Ella’s POV
My bones ached. I was tired. The count had a party for his friends and I had helped all day in the kitchen, cooking with the chefs and serving with the other maids.
I didn’t know what he was celebrating and didn’t bother to ask. It wasn’t like he was going to tell me if I did. I was a slave who didn’t have the right to think and ask questions.
“You can all rest now.” The butler said as he entered the kitchen and left.
I sagged against the sink, finished with the dishes I was watching and ran to my bedroom. I needed a good scrub and then a long sleep.
“Take your food, slave.” The chef shouted at my retreating back.
I rolled my eyes. Would it be so bad to be addressed as my name?
“Yes.” I said, turning back to the kitchen.
“Oh! I almost forgot.” She smiled at me. “Will you take the angel’s food to the dungeon?”
I nodded. It had been long that I saw her. “I don’t mind.”
“You are back.” She smiled as she saw me.
I smiled back, glad that we had made progress. “I brought you dinner.”
“Thank you. I am happy to see you. Those other girls are too rude. Thinking of their attitude gave me indigestion after eating.”
I chuckled. “They are rude to everyone. Don’t mind them.”
“I don’t. I don’t care about anything else other than home.”
“You will get out of here one day.”
“I know.” She sighed. “I only hope that it isn’t late. My body is getting weaker as the days go by. There is a waterfall back at home that we have to drink from to keep ourselves alive and young.”
I looked at her and noticed that she was right. She looked older and weaker than the last time I had seen her. She looked like she had aged ten years even though it had only been three days.
“You will get out of here.” I promised her though I didn’t know how I was going to make it happen. I hoped it cheered her up though.
“Trying to stab the count the other day is also taking its toll on me. I shouldn’t have done that.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “I lost my mind for a moment and now I’m paying for it.”
I leaned forward and wiped the tear off her face with my finger. “You would be abnormal if you didn’t lose your mind after being here for days.”
“I’m an angel. I shouldn’t have tried to be wicked.”
I snorted. “You are really an angel if you blame yourself for dishing to the count what he deserved.”
She chuckled. “Thank you. I feel better hearing that.”
“As you should.” I nodded. “I have to go now. I have been working all day and need to eat and sleep.”
“Go.” She nodded. “I will see you another time.”
“It might be sooner than you expect.”
“I hope so. I don’t want to deal with any of those rude girls again or the nasty butler.”
I nodded, waved goodbye at her and left the dungeon, feeling sorry for her as the door slammed shut behind me. I didn’t even know her name, I realized as I walked towards my room.
I ate my food the minute I got in, gobbling it down in quick gulps. I was barely out of the shower when the butler barged in.
I rolled my eyes and sighed, knowing there is no point in reminding him to knock before he enters my room. The bastard would do what he preferred to and slam it to my face that he had seen me naked.
“The count wants you in his bedroom.”
My heart slammed in my chest. “I will be out in few minutes. Let me get dressed.” I had some pollen stored in my room. I only needed to rub them on my skin and I could avoid bedding the count tonight again.
He smirked, running his gaze over me. “You are okay like this. It makes it easier for the count to have his way with you. The less clothes he has to remove, the faster I can return you to your bedroom.”
The dirty bastard. I felt dirty as he looked at me.
“Are you always this chatty?” I rolled my eyes.
He scowled. “I would prefer to have you flogged if the count didn’t favor you as much as he did. Let’s go.” He said, grabbing me by the hand and pulling me out of the room.
My heart almost went into attack as we got closer to the count’s room, afraid of bedding him. I had nothing to avoid him this time.
The butler pushed me into the room once we got to the door. I gasped as I saw the count standing in the room, waiting for me. He was stark naked.
Oh my! My throat went dry and I swallowed. Shit.
“You are beautiful.” He moaned, running his hand over my cheek. “Look how soft you are.”
I shuddered in disgust, wanting to yank his hand away from my skin.
He chuckled and leaned forward, his breath on my face. “You want me already? I love how responsive you are. Let’s get to it. I will make you scream out my name so loud your voice will be lost.”
I hope not.
“Call me Ronald. I give you permission to do that for today.”
“Yes, master.” I said, trembling.
“Call me Ronald, slave.” He barked at me. “That is an order.”
He was about to slip my bathrobe off when a knock sounded on the door.