Chapter three

KIRA'S POV.

I spent the next few weeks learning how to be a serving maid. Rose was really nice to me, the other maids, not so much. Princess Nina was always very nice to me, she didn't mind the times when I'd spill tea on her dress or when I made a mistake in tying up her corset.

"That's not how you do it, try again." She'd always say no matter how many times I made a mistake. She treated me like I was her younger sister, Phillip on the other hand was a complete asshole. Rose was right about him. He was obnoxious and impossibly irritating.

He was two years older than Nina so he was the one to take over the throne so he was way over his head even though he was annoyingly dumb. The only thing he was average in was his looks.

"What are you doing?, Shouldn't you be helping Nina prepare for the evening?" Queen Adina sneered, her voice sharp and harsh.

"Yes your highness, I'll get right to it."

"Wait," I turned to face her and she hit me hard across the face. "Is that my daughter's hairpin in your hair? She asked slowly, pointing at my hair with her long skinny finger.

"Princess Nina gave it to me, she--" my words were cut short as another slap landed on my face. I knew what she wanted. I quickly went down on my knees. "I'm terribly sorry your highness, I made a horrible mistake." I bowed my head.

"Yes, you did," I could hear her voice grow softer "But since you realised your mistakes, I'll let it slide."

"Thank you, your highness. You're too kind."

"Yes, I am." She repeated slowly, as if trying to convince herself. "You may go."

"Thank you." I got up, gave her one last bow and turned to leave when she stopped me again.

"Kira?, The hairpin?" She held out her hand and I placed it there.

I watched her leave and my hatred for her grew, her son was just like her. Mean, cold and proud. They never care about the people around them and they always want to be worshipped.

"There you are, I've been looking all over for you." Princess Nina ran towards me, grinning from ear to ear. If her mother was here she would tell her that a proper princess should never run. "You will never guess what--" she stopped and frowned. "what happened to the hairpin I gave you?, And oh my goodness, what happened to your face?"

Apparently my face had turned red. "Nothing." I smiled but she still frowned at me. "It's nothing really, I'm fine."

"Did my mother do this?"

"What were you going to tell me?"

"Why would my mother do such a thing?!" Nina and the Queen weren't always on good terms, and it was mostly because of me, thus it fueled the fire of hatred that burnt in the Queen's heart for me.

Nina felt like we were already friends so it wasn't a bad thing to give me things but her mother believes that being too friendly with the slaves will bring room for disrespect. "My lady, please do not cause any trouble with her highness as it will only make my stay here more difficult." I pleaded with Nina and she frowned at me.

"Very well."

"You were going to tell me something?"

"Oh yes. I ran into Dominic on my way back from the library and he was the sweetest." She smiled brightly, excitement all over her face.

"That's lovely." Dominic was the only son of Lord Matthew, a good friend of the king and princess Nina in love with him. She tries everything possible to make sure he notices her but Dominic didn't seem interested in her. He didn't seem interested in any girl, instead he spent his time reading. Princess Nina even started visiting the library because of him.

"Isn't it?, I invited him over to the palace to study the flowers in the garden and he agreed to come."

"That's wonderful news. When is he going to be here?" I wasn't really interested in hearing about the boy she liked but Nina was like my friend so I just played along.

"Later this evening. So you have to help me prepare. I want to look absolutely beautiful for my Dominic." She giggled and I smiled at her.

"Maybe you'll even get your first kiss." She smiled and covered her mouth with her hands. Nina had never had a boyfriend, and she had been praying to the gods to make Dominic her first.

"You think so?" I nodded and she giggled she took my hands and waltz me around. "Oh this is going to be so lovely."

"Yes indeed, so don't you think you have to get ready?"

"Yes you're right. Come on." She grabbed my hand and led us to her chamber.

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Dominic arrived later in the evening and Nina almost exploded with joy. "He's here, he's here!, he's here!." She kept repeating and pacing round her room. "What am I going to say to him?, Oh my, I'm so nervous." She fanned herself with her hands, still pacing.

"Your highness, you'll be okay. You look beautiful and I'm sure it's going to go perfectly fine."

She nodded for a while then grabbed my hands. "Come with me." I shook my head vigorously, I wasn't going to spend the rest of my day following them around while they acted all lovey-dovey. "Please, I need you."

I wanted to say no but I couldn't refuse her. "Fine."

"Oh thank you so much." She hugged me, almost squeezing me.

