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** Content Warning: This content contains sensitive topics that may be distressing to some readers. Readers discretion is advised. **

Someone's POV

I woke up from the maids quarters. They are already preparing, some already on their uniforms for their works on the kitchen and some to clean the other parts of the house.

I got up, still feeling the numbing pain on my knees. I tried my best to stand up and wear my uniform. Compared to the others, my uniform is dirtier, and my bed, or likely blanket, is far away from the others.

It is for a fact that the house master gave the other maids instructions to keep me farther away from them and to never speak to me in case anything unpleasant happens.

I put on my uniform and began cleaning. I start from the backyard. While I was cleaning the floors, I noticed the yard. It doesn't have flowers or anything. Just outgrown weeds and haven't been trimmed yet.

"BaDo girl," that's what they have been calling me, a nickname for the bad omen girl.

"I see you've been slacking off, as punishment, I want you to pull those outgrown weeds using your hands, and no one should help you,"

I was shocked. I just got off from a punishment, but here comes another one.

But I have no choice, no?

Don't worry, Lakshmi, this will all be done quickly.

As I was pulling the weeds off, our master walked off.

*some time later*

I was in deep focus when suddenly our master came by.

"BaDo girl, you haven't finished this yet. Are you slacking?! How are you slack off!" He screamed angrily.

He whispered something to one of the slaves behind him. Making her in a hurry.

"You'll pay for this."

Third Person POV

As the maid returned, she handed him a whip.

Nuval slowly walked on the grounds towards Lakshmi, a whip on his hands.

"Because you are slacking off, I'll teach you a lesson."

Nuval hit the poor girl with the whip. Ordering her to immediately finish her job or else, he will continue to whip her.

Feeling the immense pain, the poor girl hurridly plucks the outgrown weeds. Their crazy master laughed in awe and satisfaction.

He began whipping her again. It feels endless it is to BaDo, the others cannot watch, their eyes are shifted another way as they also felt nervousness creeping.

Nuval hit the BaDo girl much, and as he was prepared to whip her again, a visitor came.

"Tsk." Nuval rolled his eyes in disappointment. "Who could that idiot be? Disturbing me. "

"I-I don't know master, h-he lo-looks like a k-knight," the maid trembled in fear.

Nuval eyes widened, "WHAT? Who sent him here?!"

"S-sorry master, I-I don't k-know"

Nuval whipped the maid angrily. Making the maid fall down on her knees.

"I'm truly sorry master! Please spare my life" the maid pleaded.

"Tsk, such idiot slaves I have" he then walked on to welcome the knight that had been sent.

Knowing that Nuval was not in sight anymore; Lakshmi lies on the ground. She felt crying but no tears came out. She closes her eyes and wishes that her pains will soon recover.

[In the living room]

The maids arranged a cup of tea and some dessert for their master and the knight. A maid is pouring tea to the master and knight - the knight notice that the maid in charge of pouring their drinks was nervous and slightly shaking.

The others - he noticed, looked frightened and cold. And there were more than enough maids.

"-so," Nuval started. "What brings you here, sir?" Nuval asked. Nuval saw the palace crest on the knights uniform. He gulped but was abled to hide his curiosity.

"Baron Nuval Wenston" the knight responded. "I am hereby announce that his highness is hosting a royal ball for all the nobilities to enter."

Nuval, in curious; asked was is it for.

"It is for all the nobilities to know once you entered the Palace. This will be held a week from now, " the knight firmly said. "Baron, isn't your number of maids oddly many?" The knight pointed out.

Nuval arcked his eyesbrows. "What about it? These ladies want to work here and keep me in company, as I am a great Baron. " Nuval smirked.

The knight had more questions, but he had to tell the other nobles of the news. He got up and left the mansion, saying his goodbyes.

As the knight walked out, Nuval revealed his true colors once again.

*a week has gone by*

Today's the day the palace's hosting a ball!

Due to frustrations from the palace, the knight and his stupid maids; nuval repeatedly punished them.

He has several slaves in bed without their consent, without caring if their bodies hurt or their vaginas bleed.

Every time he has a lot of sex, he has BaDo kneel on salt. It can last for thirty minutes at times, but it can also last for an hour. One day, Nuval became extremely irate and gave BaDo the command to undress while watching as they were having sex and while she was kneeling in salt.

