Cherry blossom

Bella's POV

My feet moved briskly as I walked toward the corridor leading to Nunew's room. My heart pounded with a slow, steady rhythm, curiosity bubbling within me about what was so captivating about that girl that he had purchased her for such an exorbitant price. Nonetheless, I approached his room, armed with a barrage of questions.

"Good evening, Bella! How was your day?" greeted Crystal, one of the maids, with due respect.

I returned her greeting with a broad smile. "I'm doing well, thank you for asking."

I overheard Crystal's friend Becky chiding her for her politeness toward me.

"She's not a lady royal, so why greet her like one? What makes her so special? Isn't she just a maid like us?" Becky's voice was both harsh and scornful.

"Hey, don't say that! Given her standing with the crown prince, it's only proper to show her the respect she's due," Crystal responded sweetly, while Becky let out a loud hiss.

"Whatever! To me, she's nothing but an arrogant brat, a spoiled piglet!" Becky scoffed under her breath. Crystal just shrugged her shoulders gently as they both walked away.

......

I heard every word, but I feigned ignorance, and fortunately, they were none the wiser and left without further incident.

"Keep playing your games, girls. Deceive yourselves all you want. I'll show you my true significance in this palace! I'll demonstrate that I am the one who sets the rules here," I whispered to myself, hissing quietly as I stole a glance at the two gossiping ladies exiting the hallway. Once they were gone, I let out a scoff and resumed my path to the Prince's room.

His room lay on the far side of the palace, notorious for being the largest and reportedly most haunted part of the castle—a peculiar distinction. It was somewhat dark and quiet, and legend had it that the castle was deemed 'abandoned' because his room was the first to be forsaken by the original owner.

Prince Nunew’s chamber was not a place for just anyone. When a maid was summoned there, her elation knew no bounds, for she was certain she wouldn't leave unchanged.

Indeed, often those who were invited couldn't resist broadcasting the news, basking in the envy and attention of others.

His room was the center of attention, yet visits were rare, reserved for special reasons. To me, however, it was a routine destination.

Whenever the whim struck me, whether for amusement or out of boredom, I'd barge into his room without a second thought. No one dared question my actions, well aware that the prince would not take kindly to such interference.

Beauty may think she got promoted because of her beauty, but what she fails to realize is that it was I who implored Nunew to consider her for the role of his personal maid.

She thinks her luck gave her the position. I also act as though it was luck, but deep inside of me, I know that it wasn't mere luck, I am behind it.

I planned everything behind the scenes.

I was the master planner, and I did it all because I thought if I made her his personal maid, we would become closer and our love would bloom.

Because personal maids are the ones who do the smallest job.

Unfortunately, immediately she got the position, she broke up with me, she didn't even bother to wait for a day, she made sure that our relationship ended that same day, and I was left with a broken heart.

Although I had the power to bring her down within a minute, I just acted and pretended that I was one of the helpless maids, and they all bought my acting.

Some of the maids treat me like a pathetic slave, unknown to them that I had the power to render them jobless, homeless and extremely poor within a minute.

Who is she? I guess you are all wondering the same thing?

Well, calm down, I will introduce myself properly very soon.

……

"Your majesty, open the door!" I hardly knocked at the prince's door. My knuckles almost bled at the ferocious manner I was knocking.

Two guards were standing beside the door, and upon seeing me, they smiled and made way for me.

One of them even teased me, calling me the prince's favorite, and asked me what I have done to his highness, but I didn't reply, I just faked a smile and continued knocking harder.

If only they knew how much the prince hated me, then they would understand that I am not lucky, rather I am unfortunate to be close to him.

"Your majesty!" I knocked hard, and Steve, one of the guards, joined me in knocking. I didn't ask for his help, and I didn't bother to send him away, I just allowed him to continue with his fake kind gesture.

"Enter!" Nunew's husky voice thundered with a loud commanding tone, and I shivered at the sound of the voice.

The guards offered swift well-wishes, their eyes betraying a hint of apprehension, before retreating to their designated posts. It was evident that the mere mention of the prince's voice made them shiver, and they quickly went back to resume their duties, the air in the corridor seemed to hold a lingering tension, an unspoken acknowledgment of the authority Nunew wielded within the palace walls.

I was about to push the door open, just as he had said, when suddenly I overheard hushed conversations between the other maids. They seemed to be talking about a secret, because their conversation was in a low voice, and they were all talking at once.

Their words danced like whispers in the air.

I secretly walked closer to their side, curiosity killing me as I wondered what they were talking about.

"Have you seen the new slave? I mean the one the crown prince just bought at the slave dealer square?"

One of the maids asked, her voice filled with sarcasm and the others clapped their hands in support.

"Oh yes! I have seen her, and I couldn't help but wonder what special about her. I mean to me she looks like a random maid who has suffered in life, " another replied, her voice sounding distant and filled with jealousy.

And the four maids burst into laughter.

"I saw that cheater, Bella, or whatever her name is called, talking to her.

In fact, they seemed pretty close as the maid just kept laughing hysterically as Bella was talking.

I wanted to scare the maid away, but Bella's presence stopped me from doing that! But don't worry, I will teach her a horrible lesson before this week runs out," one of the maids said, and the other smiled in agreement.