“I’m talking, and you are still sitting,”
Aurora hasn’t allowed him to finish, when she raised, lowering her head to the ground.
“My king…. Your Highness,” She stammered, she had seen this coming, knowing how the king got easily irritated at her, but she didn’t know it would come this soon.
“Speak, before I do something nasty,” He slammed his fist on the desk as anger surged through his veins. He was thinking maybe Aurora could change, but her lying again angered him to the core.
“Your Highness, I fetched the water, but when I went back to carry it, I met an empty bucket and I couldn’t find the fetcher likewise” Aurora shivered as she speaks, inwardly she was cursing the person that done it, she imagined of beating the person who does it.
“And you expect me to believe it”
“Your Highness, I’m not lying, someone poured my water away” Aurora repeated, Malik didn’t reply, he moved away from him and slumped on his bed, he looked at Aurora, seeing how she lowered her head.
“Everyone will think she’s innocent, she’s nothing but a pretender,” Malik mumbled.
She was still standing, she didn’t know what to do, she hadn’t finished with her translations, but she couldn’t open her mouth to ask the king any question.
After a minute, Malik broke the silence.
“Have you finished with the translation?” Malik asked.
“No, your highness,” She replied with hesitation in her voice.
“Then what are you waiting for?” The king asked.
“I’m sorry, sir… I don’t know what to do,” She said and went back to the couch, and continued to translate the document.
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She was seething angrily, Xena had been waiting for Jeanne to show up, it is getting late already, the king must be waiting for her, and she didn’t know what to do.
She gave the document to her, to take to the city, after she was told about a man in the town that understands French, since Jeanne couldn’t find any maids in the place that knows French.
After paddling up and down for some minutes, the door finally burst open, and Jeanne came in looking exhausted.
“Today is stressful,” Jeanne said. She didn’t bother to care, even though she knew that Xena was boiling in anger already with the expression on her face.
She slammed the document on the table and jumped on the bed, she laid on the bed. Her audible breathing coming out loudly, she deliberately wants Xena to know how stressful the work she gave to her was.
“Were you able to translate it?” Xena asked, ignoring her signals.
“Babe, my leg ached, please come and help me to massage, ” She said and raised her leg, pointing to Xena.
“You are nuts,” Xena said and handpicked up the document from the table.
“Babe, you should take care of me, don’t be a sly queen, if you see what I went through before I was able to see the man, you will pity me…”Jeanne said, forcing faked crocodile tears out of her eyes. She shut her eyes, expecting the tears to be visible.
The slamming of the door that came after, made her realize Xena had left the room, she hissed and squirted abusive words at her.
“You are too cruel, I wondered how the king was able to keep up with you. A heartless bitch,” She cursed under her breath jokingly.
“I heard everything” the door slightly opened, and Xena eye pierced into hers, she swallowed down instantly, wanting to let out an excuse, but before she could think of one, Xena was out of her face.
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As hardly as Malik tried to hide the excitement on his face, Aurora was still able to know to decrypt his expression
Still, Aurora felt elated, knowing she could put a smile on the king’s face, she thought he might forgive her, with the help she rendered.
“Thank you,” Malik said, as he started reading the translation.
Her eyes twinkled, like she heard it wrong, she pointed her finger to her chest, asking the king to confirm, if he just said thank you to her, she rubbed her hands feeling happy.
“What did you want me to do for you, as a sign of appreciation?” Malik asked, he was smiling stylishly, seeing the amusement on Aurora’s face. Sometimes he didn’t understand himself, a while ago, he was angry at her, now he wants to repay the favor.
Likewise, Aurora wondered the kind of person Malik was, he changed like a chameleon, although she was excited that the king finally spoke with her in a calm voice like before, the thought alone was making the butterflies in her stomach giggle.
”Your Highness, please give me until tomorrow to decide on what I want,” She pleaded.
“Okay” Malik said, and looked at her with a confused glare. Why tomorrow? What if I change my mind? The King thought.
Just then Aurora lowered her head, wanting to leave the king’s chamber when the door opened, and concubine Xena strode in elegantly, with sheer hatred and jealousy, her face fell on Aurora her, the contempt of her mind was written on her face, she wished to skin her alive.
“Good evening my King” she gulped down, wanting to suppress the rage boiling in her mind and flashed the king a smile.
“Where have you been? Have been waiting for the documents? The King asked, then his gaze went to Aurora once again.
” What are you standing there for?” Malik glared at her, before the last word could come out, Aurora’s leg reached the door.
A smile brushed his lips seeing how she moved faster, Xena gaze didn’t leave the king, she felt like there was something she needed to check on his face. Seeing the slight smile on his face, she trailed the direction of the king’s stare, and she noticed the king was smiling because of Aurora.
“My king, I hope your previous maid isn’t manipulating you “She asked out of jealousy, forgetting how to relate with the king. The piercing gaze that landed on her, stuck her throat from speaking the next word.
“Thank you for this,” The king stated, referring to the document she brought. Afterward, he discharged her and told her to inform Evans to come in on her way out.
She wants to tell the king something, she intends to cause the king pain for how he treated her, yet she can’t come up with a plan now. Maybe later, just as he wanted to leave, she thought of the king’s new project.
“What if I join in his project, and portray his brother as the one that cared for the poor, while making him the bad one?” She thought.
“No, it is too extreme, let me hurt him, while Aurora will bear the blame” She decided, then bowed to the king and walked away.
In a jiffy, Evans came in and greeted the king in a humble manner.
“Go and find me the maid who poured Aurora water to away, do it discreetly, no one should know about it” He commanded and Evans nodded to his instruction before going out. Then he brought out Xena’s document, wanting to compare her with the Aurora translation.