C2: LILY

WRITER'S POV

Lucy sighed she decided to take a quick look at the lake and then head back.

staring at the landscape before her she couldn't help but smile in awe.

the lake there was transparent in colour showing off the beautiful stones beneath it she sat that down at the bank resting her head and slept off.

She woke up after a long while only to see the slightly dark sky she gasped and stood up and grabbed her bag immediately running back.

Lucy stood before her secret door her hands on her knees as she took in heavy sharp breath she had ran all the way.

she sneaked in only to see everywhere quiet with no guard stationed as usual she shivered it was getting darker.

placing her coin pouch in her bag which contained an extra male clothing beside her secret exit so that she wouldn't be noticed easily, she ran to her room and changed into a purple dress.

she walked out but saw no one only to see Helene running towards her Lucy caught her.

"Helene what is wrong did father get to know about my disappearance" she asked but Helene shook her head tears in her eyes scaring Lucy.

"My princess the palace has been taken over, the king and queen are nowhere to be found I.l don't know if they have been captured by him"

Helene narrated stuttering in between, Lucy's eyes widened with tears in them, her mouth opened with no words.

"who is the person that captured them who?" she finally asked clutching Helene's hand.

"I don't know he came here with his soldiers in a black horse he wore a black mask so I couldn't see his face and I had to hide" Helene explained thoughtfully.

'they were the ones I met earlier' Lucy thought, she had felt uncomfortable when she saw them.

"My princess you have to leave this palace even though the maids aren't hurt yet since they were captured and the guards who surrendered weren't killed he might still come after you since you are the king's daughter"

Helene added but Lucy shook her head .

"what about my parents? what of you?, won't you come along?" Lucy asked in whispers her tears streaming down her face but Helene shook her head.

"My princess I will be fine, even if I die I wish to know that you won't die with me, you have to get going before he catches you, for the sake of your parents please" Helene said pushing the princess away.

"remember the exit you usually use to go out, go through there make sure no one sees you.

Good a thing I don't know so I won't spill it out run please"

Helen added still pushing her away Lucy cried silently as she stared at Helene once more before she took off.

Helene murmured a farewell to the princess and turned only to be captured by a bulky soldier.

Lucy had run off to a far place, a place she had never been to before. She didn't know what to do. It was now dark.

With a lightning strike a heavy rain began to pour. She wiped her tears and ran to an old building to find shelter.

Waking up she rubbed her eyes with a yawn and when yesterday's memories flashed back she started crying her eyes red and swollen she had nowhere to go.

she thought of going to her suitor's kingdom but then she didn't know if he was the one that attacked them since he was supposed to come yesterday evening.

Wiping her tears she made up her mind, her parents were captured since their corpse had not been found then she had to release them.

with a new resolution in her mind she stood up and went to the lake she had found, she stripped off and took her bath after making sure no one was there.

she was ready to do anything to rescue her parents and take back her father's throne even if it meant living under the devil's nose.

She stood up, grabbing the bag she had taken while running away she brought out a male clothing,

putting it on she took her coin pouch and placed the purple dress in the bag and left the lake.

joining the crowd she blended in that no one could notice her, staring at the new posters which boldly stated that she was wanted and they had placed a bounty on her head,

she clenched her fist.

luckily they didn't draw her face she usually wore a veil even in the palace only few could recognize her and those were her parents trusted men and maids.

She didn't know why they were so protective of her but then it became useful now.

she walked away seeking for an opportunity to return to the palace.

TWO MONTHS LATER

Lucy had rented a cheap inn and started working as a tea maker something she was grateful for putting interest in, they had appreciated her for her soothing tea.

just then her employee called her "Lily, your tea is amazing and that is why I am telling you this.

the palace wants to hire a new sets of maids you might work there so that you can earn more" the woman said and Lucy narrowed her eyes in thoughts.

the new king was rumored to be literally nonhuman, some said he is a beast, while some said he is a wizard but then it won't stop her from taking her revenge by defeating him.

"Lily if you're scared then don't mind my words" she added thinking that she was scared since she hasn't spoken a word, but Lucy smiled.

"thank you so much for this offer I will take the job, at least I will have good meals and a good shelter" she said and the woman smiled .

"exactly my dear, tomorrow get prepared I will take you to the palace for registration" the woman added and left.

Lucy smiled she would go there with her name Lily, not everyone was aware of her full name Lucy Lilly Donovan.

C3: THE KING'S QUARTERS

Waking up, Lucy blinked her eyes as they tried to adjust to the sunlight coming from the wooden window in her room.

she yawned her hazel eyes dull as she stood up and went to take her bathe.

stepping into the mini bathtub she could barely stretch her leg, she missed taking her bathe in her large bathtub as wide as a pond.

