THE MAIDEN AND THE BEAST KING

idors were practically empty this morning when I was moving around,

young woman just moments later, but those are the only ones I see. I'm honestly pretty surprised. King Richard loved to k

. The staring isn't too bad, but the jeering makes my blood boil and my face heats up in embarrassment. I'm sure by th

rprise that it's happening. Everybody in my life has warned me that it

ody, and I'm regretting not taking their advice to heart. Maybe once the Beast has finished with me t

with one another as well. Gwen is the only person I know here that I could ask, but there's no way she would give me a se

e would have sex with me if I asked, but I want t

suddenly asks, stepping in fr

y there." I answered him truthfully, knowing that he would be able t

It's probably not too common to see a servant walking around by themselves at th

towards the guard's chambers. Assuming that I was correct in hearing th

pore of my body. I'm sure that every Beast in a fifty-foot radius of me ca

asts all huddled around whispering amongst one another. None pay any a

to give me directions. To be honest I expected him to be waiting for me in the hallway. Most Beasts lo

alone in the corner, a

g my eyes to the ground and sh

nts. "

of the King's chambers in the morning." I answe

tly. After a couple of seconds I glance up at him, noticing t

" He

ork." I answer, confused as to why he is asking. I thought

"Well, today's you

nd see a large man standing behind me, pointing towards a door further

revent being noticed by the guards. Thankfully, my attempt works as they continue to talk amongst themselves, completely ignoring my presence. Under normal circumstanc

door. I quickly blink them away, doing my best to compose m

ab the knob, drop my face to th

and take a peek into the room. My blood runs cold and all

the gaping hole in his chest and pulling out around his body. His

ar laughter from the guards all around me, but am unable to focus on anything

ts racing a million miles a minute. Will I be punished for this? Will they think that I'm involved in his death? It

. Even if the Royals know that I didn't do it, my life is expendable

s the room is hunched over in

ween laughter. "Looks like

of the area. Getting back to the safety of t

myself. Turning, I run down the first pair of stairs I find, and once I get to the

growing exponentially as I round the corner

eir faces and wooden bowls in their hands. I quickly spot Joh

been looking all over for you. You left so early this mo

this morning! Apparently he just walked into the guy's bedroo

hn says this. Nobody thinks

the fact that I was meant to serve that par

y grab something to eat. My eyes immediately lock in on the food covering

efore taking a piece of bread too for good measure. John w

taking a large bite of bread as

ted around for you to come out of the women's

slightly guilty for not connecting wi

me as everybody else's. I didn't leave until re

d slightly to the side. "We do sta

se that Gwen must have lied to me this morning. I'm not

told me that I started ea

. "We can walk together tomorrow. O

the guard though I know that I need to ask John to sleep with me. My cheeks he

e I am called again, and I would

have a big favou

ain harder. King Heloix must have had guests over last night

had my work cut out for me, but I didn't expect to have to spend a

couple of times to dilute the wine, before ringing out all the soapy water and climbing back onto the bed

e first couple of days, always working in his office, but lately has been absent. I'm not sure where, but he's gone

g to fade. The stain won't completely disappear, but my goal is to get enoug

l. I'd never say this out loud, but it's what he deserved for spilling it in the first place

if I can smell any wine. My nose picks up the light scent of soap and laundry detergent, but no wine. Dee

, but it'll do."

ing. The once clear water inside the bucket is now tinted purple, an

nner left for me when I get back. I made the mistake of cleaning the entire place before taking a look at the bed. Foolishly, I assume

e sheets. They are nice and warm as I pull them from the machine, and I can'

back over to the bed, careful not to drop anything onto the ground. I'm for the most part succes

falls from the top of my bundle just as my hand closes a

chuckle has me

Papers are all sprawled out along the coffee table in front of him, and he leans back

referring to me hunched over tryi

, embarrassed at having bee

and I'll be gone." I apologise, knowing

lear in my movements. The King has never worked outsi

e fitted sheet. I make haste to get it on the mattress, internally cursing as my fumbling han

me or anything of the sort. Typically Beasts move quietly, and often to such a degree that the human ear has trouble

ant ones are typically accompanied by unpleasant scents. He probably doesn't appr

or you when you get back."

