ARIA.
Once Daneesha shut the door to our room, she walked towards me and took a seat at the edge of my bed, pulling out a large paper bag which she unrolled and took out a large croissant and a bowl containing warm chicken soup.
It wafted into my nose and my stomach rumbled, reminding me I'd only had lunch before heading out to the manor with Lyall. We had planned on having dinner on our return but apparently, that hadn't even worked out at all since his wife had returned and was really happy to see him.

"Mind telling me what happened, Aria?" Daneesha asked as she broke the bread into two, sharing it between us both. "I woke up that morning to an empty bed and Tiffany yelling out your name in anger. I was wondering why because I knew you headed out really early to get your work done. Tiffany said you had escaped and told me to report as soon as I found you."
I lowered my head and focused on dipping my bread into the soup as she spoke.
"Then I waited but I didn't see you. It wasn't until one of the maids came into the washroom with gossip. She said the King had asked that your clothes get changed. You were also given a room in one of the large rooms on the King's wing. We all thought it was a lie so a few ladies went to investigate and they came back with the same tale." She sighed and chewed for a while before she spoke again. "Then they started warping up all sorts of stories and talking about how you pushed yourself to the King so badly. They said you're his mistress and that's because Queen Sheila hasn't birthed a child. Some say he just finds you really beautiful and that you are a whore," Then she showed me her knuckles. There were a few bruises there and I looked up at her in confusion.
"What did you do, Daneesha? How many clothes did they have you wash?"
She burst into laughter and shrugged. "I punched one of the ladies running their mouths and talking rudely about you. I know you wouldn't throw yourself at the King and you are not a slut either. I think the King forced you even."
Leaning back against the wall, I heaved a sigh. "Can I trust you, Daneesha? It's been a rough few days and honestly, I want to talk about it."

She nodded and drew close to me, dropping her croissant as she took my hand in hers. "Of course. I am willing to listen to you. You can trust me."
Sighing, I pushed back my head and pulled my knees to my chest. "On the night of the first party I ever experienced here, I met the King," Daneesha's eyes widened but she said nothing. Instead, she braced up like she was about to listen to something really important. Swallowing, I continued. "So we kind of shared a very intimate moment and that was when I knew he was my mate."
She kept gasping as I continued to speak. Although, I left out a few details, especially the part of tonight at the manor. I only told her about the times I used to go missing and why I was punished. How I had been forced to become his breeder and mistress because he couldn't just divorce his wife. It got to a point where I started to cry. Daneesha gathered me in her arms and sighed.
"I am deeply sorry about your situation. I am. Really. I wonder how it is for you. It must be so terrible."

Sniffling, I nodded. "Of course it is. Very terrible. Now, I was asked to come back here because his wife is back and he's even ashamed. He doesn't want her to know."
"It's worse now that you know you're mated to each other. How can he possibly send you back here to be ridiculed? It's not nice at all."
"Has life ever been fair to the poor like us?" I laughed bitterly. "It has never ever been fair. Now, he has promised that I won't be working for the time that I am here but I don't believe him. Not one bit, Daneesha. He's going to forget that I am here once again and go about his business like he always does and I'll remain here, suffering. Sometimes, I wonder if he cares for me."
"I wish I could bash his head against the wall for hurting you like this. How can he do such a thing? He's your mate for crying out loud! He's being so logical about it and not even considering how you feel at all."
Sighing, I shrugged before picking a chunk of meat from the soup and pushing it into my mouth. It tasted really nice for servant food and I ate more. "One thing I know is that I am not going back to him no matter what. Do you know he even threatened to punish you if I disagreed? I wasn't going to agree to it but I was forced to. I don't want you suffering for my own choices."
The disgust was evident on her face and even if I didn't want her to think about him like that, I was so mad. So mad that I wanted her to think that way about him.
"I don't like him." She replied. "I never have. Who does that just to keep a woman he claims to care about and ends up treating her like a fucking secret?!"
I laughed. "He's scared of what people will say. 'oh! How can the King stoop so low to make a common maid his Luna and wife? She has no royal blood in her!' and the sorts. That's what he's afraid of. That's why he hides me like a fucking plague. But I have learned my lesson now and I will never go back to him."
Just as we finished talking and eating, a knock sounded on our door. Daneesha turned with a frown. "I hope it's not one of the maids that wants to make fun of you because I won't be taking it easy on anyone."
My heart sank. "I think it's Tiffany. I'm sure she's mad at me."
"Fuck her." Daneesha hissed and yanked the door open, her fists ready to punch but her eyes widened and she staggered backwards, curtseying immediately and bowing her head. "Your majesty!"
Shock rippled through me as I pushed to my feet. The King was here? What the flipping fuck?
I walked towards the door, slowing down when I got to Daneesha's bed. And of course, she was right. Lyall was standing by the door, the hood of his cloak down as he tried to speak with me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, feeling my anger return once again.
Sighing, he pushed past Daneesha like she was a piece of crap before walking into the room. "I came here to see you."
I burst into a bitter laugh. "Really? You're here to see me?"
He nodded. "I know you're mad at me but I need you to hear me out. When I explain, you'll understand better."
Shaking my head, I backed away from him. "I don't think there's anything to understand, Lyall."
He grabbed my wrist before I could turn away from him. "I don't think I am going to give you that choice to make. We're taking a walk. I need to talk to you."
My eyes darted over to Daneesha. She stood at the corner of the room, watching us with worry in her eyes. Lyall turned to see her too.
"Is she going to spread the news around?" He asked.
"No, she won't," I replied.
He pulled away and walked over to her. She drew deep into the wall, watching him with careful eyes. "Is she telling the truth?"
Daneesha nodded immediately. I could read the fear in her eyes. It was so intense that I hated Lyall doing this.
Then he turned to me. "Let's go, Aria."
"I have to sleep. I am tired. It's been a long day and I have a lot to do tomorrow morning."
"Did the guards not tell you that you won't be doing a thing until you return back to your room tomorrow evening?"
"I don't know. You should have told me yourself instead of leaving me standing like I was begging to be looked at."
Sighing, he nodded. "Right. That's why I am here. I couldn't sleep because I knew you were mad."
Drawing close to him, I caught a whiff of feminine perfume on his body and something else that smelled like a woman's juices.
Then I took a step back away from him, looking at him with hate in my eyes. "You were with her."
"I can explain, Aria. Hear me out."
"No!" I cried out, not minding if the door was open. Daneesha was quick to shut the door. "I am not hearing you out. You need to go. I beg of you!"
"Please? Let me explain at least?"
I shook my head. "This is the last time I ever listen to you. I don't want to hear a thing. I am really tired and would really love to sleep, okay? Leave before I create a scene."
Sighing, he nodded before he left the room. I crumpled in Daneesha's arms.