The Girl with The Dragon Wolf Tattoo

Chapter Four

{Adrienne’s POV}

*Nine years ago…

How could you say something that you haven’t done before? Like, could you say that a person was beautiful if you haven’t met them? Could you say that a person was bad without knowing their heart and true intentions? And…could I say that a certain place was dangerous just based on what my parents told me?

And when thinking of those questions, the only thing that came into my mind was…what if?

What if I go out of this place and see for myself? Because how could I tell and judge something just based on what others told me? Why not find out the answer myself?

But all of those would just forever remain a mystery to me. There was no way my parents would let me go out and see the real world.

“But how could you tell me to stop when thinking of the world outside was the only thing that keeps me motivated?”

My dad looked a little taken aback because of what I said while Mamai pressed her lips together, clearly not happy about what I said.

“What do you mean? Aren’t you happy here with us? Do we ever make you feel unwanted? Do you feel like we gave you not enough attention? Tell me, mo leanbh, so we could work this out.”

I know that she’s mad and hurt because of the way I was acting, but this was Mamai. No matter how hurt or angry she was, Mamai would never end an argument without trying to fix it with communication. And it never failed to make me feel guilty, and it would always end with me filled with regret.

I didn’t answer her questions and just looked down on the ground. I didn’t want to say something that could hurt my parents even more. I know that they just wanted to protect me, but there was just this feeling of void, a missing piece in my soul.

I heard her sigh.

“Please understand us. Not because you saw that the palace was beautiful meant that it was not harmless and dangerous—”

“Everything was always dangerous for the both of you. You always see the bad in everything—”

My father interjected. Anger was evident in his voice.

“Do not speak to your mother that way, Dahlia. We never taught you to be disrespectful.”

Mamai ignored my outburst and spoke with the calmest voice I’d ever heard.

“Everything comes with a danger, Dahlia. Don’t let small and beautiful things fool you.” I didn’t speak after that, making her sigh. “The palace was dangerous, Adrienne.”

I almost shiver when I heard her speak my first name. It means that she was dead serious.

“No person in the palace could be trusted, especially the king. Many had been fooled because of how young he was, and it was one of his advantages. In the palace, every word you speak has a price and one wrong move could lead you to your end. So, never mention going there ever again.”

***

*Present time…

“Holy crap! I thought he was going to suspect us for a moment back there.”

I chuckled. “Yeah. He even asked me to take my cloak off. Can you believe it?” I shivered at the thought of Philip guy’s face. “I almost fainted.”

We both chuckled.

Skylar and I were making our way inside the palace. Not at the front huge door though because that’s for higher ranks only, so we servants have to use the door at the back. Just hearing that made me realize how unfair thing palace was to its own people. The king must be an awful ruler.

I turned to Skylar when I suddenly remembered something.

“Hey, the girl you’ve mentioned to that Philip guy, Diana, right? Won’t they suspect anything once she returned?” I asked, worriedly.

Skylar smiled in an attempt to ease my worry. “Don’t worry, she won’t be returning anytime soon. Diana had been put into exile and stripped of everything she had and will have for trying to seduce the king.”

My eyes widened as a small gasp escaped my lips.

“That was horrible. But maybe she and the king really did have an affair.”

Skylar shook her head. “Well, the king didn’t exactly say anything about that, and besides, Diana was a good person, she would never do that.”

I frown.

“So, you mean that she had been accused and punished for something she didn’t commit?”

A look of sadness, anger, and pain crossed her eyes. “Yes…” She whispered. My frown deepened. Wouldn’t the guards know that though? Skylar must’ve seen the look of confusion and worry on my face because she spoke again. “Only those who were close to Diane were the only ones who knew about what happened, so the guards back there wouldn’t suspect us. We’re fine, don’t worry.”

I didn’t say anything after that and just followed her quietly.

There were still questions in my head that I wanted to ask her, but I could see how much it hurt her to talk about her friend. It was obvious how much Skylar cared for her friend. She was a good and beautiful woman. She knew the risk and punishment that could happen to her, but she still helped me. And if only I didn’t have to do this, I wouldn’t drag any more mess into her life.

We went inside the door.

It was not as big as the one on the front side of the palace, but it was not that surprising anymore considering how this place value their servants. Very inhumane.

Girls at the age of nineteen or above wearing dirty clothes welcomed my sight. They were holding some cleaning stuff and were too busy to look in our direction.

“They were the ones responsible for cleaning the dirtiest stuff and places around the palace. They were not also allowed to show themselves in public.” Skylar explained as we made our way further inside. “Fortunately, we’re not part of those.”

After walking in several series of hallways, we finally made our way inside the kitchen where a weighty lady was barking orders to the cooks

“Gwendolyn wants the best food qualities only! Don’t be such a disgrace to the future Queen of our kingdom!” She scowled at the middle-aged cook before turning away just in time when we stopped meters away from her.

Her sharp eyes landed on Skylar who was handing over the things we bought to another servant.

“Skylar!” The woman screeched and the action made Skylar pale. “You are to be punished for taking a long time outside! Go change and clean the barnyard, then prepare the king’s lunch after.” The woman didn’t wait for Skylar’s response and just straight out stormed out of the kitchen.

I blinked several times, stunned at how rude and ungrateful that lady was. Who does she think she was? Skylar did what she was told and that was how she repay her? I couldn’t believe how awful this people were.

But the worst part was Skylar seemed unfazed at all. Scared, yes, but it looked like she was so used to being treated like that. And it was wrong.

“Come, Adrienne.” She called and we both went back into the hallway.

On our way, I couldn’t help but ask her.

“Skylar, who was that rude lady?”

She clicked her tongue before she answered, “Her name was Rose, and she was in charge of all the servants here in the palace. She was Gwendolyn’s right-hand woman, so every servant feared her.”