Scars are visible due to Nuval's whipping the other time. He laugh out loud and stated no man would ever want to sleep with her because of her flaws.

He also vented out to the kitchen staff. Poured hot water on some maids and made them work nonstop to prepare the dishes he wanted.

[AT THE PALACE]

The palace was busy; getting ready for the ball and checking the food to be served. Her highness is the busiest as she adores hosting balls and is passionately doing her job.

"Your Highness, it's time for you to get ready as well." This may be a hundredth time Lilith told her highness. Lilith is Dorea's lady-in-waiting.

Lilith is an old woman who, her highness known ever since. Lilith is a patient lady-in-waiting. Her highness can be a handful at some times, especially when she's hosting an event.

Even the King has a hard time dealing with her.

"This isn't sweet enough!" The workers handled it quickly after the queen shouted herself.

"Her Highness, you need to get dressed.. some nobels are already on their way here. " Lilith once again told the Queen.

The Queen sighed and went upstairs with Lilith to get ready.

"Mother doesn't really know how to stop," a gentleman with yellow hair standing near the stairs said.

"Aren't you used to it yet? Mother is always like that. " A lady with yellow hair responded with a chuckle.

The gentleman and the lady were already dressed, prepared for the ball. The lady was wearing a green ruffled-sleeveless gown. The gentleman wears a white tuxedo with a dash of green patterns.

"I have a weird feeling about this. Father suddenly hosts a ball with no reason he tells us," the gentleman makes his way through the ballroom.

The lady walking behind him replied, "I understand why you feel uncomfortable, but let us wait until later."

The two greeted the nobles who were already at the palace. The nobles greet them with wide smiles. "Your Highness, Prince Cerulean and Princess Ciara" then bow down to them.

The two respectfully bow down and greet another noble. There have been several noble people already attended.

"Princess Ciara‐ and Prince Cerulean," another noble came. "Baron Wenston," the princess replied and did a curtsy.

The prince, however, feels off about him.

"Come on, Cia, let's join Father and Mother," the prince said; the princess nodded and went on their way.

[WENSTON'S HOUSEHOLD]

Lakshmi's POV

The master already departed, which leaves us slaves to have time to rest and relax. They are in their rooms, and I'm the only one sitting near the dead garden.

I can't be the only one wanting to escape, right?

I look up at the sky and thought, what if I escape? The guards however incharge here are still at the gates. I cannot possibly escape there.

I stand up and scanned the walls near the garden. It's quite high, I wonder if I can just climb up.

I search for potential thing that can help me climb the walls. I look at my uniform and think of an idea.

I creep in to the maid quarters, some of them are asleep, I swiftly went to the laundry station, no one was there. I quickly get the basket full of dirty clothes.

Carefully, I managed to go from the laundry station to the garden. I need to do this quickly, or else they will see me.

I got the idea that they want to escape too, but they will likely pull me with them. I can't bear the punishments anymore. I feel like an unwanted animal here. I can't even have proper food to eat. I eat on a plate that is used for animals.

I did a rope by tying the uniforms, especially the aprons, which are a great help. I tied the other end to a big rock, and with all my might, throw it on the other end.

After many tries, I finally did it. Although it took me some time and I'm afraid the maids or guards may spot me.

I hurridly climb using the rope I made. After what it feels like forever, I'm already at the top of the wall. It's too early to celebrate; I jump out the wall.

Third Person POV

A loud thump was heard, and the guards were alerted. "What was that noice?" The first guard asked. "I think the noise came here," the other guard pointed out in the direction where the girl jumped out from.

They march towards the noise and saw the escaped slave from the Wenston household.

"HEY, GET BACK HERE!" the guards shouted.

The BaDo hurridly runs towards the forest in sight and disappears to the green grass she goes.

Panting and increasing her pace bit by bit, for she worried that the guards were to capture her.

[AT THE PALACE]

"I have all called you here, to make a toast," the King got his drink and announced, "For our brave soldiers had come back from the war, out numbering the enemy" the King announced happily.

The whole place was shocked and then applauded when the knights came to the room. On the front is the leader of the troop. He is known to be cold, fearless, and frightening. No other than the Duke himself, Duke Asher.

Leading the men, Duke Asher maintain a terrifying look as they make their way to the king and queen.