We went out together to the hall where Dominic kept himself busy by examining the sophisticated paintings on the wall. "Oh, there you are." He said but his eyes were on me.

"I'm sorry I kept you waiting." He smiled politely at her apology. He wasn't that bad. He was tall, much taller than I was and he looked fit. His lips were thin and red and he looked nice when he smiled. "Shall we?"

"Of course." He took a step forward but stopped. "Will she be joining us?" He stared at me, his face void of emotions.

"Yes, I hope you don't mind?"

He stared at me for a long while before he finally answered. "Not at all."

We walked outside to the garden and they both discussed about the different types of flowers that grew there. "Do you know about flowers?"

The question caught me off guard because I never expected him to talk to me. "No, my Lord."

"Okay. I could teach you if you want to learn."

"Thank you for your kind offer." I bowed slightly and he nodded. All through the time they spent together, he'd throw me a question every once in a while.  At a point, princess Nina was starting to get agitated.

"Kira. Get us some snacks will you?"

"Of course my lady." I bowed and excused myself, returning with tea and scones. She wanted to serve him but he insisted that I did. She frowned but didn't object.

"Thank you." He held my hand and smiled.

I removed my hand and bowed to him. "My lady, please may I be excused?"

"Yes, I think it would be good if you left." She didn't even look at me and I could tell that she was angry.

I left and went to the maid's quarters, I knew Nina and I were going to have issues later. She came in not quite long after I did but she wouldn't speak with me. I didn't bother going to her because I knew she was still angry.

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"Dominic and I are going to get married." Nina told me as I washed her hair.

"Congratulations my lady." Dominic and Nina had gone out together several times but it didn't stop Dominic from confessing his feelings for me.

Two days ago, he had approached me as I walked along the garden. "I like you, and I wish to make you my bride."  I remembered I burst out laughing because I thought he was joking. I only realized he was serious when he told me he was going to take permission from the king.

He had turned twenty and I was only thirteen, and asides from that there was no way his family would let him take a servant as a bride. Even if his family accepts me, I could never do a thing like that to Nina. Besides, I didn't like him at all. He was kind and good looking but I wasn't interested in him.

"You don't sound happy for me."

"Of course I'm happy my lady. I'm very happy you're finally getting what you wanted."

"Yes, I am." She didn't say anymore but she didn't really look happy. Deciding not to pry, I finished washing her hair and left. Princess Nina and I had grown distant because of Dominic. He seemed very fond of me and it always annoyed her.

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"What do you think you're doing?!, Are you out of your mind?!"

"Please, calm down."

"Do you realize how shameless you sound?!, Begging a man to marry you."

I knew it was Dominic and Nina, he didn't know about the wedding, as I had suspected. I didn't know if I should interfere, it might be rude for an ordinary servant to interfere in important matters like that. But Nina was my friend, we might not be that close but I still cared for her. She was like the sister I never had. Opening the door, I walked in and they both stopped. "My lady, is everything alright?"

She looked at me teary eyed but didn't speak. "Everything is fine. You may leave now." I ignored Dominic's comment and asked again. "Are you alright my lady?". This time she answered. "Yes kira, I'm alright."

I bowed and was about to leave when I suddenly stopped. "My Lord, princess Nina is the nicest person I've ever met. She's kind, gentle and funny. She's every man's dream. She could have any man she wanted in the capital but she chose you. You're very lucky to have been noticed by someone as wonderful as she is, and I hope you don't throw your opportunity away."

I was about to leave when Nina hugged me from behind. "Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me my lady, I'm simply speaking the truth." She didn't let go of me, instead she held on tighter  and I didn't know what to do so I just patted her hands.

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I walked into my room feeling exhausted after a long day. I slumped on the bed hoping to get a good night's sleep when I suddenly felt someone next to me.

I quickly turned and found prince Phillip on my bed. I wanted to get up but he got on top of me and tried to kiss me. "My Lord, please stop." I tried pushing him off but he was stronger than I was. "My Lord," he ignored me and was drawing at the strings of my dress. "Get the hell off me you pervert!"  He held my hands down so I couldn't struggle with him and he was kissing my neck.

I didn't know what to do because I couldn't move my hands and his weight on my much smaller body made it difficult for me to move. I shut my eyes and screamed out, hoping someone would hear me. When I opened my eyes, I saw Phillip fly across the room and land hard on the concrete floor. The impact was so hard that his head was bleeding.