I had to do all this in secret, as well as keep my work hidden or else I would be in trouble with my father. Memories of what happened to me the time I got caught came to mind. I opened my research book to the last page I had written and opened the vial of the ointment I was currently working on.
I just couldn't get the formula right. I had adjusted and readjusted the formula again and again but nothing was changing.
If I could perfect this ointment, then maybe…just maybe there would be hope I could do something.
****
In the morning, I did my best to seem awake and definitely "not sleepy" when two servants came to my room to give me breakfast. I had already put away all my research materials and potions, hiding them in the locked cupboard of my closet.
Soon my head maid came into the room with a large of servants behind her and said to me, "Good morning, Your Highness, we've come to prepare you for the afternoon."
"I'll be in your care," I said to her.
She then ordered all the servants on what to do. After breakfast, I was taken to the bathroom where I was luxuriously bathed in precious soaps. Afterward, exquisite perfumes and oils were massaged onto my body. The entire process took most of the morning to do. Today was a big day after all so they had to do some extra treatments.
As the servants worked on me, as usual, I couldn't help but notice the state of the servants. They were skinny and unhealthy looking with sunken eyes, and dry white cracked lips. Scars, wounds, and bruises riddled their body, with tough skin and calloused hands. Then was the unfortunate metal collar around their necks.
Often times as they served me, I would hear their stomachs growling making me wonder when they had last eaten. Sometimes they would even feint while working.
In contrast to my body, I felt sick to my stomach. I was well fed and had a healthy weight, my skin was soft, smooth, and had a healthy colour. My hair was long healthy and well taken care of. Not to mention I wore clothes made of only the best materials. The guilt ate at me every day. That there was such a contrast in our lives. They were slaves after all, and such was the harsh life of slaves in the kingdom.
If I could, I would want to at the very least heal their wounds, I had plenty of potions and ointments I could use to help them. However, my efforts would be in vain if I helped them, and my father caught wind of it.
Once I was finally dressed for the day it was early afternoon just in time for the start of the event.
I looked at myself in the mirror. The servants had done an incredible job as usual. What caught my eye in particular is how they had dressed me. My usually braided down black hair had been done up in an extravagant up do. My make-up though simple was done differently A feeling of nostalgia hit me as I remembered someone.
"You look beautiful, Your Highness. Truly the spitting image of your late mother," my lady-in-waiting complimented me.
"Thank you, Maya," I said to her. Thinking of my mother made me sentimental. How I wished she was here.
Maya was slightly different from the other slaves in that she looked healthy. She lived under slightly better conditions. She had proper meals and a place to sleep. That was because she was actually a citizen of Teheb unlike most slaves that were from foreign wolf packs.
"The king, queen and your sister are also ready so you should go wait by the castle entrance," Maya told me.
I left my room and went to toward arrived at the entrance to the ballroom and waiting there was none other than my younger sister, Elodie. She turned and looked at me before her eyes narrowed.
"You're late," she said to me.
What was she talking about? Father wasn't even here yet. I just decided to ignore her. It was usually the approach I took when it came to her.
A little while later our father and the queen arrived. I bowed before them. "Good afternoon Your Majesties," Elodie and I greeted them. My father didn't greet back, and the queen only glared at me as she went to Elodie.
My father focused on me as he came to stand before us. I wondered why he was staring so intensely at me. My father had an intimidating presence and aura. He was a large man with stoic and stern expression.
"Rian, you look just like…," he said as he looked at me with a pained expression. This was one of the rare times he showed emotion.
"Thank you, father," I thanked him for the complement. Despite him not finishing his sentence I knew he was referring to my mother. I could feel the queen and Elodie's glares on me with the king's attention on me. The current queen was Elodie's biological mother and my stepmother. My mother had been my father's first wife and the queen but then she fell ill and died. Making Elodie's mother take my mother's former position.
"Let's go to the Arena, the people are waiting for us," My father then ordered us.
We got into a carriage and made our way. The Arena was where the main celebration would be taking place. A festival was taking place in the city parallel to the celebration that would be at the Arena. I hated social events especially the one that was taking place today.
My father stepped onto the podium and presented himself to the audience. "Citizens of the Teneb kingdom as your Alpha King, I welcome you to this esteemed celebration. The celebration of many victories of our kingdom."
The crowd cheered loudly at my father's words.