4 INTRODUCTION PART4

"I agree with you Simon, we can start moving..."

I remember something tragic happening and people screaming but that's all. No matter how hard I try, I just can't remember what happened after that. I know my mother died that day, I know I became a slave that day, I know my father was killed and burned to ashes in my presence, but I can't remember how it happened. That was also the day I became an orphan, the day I experienced unimaginable pain...my birthday.

When I try to remember what exactly happened that day, only one thing is clear. We were betrayed by the General and some other top officials in the army and that's all. Every other thing is a blur, sadly. I hope that someday I'd be able to avenge my parents...

"Melanie! Are you daydreaming again? If Madam Grace catches you again you know you'll be punished." came the loud whisper of my friend and fellow servant, Patricia. We've been friends since I started working in the Zegresh palace four years ago. She's a slave from Hibbeth Kingdom and has been working in the castle six years as a kitchen servant.

"I know Patty, I know." If Madam Grace catches me, I'd be in serious trouble. She has never liked me and never tried to hide her true feelings towards by giving me the hardest tasks imaginable. Now that I'm losing focus when working, she makes sure to punish me for the slightest mistakes that could be easily overlooked.

She's not the only one who hates me, though. It seems all the maids know that I was once a princess, and they make life hard for me because of that. At first I didn't blame them because I saw how the royal family treats them like animals and of course seeing a 'former' princess, they decided to vent their frustration on me. Now, it's a totally different case. I spend every single day that passes by cursing at them whenever they taunt me. And they spend every day acting like they can't hear my complaints...maybe because they can't actually hear me since all my curses are said in my head.

"Melanie!!"

"Oh no!"