- DAILY GRIND

Days slowly passed into weeks, weeks into months, months into years and finally 10 years had passed by in Bloodstone.

It was a very busy morning as the slaves bustled around trying to carry out their duties before sir Gideon finds them wanting. No one has the time for early morning greetings as they were all busy and hooked up.

"Heidi!!" A voice called out in frustration

"No need to shout miss piper, I'll be right there" Heidi said as she laughed.

She ran along to the big kitchen gracefully and full of energy. Her brown hair cascaded down her shoulders in beauty. Her doe like brown eyes glistened with the excitement of a new day. An excitement that has died in the eyes of the older slaves. There was a smile on those plump and pink lips of hers that could melt anyone's heart although it doesn't work on sir Gideon. Indeed, she had grown into one beautiful damsel with the right curves.

"Here I am miss piper, no need to scream" Heidi said playfully.

Miss piper sighed as soon as she saw Heidi, "you never listen" she said hitting her on the arm.

"What have I done now"Heidi cried

"Your hair" miss piper pointed out and Heidi chuckled.

"Don't worry miss Piper" Heidi said pulling out a band from her orange colored gown, a uniform all the slaves wore.

"There" Heidi said as she tied the hair with a band.

"Whatever, let's knead the dough quickly, the royal house will soon begin breakfast" miss piper said handing a pair of working gloves to Heidi. Slaves were never allowed to directly touch the food as they were considered dirty.

Heidi smiled as she put the gloves on and started kneading the dough. She was happy when sir Gideon had given her the orange colored gown and permitted her to enter the big kitchen. The life of a slave was hard but Mrs Doris had always taught her to be happy and true to herself. She found solace in those words and made being happy a number one priority.

She kneaded the dough quickly and smoothly. If there was as much as a lump in the dough, it would cost her head.

She soon put it in the oven and sat down to watch it so that it wouldn't burn.

She waited for a few minutes before bringing it out of the oven and handing it over to miss piper.

"Thank you Heidi" miss piper said with a smile.

Heidi was walking out of the big kitchen when a hand pulled her to a corner.

"Rosie!" Heidi called hitting the girl on her hand, "you scared me"

Rosie smiled at her, "don't tell me you are leaving already"

Heidi's eyes narrowed quickly, "I'm not pulling this with you" she said folding her hands in defiance.

Rosie clicked her tongue,"come on Heidi, just this once, besides hot buns were always your favorite"

Heidi gulped at the mention of hot buns, "what if miss lyra catches us?, she is not really friendly"

Rosie laughed, "we've been doing this since we were kids and she never did"

Heidi sighed in frustration, "every day for the thief and one day for the owner"

Rosie gave Heidi a sly smile,"today is definitely going to be for the theives"

"I'm not a thief, I just love to borrow hot buns" Heidi said in defense.

Rosie narrowed her eyes at her and they both burst into laughter.

"Come on" Heidi called and they both walked towards miss Lyra's table.

"Miss lyra" Heidi called with a charming smile on her face, "do you need my help"

"Oh thank you Heidi" miss lyra said unaware of Heidi's intentions, "I definitely need some help mixing the butter"

Heidi took a pair of gloves and began to mix the butter.

As she mixed it, she lowered her eyes to see Rosie stuffing some hot buns into a nylon.

Heidi motioned for Rosie to leave as she had taken enough.

"Ah! My stomach" Heidi cried and miss lyra quickly turned to her.

"What's wrong Heidi" she asked in worry.

"I think I really need to use the toilet" Heidi said squeezing her face in pain.

"Ok Heidi, be careful" the unsuspecting miss lyra said.

Heidi pulled out her gloves and slowly walked out of the big kitchen.

As soon as she got out and saw Rosie waiting, the two girls burst into laughter. They split the buns and Heidi took hers back to her quarters.

"Mrs Doris" she called and someone coughed.

Heidi quickly rushed to her, "are you ok Mrs Doris? I brought some buns for you"

Mrs Doris sighed hitting Heidi on the head, "did you go stealing some buns with Rosie?"

Heidi smiled at her, "I was only borrowing it, the food rations are too small and you are sick. You need to eat well"

Mrs Doris smiled patting get hair, "I worry about you Heidi, this sickness is getting worse and the royals cannot waste such precious drug on a old slave"

Heidi clicked her tongue, "you worry too much Mrs Doris, you will soon be hale and hearty."

"Eat now, I'll get some water" Heidi said handing the buns over to Mrs Doris.

"Aren't you having any?" Mrs Doris asked and Heidi shook her head.

"I already did" she replied and left to get water.

The royal family sat down for breakfast in the throne room. Lord Maximilian sat down at the head of the table while Genevieve and queen mother Emilia sat beside him.Markus sat beside his mother.

"Mother" Genevieve called, "I was just noticing that you had lost a lot of weight, you should eat well mother"

Queen mother Emilia chuckled sarcastically as she butterd a slice of bread, "I can die peacefully knowing I have such a caring daughter in-law"

Genevieve smiled not failing to notice the sarcasm in Queen mother Emilia's voice, "what can I say?, I'm the best"

"Markus" lord Maximilian called, "what was the conclusion in the meeting you held with the council of elders?"

"We have decided to tax the people even more, Bloodstone is the safest country and we provide our people with a lot, the least they could do is pay more tax". Markus replied.

Queen mother Emilia scoffed, "but you increased the tax just three days ago, the people will grow weary of the continuous increments"

"Grandmother, you do not understand these matters as you might be weak in thinking" Markus said irritated at his grandmother's opinion.

"You are young Markus and do not understand certain things" Queen mother Emilia said with concern.

"Markus knows what's right for the people, he is old enough to make his own decisions" Genevieve said.

Lord Maximilian sighed, "this will be the last increment Markus"

"Yes father" Markus said with a crafty smile on his lips.

A guard walked in and bowed, "a message has arrived for the royal house"

"Go on" Lord crane said and the guard bowed.

"Prince Viktor, General commander of the armed forces of bloodstone has announced that he will return in 5 days" the guard said and bowed.

The entire house was in shock, "you may leave" lord Maximilian managed to get say.

The guard bowed and left.

"But he was ordered to stay for extra 5 years and he is returning in 5 days" Genevieve shouted in frustration.

Queen mother Emilia smirked and said, "my grandson dosen't listen to orders, he gives orders"

Markus grip on his spoon tightened, "things had been going smoothly but with this news..."

Lord Maximilian sighed, "he never listens"

Queen mother Emilia chuckled, "he listened when you sent him off to a bloody war with no war experience"

Genevieve scoffed. She had to think fast because Viktor meant trouble.

"Well" Queen mother Emilia said, "no one has raised the issue but I will raise it myself. I'll be in charge of the preparations for his return. There will be a grand party. Make sure you invite as many people as you can"

"Of course mother" Genevieve said trying to hide the sarcasm in her voice.

Queen mother Emilia nodded, "I'll be off now, I have a lot to do" she stood up and left the throne room.

"These windows are sparkling yet we have to wash them every three hours" Rosie complained in frustration.

Heidi chuckled, "they sparkle because we always wash them" she said soaking her towel in water.

"Whatever" Rosie muttered, "I'll sit down for sometime.

Heidi smiled, "don't let sir Gideon sight you"

"Speak of the devil" Rosie muttered on sighting sir Gideon coming towards them.

They both bowed when he got there, "Good afternoon sir" the girls chorused.

"Come with me girls,we have an urgent matter to attend to" he said and started walking back.

Heidi and Rosie looked at each other as their eyes asked the same question.

"Were they in trouble?"