Irene's POV
I can't understand the way I was just frozen and the prince made it worse with his cold dead eyes fixed on me. My head still rippled with the image of the same trinket on my neck in Hadrian's wardrobe.

"I said what are you doing here?" His deep voice snapped me back to reality. I bowed my head in fear, trembling. His voice was beautiful as it ringed in my eardrums like hell which sent strange shivers down my spine.

"I .....I was just cleaning up the room sire" I said trembling.

"You weren't aware that you were supposed to do that before I arrive" he crossed his arms and rests on the walls, I could feel his cold gaze on me and it made me quiver.

"Pardon me Sire, I am only new here majesty, "I say bowing my head trying to avoid his flickering gaze.

"Your highness!" a lady ran in squealing like hell as she wrapped her arms around him, she was a blonde and she wore a royal short dress that covered nothing on her body. I'm guessing that's one of his Mistresses. I grinded my teeth with weird annoyance. I hated this sight.

"Who is she my love?" the slut said pointing towards me "don't tell me she's one of them." She pouted and I caught her gaze only for them to be eying me. 

One of who? The prince is betrothed to another, this is absurd to be seen with another woman, I thought to myself.

"No, she's just a slave, she was cleaning up the room for both of us....."I was getting angry now ".....are you ready?"

She bit her lower lip giggling" I am all yours my love"

Ew!  This is so uncomfortable as they displayed kisses in front of me.

"Get out" the prince ordered as I quickly found a new pair of heels.

Well, that was weird. I walk back to Leo's workshop just to clear some things in my head like where the prince got the trinket from. I sighed and shook my head.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

The door creaks open.

"Hey stranger" Leo gestured to come in, beaming on seeing me. I returned his smile with a broader one.

"Hey, what are you doing?" I strode in closing shut the door behind me.

"Just another day in the palace.." he trails and dries his hands off"...what about you, aren't you supposed to be decorating or something?" he asks.

"No, I'm done, just waiting for the banquet and then I will see the lady Natasha, I believe she's still in the throne room" I simply say as I grab a stool to sit on.

Leo chuckles as it became so silent. You know you want to ask him, go on Irene. I said to myself.

"Uhm... Leo?" I began.

"Yeah?"

"The prince, hmm. I know this may sound weird but did he ever know an ancient witch?, the one they speak of in the stories our fathers told us" I let the question out finally. I spoke of the woman I see in my dreams at times.

He shrugs "a witch? I am not sure, I mean I have known the prince for years, we're very close" he sighs" perhaps he has met one, there are some things he doesn't tell me" he continued. I twisted my mouth and looked up at Leo.

"Perhaps...I was just curious "I heaved a sigh "I should be on my way now." I announce.

"Sure, of course. Later then" he smiles as I nod and exit the room.

I strode the halls pondering on my thoughts, where did he get those eyes, it could not have been from the woman in my dreams, where could he have come from. Is he the prince? How did he get the necklace? I sigh at the thought and made my way to the room made for the Lady Natasha.

KNOCK KNOCK

I knock on the ladies chamber as a voice yells "come in"

I opened the door and walk in slowly.

"Your majesties" I courtesy before the two princesses in my presence. I raised my head to look at them, the lady Natasha was admiring herself in front of a five foot mirror while the lady Eleanor sat on the queen size bed juggling knives. She seemed brave juggling knives. I bow my head.

"You are?" lady Natasha asks focusing her attention at me.

"Irene my lady, I was appointed by her majesty to be your maid" I said.

"Oh and what took you time? I have a banquet to prepare for tonight and you are just arriving by this time! Such incompetence will not be allowed in my service." Her tone sounded uglier than when she spoke to the king. 

"Calm down Natasha, she's here now that's the good news," lady Eleanor says still juggling the knives. She turned to me and beamed.

"Quiet sister. Now you hmm...." she snapped her fingers at me. Everyone seemed to forget my name. Irene, Irene, it is not quite hard.

"Irene my lady."

"Irene, good come here now and help me select a fine dress, I want to be one the prince feasts his eyes on, mesmerizing my beauty". She chortled as her sister scoffs.

If only she knew that her charming prince is in the arms of another woman, she must probably know about his mistresses.

We spent so many hours trying to find the perfect dress for lady Natasha, at first, it was a purple dress with so much sparkle on it then a pink one, then a black one, a white one, then a yellow one then a brown one, she had so many choices and I could go on and on about that moment. She finally found pleasure in a red dress, it was armless and had a show back that stopped just below her spine, it had an opening at the front which was heart-shaped and it displayed her breasts well. She then sat down for me to style her hair, I packed it in a low bun and styled it in all kinds of jewels, it wasn't so hard because Orla taught me all of this.
Sending a huge nose ring, the size of my hands from the back of her ear to her nostril, I reached for her tiara and slowly laid it on her head. The people of Arran loved pride but I did not see it in lady Eleanor as she sat down on the bed laughing multiple times calling Natasha a donkey because of the multiple jewels adorned by her. They looked cute whenever they argued.

Finally, a feathered scarf was put around lady Natasha's neck and she matched everything with black heels.

She did look mesmerizing, breathtaking. How could the prince overlook? I smiled at myself for I couldn't believe I dressed the future queen.

