Zilayefa sat in the cold, dark cell, her body shivering beneath the thin cloak that was her only protection against the biting chill. She had lost count of the days since she had been imprisoned in the cold palace, a place where the unfortunate souls who had incurred the wrath of Duke Larry were sent to languish.
As she huddled in the corner of the cell, Zilayefa's thoughts turned to her family. Her brothers, Ryan, Bryan, and Richard, were they okay? Were they being treated well? And her mother, where was she? Zilayefa's heart ached with worry and fear as she thought about her loved ones.
Just as she was starting to drift off into a fitful sleep, Zilayefa heard the sound of footsteps outside her cell. She tensed, wondering who it could be. The door creaked open, and a figure slipped inside.
It was Mrs. Nickel, the head cook. She carried a small tray with a bowl of steaming hot soup and a hunk of bread. Zilayefa's eyes widened in surprise as Mrs. Nickel set the tray down beside her.
"I brought you some food," Mrs. Nickel said, her voice low and kind. "I know you're not supposed to eat, but I couldn't bear the thought of you going hungry."
Zilayefa's eyes filled with tears as she looked at Mrs. Nickel. She knew that the head cook was taking a risk by bringing her food, and she was grateful for the kindness.
"Thank you," Zilayefa said, her voice barely above a whisper. She is amazed that Mrs nickel has being nice to her of late
Mrs. Nickel smiled and patted her hand. "You're a good girl, Zilayefa. You deserve better than to be treated like this."
As Mrs. Nickel turned to leave, Zilayefa called out to her. "Wait, please. Do you know what happened to my mother? Is she okay?"
"Who is your mother" asked Mrs nickel
" Her name is Hellen Francis "
Mrs. Nickel's expression turned somber. "I don't know, child. I haven't seen your mother since she was brought to the castle. But I'll try to find out what happened to her, okay?"
Zilayefa nodded, feeling a small sense of hope. Maybe, just maybe, she would find out what had happened to her mother.
As the night wore on, Zilayefa's thoughts turned to her family again. She began to sing softly, her voice barely audible over the sound of the wind howling outside. But as she sang, she felt a sense of peace wash over her. It was as if her music had the power to soothe her own fears and anxieties.
The next morning, Zilayefa was shivering with cold. She had fallen asleep sitting up, and her body ached with stiffness. As she struggled to stand up, she heard the sound of footsteps outside her cell again.
This time, it was one of the guards. "Zilayefa, you're to come with me," he said gruffly.
The guard took her to a room in the Duke's chambers, asked the maids to bath and clean her up,she was feed and massaged.
And then at night the same guard came asked her to follow him.
Zilayefa's heart sank as she followed the guard out of the room, she wondered why she was being like a princess all of a sudden, is this some kind of trick by Duke of Ralston.Where was she being taken? What did Duke Larry want with her?
As they walked through the castle corridors, Zilayefa caught glimpses of the opulent decorations and the bustling activity of the castle servants. She felt a pang of envy towards the servants, who seemed to have a sense of purpose and belonging.
The guard stopped in front of a large wooden door and knocked twice. The door creaked open, and Zilayefa saw Duke Larry sitting on a throne-like chair, his eyes fixed on her.
"Ah, Zilayefa," he said, his voice low and husky. "I've been hearing good things about your singing. I think it's time you sang for me."
Zilayefa's heart skipped a beat as she wondered what Duke Larry had in store for her. She knew that she had to be careful, that one misstep could mean severe punishment or even death.
But as she looked into Duke Larry's eyes, Zilayefa saw something there that gave her a little bit of hope, he doesn't look all that scary today. He has a hint of humanity beneath the harsh exterior.
Maybe, just maybe, Zilayefa thought, she could find a way to connect with Duke Larry, to appeal to whatever humanity was left in him.
As she stood before Duke Larry, Zilayefa took a deep breath and began to sing. Her voice, hesitant at first, grew stronger and more confident as she sang. The melody was hauntingly beautiful, and Duke Larry's eyes seemed to glaze over as he listened.
As Zilayefa sang, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. It was as if her music had the power to soothe not just Duke Larry's savage beast but also her own fears and anxieties.
But as the last notes of her song faded away, Zilayefa's anxiety returned. The Duke fell asleep long ago, and she was tired of singing. But couldn't stop . She sang slowly until the early hours of the morning, Duke Larry had a great rest, she fell asleep in the early hours of the morning. When she woke up, it was already day and the birds were chirping.