rners of the sheet as

to the kitchen area. I strain my ears to listen to what he is do

n me, but despite it I keep my head down and continue working on the b

from the kitchen as I set

out through my nose. It's a calming technique I learned from John's

show as I turn away from

food placed in front of him. Hesitantly, I walk forwar

?" I

will be working from my office tomorrow and don'

r the King was served last night. Farfalle pasta covered with spinach, mushro

iven food like this. Kitchen maids have been k

he bowl towards me. "Don

eeping a watchful eye on the King. He takes a sudden step backward and I flinch in

chance to settle down, before stabbing a coup

rienced before fill my mouth, and I immediately understand why humans aren't

of food I would spend all d

kful after forkful into my mouth, hardly even chewing between bites. The bowl empties in record time, and the King steps for

d grabs the bowl, moving a

" He says, before turning and wa

ments, careful to maint

It was incredibly kind of him to let me eat his

he plops down on it and grabs a couple of papers off the table. Taking

ed to put some muscle in it. A quiet grunt leaves my throat at the effort, and I pr

and I spot John standing

iting for hours!" He asks, coming up

te for me, my stomach already beginn

e done today." I answer, feeling guilty

lways be with me in the hallways. We both know that should a guard choose to take me tha

isper to him, looking around to mak

another. They are obviously being pretty hush-hush about it, not wanting to admit

more so that he has taken the initiative to ask around

t's completely empty. Apparently it's where the King will move to once he finds his mate and starts a family

ed. "I was expecting you to tell me ab

The knowledge that we will have an entire room to ourselves is ideal too. Now

?" I ask, eager

when we are inside. The stairwells echo, and it is too risky to talk about such thi

" John says the second we

g sure the coast is cl

- I'm sure you've seen them around. Well, they are staying in the r

?" Emma questions, glancing up

s sitting on the floor cross-legged, eating some oats for breakfast. We haven't spoken to o

I need to clean all the furniture in the cour

extra tasks to do each day. They take me hours to complete, and for the past couple of days I've been lucky to get even four

t that! Gwen's a real hardass on you. I think it's because she

lly speaking, cleaning the King or Second's chambers is a pretty easy job, and as such is typically favoured a

a points a finger at me, pursing her lips befo

y hand over my he

ead as she sets her bowl in the

be late." She says, giving me a s

or me to get to work as well. Thankfully the King hasn't spoken to me since

while in his presence, but I don't worry that he's

nd of the servant's hallway, and

d to the courtyard after work, so you

immediately respond. I can practically see the cogs turning in his

down to the courtyard." He a

st know that I won't be off

ollowing behind, and seconds later I can feel his body heat to my right. We both keep o

ing to find the best one. If we get heckled or grabbed at we will attempt a different route the next d

nd lifts my skirts as I pass. And after the main hall, if we go up the staircase further down the hallway, we will avoid the guard who loudly jokes

"I'm so jealous that the King had those new hinges put on

la

who keeps the suite clean." I argue, secretly wishi

s left on practically every flat surface, and a giant pile of dishes in the si

hn agrees, joinin

rtion of walking up six flights of stairs isn't the reason why. We are audibly out

ends of the hallway, and I give John a quick wa

tarted with my day. The place isn't too bad today, and hopefully I can get d

ily fluids. The past couple of days there has been semen in his sheets, so I've been giving them daily washes. It's not great f

the bed. I can see the King watching me out of the corner

the kitchen to clean the dishes. I usually like to clean up the livin

considered disrespectful, but it's hard not to. It's fascinating to see ho

s are prominent under his smooth skin, not a freckle or scar visible. He leans

against a plate. The King spins around quickly, our eyes meeting for a

He teases, causing

tified that he caught me watching him, and even more so at the emotions that seeing his body inv

minutes later, slamming the front door shut behind him. Reli

sks. I've been good about keeping up on the deep cleaning, so all that reall

ing around. To my surprise though it isn't the King that has entered,

ts me, a wide smile sp

to stay throughout the night to wait on the Heloix and I. ''

e coat, scared of what

ringing me a glass

"Yes

nkle it against anything. King Heloix has a wine fridge in his

servants who are allowed to even come in contact with alcohol are those that work in the kitchen, so I've never had to op

The woman questions, clearl

rom the cabinet and fill it up. I'm careful not t

say, holding out

ent request. She begins walking around the room, fingers gliding over every surface as she passes. I'm s

ces as I debate on whether or not I should say anything. If I do, she will undoubtedly punish me, but if I don't,