In unison, they bow down to the king and queen to pay respect. The king went in front of them and said,

"All hail the mighty soldiers of Alcaroz, the ones who fought for their lives for our country to have peace"

The nobles gave their wonderful applauses and cheered them.

A knight named Chet was in butterflies because of the people's gratitude. However, another knight is not very pleased, as well as the Duke.

They all stood up and thank the King for the gratitude. The king later said that a reward was waiting for them in their quarters.

The knights cheered in happiness and rejoiced. Duke and Uno just bow down their heads and guide the others.

With that, the ball is filled with happiness and rejoice. Nobles, especially the men, drank wine much because of the feast the King threw.

[KNIGHTS' QUARTERS]

On their way back, the others rushed to the shed and saw a banquet. Full of meat and goods. They began eating up as a reward for the hard work they did.

The duke remained outside, and Chet and Uno accompanied him.

"Come on, why won't we also head to the shed? I'm feeling so hungry now, " the orange haired boy muttered, feeling the grumbling of his stomach.

Uno sighed and looked at him, "If you really wanted to eat, just go." He said firmly.

"So," Chet replied, "What are you two bothered by?" Chet asked, noticing the eerie feeling of the two since they came from the mission.

"Have you not seen? This reward is nothing but absolutely garbage, we sacrifice much, and yet this is all they give?" Uno said in frustration.

"It's not about the reward," the duke finally talked.

The two looked at the duke and agreed. "Yeah, it's not about the reward," Chet sadly stated.

The gush of wind came by.

"You two joined the others, I'll just take a brief walk," the duke commanded Chet and Uno, which they did.

The wind is strong since it's already dark. There's a tree nereby, and Asher decided to sit down.

He doesn't seem very relaxed. He doesn't want to eat the Majesty, serve them. It's indeed delicious, but Asher has things he has in mind.

The King just celebrated and gave gratitude because we won, but how about the people who lost their lives? The people they left. They're devastated and have nothing to provide for their families. Asher thought.

If the king just focuses on what's important, then maybe the country would have lesse poverty rate than it is now.

As Asher stood up, he went to the shed to reunite with the others. Just another day, he thought.

[IN THE WOODS]

BaDo reached her limit and decided to sit down for a while. Her shoes are worn out, note that it's a cheap one so there's no surprise in that.

She took off her shoes and tried to relax. She's very dirty for all the mud and branches she went through.

She sighed, "I need to clean up," she muttered. She scans for a nereby river and spotted one. She beemed.

What a wonderful scene, it's so pretty. She thought.

She stepped into the water and felt a cold shiver to her spine.

She began to clean off the dirt in her body and face. There's dirt on her clothes, but there's nothing she can do about that.

After that, she begins to walk again to find shelter and heat.

With no shoes to wear, she walked barefoot. It hurts, especially when she accidentally walks on a branch or something spiky.

She managed to exit the forest to be welcomed by an unusual place. The town seems rather dark and abandoned, but there are people still in sight.

She carefully makes her way through the town. There are men who are looking at her while she walks timidly on the street.

Feeling the stares, BaDo increased her pace. A little while, the men are already following her.

Heart beating fast, she runs as fast as she can. With the numbing pain of her feet – her whole body, she pants.

With daggers and knives on the bandits' hands, the girl frantically shouts, "Help!"

"Help! HELP ME!" but no one seems to help the girl. As the people are much afraid of the bandits.

The girl switched her direction and turned right to a little street.

She then turns to another street and then to another. Now, she lost the bandits. She made sure that the bandits gave up on finding her.

As the cose was clear, she spotted a bed-like, she can sleep to. It's discreet and she can't be seen here.

She positioned herself and made herself cozy. It's still cold, but this can do for her.

*THE NEXT DAY*

*click clack, click clack* 

"Are you sure you don't want to stay for a bit on the palace?" Uno asked.

"There's no need for that," Asher replied, legs crossed; looking on the window.

Uno and Chet are next to each other, facing Asher. They are currently inside the carriage on their way to the Duke's place.

"It feels different when we are the ones inside the carriage," Chet said, a little fidgety.

Uno rolled his eyes. "So what's your plan now?" Asking Asher.

No response came from Asher but gave  a serious glance and looked at the window again.

They don't know what the Duke's thinking, but they have to wait and see.