THE MAIDEN AND THE BEAST KING
idors were practically empty this morning when I was moving around,
young woman just moments later, but those are the only ones I see. I'm honestly pretty surprised. King Richard loved to k
. The staring isn't too bad, but the jeering makes my blood boil and my face heats up in embarrassment. I'm sure by th
rprise that it's happening. Everybody in my life has warned me that it
ody, and I'm regretting not taking their advice to heart. Maybe once the Beast has finished with me t
with one another as well. Gwen is the only person I know here that I could ask, but there's no way she would give me a se
e would have sex with me if I asked, but I want t
suddenly asks, stepping in fr
y there." I answered him truthfully, knowing that he would be able t
It's probably not too common to see a servant walking around by themselves at th
towards the guard's chambers. Assuming that I was correct in hearing th
pore of my body. I'm sure that every Beast in a fifty-foot radius of me ca
asts all huddled around whispering amongst one another. None pay any a
to give me directions. To be honest I expected him to be waiting for me in the hallway. Most Beasts lo
alone in the corner, a
g my eyes to the ground and sh
nts. "
of the King's chambers in the morning." I answe
tly. After a couple of seconds I glance up at him, noticing t
" He
ork." I answer, confused as to why he is asking. I thought
"Well, today's you
nd see a large man standing behind me, pointing towards a door further
revent being noticed by the guards. Thankfully, my attempt works as they continue to talk amongst themselves, completely ignoring my presence. Under normal circumstanc
door. I quickly blink them away, doing my best to compose m
ab the knob, drop my face to th
and take a peek into the room. My blood runs cold and all
the gaping hole in his chest and pulling out around his body. His
ar laughter from the guards all around me, but am unable to focus on anything
ts racing a million miles a minute. Will I be punished for this? Will they think that I'm involved in his death? It
. Even if the Royals know that I didn't do it, my life is expendable
s the room is hunched over in
ween laughter. "Looks like
of the area. Getting back to the safety of t
myself. Turning, I run down the first pair of stairs I find, and once I get to the
growing exponentially as I round the corner
eir faces and wooden bowls in their hands. I quickly spot Joh
been looking all over for you. You left so early this mo
this morning! Apparently he just walked into the guy's bedroo
hn says this. Nobody thinks
the fact that I was meant to serve that par
y grab something to eat. My eyes immediately lock in on the food covering
efore taking a piece of bread too for good measure. John w
taking a large bite of bread as
ted around for you to come out of the women's
slightly guilty for not connecting wi
me as everybody else's. I didn't leave until re
d slightly to the side. "We do sta
se that Gwen must have lied to me this morning. I'm not
told me that I started ea
. "We can walk together tomorrow. O
the guard though I know that I need to ask John to sleep with me. My cheeks he
e I am called again, and I would
have a big favou
ain harder. King Heloix must have had guests over last night
had my work cut out for me, but I didn't expect to have to spend a
couple of times to dilute the wine, before ringing out all the soapy water and climbing back onto the bed
e first couple of days, always working in his office, but lately has been absent. I'm not sure where, but he's gone
g to fade. The stain won't completely disappear, but my goal is to get enoug
l. I'd never say this out loud, but it's what he deserved for spilling it in the first place
if I can smell any wine. My nose picks up the light scent of soap and laundry detergent, but no wine. Dee
, but it'll do."
ing. The once clear water inside the bucket is now tinted purple, an
nner left for me when I get back. I made the mistake of cleaning the entire place before taking a look at the bed. Foolishly, I assume
e sheets. They are nice and warm as I pull them from the machine, and I can'
back over to the bed, careful not to drop anything onto the ground. I'm for the most part succes
falls from the top of my bundle just as my hand closes a
chuckle has me
Papers are all sprawled out along the coffee table in front of him, and he leans back
referring to me hunched over tryi
, embarrassed at having bee
and I'll be gone." I apologise, knowing
lear in my movements. The King has never worked outsi
e fitted sheet. I make haste to get it on the mattress, internally cursing as my fumbling han
me or anything of the sort. Typically Beasts move quietly, and often to such a degree that the human ear has trouble
ant ones are typically accompanied by unpleasant scents. He probably doesn't appr
or you when you get back."
