Chapter 7: Chapter Seven

Camila's POV

I wished for death. Prayed for my own disappearance and cried destruction to consume me as a whole but none of happened, instead; the echoes of my shame kept ringing in my ear as I desperately tried to scrub off the filth on my body though I scrubbed until ky skin broke and I began to bleed again, it still didn't wash it off.

‘Marco tgat bastard!’ I swore vehemently ubder my breath and as i stared at my hugged reflection in the mirror, I cried again. This time I was mourning what's left of my ruined dignity and soiled sanity.

He's a monster.

He's heartless.

He's a cruel monster.

They said but I still chose this path, a desperate attempt to save my father's life but as I clutched to the bedsheets that night, I wondered if I would survive the hellhole I fell into. That night, I had more nightmares; the difference? It wasn't just a figment of my imagination.

I woke up with a gasp, still crying, pleading for mercy wirh tears streamlining my face.

“You're finally awake, your royal highness.” A deep voice sounded the moment my eyes flung open.

I felt a bitter vhurn in my stomach as I shakily turned my head to see Marco standing beside my bed, his stoic expression deadlier than ever before. I flinched, almost jumping out of my skin in fright. Instinctively, I had my hands civer my head, curling into a fetal position, my body still aching from the previous night.

His evil cackle shattered my heart into pieces. “What? The bold tigress is scared? Don't tell me all it takes to break your spirit is a little humiliation and a few lashes.”

He wasn't asking, he was mocking me and didn't bother to hide it. I let go of my protective stance and looked at him, his eyes reflected his blackened heart.

“What do you want?” I asked, my voice barely audible.

He smirked before responding. “What do I want? After what happened last night are we still being stubborn?” He asked, knowingly.

My fingers trembled slowly but I hid them, I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me vulnerable, not after what he said and made me do the previous night. It broke me, never have I felt so humiliated and vulnerable in my life.

He took my silence for submission and continued speaking. “When you live under my roof, you earn your keep. Henceforth you'll clean the house alongside the maids, you'll attend to every need of mine and if I have guests, you'll entertain them as well.” He then paused, as if letting it sink in my head.

“You have many maids taking care of the house, why do I have to join them and work for free? Am I getting paid?” I threw back at him, clenching part of the bedsheets in my hand.

“You don't pay rent or food, no freeloaders are allowed here, you'll work for your upkeep and that's final!”

“I don't need your food or whatnot, I'll provide for myself. “ I retorted, defiantly.

He laughed, the dry, short sarcastic type then he paused. All of a sudden, he grabbed me by my hair and dragged me out of bed. I screamed in agony, feeling my body being pulled.

“Lwt go of me!” I shrieked but he kept dragging me until we got to the staircase, few maids heard the commotion and they poked their heads, trying to see what was going on.

Still card in my nightwear, the bruises from the whip the previous night ache more badly as the cold wind blew over me.

“Please stop, you're hurting me!”

“You still haven't learnt your lesson have you?” He growled as he roughly dragged me down the stairs, every movement was excruciatingly painful yet he didn't stop until we were in the kitchen, then he tossed me away like a piece of trash.

“You seem to forget your place here, you don't bargain with me when I speak, you obey me.” He thundered, his eyes darkened with pure hatred.

I wanted to burst into tears, cry and curse out at him but I blinked back my tears and rose to my feet though every inch of me stings. “What would you have me do?” I gritted.

“Make me breakfast.” He spat, his lips thinning into a sadistic smile.

My see-through nightwear made me aware of my body and he looked at me from head to toe. “Fix your dress too, I cant have my men seeing such an eyesore this early in the morning.”

His words stung than the burning sensation on my skin, his insult was a deliberate reference to the happenings of the previous night.

“Don’t worry about that, they've seen all that there is to see afterall.” I retorted, digging my nails into my palm as the memories flashed back. He made me strip and dance to the tune of shame.

His eyes narrowed as his hot gaze burned through my skin. “You little-”

“Marco, what's that unpleasant noise I hear?”

I looked up to see Kara walking towards us, she was wearing an oversized shirt that I recognized to be the same obe Marco wore last night; I'd know it since it had my blood stain on it. She was evidently wearing no underwear and the flushes on her skin showed they had an intimately rough night.

Marco frowned slightly as he saw her, she paused and threw me a dirty look.

“Oh, you're here too. Didn't realize peasants like you woke up early.” She insulted.

I let it slide knowing that I had bigger fish to fry. “I'll make you some breakfast.” I said, briefly and headed into the kitchen. Common sense told me it was easier to give in than fight it, after what happened last night i wouldn’t be shocked if I'm asked to do more degratory things.

She said some words to him and they both left. I refused to cry or let any of it get to me but instead, I ignored all the pitiful stares and made some pancakes and freshly squeeze orange juice for breakfast, by the time I set the dining table, Marco and his girlfriend were downstairs and she looked more presentable than early.

“What the hell is this? Do you think I'm a dog so you're serving me dog food?” Kara complained the moment she tasted a piece of the pancake.

Marco was chewing it comfortably, no reaction on his face whixh shows that she was intentionally overreacting. I turned to leave but he stopped me. “She asked you a question.”

I rolled my eyes and sighed. “Maybe you should trying barking then it'd be proper dog food.” I sapt, viciously.

Caught off guard by ky words, Kara's smile faltered. She was about to complain when Marco interrupted.

“Apologize!” He demanded.

“What for?”

He banged his hand on the table and I flinched, slowly his head turned towards my direction and he grinned devilishly. “Do my rules mean nothing to you or you loved the lashes from last night?”

My skin crawled with fear and disdain hearing his word and my face twisted. “Sorry.” I muttered, grudgingly.

“I didn't hear you.” Kara said, adding fuel to the fire.

“I said I'm sorry you have a bad taste and can't differentiate between good or bad.”

Her facial expression was like one who swallowed sour grapes but before she ranted, I spoke up. “If you'd excuse me I have to wash the dishes and there are chores I must attend to.”

As I walked away, I heard her complain to Marco about how he was being too lenient but I chose to ignore it. As I did the dishes, tears dropped down to the sink and I quickly wiped it off.

‘Marco Terenzio will never see me cry ever again.’ I swore to myself, vehemently.