Chapter 26: Misaya's Plan

Misaya stood there stiffly. She looked up at the general and bowed respectfully. "I'm sorry, I was going to see you, Your Majesty."

Lucian was irritated that the woman had again walked into his room without permission. He didn't like that.

"Get out!" Lucian ordered, trying not to embarrass Misaya in front of the general.

Misaya frowned. Lucian seemed angry at her. This was bad. She didn't want to make things worse. She didn't want to lose her dignity in front of the general. So she bowed respectfully again, before exiting gracefully.

Once outside, she could no longer contain her anger. She stomped on the floor in rage. The guards who saw her were surprised by her behavior.

Misaya turned her head towards Lucian's room door, her teeth chattering against the ache in her chest. Elena, the daughter of their enemy, was allowed to enter the room and sleep on the king's bed. But she who had served him, sacrificed her body and soul for him, was treated like this.

She could not accept it! Lucian degraded her! All of this was because of that slave girl!

Misaya clenched her fists even harder, until her palms turned white. She had to make that girl regret daring to dream of winning Lucian's heart.

Misaya then had an idea. Her sleepiness was gone, she had to prepare something for her plan!

In the morning, Elena opened her eyes, feeling her body light. A sense of happiness filled her heart. She didn't understand what made her so happy.

She felt even happier when she saw Hera in her room, cleaning the table. She got up immediately.

"Hera, good morning!" greeted Elena, smiling broadly.

Hera stopped what she was doing and looked up at the girl, and her smile was wide. "Good morning. Finally, you're awake, Your Highness." She placed the washcloth on the table and walked over to Elena, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Don't call me that," Elena told Hera, that girl who kept forgetting their status now.

Hera grinned showing her teeth. It seemed that she was very happy today. "Let me keep calling you when I'm with you. I'm not used to calling you by name."

"You should get used to it. I'm no longer a princess."

Hera held Elena's hand. "I'm sure you'll return to your rightful place one day. I don't want me to forget my manners."

Elena looked at Hera intently. Back to her place? As a princess? It seemed like an unattainable dream considering her current situation. Emeria was completely destroyed and she was at the hands of enemies who would not let her rest for a moment.

Elena remembered last night. She widened her eyes. Hadn't she been in Lucian's room and served him last night, then fallen asleep? Why did she wake up in her own room?

"Ah, Hera. How did I move here?" asked Elena, looking at Hera curiously.

Hera explained that Riven had brought her back.

Elena immediately thought of the guard. Images of what she had done in Lucian's room flashed through her head again. Lucian, Riven, and how the man treated the guard.

Then there was that touch... Her body remembered everything. Riven's gentleness and how the man patiently taught her. But what made her chest pound even more was Lucian's memory. The man's burly body was on top of her, his touch, his lips tracing her skin.

Elena frowned remembering Lucian's rough pounding, then how he made her body float and... that pleasure....

Elena gulped. Her cheeks flushed. What was wrong with her? More precisely, what was wrong with Lucian? The man was completely unpredictable. Sometimes rude, sometimes considerate.

Elena felt sweet and warm in situations she shouldn't have been in. She knew Lucian only saw her as an enemy. He was also always harassing her. Why would she still blush like this?

"What are you thinking about? Your face is flushed," Hera said looking at Elena who had been pensive.

Elena stammered, immediately clutching her cheeks. "No, I think I've slept too much." She replied.

Hera got up and brought the washcloth out, letting Elena rest longer.

Elena was still in a happy mood. But she remembered that she had to prepare for work at a mining site soon. So she changed clothes.

After a while, Hera entered her room with a big smile. "Look, what did I bring?"

Elena turned to the girl in the doorway. Hera had brought flowers. She was transfixed when the girl handed them to her.

Elena was happy to receive them. "How did you get them? It's so beautiful," Elena exclaimed, kissing the petals. There were no flowers like those in the palace garden.

Hera didn't answer, but smiled even wider. "And another thing, you don't need to go to the mining site today! His Majesty has ordered me to tell you."

Elena was surprised again. "I don't need to go to the mining site? But what about Lady Misaya?" It was Misaya who asked her to go to the mining site.

Hera shook her head. "It's nothing to worry about. His Majesty himself has ordered that you shouldn't work there anymore. Who would defy His Majesty?"

Elena breathed a sigh of relief. She clasped the flowers in her hand. Her heart blossomed. She was afraid this happiness would fade.

"Oh, I have to go to the village to buy some supplies for your room. I'll be back soon." Hera did not say if Lucian had asked her to shop for Elena.

"No, you don't have to. I don't have money," Elena refused. But Hera dismissed her and told her not to worry.

"Elena, His Majesty has also allowed you to take a walk and rest today. So you can do whatever you want," Hera said with a meaningful smile. She left before Elena could ask more questions.

Elena was silent for a while. Her heart was too happy. So she could go to the village. Maybe she could walk around for a while. If she was lucky she would find a library. That thought would make her happy.

But just as she walked out of the room, she saw Misaya walking towards her with two guards. She stood still, and had bad feelings about this.

"Take her to the dungeon!" Misaya ordered in front of Elena.

Elena stepped back. The two guards grabbed her hand and dragged her away.

"No! What are you doing? Why are you taking me to the dungeon? What did I do wrong?" Elena shouted, making the guards struggle and overwhelmed.

Misaya stared intently at the girl. The girl was so beautiful, but the more she looked at her, the more she hated her.

"You did not question my orders. I have the right to punish you!"

Elena stared displeased. The woman had always wanted to humiliate her, even sending her back to the mining site without Lucian's consent. She didn't want to be punished for a mistake she was unaware of.

Misaya asked the guards to take the girl again. Elena didn't stand still. She struggled and refused to leave.

Misaya slapped Elena hard to vent her anger. Elena was shocked, her cheeks flushed. She could taste salty blood at her lips.

"Damn slave! You can't refuse my orders! I am your master!" shouted Misaya.

Elena looked at Misaya. What was wrong with her? Her chest was filled with anger.

"I am the king's personal slave, you have no right to command me. My master is His Majesty!" retorted Elena.

"How dare you!" snapped Misaya, slapping the girl again.

Elena's face was red, not just because of pain, but anger. She straightened up. Swung her hand and slapped Misaya back hard across the face.

The guards were shocked. Even Misaya did not expect that. She grabbed her stinging cheek in her hand immediately.

"You... slapped me?!" she screamed. A slave who dared to slap her?

Misaya stared coldly, her eyes burning, her breathing ragged.

"Tie her up!" she ordered angrily.

The two guards pulled Elena's hands behind her back, shackling her quickly. Elena still looked Misaya straight in the eye, who showed no fear.

Misaya grabbed Elena's chin, clutching her jaw to look at her.

"You must realize your position, and I will show you," she hissed.

Misaya turned around and ordered the guards to take Elena to the dungeon.

"We'll see how loud you can scream!"