Prince Lloyd paced restlessly around his room. He couldn't sleep — not with the image of that goddess in a maid's attire flashing through his mind. The door swung open as Liliana entered, smiling seductively, but he wasn't in the mood. She instantly knew something was bothering him.
"My Lord, you look restless," she said, walking toward him. When she reached him, he grabbed her waist, kissing her roughly until she was breathless.
"I want someone else tonight," he said, toying with her breast. She frowned.
"Who?" she asked.
"The maid who served dinner tonight," he replied, and she regretted her earlier actions. She wanted him to herself tonight, but she had ruined it. She had put Wendy's name there to embarrass her, but the girl had been too smart.
"Oh, my Lord… anyone but her," she scowled.
"It's her tonight or nobody," he said sternly. She sighed.
"I'll go call her. But what do I get in return?" she asked playfully, rubbing his groin.
"You know what I can do," he replied. She kissed him briefly and left, while he kept thinking about Wendy. She looked so innocent — untouched by any man — but tonight he promised himself that willingly or by force, she would be in his bed.
---
In her room, Wendy was narrating her encounter in the dining hall.
"So he wanted to keep you as a parlour maid permanently?" Ma Morrie said.
"That bloody pervert," Cherlie hissed.
"It's obvious he was enchanted by your beauty," Lia said.
"I was lucky Ma Zarina came to my rescue, or I'd be serving him right now," Wendy said.
As they spoke, Wendy fell silent. Her mind drifted the books she had seen in the library. She needed them — especially the old historic one. Just then, the door flung open and Liliana walked in, her usual rude manner on full display.
"Hey! Easy — you want to break the door?" Lia scolded.
"You better keep your mouth shut," Liliana yelled.
"Or what? You'll put her name in the milk maids division? Or the parlour maids like you did to Wendy?" Cherlie snapped.
"I didn't come for you. I came for her. Wendy — the prince summons you to his room. Good luck. And I don't think your protector will save you this time." With that, she slammed the door, making Ma Morrie hiss.
The room went silent as Wendy tried to digest the news.
"That good-for-nothing pervert," Ma Morrie muttered.
"That was Liliana's plan all along — to make you a b*tch like her," Lia said.
"She's jealous of your beauty, character, and discipline. How many virgins are even left among the new maids?" Ma Morrie added.
"I'm worried for you, Wendy," Cherlie said sadly. "Don't go."
"I can't ignore him. It's considered taboo to ignore a prince's summons. But I won't let him touch me."
"Be careful," Cherlie said, hugging her. Then Wendy left.
---
Wendy walked slowly toward the stairs leading to the largest rooms in the palace — a place she had never dared to set foot. She saw the last door at the extreme end; she was sure it belonged to the hostile Prince Leo. She wondered if he was asleep, or if someone like him ever slept.
A few meters before his room was Prince Lloyd's. Easy to tell — Leo's hallway was a dare-to-die zone. Only Ma Zarina and Ma Rosa were allowed there. Even the king himself was considered an uninvited guest.
Taking a deep breath, she knocked. No response. She gently pushed — and the door was unlocked.
She walked in. The room was brightly lit.
"Ah… you're here," a deep voice said. Her eyes traveled to the edge of the enormous bed, and there he was — Prince Lloyd — wearing only a towel around his waist.
Her innocent eyes drifted to his broad, hairy chest. She immediately shut her eyes and gulped. He walked closer, scanning her from head to toe. He ran his hand across her face, tracing her small rose-pink lips. His fingers followed her large blue eyes — fascinated that a maid could be this enchanting. She looked vulnerable… fragile… like a rose. But something was different. She wasn't trembling like the other girls he had taken. She wasn't scared.
He touched her ebony-black hair, feeling the softness. Then he leaned in, brushing his nose against her neck.
"You're so beautiful," he whispered.
She smiled, pretending to be surprised. He wasn't the first person — nor the hundredth — to say it.
"Thank you, Prince Lloyd," she said sweetly. She had her own plan tonight. She wasn't going to let this fool ruin it.
"Your beauty reminds me of the Nytherian women. You could pass as one," he said, grabbing her waist. A gasp almost escaped her lips at the cold touch on her bare skin.
He noticed her boldness. She didn't seem like an innocent girl. She must have had other men. Experience. She looked cunning… something about her felt unusual.
"How many men have had you?" he asked suddenly.
"A few," she replied — then added a sad expression.
"A few? For your beauty?" he muttered. Impossible.
He noticed her sorrowful look.
"Why the sadness on your gorgeous face?" he asked.
She hesitated, then spoke softly.
"No man has really wanted me."
Lloyd almost laughed. Was she mocking him? If only she knew how hard he was trying to be patient.
"That's impossible!"
"No man would want a plagued woman," she whispered — tears sliding down her cheeks.
"Y-you're… p-plagued?"
"Yes… I… I was raped years ago, and since then I've been fighting the dis-ease…"
Lloyd's eyes widened. His blood ran cold. He didn't want to die before his time.
He immediately shoved her out of his room and bolted the door.
Wendy wiped her tears — then grinned.
"Fooled him," she chuckled, walking toward the stairs leading to the library.
She needed those books — and she promised herself this was the last she would take.
IN THE LIBRARY
Prince Leo sat upstairs with a candle, reading, while Hugh, his personal guard, stood quietly beside him. Hugh was careful, knowing what Leo was capable of.
Leo was searching for the location of an ancient Nytherian woman the only one who knew the way to the Sword and Stone they sought. They needed it to invade Nytheris, their sworn enemy. He and his brother had trained for that journey all their lives and It was set to begin in a month.
Hugh dared not make a sound.
Then — a noise interrupted, someone had entered the library.
Leo looked down and saw a young girl sneak in.
Was she insane? Didn't she know the consequences?
He watched as she tiptoed through the shelves.
I have never seen a girl so studious, he thought.
When she turned, he recognized her — the same girl who served dinner.
The same girl Lloyd had been drooling over.
She was going to pay for trespassing, Some people needed experience to learn a lesson.