Sold for 30 Days

Chapter : 10. First punishment..

Flora’s point of view:-

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I kept following the directions the guard instructed me. And after a few more minutes, I finally reached the staircase he told me to search for. The stair that was going down to some storage room type place, was dark and lightless. It is a bit creepy and I have a doubt that I should be here in the first place. Maybe the guard didn’t tell me about these stairs. Maybe I am lost again. How can they give someone a place this scary to live, no matter who that person is? I am the one who lost my way again.

Thinking these, I was about to turn back and keep searching for the right place that women told me to go, when I heard some noise coming out of that storage room like place. A few women's voices and giggles could be heard from the place I am standing. Is this the place they call the maids’ chamber? This might be it or else why would I hear some maids’ voices coming from there. Should I go there to see if I’m at the right place?

I looked around once again to see if anyone is around whom I can ask about the proper place, but nobody was around. Finally, I decide to go down there and check it myself. If it is not the place I’m supposed to, then at least I could ask someone from there about the way of the maids’ chamber. Thinking about this, I stepped on that old broken stair with fear in my heart coming from the darkness. But the moment I climbed down the stairs, a bright light came into my eyes. Right down the stairs, a room was attached beside it, with a big wooden door for the gate.

Peeking inside, I saw that it was a bigger room than I expected it to be, almost equal to the sitting room I just came from.There are numeral beds lined up one by one, on each side of the chamber. And a small table like cabinet is placed beside it with a lamp on top of it. It was an underground bunker for maids where they can not only live but hide themselves if any enemy kingdom attacks for several days. The wooden door of this chamber is solid, which can be hardly broken by ten men altogether. It's perfectly safe for females.

At first, I was thinking that, how can the king give maids such an eerie place to live, before I came down. But now I’m proud to see that he has made such a thoughtful place for them. I still don’t know that if this is the maids’ chamber surely, because only three maids were there, cleaning the place a bit. There could be a possibility that this is something else then what I’m thinking. So, I thought that It’s better to ask first.

“Umm… Excuse me? Is this the maids’ chamber?” Hearing my question, those three maids stood up in their places and looked at me with wondering eyes before starting to laugh.

“Who do you think this place belongs to then? The King?” One of them spoke up while having fits of laugh.

“Wait. Are you the slave prince chose today?” The second one asked me.

“Umm… Yes.” I said quietly, getting ashamed by their mockery.

“Look at her dress. She came prepared just in case the prince decides to marry her.” The first one starts laughing again.

“Valerie’s going to have so much fun with her. Welcome to your doom.” The second one also joined her friend.

“Girls, stop. She’s new here. Don’t make fun of her like that. Don’t you remember the day you came here too. You were equally scared like her that day. So, give her some time to adjust. Who knows, maybe she becomes all of our favourite one day.” The third maid, who was standing quiet till now, spoke up, making the other two quiet.

I picked my head up to see the person who stood up for me and said such nice words for me. She seems older than any of the maids I’ve seen yet, with a little wrinkled up face and slight gray hair. She must be the oldest worker of this palace. Her face has that motherly feeling which informed me that I can trust her and rely on her till the days I’m here.

“Come here, girl. What’s your name?” She asked me lovingly.

“My name is Flora.” I stepped closer to her and told her.

“Flora? It’s a beautiful name. Valerie sent you here, right?” she asked me and I gave a small not to say yes.

“She told me you would be coming. My names Martha. I’m the head of the maids, that means I divide work among everyone. Follow me. This bed here is yours, and you can keep your personal thing in this cabinet which belongs to you now. You see that door over there in the middle? That’s the washroom for all of us, and you can use it whenever you want. Your clothes are already in your cabinet. Go and change your dress now because according to the time, you will be late for your first day of training if you don’t hurry. And trust me, you don’t want to keep her waiting.”

She informed me about all the things I would be needing in these days till I’m here. Passing Martha a nod, I quickly went to grab a dress and get ready. Opening the cabinet, I found that all the dresses I have in my specific cabinet, is different from the ones maids wear. It’s some casual wears, girls of our kingdom wear on normal days. I couldn’t understand what’s going on or why I have different clothes than others. Grabbing the first one from there, I looked back at Martha in hope to get some answers.

“I know what you want to ask, but I also don’t have answers for that. She just told me to give you these and send you to the training in time. Now hurry up.” She answered me before I have to ask her.