******
It was finally time for the banquet,  I spent the welcoming hours with Hattie as we both feasted our eyes on the guests. I had never seen such beauty in my life. I would think myself low to even come close to their clothes. The lady Natasha strode in side by side with Prince Hadrian. The lady Eleanor following next.

The welcoming hour was over now and it was time to give cheers, I glance towards were the royal family seated. The prince carried a straight face, the king spoke to an elderly woman to his left. My eyes caught the prince smiling, he was speaking to the lady Eleanor. He barely spoke to Natasha but it seemed he was fond of Eleanor.

"He doesn't even look to his betrothed,"I say to Hattie who just arrived with her empty tray and stood by my side.

She glances over to the high table" Well, lady Eleanor used to visit the palace of Deira many times when she was young or so Leo tells me, well Hadrian taught her every skill she knows that's why she's so talented. They are very fond of each other. "She tells me.

"Oh..."

King Triton raises his silver cup and his fork and clings them together to gather everyone's attention.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Lords and Queens, I greet you all and welcome you to the Royal feast in honor of my son, the heir to my throne, Hadrian, and his beautiful and mesmerizing wife-to-be, the lady Natasha" everyone applauds except Prince Hadrian. It was as though he didn't approve of the marriage.

"If you would join me in giving a special toast to them "everyone stands on their feet with their cups up.

I close my eyes to honor the presence of the gods, we always in everything give respect to the Oracle. The tales tell us that the Oracle was founded with the kingdom. It was then highly respected because our forefathers believed it to be that the Oracle was the reason we have everything but I felt there was more to it.

"We welcome you, oh great Oracle of our forefathers, with this wine as our sacrifice we pray that this union brings nothing but peace..." he pours his wine on the floor and we all meditate in the brief silence. "..To Deira!" he lifts his cup to hail.

"To Deira!" we respond and let outstanding applause.

The feast continues in chatter as the maids move to serve the guests. I take my tray to serve the high table, I serve the king and queen their drinks as they both beamed to each other. I move to serve the prince and the princesses, I was so shaky going up there.

"More wine Majesty?" I offer the Lady Eleanor.

"No I'm full thank you," Lady Eleanor said beaming at me, she was indeed very beautiful.

I move on to the prince as my knee hits the back of lady Eleanor's chair and the drinks spilled on the prince. I gaped as murmurs escaped the mouths of the people in the throne room. I rushed to a rag on the table and scurry to wipe off his stained shirt. My trembling hands reached for him. I was scared.

"Oh my....oh my, your highness I...."I couldn't finish my apology as I was greeted with an outstanding slap across my face from the prince. The crowd gasped as a tear escaped my eyes.

"Hadrian!, what is your problem" lady Eleanor held me so I didn't fall scolding the prince in front of all.

"Quiet Eleanor, she deserved that, she just ruined his perfect shirt," Natasha says in defense.

"Hey, are you okay? Come on" lady Eleanor leads me out of the room, Hattie scurried behind us. We arrive d at the hallways, my hand was still on my cheek, I could still feel the painful pang on my face. I felt so embarrassed. "where can I take you to?" Lady Eleanor asks me. I looked up at her and pointed towards Leo's workshop. She nodded and scurried following my directions, still holding me around my arm. We arrive at the doorstep to Leo's workshop, the tears in my eyes were unable to hold themselves. The lady gave a few knocks lightly.

The door to the workshop opens as we all walk in, Leo's eyes widened on seeing me as he bowed gesturing for us to enter. Lady Eleanor brings out a stool for me to sit on and I do.

"Irene, are you okay?" Leo asks in a low voice that spoke of concern. I shook my head and wiped off the tear from my red cheeks. 

"I am fine, it's just a slap" I tried to assure them "besides I made the mistake". I said recalling the face of disappointment on each person's faces, it felt like they knew me. A scum of the street. "Thank you my lady" I tried to bow but she stops me.

"Please, call me Eleanor okay?" I gaped to protest. You dare not call a royal blood with their first name. Lady Eleanor raises her hand up to silence me, I bow "I insist" she glistened.

"As it pleases my lady" I bow.

Leo rubs my shoulders trying to cheer me up.

"I must return to the feast, take care alright?"  lady..., sorry Eleanor announce as she leaves the room. Hattie bows as Eleanor walked past her. She moved towards me and pulled me into a hug.

"I am sorry Irene, I wish I could remain with you but I am afraid of what scolding Orla shall give me if I am not seen" Hattie beamed at me and I giggled, knowing how hard Orla has been working.

"I assure you that I am fine, you need not worry. Now move along" I ushered her to the door, she giggled giving me one last hug before leaving. I turned to face Leo.

"I apologize about this, Hadrian can be a little over the top at times" Leo chuckles. I smiled and shook my head.

"It is fine, I assure you." I smiled at him. Who am I after all to complain of a slap from the prince? I am a common servant and I shouldn't think highly of myself.

Leo cheered me up with some jokes. I laughed at his silliness and he continues telling me stuff that cheered me up so much. I sat in his workshop just waiting for the banquet to be over. They wouldn't be expecting my return now.

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~craving Turkey 🥺