rners of the sheet as
to the kitchen area. I strain my ears to listen to what he is do
n me, but despite it I keep my head down and continue working on the b
from the kitchen as I set
out through my nose. It's a calming technique I learned from John's
show as I turn away from
food placed in front of him. Hesitantly, I walk forwar
?" I
will be working from my office tomorrow and don'
r the King was served last night. Farfalle pasta covered with spinach, mushro
iven food like this. Kitchen maids have been k
he bowl towards me. "Don
eeping a watchful eye on the King. He takes a sudden step backward and I flinch in
chance to settle down, before stabbing a coup
rienced before fill my mouth, and I immediately understand why humans aren't
of food I would spend all d
kful after forkful into my mouth, hardly even chewing between bites. The bowl empties in record time, and the King steps for
d grabs the bowl, moving a
" He says, before turning and wa
ments, careful to maint
It was incredibly kind of him to let me eat his
he plops down on it and grabs a couple of papers off the table. Taking
ed to put some muscle in it. A quiet grunt leaves my throat at the effort, and I pr
and I spot John standing
iting for hours!" He asks, coming up
te for me, my stomach already beginn
e done today." I answer, feeling guilty
lways be with me in the hallways. We both know that should a guard choose to take me tha
isper to him, looking around to mak
another. They are obviously being pretty hush-hush about it, not wanting to admit
more so that he has taken the initiative to ask around
t's completely empty. Apparently it's where the King will move to once he finds his mate and starts a family
ed. "I was expecting you to tell me ab
The knowledge that we will have an entire room to ourselves is ideal too. Now
?" I ask, eager
when we are inside. The stairwells echo, and it is too risky to talk about such thi
" John says the second we
g sure the coast is cl
- I'm sure you've seen them around. Well, they are staying in the r
?" Emma questions, glancing up
s sitting on the floor cross-legged, eating some oats for breakfast. We haven't spoken to o
I need to clean all the furniture in the cour
extra tasks to do each day. They take me hours to complete, and for the past couple of days I've been lucky to get even four
t that! Gwen's a real hardass on you. I think it's because she
lly speaking, cleaning the King or Second's chambers is a pretty easy job, and as such is typically favoured a
a points a finger at me, pursing her lips befo
y hand over my he
ead as she sets her bowl in the
be late." She says, giving me a s
or me to get to work as well. Thankfully the King hasn't spoken to me since
while in his presence, but I don't worry that he's
nd of the servant's hallway, and
d to the courtyard after work, so you
immediately respond. I can practically see the cogs turning in his
down to the courtyard." He a
st know that I won't be off
ollowing behind, and seconds later I can feel his body heat to my right. We both keep o
ing to find the best one. If we get heckled or grabbed at we will attempt a different route the next d
nd lifts my skirts as I pass. And after the main hall, if we go up the staircase further down the hallway, we will avoid the guard who loudly jokes
"I'm so jealous that the King had those new hinges put on
la
who keeps the suite clean." I argue, secretly wishi
s left on practically every flat surface, and a giant pile of dishes in the si
hn agrees, joinin
rtion of walking up six flights of stairs isn't the reason why. We are audibly out
ends of the hallway, and I give John a quick wa
tarted with my day. The place isn't too bad today, and hopefully I can get d
ily fluids. The past couple of days there has been semen in his sheets, so I've been giving them daily washes. It's not great f
the bed. I can see the King watching me out of the corner
the kitchen to clean the dishes. I usually like to clean up the livin
considered disrespectful, but it's hard not to. It's fascinating to see ho
s are prominent under his smooth skin, not a freckle or scar visible. He leans
against a plate. The King spins around quickly, our eyes meeting for a
He teases, causing
tified that he caught me watching him, and even more so at the emotions that seeing his body inv
minutes later, slamming the front door shut behind him. Reli
sks. I've been good about keeping up on the deep cleaning, so all that reall
ing around. To my surprise though it isn't the King that has entered,
ts me, a wide smile sp
to stay throughout the night to wait on the Heloix and I. ''
e coat, scared of what
ringing me a glass
"Yes
nkle it against anything. King Heloix has a wine fridge in his
servants who are allowed to even come in contact with alcohol are those that work in the kitchen, so I've never had to op
The woman questions, clearl
rom the cabinet and fill it up. I'm careful not t
say, holding out
ent request. She begins walking around the room, fingers gliding over every surface as she passes. I'm s
ces as I debate on whether or not I should say anything. If I do, she will undoubtedly punish me, but if I don't,