Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Chapter 21 Sabrina’s POV:

The morning sun beat down on my back as I spread the last bed sheet on the drying ropes.

I didn’t mind the sun, it felt warm and pleasant. In a few hours I’d get hotter but for now it was like a warm hug. I took a few steps back and admired my handwork, a smile lit up on my face. The white sheets billowed in the soft morning breeze, laden with the scent of lavender soap. Some of the scent had rubbed off on me too, and I smelled like a flower garden.

I had finished doing the entire laundry for the day, and it wasn’t even nine am yet. The enormous pile was gone in two hours. So clean if I ran my finger across the fabric, I would hear the ‘squeak” sound it made.

I felt a sense of pride inside of me. Weeks ago when I had started my duties, doing laundry took up a huge portion of my day. But now, I was doing it in a quarter of the time. A tiny voice whispered to me that it was because I wanted to have more time to hang out with Caldan, hence my superhuman speed in completing my duties. I ignored that voice.

Suddenly, my smile quickly fell and my mood turned sour.

Why was I taking pride in the fact that I now work faster? It seems like I’m becoming more of the slave in taunted to be with every passing day. My face fell and the sight of the freshly laundered sheets didn’t fill me with joy anymore.

I took the empty basket and head back inside the harem house. On my way back, I walked past Blair. She looked right at me and scowled. I smiled at her. It had only been two days since we met each other as I was leaving his Majesty’s wing. And judging by the look on her face, she hadn’t forgotten what I said. Or rather, what I had insinuated.

After that day, I called myself back to order and ask myself some really important questions. What exactly had possessed me to make such a statement to Blair? Daring insinuate that I had something going on with his majesty?!

I would rather vomit red hot nails than take Blake’s place.

A mere fucktoy. A stress relief doll. I can’t understand the appeal in that. I also can’t understand why all the other girls hail her for it. What could be so appealing about sleeping with a man as brutal and as cold as his majesty?!

I shuddered, and the basket nearly slipped out of my hands. I bent down to pick it up. As I raised my head up, a pair of shiny black boots appeared in my line of sight.

I looked up and saw Caldan.

“Hello Rina,” he said and smiled.

I turned bright red realizing that I was still bent down and my face was directly in front of his crotch. “Sir Caldan!” I cried. out and straightened myself. I cursed mentally, willing to flaming hot theeks to stop burning. I looked around us, concerned that there were girls around. Some of them turned to us and whispered amongst themselves, pointing fingers and staring boldly.

“You really shouldn’t be here. I said to Caldan, an uneasy laugh bubbling out of my throat. “Everyone is staring “Sor Let them stare. I’m here to see you and not them.” He said, nonchalant like he didn’t care being seen with the slave of the harem in his princely robes.

“Don’t you worry about your reputation” I said under my breath I mean, I wouldn’t want to be seen with me either. “No, he said simply.

I met his steady gaze. But I do, I almost said. “It’s not yet evenin came out of my mouth instead.

Yes, it’s not. He looked out at the courtyard beyond the hallway and back to ine. “I’ll be leaving for a while.

22:03 Tue, Nov 5 G Chapter 21 My heart ceased to beat for three seconds. “Leaving?”

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Π “Yes.” He said. “I have a trip to attend to, a political meeting of some sort. Nothing too serious, but unfortunately I have to there.”

If I had blinked, I would have missed it. The unmistakable look of darkness that came into his eyes. Like he was fuming on the inside about something. I knew that look, I had seen it on Zayn’s face a lot of times.

Except with Caldan, it wasn’t directed at me.

I blinked, and it was gone.

“Will you be long?” I asked, it seemed like the right thing to ask. tried to ignore the way my heart was racing fast against my will, the way my grip on the basket tightened till the point I felt my knuckles go white from lack of circulation.

“I shouldn’t be gone three days at most.” He said, a hand raised to his chin. His long elegant fingers tapped on his jaw. “Three days.

“That’s good enough, I said more to myself than to him. I can’t wait three days.

Wait, what am I even thinking?

I leave in an hour.” He said. Td love for you to see me off”

1 opened my mouth to reply but another voice cut me off.

“Absolutely not Lady Nifra snapped.

I turned to her. She had literally spawned out of nowhere. She shot me a sharp glare and focused her attention on “You have a meeting with his majesty before you leave.”

Caldan “You know, you don’t always have to be a kill joy. Caldan said with a heavy sigh. “I was “None of my business. Lady Nifra snapped. “Best to get going now.” She turned to me. “I believe you still have work to do.”

y saying goodbye to my dear Rina guess, I said through grit teeth. I bowed to sir Caldan and turned to leave. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me back. The basket slipped out of my hand and rolled away.

“No goodbye?” He asked, his eyes searched my face for what he alone was aware of.

