Chapter 3

• Later that evening…
• I was in my maid’s room and I didn't know when I slept off. Her eyelids felt heavy and my body was weak, as if I had been worked to the bone. I lay there for a few more moments trying to pull myself together, but then there was a loud thud, and I was jolted awake.
• Immediately I knew what had happened. My step-sister had dumped a bucket of cold water on me. For a second, I closed my eyes hoping that it had all been a bad dream. But when I opened them again, I saw her step-sister's malicious grin.
• “Go serve my brother, the king dinner, you sleepy head.” said my step-sister with a snarl. I got up, my legs feeling shaky beneath me as I fought back tears. I was so sick of being treated like a slave, and my step-sister made my life unbearable.
• I made my way to the king's room with his meal. I felt too ashamed to look him in the eyes, especially In my messy wet body.
• As I walked towards the king, I could feel his gaze on her. It made my skin crawl.
• "In my life, I never knew virgins were this sweet. I loved the way you moaned and…" He didn't finish his statement because he was distracted by the sound of an opening door as I turned to the door and saw my step sister walking in. Oh my god! Did she overhear him? I'm scared. I wished I could just leave, but my fear kept me rooted to the spot.
• Just as I finished serving the King, my step brother with shaky hands, I was about to leave his room when my step sister stopped me with her words.
• "Come back here." My heart skipped as I turned back. I'm I about to get into any trouble? I watched her as she took a few steps towards me. Now standing in front of me, she stared at me in the most disgusting way before she finally spoke.
• "Her name is Azalea, your personal maid, our step sister." The moment those words left her mouth, the king paused as he gazed at me. Thank the moon goddess that she overheard nothing.
• "She's our step sister? The one who is the cause of our father's death?" He asked and my step sister nodded.
• "And if you don't want her as your personal maid, it's fine. There are other maids." She added and quickly turned to me with pointing fingers. "And you… you dare not harm my brother, you bad luck! We will make you pay for what you have done." She said, On the other hand, all the king could do was stare, it was as if his words were hung in his throat.
• "Right brother?" Her question brought him out of his dazed state.
• "Absolutely!" He nodded.
• I shifted uncomfortably, feeling the dampness of my clothes clinging to my skin. The water she poured on me earlier was still chilling me, and I longed to change into something warm and dry. I mustered up the courage to voice my plea, hoping that she would understand.
• "I'm sorry," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "I'm getting cold from the water, so please, may I go change my clothes?"
• My step sister's response was far from understanding. With a tone laced with annoyance and superiority, she questioned my intentions.
• "Where do you think you are going?" she scolded, her voice dripping with disdain. "I just introduced you to the king as his personal maid, and you want to walk away? Get yourself back here and stand beside him like the maid you are supposed to be."
• I cast my gaze downwards, feeling the weight of her words press upon me. I dared not protest, for I knew better than to anger her further. Reluctantly, I obeyed, stepping closer to the king's side as commanded.
• As I stood there, my eyes cast downward in submission, I noticed the king stealing glances at me. His gaze wandered over me, and a sense of unease settled in the pit of my stomach. He shouldn't put me into trouble.
• ***
• Days turned into weeks, and every now and then, the king would invite his Mistresses around, and they would all spend their time together, having fun and enjoying themselves and most times, I would overhear their loud moans. However, there were moments when I felt as though the king was behaving strangely around me, almost as if he was experiencing the mate pull or bond. Most times, he acts as if he cares about my well being and would scold his sister for maltreating me while the rest of the days, he was the one causing me pain. I always waved off the thought, convincing myself that it was simply my imagination running wild. After all, I was just his maid, nothing more.
• One night, after the king had retired to his chambers and the castle was enveloped in the quiet hush of night, I was alone in my room. Suddenly, I felt nausea, and before I could react, I rushed to the toilet, retching and vomiting uncontrollably. I had never felt so unwell before, and the experience left me deeply unsettled.
• The following morning, I made my way to the local healer, desperate to understand what could be causing my sudden illness. After a series of examinations and tests, the healer revealed the shocking truth, I was pregnant. The news hit me like a ton of bricks, and I was overwhelmed with a flood of conflicting emotions. Fear, uncertainty, and disbelief washed over me in equal measure.
• The Lycan King is the only one I have laid with. I was frightened of the consequences, both for myself and for the life growing inside me.
• I couldn't shake the feeling of dread that settled deep within my heart. How would my step sister and the king react to the news? Would they cast me out, or worse, would he see the child as a threat? The uncertainty of it all gnawed at me, leaving me feeling utterly alone and vulnerable. These were my thoughts all day.