Passing her a smile, I rushed inside the bathroom. It is also spacious enough for 20 maids to get ready at a time. Quickly changing my dress, and tiring my hair in a upward bun, I get back to my cabinet and keep my own dress inside safely. I noticed that the other two maids were gone by now. Only Martha was there to instruct me on the next step.

“Now go to the ballroom. Valerie will be waiting for you there.” She told me. But still there is a problem for me now.

“I don’t know which way to go. I will get lost again on my way.” I said to her.

“That’s why you are late to come here? Oh! I know the paths of this palace are a little twisty. I’m not supposed to help you with this. But just because today is your first day, I’m going to show you the way to the ballroom from here. You have to find rest of it yourself. Let’s hurry now.”

Saying this, she walked out of the palace without waiting for me. I also followed her as fast as I can. I have to admit that she has more speed than anyone else of her age because I was having a hard time to keep up with her. In just few moments we came in front of the ballroom, where the door was kept open.

“Oh no! You’re late. Hurry in now and never talk back at Valerie.” Saying this, Martha literally pushed me inside. I controlled my steps because I was about to fall down from the force she just put on me. Standing straight, I saw the woman name Valerie looking directly at me with an angry expression.

“You are late on the first day. If you want to become perfect, the first thing you need to learn is to respect the time. Time is the only thing that we don’t have, and it is the only thing that is keeping us running. Just because this is your first day, I’m going to ignore your first mistake. But the next time you do it, you will be punished strictly. You understand?” She screamed out at me which scared me to the bones. I couldn’t think of what to answer her at this time.

“I said do you understand?” She screamed out louder, making me flinch with her voice.

“Ye… Yes.”

“YES, WHAT?” I again flinched hearing it and felt tear drops gathering in my eyes due to the fear.

“Yes, madam.” It’s the only word I could think of at that moment, and I called it out.

“It looks like the first thing you need to learn is how to present the respected ones.” She said with a hum added.

“Come here and stand in front of me.” With shaky legs, I went near her as she ordered.

“Who are you?” She asked making me wonder what she means. She already knows who I am or what my name is. Did she forget it already?

“I’m Flora Monro, and I’m a farmer’s daughter.” I said confidently.

“Let’s try that again. Who are you?” She asked me again, making me more worried.

“I’m… I’m Flora Monro, and...”

“Mhmm… Forward your hand.”

I couldn’t understand what she wants, but still I forward my right hand to her. Before I can get a hint of what’s going on, she pulled out a cane from her back and ran it flat on my palm. I hissed out in pain and took my hand back. Tear drops came out of my eyes in pain and I felt my palm burning from the hit.

“Give me your hand.” This time I couldn’t dare to do it because I know what’s coming next.

“Give me your palm before my stick chooses another place to hit.” I got scared of her threat and thought it would be the best if I listen to her now. Who knows what more she can do to me. And there is no one to save me here if that happens. So, I slowly forwarded my hand to her, which was already from the first hit.

“Good. Now tell me who you are?” She asked me the same question again. What can I answer her? What does she want to hear from me? Then it came into my mind, who am I to everyone at this palace.

“I’m prince Albert’s slave.”

“Very good. See, one hit brought your senses back. Now tell me who is king Augustus?” This time I know what answer she wants.

“Your majesty.”

“Good. I’m impressed. It looks like you know the basic gratitudes. Just need a bit more touch to it. Now tell me who prince Albert is?”

“Your Highness.” I answered, knowing that it is what everyone calls the prince. But as soon as I said it, another hit came on my palm that was still forward to her.

“Wrong. Try that again. What will you refer the prince Albert with?” This time I am really confused. I don’t know what else to call him.

“Sire?” Another hit fall in my palm and tears were unstopped from my eyes. I couldn’t understand what she wants to hear.

“Once more. Speak up.” She screamed at me, but I don’t know what to say to her anymore. As a result, again the cane hit my palm and I slumped on the floor helplessly. If she wants to keep hitting me, then she can go on because I don’t have an answer for it anymore.

“You will be addressing the prince as Master from now on. Don’t forget that you are his slave and slaves can only present their owner as masters. Understood? If I find you calling our prince anything else then ‘Master’, then it will be your last day in this world. Now tell me one more time. What are you going to call Prince Albert?” This time I know what she wants me to say. It is fitted in my mind to never make this mistake again. I don’t want to be punished again. So, I said as I learned.

“Master.”

“Very good. You are a quick learner or should I say I’m a wonderful teacher. Now on to the next lesson.”

Oh no! She is not done yet.