The Princess Slave
Chapter 21

Violette POV

“I-I.. I’m sorry, Master. I know it must be a hard day for you.” I said in a low voice. My eyes met his deadly ones.. butterflies erupted in my stomach and I quickly looked away.

“It is indeed.” He growled. He believes my Father did it.. and now.. I don’t even know what I believe. I just know that important lives were lost in this war between our families. And it started with the death of his younger brother.

I’m an only child, I couldn’t imagine having younger siblings. Let alone lose them. So I couldn’t even imagine what pain he feels when they cross his mind. It almost for a moment made me feel horrible. Until I remembered that they killed my Mother..

“Did your Father ever talk about that day?” He asked. I could tell he was on the verge of hurting me..

I tried to think back.. but the only time I can think of my Father mentioning it is when he got accused. I was listening in on a conversation between him and my Mom.. when he told her what they were accusing him of and he swore it wasn’t true.

“N-o.. Master. Father never talked to me about anything like that..” I said. He walked towards me and reached toward my face. I jerked away, thinking he was going to hit me but he only lifted my chin and gave me a stern face.

“He was missing for a week before we got him back. And the way we got him back was just.. barbaric. We never learned exactly why your Father did it.. but I’m certain it was him. You know, in those two years of being held captive by him.. he even admitted to it. He would taunt me with it. Tell me “stories” of when he was cutting my little brother to pieces.” He growled.

I didn’t know what to say.. I was afraid to even breathe at this point. He could kill me right now and I wouldn’t be able to do a thing.

“You knew I was down there, right? You heard my screams?” He asked. He was now calm, but it frightened me.

“Y-yes.. No.. I didn’t know it was you he kept down there..Master.” I whispered. My heart was thudding hard in my chest as he looked deep into my eyes. His fingers still rested gently under my chin to keep me from looking away.

I wasn’t lying though.. I didn’t know it was him that Father kept in the dungeon. That part of the palace was off-limits to me. There were guards everywhere, and even in my moments of curiosity I never got very far without getting caught or chickening out.

I did know from rumors that Father held a man down there that did my Family a great disservice. What you may ask? I haven’t a clue. Father never spoke about it, and I didn’t have much of anyone else to talk to besides the staff.

One night.. curiosity got the better of me and I went sneaking around yet again.. I heard screams from the dungeon and I knew it was true.. my father held someone down there and tortured him daily. I’d never felt so horrible for someone in my life.. those screams I heard plague my nightmares.

I knew from that day on I would never be the kind of royal my father is. My mother was soft and pure and how he got her as a mate completely obliterates my mind. She was far too good for him.

He let go of my chin after a few moments of silence.

“So you know how to read. Can you write?” He asked. His tone was a little less aggressive as he walked toward his office.

“Yes, Master,” I said.

“When you are finished you may join me in filling out these documents.” He said. Great. Now I was to do his “Kingly duties”. How lovely is that? I guess I should be grateful he didn’t rip my heart out or snap my neck.

I hadn’t replied and saw the look in his eye.. I must always reply to him. I mustn’t forget that rule.

I nodded my head quickly and spoke.

“Yes, Master.”

••••••••••••••••••••

I tried my best to be slow at cleaning, hoping maybe he would change his mind but I realized that was not going to happen by the time I was almost finished.

I had completely scrubbed and polished his chambers, the only thing left was to remove the pile of dirty clothes.

“Leave those, I’ll have someone come fetch them.” He said. Well.. there goes that. I hadn’t realized he had been watching.

“Yes, Master. I have finished with everything else.” I said. I won’t lie.. not unless it’s for a very good reason. And even delaying my time writing for him wasn’t good enough. He nodded his head and waved me to join him.

“Sit down there. Let me see what you know.” He said. I sat down beside the desk facing him. A stack of papers and a couple of quills with ink lay in front of me.

“Yes, Master,” I said. Father always had me do these with him. He said a Queen should know how to do everything. And that my husband and King would explode when he realized I was very fluent in “All Things King” as my Mother called it.

I dipped the quill in ink and began writing. This was easy, stuff I was doing when I was 10.

“Not bad.” He praised me. He nodded his head and watched as I filled out the entire sheet within a minute.

5 more minutes in and I’d had 6 papers front and back filled out. He reached down and grabbed the finished ones and examined them closely.

“I wouldn’t think you’d know anything about this.” He said. Well, then why have me help? Ugh!

“It’s very easy. I was taught these things early on in life, Master.” I said in a quiet voice.

“Finish the stack you have there, then you may leave.” He said. I nodded my head.

“Yes, Master,” I said. Maybe now he will leave me be.. just let it be quiet while I work.