CORA

CHAPTER 6

CORA'S POV

I was super excited about the job but I was surprised. My knight in shining armor was the prince of Winslow. The brief time embrace we shared was enough to spin my head around. That was all I thought about on my way back home. When I got home, I didn't know how to bring up the topic. I met Aunt Thea weaving. I did not think it was a nice idea to just tell her immediately, so I went straight to my room after greeting her.

In my room I kept pacing about the room, rehearsing why I was going to tell aunt Thea. I didn't want her to turn me down, I didn't want her to tell me no, but I wasn't courageous to tell her about it. I sat on the bed and my thoughts kept wondering how I'd break the news to her and her husband. I laid down for a while, but I was just so restless. Few minutes later Aunt Thea came into the room, she walked straight to the bed and sat right beside me.

"Cora dear, is everything okay with you?"

She asked.

"Aunt Thea I am fine" I said with a little grin on my face.

"Are you sure?" She asked a little unsure.

"Yes I am" I said.

"Alright, come out and join us for dinner, your uncle just got back" Aunt Thea said.

"Okay" I replied.

"Do not keep us waiting" Aunt Thea said as she stood up and left the room, leaving me to my thoughts.

I had to go and join them for dinner at the dining table, I did not want to keep them waiting or even worse get them angry. I joined Aunt Thea and Uncle Evan at the dining, the table was filled up with various meals, and their faces were lit up. They both looked so happy.

"What is the occasion?" I asked.

"Well, at had great sales of all the blades I made today at the workshop and I was paid handsomely" Uncle Evan said with smiles on his face and Aunt Thea was also smiling.

"Wow that's good news" I said.

I joined them in the table and took out a plate and served myself. I felt it would be better if I shared the news of my new job with them together. I contemplated again but I made up my mind. Is tell them about it now .

"I got a job" I said.

They both said together "That's a great news"

"Where did you get the job?" Aunt Thea asked

I was mute for a while and then I responded

"The.... the palace" I said

And suddenly, they both stopped eating and turned to my direction at the same time. I had two pair of eyes on me but neither of them said and I knew I had to pick my next words carefully, because I was sure the news I just shared with them was a shock. They still hadn't uttered a word, they were still shocked. So I spoke up.

"I got a job at the palace, and I wanted you both to know" I said.

"Cora No..No." aunt Thea said.

"You can't work in the palace Cora" Uncle Evan added.

"Why can't I?" I asked looking at bot of them.

"Because it's not safe" Aunt Thea shouted.

"Aunt Thea I know the reason who you think it's not safe, but I can assure you that I'll be very careful"I pleaded.

"No you can't be that close to King Castor. I'd you ever finds you out, you would be put on a stake and burnt alive and I do not want that" Aunt Thea said.

"Please, i promise to be super careful" I pleaded.

"We can't bear it if anything happens to you and I'm very sure your mother will never forgive us if anything should happen to you" Uncle Evan said.

"My mother does not need to know" I said.

"Cora my answer remains No" she said m.

"Okay Aunt Thea and Uncle Evan I'll look for another job" I said.

I felt heartbroken and I had lost my appetite also, I tried to conceal it for a while but I couldn't. I excused myself and entered the room leaving both of them there. I could feel their eyes on me as I left.

Few minutes after I entered Aunt Thea came in. I knew what she was going to say.

"Cora please understand why I do not want you work in the palace" she said.

"I understand" I responded

"It is for your safety" she pleaded.

"That's fine, I will go in search of another job tomorrow" I said.

"Th ah you for understanding and listening" Aunt Thea said as her face lit up in smiles.

She was happy I was going to forget the job at the palace and look for work else were. But deep down, I was not going to do that. I had gotten fascinated with the palace and I would keep going there and that meant I'll have to work there. And I wanted to see the prince again. Aunt Thea gave me a hug and bid me a good night rest before she left.

I laid on the bed thinking of what next to do.

I was standing in a white gown just by an oak tree, there were several demons about trying to reach out to me, but I kept enchanting spells.

