iii

CHAPTER 3

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MARIAH

It happened so quickly,  sir john didn't even see it coming. Just as his grimy hands traced my lips, just as he pushed his thumb into my mouth, the king let out a vicious growl standing to his feet. It was so low. So scary even I froze, too scared to even breathe. Sir John's eyes went wide. He looked up at the king in fear as he let me go, but he remained frozen in his seat.

"Sir John. You have been an ally of the crown all your life, your family has been allies of the crown since the beginning of the Rossetti lineage. You ancestors served and aided my ancestors before the Rossetti's came to rule the kingdom of Italia." The king said, his face dark as he sat back down."So tell me sir John. How much for your slave? What would you like? I'm willingly to give you whatever you ask for" the king said. Sir John looked shocked as his jaw fell open.

"Y- your majesty? What is the meaning of this?" Sir John stuttered, too in shock to believe what he was hearing, even I, myself, struggled to fathom why the king would make such an offer. I looked up at him, his eyes meeting mine, and in that second I felt the breathe knock out of me. His eye were a deep blue, dark with intense power and knowledge. His hair was combed back, in slick dark locks. And his face as if sculpted by the heavens was sharp and defined... I found myself unable to look away. The way he stared at me, his pupils diluted and hisses irises darkened, holding my stare and keeping me from looking away. Until he did and looked at John.

"I'm trying to make this a peaceful trade, John of the family of Wellington. You and I both know that if truly desired it, I could just take this slave of yours and make her my own. But to honour your ancestors and what they have done for my family, I offer you money? Jewels? Power? Which ever you choose." The king said with a smile, standing up and walking around the chair."Think about it, John. I'll gift you whatever you desire in exchange for a mere slave, a whore. " the king said as he leaned of the back of the sofa, his face besides sir John. Sir John nodded his head with a smile."

Your majesty. This deal is honestly a blessing, of course I will accept your offer. " Sir John beamed turning to face the king. The king smiled widely showing off his dangerously long teeth.Why are they so long?"Very well, John. You have no idea how thrilled I am to hear that. So what is it that you desire?" The joint asked making his way back to his seat.

John now sat up and did something both brave and stupid. He looked the king in the eye, his face suddenly serious. "I won't ask for much, your majesty. I have enough money for at least 3 generations and I am not a man who is greedy for power... I am happy with the title hold. All I will ask for, your majesty, is immunity." Sir John said bowing his head.The kings eyebrows rose in what seemed to be pleasant surprise.

" And what exactly does that entail?" The king asked watching Sir John with interest." My son, your highness. He is a foolish boy. He doesn't think before he acts. My wife has spoilt him to believe he is untouchable. I fear one day he may offend his majesty gravelly, to the point of possible execution. And that is why I ask for immunity for my family, so that if one day he does offend you, your highness may be so gracious as to grand my family mercy. "

I was shocked, to say the least that sir John of all people would ask for something so simple and it seemed  that the king was to. I expected the king to decline his offer and say it was too much for an insignificant girl such as myself. But to my utter shock the king smiled and nodded his head." Granted". The king then looked to one of the maids in the corner. “Tell the butler to draw up a contract" . The maid nodded and scurried out of the room to find the butler while we sat in silence.

The king sat down as well, he and John continuing the conversation about supplying the poorer communities, but I could barely focus as I felt another wave of dizziness. The kings sharp gave suddenly fell to me, his lips pressing together in a grim line. He looked at the maid who had just returned. " Fetch me porridge from the kitchen. I can practically hear the girls heart beat stopping" The king said sarcastically. But just as he spoke and sent the maid out, my body fell forward and I slumped to the floor".

No one got up and rushed to my aid, no one called for help as I felt My vision blur, no one cared that I felt so starved that actual bile rose up my throat and spilled on to the pristine carpeted floors of the kings tea room.The king just looked at me . And in my fading consciousness I heard him asking sir John "Do you know when was the last time she are anything?" but I didn't hear his response. All I could think about was the past few days of giving my brothers and sister my share of food. And I don't regret it.

I woke my a little later with a drip in my arm. I winced from the pain of having the needle in my arm.I'm still dizzy as I sit up but i immediately notice the extremely large, warm and comfortable bed I'm on. This bed is not meant for me. I'm groggy as I pull the cover off and look around the room I'm in. It's all so large, fancy and not suited for me. I start to feel nervous as I stand up and pull the needle out of my arm, I whimper in pain as the long needle leaves my arm.I really, really hate needles.

As I stand up, my knees buckle and I fall to the ground again, groaning as I clutch my stomach. The door bursts open and the king himself walks in with 3 maids following behind. His eyes harden as he looks down at my frail form on the floor. My heart rate spikes with fear as I out my head down in the dark carpeted surface. "Y-your majesty " I stutter keeping my head down in a bow, but deep down I know that I couldn't get up even if I tried.

"Arise, Mariah" he ordered and I struggled as I got to my knees, but no further.He raised his eyebrow as if expecting me to go further,  but I couldn't. He seemed to get the message as he raised his hand, signalling for two of the maids to come to help me up.They lifted me by my arms and sat me in the bed when the third one came in and set a bowl if porridge down in front of me. I sat staring at my hands, knowing it wasn't my place to assume the food was for me. My stomach rumbled loudly, making my cheeks heat in embarrassment as I clutched the material of my white dress.

I could feel the heated glare of the king as he took a seat on the chair a little further away."What are you waiting for ? Eat" he commanded his voice wrought with irritation. But I couldn't bring myself to do it. It didn't feel right, as if it would be a sin to even think about touching the warm bowl of porridge.The king growled in irritation  standing up and storming towards me. A lone tear slipped down my cheeks as thoughts of death crossed my mind.This was it, he was going to kill me.

But to my surprise and much more to the maids, he grabbed the bowl of porridge and sat down beside me, stirring the porridge with the spoon. He took  a small portion onto the spoon and blew on it before putting it to my mouth.I heard the maids gasp in shock, just as my eyes went wide. What was he doing? "Eat the porridge little one" he cooed before forcing the spoon into my mouth " for you wouldn't survive a day here without it".

My body hummed with approval just as the warm porridge touched my tongue, making me eager for more. The delicious taste of the silky substance was unlike anything I had eaten before. It was soft and nurturing, reminding me of a mother tender embrace as it seemed to heal me. My eyes closed with pleasure and my mind moaned from excitement if the new found delicacy.

That was...until my eyes met that of the kings.