The Punishment Time

Standing outside the bathroom as she waited for Regan to finish his bath, Evelyn was slightly confused.

Was she not his slave already when he gave the money to that slaveowner? Then why did he say that just now?

Earlier, she could only lower her head and say

"As Your Highness says."

But now, she didn't understand the purpose behind his words.

Could it be that he had not given those coins to the slaveowner to buy her?

But …all this didn't matter now, did it?

She was already his slave.

Evelyn silently accepted her fate. When Regan stepped out of the chambers, she helped him with his outer clothes, unable to notice how his red eyes often glanced at her. His face was still covered with the mask.

After getting dressed, Regan sat to have his lunch.

Regan didn't eat much.

After he had finished, he picked up his sword and was ready to leave. But suddenly he stopped amidst his steps and looked at her thin body.

"Did you have your meal?"

"No, Your Highness"

Displeasure flashed through Regan's eyes and he said coldly

"I have used so many coins to buy you. But now seeing your thin body, I suddenly wonder if you can be of any use."

Slight panic flashed in Evelyn's eyes when she heard these words.

Earlier, when Regan didn't try to touch her unnecessarily while she was helping him with his clothes, she had felt very relieved

She also realized that he was not much violent …at least he didn't hit her in this small period, unlike her past masters or mistress.

She might be concluding too soon but Evelyn thought that perhaps being Regan's slave was much better. Hence, she panicked when she sensed the regret in his words.

"This slave will have her lunch immediately, Your Highness."

The fourth prince didn't say anything after that and left the chambers.

.

.

.

After he left, Evelyn went to the kitchen to return the empty tray.

When she stepped inside, she didn't see many people around. Perhaps everyone went to have their lunch. She first washed the tray unaware of the gaze of the maid's sharp gaze on herself.

It was the same maid who had taken Evelyn to the slave's bathroom.

The maid was startled to see that Evelyn returned alive. Did they not say that the prince's anger was bad?

She grumbled to herself as she did her work.

When Evelyn walked to her, she forced a smile on her lips. She wanted to ask her about the prince so she had to behave nicely with her.

"Can you tell me where the slaves get their meals?"

The maid frowned and said mockingly

"You just came, did one chore, and you are already asking for food."

Forgive her…it seems that she just can't behave nicely with this slave. She disliked how beautiful this slave looked. When she had been covered in mud, the maid had never thought that Evelyn would look so beautiful once she would have a bath.

However, her mood turned more sour when she heard Evelyn say

"His Highness ordered me to have lunch before doing anything."

This seductress….she already has the prince order her such things.

"There…you can pick anything from there."

The maid pointed towards the tray which was filled with different kinds of dishes and Evelyn frowned.

"This…will it be appropriate for me to take the food from here?"

This time, the maid smiled widely. She even held Evelyn's hand and said

"Of Course. The madam won't care much. But if you disappeared when she would need you to do some chore then she would be very angry."

Evelyn looked at the tray and then back at the maid. She might be new but she could sense that the maid was lying. She could also sense the maid's hostility towards herself.

Without saying anything to the maid, she left the kitchen to search for the place where the slave girls got their meals.

She finally found the place with the help of another slave girl.

The slave girl even introduced her to the cook who was one of many other slaves in the Imperial slaves and generously offered lunch to Evelyn even though lunch time for slaves had passed already.

Evelyn took the food and walked to a corner and sat on the floor to eat.

Evelyn looked at the dry food and the bowl of porridge. One would be shocked to know that it was the most decent food she was seeing in the past few years.

She gulped unconsciously when she smelled the aroma.

It had been more than two days since she had anything.

The spoon was about to approach her lips when a shout made her flinch and it fell down from her hands.

"What are you doing?"

Evelyn raised her head and looked at the head-maid who was walking towards her with rage written all over her face.

"You…where did you take this food from?"

The head-maid looked at the fallen food and asked furiously.

The cook was also frightened to see the head-maid so suddenly inside the slave kitchen but went to defend Evelyn

"Madam, I gave her the leftover food."

The head-maid looked at the cook sharply and shouted

"Isn't lunch time over already for you slaves?"

The cook went silent after this.

The head-maid looked at Evelyn again and said sharply

"You just entered the palace and you are already trying to disobey the rules."

Evelyn shook her head and was about to say something when the maid immediately butted in.

"Madam, I did tell her that lunch-time is over and she should be present to do the chores. But she still left the kitchen sneakily to stuff her mouth. No wonder her master sold her."

Evelyn looked at the maid with a frown who was twisting the words. She wanted to speak in her defense that she didn't know about these rules. But she was never given the chance.

"Go and bring the stick and rope."

The head-maid said coldly.

"Madam…"

"Shut up…one word from your filthy mouth and your punishment would be doubled."

Evelyn's eyes widened. Her hands trembled unconsciously but she could only kneel there with her head lowered.

And prepare herself for the upcoming pain just like she did in the past.