Tr’s not a good bye, you won’t be gone for long! I said firmly.

His lips tipped up in an amused smile. “Cocky,” He said and brought my hand up to his lips. His eyes drifted to lady Nifra the same time I felt the brush of his lips on the back of my palm Heat bloomed in my cheeks. The act felt too intimate for my liking. His eyes met mine and he smiled, his lips lingering a bit too long Then he moved back, still holding my hand. “Don’t miss me too much.”

“Dear goddess, Lady Nifra hulled.

Caldan laughed and let go of my hand. “I’ll see you soon, Kina,”

I merely nodded, my volne wouldn’t cooperate even if I tried. He turned and walked away. Lady Nifra stared at me long and hard without saying anything Then she turned and walked awa, her skirts swaying behind her.

“Well well well, Blair’s voice drifted over to me. I turned to see look of disgust on her face. “Look who was bashing me for being 24 what was that you called me again? Right Fucktoy:

arms folded under her chest, eyes glaring at me with a 22:03 Tue, Nov 5 G Chapter 21 14873%

I ignored her and walked past. Her claims are ridiculous, and I don’t even have the energy to spend correcting her. Let her think what ever the fuck she wants.

She grabbed my arm as I walked past her, I stared at her, and she glared back. “Poor slave girl, you should really be more.

careful around here.”

“Take your own advice. I smacked her hand away from my arm She smiled, an all knowing smile. T’ll see you later.”

I didn’t reply.

I won’t miss Caldan, I told myself. That was insane to even think about. Why would I miss him? What are the basis of me missing him?

I changed this mantra to myself every morning. But as the days rolled by, my words sounded more and more like cheap lies I had made up to convince myself otherwise, The first day went by in a blur. I focused on my duties, finished them before five pm. And suddenly, I was left with nothing to do. I spent the rest of the day in my room, staring at the ceiling and willing myself to go to be earlier since I had more time.

I slept by midnight that day.

The next days that followed were nearly identical. And by the third day, I caught myself waiting excitedly for Caldan to return.

Except, he didn’t I told myself that I wasn’t disappointed. That everything was fine That I didn’t miss him.

The fourth day went by. And the fifth and the sixth. Till a week had passed. Still no sign of Caldan. My mantras lost their spark, and I was forced to accept the fact that yes, I did miss him. I missed the walks we took in the evenings. I missed how easy it was to talk to him, how I didn’t have to put on so many walls around him. I missed his presence. I missed the excitement that came with the evenings.

I missed it all. But I would rather die that admit it out loud.

Three days turned into a week and two days.

This particular day, I was dog tired. My speed had slowed and I nished my duties late into the night. After a long shower, I went to my room to rest up. I got into bed, but there was something hard under my pillow.

Annoyed, I reached under and pulled the object out.

My heart dropped into my stomach acid.

It was a necklace. Not just any necklace no. I knew this one, because I had seen it on Blair multiple times. It was hard to miss.

the necklace had six distinct sapphires, large and cut into square surrounded by geans I was sure were diamond, all set on a How did li get here:

As I pondered on how Blair’s necklace got into my bed the door to my room burst open. I turned to the loud sound to see Blair and three huge guards, There! She has it Blair cried out, her face matted with tears as he pointed an accusing finger at me. That’s the thief She 8/4 ¥:73%

22:04 Tue, Nov 5 G Chapter 21 took my necklace!”

The guards marched up to me and grabbed my arms.

“Wait!” I cried out. “I didn’t steal anything! I just “Shut up!” Blair screeched. She made a whole show of sobbing. “how dare you steal my necklace?! Do you know how impressive that necklace is to me?! It was a gift from his majesty 1 frowned. “I didn’t steal it!”

“Save your lies,” one of the guards grunted. They lifted me off the bed and began dragging me out like I weighed nothing to them.

I struggled, pulled back and kicked against them. All my attempts to be free didn’t deter them or even slow them down. “Blair!

You have to believe me! I didn’t steal it!”

Blair wiped her eyes. “Lock her up! His majesty must hear about this!”

“Yes my lady. The guards bowed to get and dragged me out.

Blair smirked at me, her eyes becoming cold. That told me all 1 needed to know.

“You bitch!” I screamed at her, “You set me up! This is all your fault!”

–

“And now she falsely accuses me! In addition to stealing from me! What a disgusting slave! She wailed, as if all her world had collapsed.

The guards dragged the through the halls. Door opens and the girls stumbled out, dressed in their lace and silk nightgowns. with their eye covers and rollers in their hair. They stared and whispered as I was humiliated for what I didn’t do.

The guards threw me into an empty cell and bolted the door behind them. No one heard my screams. No one bothered to help me.

They all knew I didn’t do it. But none of them cared.

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