For many nights, Zilayefa sang for Duke Larry, her voice soothing his troubled mind. She had grown accustomed to his demands, but she couldn't help feeling a sense of unease whenever he summoned her to his chambers.
One evening, as she finished her song, the Duke looked at her with a hint of satisfaction. "Zilayefa, you have proven yourself to be a loyal and talented servant," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "I have decided to appoint you as my personal assistant."
Zilayefa's heart skipped a beat as she processed the Duke's words. What did this mean for her? Would she be expected to do more than just sing for him?
The Duke's next words answered her question. "As my personal assistant, you will be responsible for attending to my every need. You will bathe me, dress me, and even cook for me."
Zilayefa's eyes widened in alarm. Cook for him? She didn't know how to cook such elegant and centric meals! She tried to protest, but the Duke waved his hand dismissively.
" I will arrange for the kitchen head to teach you how to cook," he said. "You will start your new duties immediately."
And so, Zilayefa found herself demoted back to the kitchen, learning the intricacies of cooking from the kitchen head. She was surprisingly happy about this turn of events, as she got to see her brothers and some of the servants in the palace treated her better.
But amidst the hustle and bustle of the kitchen, Zilayefa's mind wandered back to her mother, Hellen. She hadn't seen or heard from her in weeks, and she was starting to get worried.
It wasn't until Mrs. Nickel, the kind-hearted head servant, took her aside that Zilayefa learned the truth. "Zilayefa, I have some news about your mother," Mrs. Nickel said, her voice low and gentle.
Zilayefa's heart skipped a beat as she waited for Mrs. Nickel to continue. "What is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mrs. Nickel hesitated before speaking. "Your mother, Hellen, was sent to the Duke's mine to heal the laborers. It's her punishment for offending the Duke."
Zilayefa's eyes widened in shock. What could her mother have done to offend the Duke? And what did this mean for her and her siblings?
But as she looked at Mrs. Nickel, Zilayefa knew what she had to do. She would serve the Duke well, no matter what it took, and plead for her mother to come back to her and her siblings.
With a newfound determination, Zilayefa returned to her duties, her heart heavy with the weight of her mother's punishment. But she was determined to make things right, no matter what it took.
Zilayefa threw herself into her new role as the Duke's personal assistant, determined to prove herself and find a way to bring her mother back. She learned how to cook elaborate meals, how to dress the Duke in his finest attire, and how to attend to his every need.
As she worked, Zilayefa tried to get closer to the Duke, to understand what made him tick and what she could do to please him. She asked him questions, trying to draw him out, and she listened intently to his responses.
But despite her best efforts, Zilayefa couldn't help feeling like she was walking on eggshells around the Duke. He was mercurial, prone to sudden mood swings and outbursts of temper. And yet, at the same time, he seemed to be drawn to her, to appreciate her kindness and her compassion.
One day, as Zilayefa was helping the Duke get dressed, he turned to her and looked her straight in the eye. "Zilayefa " he said, his voice low and serious. "you are to accompany me on a trip to the mine."
Zilayefa's heart skipped a beat as she processed the Duke's words. The mine? Where her mother was being held? She felt a surge of hope and excitement, mixed with a healthy dose of fear.
"Yes, my lord," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
The Duke nodded, seeming to approve of her response. "Good," he said. "We will leave tomorrow morning."
As Zilayefa lay in bed that night, she couldn't shake off the feeling of excitement and nervousness that had been building up inside her since the Duke's announcement. She was going to see her mother again, and she had no idea what to expect.
Would her mother be angry with her for not trying to escape? Or would she be proud of Zilayefa for trying to make the best of a bad situation?
Zilayefa's mind was racing with questions and doubts, but as she drifted off to sleep, she felt a sense of determination wash over her. She was going to make this trip count, no matter what.
The next morning, Zilayefa woke up early, feeling a sense of trepidation mixed with excitement. She got dressed quickly and made her way to the Duke's chambers, where she found him already waiting for her. " Good morning my Lord" she greeted him
"Zilayefa," he said, his eyes gleaming with a hint of amusement. "Are you ready for our trip?"
Zilayefa nodded, trying to hide her nerves. "Yes, my lord," she said. "I'm ready."
The Duke smiled and gestured to a waiting carriage outside. "Then let us depart," he said.
As they set off towards the mine, Zilayefa felt a sense of uncertainty wash over her. What would she find when they arrived? And how would her mother react to seeing her again?