“Including you,” I concluded. I saw it in her eyes when Rose looked at her with rage. The way she paled and held her breath made me wonder what Rose had done to her and the other servants here to make her react that way.

“Yes, and so should you. If you want to last here, you must know when to bow your head, lower your gaze, and bite your tongue.”

Well, that would take a lot from me. I was never taught to do those things. Instead, my parents taught me to hold my chin up, looked straight into people’s eyes, and speak what was on my mind.

Skylar brought me to a small, tidy room with two small beds, and I soon learned that it was hers. She also told me that Diana once shares this room with her, but now that Diana was gone, I could take her place.

She gave me a long sleeve light gray dress that goes way below my knee and has a collar too. I saw the other servants wearing the same, so I guess that it was what servants wore while doing their tasks here in the palace.

The dress felt uncomfortable, but I managed. It was as if I had a choice.

“Won’t Rose find me suspicious?” I asked once we made our way to the barnyard. I still couldn’t believe that I would be cleaning that place with her, but I didn’t want Skylar to do that alone either. So, here I was having no choice at all.

The barnyard was pretty far if you’d ask me. It’s probably a hundred meters away or so. The distance reminded me of the glistening falls and our home. That was how far it was.

“Well, she will—”

“What?!” I shrieked turning to her with panic and worry.

“—but” She gave me a pointed look as if telling me to let her finish first. “She will have no choice but to accept you, especially now that the palace lacks servants. So, it’s a win-win for the both of you.”

I calmed down after hearing what she said. Fortunately, no one heard my scream because who would go to a barnyard than servants? Like, duh…

And in the end, I helped Skylar feed the animals and cleaned them, including the horses, cows, and God, the awful pigs. I could still smell their poop. It was traumatizing. I couldn’t even imagine what Skylar felt for doing those things for years.

We went back to our room and cleaned ourselves. I probably took half an hour to finish scrubbing all the dirt in my body while also trying not to heave.

After I finished dressing up in a new gray dress that Skylar let me borrow, we went to the kitchen because Rose told Skylar to bring the king his lunch to his private office.

My eyes immediately landed on a tall and petite woman wearing a light green bodycon dress that hugged her body, perfectly showing her curves. She was telling something to the cook who looks as pale as a ghost. Poor old man.

They didn’t notice us at first and I took that time to examine her features.

She has light brown eyes that have a dangerous glint on them. Pale skin and brunette hair. In short, the woman was beautiful but something in her presence doesn’t feel right to me.

The cook looked in our way making the woman turn to us.

The way her eyes squint in disdain when she saw me didn’t go unnoticed. Her lips tugged upward in disgust. I wanted to raise my eyebrows at her but thinking that doing that probably wouldn’t do me any good, I refrained from doing so.

Skylar bowed her head and signaled for me to do that too, so, I tried to bow my head even though my mind and heart were both screaming at me to keep my head up. It was painful and I felt like screaming in frustration when I finally managed to bow my head at her. It was an awful and disgusting feeling, let me tell you.

“Forget it.” I heard the woman say to the cook. Her voice was firm and held a hidden threat inside. Then, she turned her body completely to us.

I bit the inside of my cheeks while trying so hard to keep my gaze trained on the ground. My teeth clenching and unclenching.

“Lady Gwendolyn, Miss Rose t-told me to bring the king his lunch.” Skylar stuttered, but this time, I saw a different kind of fear in her. It wasn’t like when Rose was screaming at her earlier. No, it was deeper and worse. And that action alone made my suspicion clear with this Gwendolyn girl. She was dangerous.

“Did I ask?” Gwendolyn said in irritation, but I know she was still looking at me.

Am I that pretty for her to can’t keep her eyes from staring at me? I mentally chuckle at my own thought.

“Who’s this?” She then asked, and I know that she was talking about me. I glanced at Skylar and saw her slightly trembling, so I answered.

“My name is Adrienne. I am a new servant here…Lady Gwendolyn.” I said firmly, not looking into her eyes.

“And this peasant brought you here?” She asked while pointing to Skylar.

Peasant? Did she seriously call my friend a peasant? Who was this woman? The nerve!

Skylar briefly glanced at me, fear and vulnerability were evident in her eyes.

I exhaled, gritting my teeth. “No.” I lied smoothly.

“Then who?” God, what was with these questions?

“The guard outside,” I answered, trying not to smile seeing her beetroot face. Darn, it was so easy to piss this girl off.

She pressed her lips together in a grim line, clearly not pleased with my answer, and then she stormed off without saying anything. Skylar let out a shaky breath and I saw how exhausted she was, and something tugs my heart. She was about to pick up the food on the tray when I spoke.

“I’m going to bring them to the king. Just take a rest, Skylar. You need it.”

She looked at me, surprised. “What? No, Adrienne. It’s my job and besides, the king might scare you off. He could be really cruel.”

I gave her a small smile, trying to ease her worries. “Don’t worry about me. Look at you. You seemed so drain. Take a rest while I’ll do all your chores for today, okay”

She was hesitant at first but still, she agreed and told me where I would find the king’s office.

First room. Top floor.

As I made my way to the king’s office, I couldn’t shrug off the feeling of a weird sensation in the pit of my stomach…was I…excited? But how could I be excited for no apparent reason? Was this feeling normal?

I felt as though something was pulling me to the king’s room, but it wasn’t because of Skylar’s guide, but with my own accord. Like I know this place like the back of my hand.

What was happening?

I asked myself, suddenly feeling nervous now.

And just when I was outside the door I realized why… And it was funny how knocking on a certain door changed my life forever in a way I never imagine.

And that change started with a gruff, “Come in.”