderstood you."
I stepped back. "What are you even thinking? Don't you know what we just did is forbidden?"
Ethan raised a brow. "What's forbidden about wanting my ex back?"
My eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, what did you just say? What makes you think I'll date you again, Ethan? You never asked me about that picture, you just hated me for no reason." I shook my head, picked up my cleaning tools, and placed my hand on the doorknob.
"I'll make it up to you," he said.
"Ahh." I looked at him in disbelief. "Please don't. Let's just keep our hatred the way it is. You'll become a king soon." I said and walked away.
On my way, I met Elijah, who was already winking at me. "What else did you tell him?"
"Nothing much," he said casually.
"You shouldn't have taken me there in the first place. I didn't even know he would act like this after knowing the truth…"
"Actually, his hatred at that time was just to protect you. He's been living with his grandmother, and they're keeping an eye on you. But still, he should've asked you about that night."
"I shouldn't have told him the truth," I muttered.
Elijah chuckled. "Even if you didn't, you will still end up like this. I confronted him about why he told the guards to beat you, do you know what he whispered to one of them?"
I frowned. "What did he say?" I want to know too, the way the guard looked at me is very disturbing.
"He told them not to touch you. He only told them to pretend, and asked you to fake tears, to make them look real."
My eyes widened. "What?"
Elijah smirked. "Now tell me, how do you think this will end when you keep seeing each other every day? Ethan loved you so much, Allison." He turned to leave, then paused. "And… you're smelling like him too," he teased, laughing as he walked away.
I rushed to my room and changed my clothes. "Ethan!!" I gritted my teeth.
…..
The next day.
Loud noises from the throne hall woke me up. I got up and rushed there to see what was happening. When I arrived, I saw Monica on her knees, bruises all over her body, blood dripping from some wounds, chained like a thief. Wondering if she stole but I already guessed her offence.
Two huge guards stood beside her, holding strong belts.
"Please, my queen, it's not what you think!" Monica cried.
"Shut up, you slut!" The queen roared in anger. Every maid and guard bowed immediately. "How dare you rape my son, you disgusting animal!"
"Rape?" I frowned in confusion.
"Yes," Katherine, one of the educated maids, whispered beside me, trying not to laugh. "She was caught…" she giggled, covering her mouth. "She was caught riding the weak Prince Thomas. He looked drugged."
My mouth dropped open. Katherine continued, "They searched her room and found a seductive drug, almost finished. Turns out she's been doing it for a while."
I smirked quietly. About that drug, I was the one who poured a little into her food last night. I only wanted her to stay horny all day, but what I put in her food is very little, she will never end up like this. I had no idea she would go that far. Maybe someone else did this on purpose.
"I also heard she's been trying to get pregnant for Prince Thomas," Katherine added. "They found pregnancy kits in her room too, but all are negative."
My eyes widened. "Wait, what?"
"Why is she still wearing clothes? Strip her!" Queen Susan shouted. "The only relationship between a prince and a maid should be master and servant!"
My heart pounded. I knew she wasn't talking to me, but I still felt scared. When they ripped Monica's clothes off, the memory of Ethan's kiss flashed through my mind. "Oh no… what will they do to her?" I whispered.
"Don't know," Rosie muttered beside me. "But the queen is wicked with this kind of thing. Prince Thomas had once dated a commoner girlfriend, but she disappeared without a trace."
"You'll be a toy for the guards for three days," the queen said coldly, "and then you'll be beheaded."
"What?!" I gasped. That's too cruel!
"She deserves it," another maid whispered. "She used to harass her roommates and even set them up with men. Her roommates were the ones who showed the queen the drug yesterday, but she doesn't really pay any attention to it."
I stood there, speechless. "So… what I did was even useless?" I mumbled.
"I saw Benita exchange Monica's food last night," Rosie added quietly. "But maybe it's just my thinking."
So Monica didn't even eat the food I drugged… no wonder it turned out like this.
"My queen, please! I didn't mean to! Please have mercy!!" Monica screamed as they dragged her away.
The queen turned to us with cold eyes. "I can't believe this happened under my nose. I didn't just hire you, I pay you too! Tempting my son was that your goal?!" She looked furious. "If I catch another one of you, you'll be given to the guards and burned alive!"
I gasped softly.
Benita whispered, "Careful, Allison. The queen doesn't joke with her first son. Not all princesses and dukes' daughters can easily marry him. He's like a treasure to the whole kingdom."
Katherine nodded. "Yeah, but the real problem is… the crown prince doesn't fall easily. Even the queen can't control that."
I followed them quietly, lost in thought. I wish I could turn back time and run far away before Elijah comes.
But now… It's already too late.