She stood shivering in fear. She was doomed.
"Gwendolyn Frost!" a familiar, shaky voice called, and she heaved a sigh of relief as she turned to meet Ma Zarina, the oldest maid in the palace.
"Ma Zarina, you scared me to death," she gasped, but she could tell the woman was angry. There were deep lines forming on her wrinkled face.
"I… I just returned a book…"
"And you were about to take another," Ma Zarina said, still frowning.
"Oh… yes… I mean no… no, I would never," Gwen stammered.
"Oh Gwen, you're just like he described: curious, adventurous. It's a pity I didn't get to meet the others," Ma Zarina said, referring to her father and sisters. She was the only one who knew Gwen's true identity. She had told Gwen how she had been friends with her father during his stay in the dungeon — sneaking food to him and listening to stories about his family.
Ma Zarina scolded her as she led her out of the library.
"What if it were him? You know the consequences," she warned, referring to Prince Leo. Gwen's heart skipped a beat as she imagined the worst.
"You have to continue your bloodline, my dear. You have to live for your family. They expect a lot from you," Ma Zarina added.
Gwen felt terrible as she returned to her room. It was still dark. She gazed at the sky, remembering stargazing nights with her family… and now every one of them was up there, watching her, expecting so much.
By dawn, everyone resumed their chores. Gwen was assigned to mop the palace walkways. Afterward, she slipped away to the garden — nature always helped her breathe. Yet nature had cost her everything too. If she had never left home, perhaps her family would still be alive.
She caught sight of a bed of fresh red roses behind an old hall. They would look beautiful on their window. She went behind the hall to pick some, but soon heard suspicious sounds inside. Curious, she peeked through the window…
Prince Lloyd… and Liliana… making out shamelessly.
Her stomach churned. Gwen quickly left before they noticed , she didn't need trouble.
Back in her room, Ma Morrie and Cherlie were resting. Gwen joined them, lying on her bed as the disturbing images replayed in her mind, making her want to throw up.
"You look sick," Cherlie said. Gwen forced a smile.
"Nope, healthy as a horse," she lied.
"I wanted to ask… since I heard Prince Lloyd has screwed many maids in the palace," Cherlie said. Gwen's brows raised. Liliana wasn't even the first?
"You know you're extremely pretty, so keep away from him… them… both," Ma Morrie warned. Gwen chuckled nervously.
Just then, Lia dashed in, panting hard. Everyone stared she looked terrified.
"Easy, girl. What's the matter?" Gwen asked.
"I saw it… I saw him kill Dreg!," Lia said shakily.
"Saw who?" Cherlie asked, her voice trembling.
"Prince Leo killed Dreg! He interrupted him and he struck him down with a sword," Lia cried, eyes watery. Silence filled the room. Gwen's heart pounded so loudly she thought she would faint.
"This is just the Genesis," Ma Morrie said grimly. "You'll see more of him."
Later that evening, Gwen sat while Cherlie braided her long black hair, delighting in how soft it felt. She had inherited her father's hair and her mother's beauty — though Jacklyn shared more of her mother's eyes and features.
"I wish they never returned," Cherlie whispered sadly. Gwen smiled softly.
"No one will hurt you, Cherlie. Not when I'm here," she vowed. She had failed to save her sisters once — she would die before failing again.
"I heard Barbara was slapped yesterday for spilling sauce while serving," Cherlie said. Gwen could already imagine Barbara staring dreamily at Prince Leo. That man looked like a demigod.
"It's not her fault. Everyone makes mistakes."
"She is lucky it wasn't Prince Leo who slapped her. I heard his slap could knock someone unconscious," Cherlie added.
Suddenly, Lia rushed in again, eyes wide with shock.
"What! You're still here?" she exclaimed, staring directly at Gwen.
"Me?" Gwen asked, confused.
"You're five minutes late in serving royal dinner!" Lia scolded.
"When last did you check the roaster?" Cherlie asked.
"But I'm not assigned to food service!" Gwen protested. Something wasn't right.
"Just go, go, go quickly!" Lia urged.
Panicked, Gwen dashed off, biting her lip. Terrifying thoughts raced — would she be punished? Slapped? Worse? Her fingers touched the half-braided hair… no time. She must face whatever came.
She rushed into the kitchen, grabbed the food cart, and pushed it toward the royal dining hall. Her heart hammered as she parted the curtains…
The royal family glared impatiently.
Prince Lloyd's jaw dropped when he saw her approaching.
She nervously placed the cart beside the king. She could now see him clearly for the first time… and then her eyes met Prince Leo's.
His sharp jaw. His blood-red lips twisted in silent rage. His green eyes glowing like fireflies in a pitch-black night.
"You're late!" he hissed. That deep velvet voice nearly knocked the breath from her chest.
"I'm sorry," she blurted, serving the food clumsily.
"You're not a parlour maid?" King Lance observed. She nodded. He must have noticed her inexperience. He resembled Lloyd a lot… but Leo was something entirely different.
"A captive from the East?" he asked. She nodded again.
"Wow, I didn't know their women were extraordinarily pretty," Prince Lloyd said, licking his lips. Gwen grimaced as the memory behind the hall flashed again.
As she served him, his hand slid to her bare waist — shamelessly, even before the king.
Disgusted, she shifted away.
While waiting nervously for them to finish eating, she spotted Ma Zarina in the distance — furious. Gwen wasn't supposed to be here.
As Ma Zarina approached, the king smiled at her.
"My most trusted, my most ancient, my most reliable, even in her old age."
"Your Grace," she bowed, leaning on her walking stick.
"I don't know — you breed pretty parlour maids," the king remarked. Gwen swallowed.
"She isn't a parlour maid; she is a househol..."
"It doesn't matter. I don't mind if she serves me personally," Prince Lloyd interrupted with a smirked.
Prince Leo remained silent, eating slowly, as though none of this concerned him.
"Your Highness, your food servants are different from the household servants. Keeping her puts everything out of place," Ma Zarina insisted.
But Gwen's beauty had already brought danger… and Lloyd didn't care.
Then Leo finally spoke.
"Why don't you listen to her? She is the oldest servant; she knows more than you in terms of stuff like this."
"I see your point there," King Lance agreed.
And that was how Gwen was saved.
Later, Ma Zarina confronted Liliana about placing Gwen's name on the serving list.
"It doesn't matter; she is a slave like everyone else."
"You don't add or remove anyone from a division without consulting me," Ma Zarina scolded.
"You've never scolded me for this before. Is it because she's your favorite? That's why you've been protecting her?" Liliana accused.
"Is that why you don't like her?" Ma Zarina asked.
"I didn't say such. All I said is that she is just like everyone else."