Lucy sighed, scrubbing her skin after a while she came out with a robe.

She wore a beige coloured dress, packing her hair into a ponytail she left her room.

On walking out of the inn she saw the woman "goodmorning ma'am" she greeted the woman who smiled at her.

"Good morning to you too Lily, I thought I would have to go to your room, glad you came out, we have to go to the palace now" the woman said and Lucy nodded and they left.

CLEARSTONE PALACE

Lucy arrived there with the woman, she glanced at the sturdy gigantic gate before her she clenched her fist, the guards present stopped them but the woman gave them the necessary information they let them pass.

They went to the head maid.

Lucy might be discovered even though she had lived in the last palace of the Clearstone kingdom the head maid might still recognize her, but there was no backing out.

She stood before the head maid whose rigid face could scare many. The woman scrutinized her.

"Who is she, Eve?" the head maid asked the woman who brought Lucy.

"She is Lily, she would like to be recruited as a maid, she is good at making tea that I can testify" Eve said and the head maid stared at Lucy for a while.

"you look like a noble so what are you doing here" she asked Lucy who pursed her lips.

"ma'am I am an orphan who is trying to survive I hope you would offer this job" Lucy said bowing to the woman who raised a brow,

she sighed "fine you are selected you will be assigned to the king's quarter's, I hope you won't fail me" she asked and Lucy smiled she was making great progress.

"I won't ma'am and I promise to do my best" Lucy said firmly and the woman nodded.

"good you may have a word with Eve before going to your assigned quarters" the head maid said and Lucy bowed before leaving with Eve.

"Ma'am thank you for helping gain this job" Lucy said and the woman's lips curved into a smile.

"why won't I, you seem special so of course I would love to help you. Though she is a good friend of mine, it's surprising to know she accepted you without going through many tests.

that's to show how different you are, just be good and don't step on the king's toes and that of his soldiers"

Eve said and Lucy nodded after a while of advice they bid farewell to each other, with the former heading out of the gate and latter walking further into the palace.

the palace had three buildings one for meetings, balls and to accommodate guests, the second being in the middle was her parents quarter's it was for the royalties,

but then they had built a new palace behind the two and it was where she lived funny enough she never lived with her parents and it saddened her heart sometimes.

She didn't know where the new king stayed.

Confused, she went to the first palace but she was asked to go to the king's quarters. No one said anything more.

After a long while searching for the king's quarters a maid walked up to her.

"Young miss who are you" the maid asked Lucy turned "I'm Lily, a new maid here I was assigned to the king's quarters but I don't know where it is"

Lucy answered politely and the maid nodded her head with an 'oh'.

"I'm Catherine, the king's quarters is the last palace" she explained and Lucy smiled but the girl came closer

"be careful do not mess with him or you might be killed, some of the former guards and maid's were killed as well, and beware of his soldiers they aren't human know what you say before them"

she added whispering into her ears before gently stepping back, she hastily left a thoughtful Lucy.

she didn't know if Helene was alright remembering their last meeting a tear slipped through her eyes, as long as she could remember Helene had always been with her.

she had been her maid since they were little so she was also like a friend, she wiped the tears and headed for her own palace.

Lucy stood before the beautiful milk coloured building, she stared at a place she once lived and called home.

she chuckled it was no longer her home not until she defeated that monster who took everything away from her.

She had a strong urge to take a look at her room but she suppressed it immediately, she couldn't afford to be suspected by them she saw ten soldiers who were bulky.

she felt that something was off about them, one walked up to her "you, have I met you before" he asked and she flinched when he sniffed her.

"I haven't seen you before this is my first time here" she lied but he refused to let her go.

she felt familiar, like the one talking to the maid he had captured, but another soldier walked up to him

"Frank, let her go we shouldn't harass the poor humans they are way beneath us" the soldier said and the other reluctantly left her.

Lucy heaved a huge sigh as she walked into the mansion she saw a slightly open room.

It had been an empty room when she lived there.

her feet took her there before she could stop herself she had fully opened the door,

'oh no Lucy' she face smacked herself mentally she had the intention of closing it and walking away but a voice stopped her.

"who are you, what are you doing here" she halted immediately breathing in she opened her once closed eyes.

"I am Lily, a new maid assigned to the king's quarters but I don't know the way, I apologize for disturbing your peace" Lucy said in one breath.

The person scoffed "I would like to see the face of this maid who doesn't know where she is assigned to, come in" the voice replied it was a domineering male voice.

she hesitated a bit unsure.

