Here."
Jessica shoved more clothes into my arms, even though I was already sweating under the scorching sun.
I stared at the pile but didn't say anything.
Instead, I sighed and continued scrubbing.
I knew Jessica was waiting for me to react.
She hated me-for what reason, I didn't know.
I felt her glare burning into me.
"You stink. So bad," she muttered.
I ignored her.
I knew I stank. I hardly got to bathe, or sleep, or rest.
"I'm talking to you, you bitch!"
She grabbed my hair, yanking it back, and I
winced.
"You're so ugly. You and that disgusting hair. I just hate you," she spat before shoving my face into the filthy water I had been using to washclothes.
I thrashed, but she held me down.
"Let go... please," I choked out when she finally pulled me up.
I gasped for air, coughing and sputtering.
"Jess, let go of her!" one of the maids said
hesitantly.
"The prince is coming."
At the mention of the prince, Jessica
immediately let go of me and straightened her gown.
I gasped for air again, my entire body
aching.
Everything hurt-my sore back, riddled with
scars and injuries, my swollen, bruised face, my empty stomach that hadn't seen food in days.
"Your Highness," all the maids greeted in unison.
Jessica's tone turned sickeningly sweet as she said it, her voice dripping with seduction. It wasn't just her. I saw the other maids biting their lips, adjusting their skirts, pushing up their chests.
Then I heard my name.
"Dina."
I turned my head toward him, water dripping from my tangled, wet hair and down my face.
His eyes met mine, filled with disgust and
hatred.
I immediately lowered my gaze.
"Father asks for you," he said coldly before
walking away, disappearing from mysight.
I stood up, feeling anxious.
Why was my father calling me?
the last time, he asked for me was when I stole, some clothes from my step mother's room.
I was mercilessly beaten to a pulp that day, but I didn't mind, as long as I had clothes to wear, it was ok.
even though I had scars from the beating, I didn't mind. it's not like anyone would care.
Everyone I passed looked at me with disgust.
I gulped...
was I getting punished again?...
I didn't do any wrong this time.
The guards opened the throne room looking atme with disgust in their face.
I gulped.
I was used to this, disgust, hatred, and
anger, anytime anyone look at me.
The silver chandeliers, hug up the throne room illuminating the space filling it with a dim glow the walls painted in, blue and white hie, lifted the view to the sight of royalty.
royalty..
I had the blood of a royal...
but I was treated like a slave....
I felt piercing gazes on me...
I bit my swollen lips.
'c'mon, Dina, this isn't your first time here, don't be nervous.
just look at the bright side, you
weren't brought in here with guards dragging you in, maybe it's something good'
my mind tried to convince me.
I sighed, maybe, she was right, I wasn't being dragged here like before.
my gaze fell on my father, Edward the king of Linton.
A kingdom, of riches and wealth.
The king, my father, a splitting image of brain, brown hair, and blue eyes.
I bowed my head, in respect.
"greetings your highness. " I muttered.
"Dina" he called out, I raised my head to stare at him.
He hasn't called me that in so long.
"what was this man do in your room a few days ago" he asked.
I furrowed my brows, what was he talking about.
I turned my gaze towards the direction of the man he was talking about.
No .....
No .....
no
no..
Dimitri....
tears stinged my eyes.
"father" I called
" don't call me that, am not your father, you wretched child" my father's voice boomed across the throne room, cursing me.
meanwhile tears spilled all over my swollen face.
of course.. he didn't want me to call him
father...
I was conceived, by him raping my mom and yet he didn't want to acknowledge me that I am his blood...
I stared at dimitri, he was bruised, injuredd and being held by two guards, the same guards, who whipped me.
I shook my head.
this is all my fault...
"well I hope you are happy now, he's going to get stoned to death".
"no, please, father, please don't punish him.he's no one to me, he just helped me to get to my room" I muttered, pleadingly.
But, before I could continue a loud slap echoed across the throne room.
my face, filled with pain, from the slap I just received adding to once I received the other day.
I looked up, to face zilla, Brian's sister
my sister, looking down at me with hatred and disgust filling her face.
"you slut, now because of you, one of our elite solider is going to be stoned to death" she spatted at me.
I stared at her, I was way older than her, she is fifteen and am ninteen, and she has the guts to raise her hands on me.
I glared daggers at her.
she stared at me and her stare wavered,
as I stared at her, i felt to choke her right now.
"mother help" she cried out for help as he held her throat,
"Zilla, my baby" Beatrice, my stepmom, walked to her daughter holding her.
I continued to stare at Zilla hating the way she slapped me.
how dare she!....
am older than, her, didn't her parents teach her manners.
"Dina" my mom's voice echoed in my head
"Dina"
"Dina"
the voice echoed over and over again.
I stared at Zilla face, which was turning red till it turned blue.
Everyone in the throne room stood up, in shock.
"let go of her you witch!" Beatrice, cursed me.
"Dina"
my father's voice echoed.
I removes my gaze from Zilla, staring at my father.
"let go of her" he commanded.
"I'm not doing anything" I muttered.
I wasn't doing anything. I don't even know what was happening.
"Zilla, my baby" Beatrice, called out as Zilla was loosing consciousness.
before I could react, I felt a slap on my, already swollen and bruised face.
I fell on the floor, spitting out blood from my mouth and nose.
I heard Zilla, gasped. " mom " she said softly.
"it's alright baby am here"
"lock her up" a voice echoed through the hall, and it belongs to no one other than, Brian.