"Shrum ki da bi da" I said

The demons tried to get closer but I continued to enchant the spells and all of a sudden I was surrounded by fire, and I began to feel weak. I felt defeated as I fell to the then all of a sudden a man appeared. I was yet to see his face properly because he was showing just his back , but his form and voice made me realize he was male. He said some spells and the fire went off. He turned, but I couldn't see his face properly, there was smoke everywhere I could barely see him and then I woke up.

This dream again, it was not clear yet. I kept wondering who the man in the dream was. The dream left me confuse. It was morning already, o had to rush off to work but then I had to convince aunt Thea and Uncle Evan I was going of a new job.

I had my bathe and got dressed in a Lilac dress, it was on of the dresses Aunt Thea and uncle Evan had gotten for me on my birthday.

I rushed out of the room and met uncle Evan having breakfast.

"Cora breakfast is ready" Aunt Thea said.

"I'll skip" I shouted as I dashed out of the house

Aunt Thea followed me out of the house, but I had gone a little bit further but I could hear her when she said

"Come home early Cora"

"I will" I screamed as I ran off.

I got to the palace on time. I went in through the garden, I met Maia just as I was entering the garden. She took me by my hand and led me to a room that looked like the store.

"Here are fresh linens, take them and follow me" she said.

I followed her as she led me through another door that led to the stairs. We climbed the stairs and we entered a long hall, it was the same long hall Gaia and I had followed when I was to see the King. But this time we turned went through a different door.

And we entered a smaller compartment that led to a different hallway and then to a door.

"This is the King's Room, you will be in charge of keeping it clean" Maia said.

"Why the King's room?" I whispered.

"The maid you are replacing was in charge of the Kings room, so it's only normal you take over from where she left" Maia answered whispering.

"Oh!" Was the reply I could give.

"The king is away, now quickly clean it up before he returns" Maia said.

Maia opened the door for me, shoved me inside and and closed it behind me. I was left alone in this huge room.

Aunt Thea and Uncle Evan would explode if she ever found out I was this close to the King. I thought

I couldn't help but notice how beautiful the room was. It was truly a room befitting royalty. I saw beautiful portraits I couldn't help but admire. I saw a portrait of the king hanging by a corner, couldn't help but laugh at it, even in the picture he looked really mean and then there was a portrait of a very beautiful woman.

That must be the Queen. She was so beautiful, and she had blue eyes just like that of the prince I thought.

I was lost in admiring the portrait. I didn't know I had company. I was startled by the earthy sweet male voice I almost lost my balance, my heart beat became loser that I felt whoever it was could hear it.

"You could be flogged severely for being an inch close to that picture you know?" the voice said

After recovering my balance and tried to steady my breathing, I turned to see who my company was and i was stunned to see the Prince.

"Wow" I muttered

He was so handsome, and those eyes could make me melt at anytime. I couldn't stop staring at him. I was stuck and tongue tied like a spell was cast on me.

"Are you the new maid?" He asked.

"Y... yes" I stuttered.

"Name?" He asked.

"Cora" I answered.

"Cora... Cora" he repeated my name and it sounded like music to my ears.

"The last time we saw, you seemed super excited" he added as he drew closer to where I stood.

I tried to go back but i realized I had reached a dead end of the room and now he was just a breath away from me. I couldn't breath, he was too close I could feel his hairs brush over my skin. His closeness stirred a weird feeling, I couldn't tell if I liked it, but I didn't hate I was just uncomfortable at the close proximity.

"You wanted my attention and now you have it" he whispered as he caressed my cheek.

His hands were so soft and comforting, and i enjoyed his touch and every thought to push him away vanished .He had his eyes on me and I could see his blue eyes clearly.He circled my waist with his arms and I was pressed into his chest. As his face went to the side of my neck and I could feel his breath on my skin. It had me having goosebumps on my skin. Then he brought his face to mine like he was going to kiss me, he kept drawing closer, our lips were just a breathe away and then there was a knock on the door and I came to my sense and freed myself from his embrace.

He walked to the door, when he got there he gave me a look of we are not yet done and he left closing the door after him. I quickly arranged the room and left.