C4:THE KING'S QUATERS 2

Lucy decided to go inside since she was caught already, walking in her breath hitched as she stared at the person before her.

He sat down lazily on the chair, his long raven black hair a bit disheveled as he stared at her with his golden coloured eyes, Lucy gulped.

His face screamed ethereal beauty and his broad shoulder showed how masculine he was.

"Oh so you're the one looking for the king's quarters" he asked and she nodded after a while waking herself.

"Good day sir, please can you tell me where it is?" she asked, composing herself, he smiled leaving her breathless once more.

she had never felt this way before she cautioned herself mentally she was here for revenge not to fall for a stranger.

"Hmn, Lily you have to go the room by the left at the end of the hallway" he said,

Lucy was stunned at how beautiful her name was as they rolled off his tongue, she bit her lips.

looking up she saw those golden eyes on her once more she sighed inwardly, today wasn't a good day for her.

"Thank you sir, I shall take my leave then, I apologize for disturbing you" she said and left immediately making the man who wanted to say more pause.

he stared at the door, he had never seen her before yet he felt connected to her he sighed, he had so much to do he left the room shortly after.

Lucy stopped before a room, it was the king's quarters. It was right opposite hers, she glared at the brown sturdy door as if it was the king.

She was unsure what to do, the head maid had accepted her immediately but then she felt like she didn't like her at all,

first assigning her to the king's quarters secondly not sending her a guide nor giving her a particular duty.

Someone tapped her and she flinched. It was the maid earlier "Catherine, you are here" Lucy asked and the girl shook her head.

"Lily I see that you're lost, I am assigned to the king's quarters as well, follow me" she said and Lucy nodded.

The girl gently opened the door and Lucy followed her staring at the interior decorations of the room.

A huge bed was at the center of the room but it was pushed against the wall with a black curtain draped around it then it had a couch placed before it and a table with three stools around it.

The large room was painted white with golden designs, same as the stools except the couch which was black in colour with little golden embroidery.

Catherine walked to the other side of the room there was a white door there which she didn't notice earlier, Catherine signaled her to come closer which she did,

The maid opened the door revealing a huge bathtub one bigger than hers white in colour beside it was a wooden hanger which stood at the left side with three different robes placed neatly on it.

"this is his bathtub, I have to show all these to you though you will be presented to him just like the other maids it is then you will be made clear what your major duty is"

Catherine explained and Lucy nodded thoughtfully she couldn't wait to see him.

"I will take you to your quarters, the maids live close to where they are assigned, so you will stay at the servant's quarters in this palace.

every other room is accessible to you except the room opposite, for some reasons the king doesn't want anyone near that room"

she said and Lucy narrowed her gaze.

so he had restricted everyone from coming to her room 'for what reason' she thought, he had chosen to stay opposite her room,

Was he expecting her or someone that could bring him to her? She sighed, rubbing her head. She was thinking too much.

"It seems you are tired. Let's go. I will take you to your room," she said as she stared at Lucy.

"Thank you very much Cathie" Lucy left with her she stared at the walls. It had pictures of her parents but not hers. She frowned.

Did they know that this was going to happen but then wouldn't have averted it?

she bumped into Catherine.

"Are you really ok, you sure need to rest," Catherine said, holding her.

"I will be fine just a bit stressed" Lucy replied and Catherine nodded

"I can relate life as a commoner is not easy, I am grateful for this job at least I get to feed my old mother at home,

you will get used to working here just avoid any trouble"

Catherine said and Lucy smiled.

she was acting like Helene, she felt the urge to ask about her.

"Cathie what happened to the old maids, it was said that the king's quarters needed more maids what of the ones assigned here" Lucy asked carefully,

"oh, though I came here last week but it's said that the king had killed them while some said they were held captive in the inner dungeon" Catherine said in low whispers, Lucy frowned

"was it necessary" she asked annoyed and Catherine hushed her "lower your voice, they are likely to be killed since the king is searching for the princess but she is nowhere to be found and they aren't giving him any information"

she had heard enough the thought of Helene being truly dead made her heart ache if she had escaped with her maybe she could have saved one person at least

"Where is my room?" she asked and Catherine opened it by their side. It had three beds.

"here the one at the left side is yours mine is the one at the middle there is a new girl that came three days ago she will be staying there, your robes are in your wardrobe"

Catherine explained once more, she had truly helped her out a lot.

"Cathie thank you a lot, I guess I will take a nap if it's allowed" Lucy asked.

"You can I will tell you more when you wake up for now rest" Catherine said and left and Lucy sighed.