" Afternoon your highness", she greeted.
" Afternoon, ", she responded recognizing the maid as Sally, her father's mistress hand maid..
What does she has for her?
" His Majesty, the king seeks for your presence at the palace court now ",
Her father seeks for her? Why?
And Sally being here means the Mistress, Lady Ashley, is there with her Father.
" You are dismissed ", she ordered dismissively.
" Yes your highness ", Sally bowed then scampered out of her sight immediately.
Abruptly, she changed her direction, walking regally down to the palace courtroom.
He probably wants to give her more scrolls to interpret.
She sighed, all for being a princess in a powerful kingdom.
It comes with a lot of responsibilities and duties.
A lot.
<<<<<<<<
" You sent for me Father", Princess Sabrina said after she paid her respect to him.
She stood regally right in front of him, her head held up so high with humour, waiting for his next move.
She was definitely and undoubtedly taken aback when she came inside the courtroom just to see Her father's mistress, General Jade and the slave master, Derek.
She wasn't that.
She needs no one to inform her why her presence was needed.
Truly, words spreads fast like wildfire in the palace.
" I heard a report of you locking up the slave Master? What was his offence? ", The king, king Judrith asked .
Princess Sabrina took a deep breath before she started to talk.
" Father, The slave master committed an atrocious crime, that angered me and have him locked up in the palace jail ",
The king sighed heavily, " what was the crime?
" This morning as I was there to inspect the slaves work on the mine, I caught the slave Master who is standing here, assaulting and harassing a female slave openly. The girl would have been badly hurt if I didn't get there on time. He really needs to be punished for such inhumane act ",
The king huffed, " And who said he needs to be punished?",
Princess Sabrina was in no doubt surprised by his words.
" Father", she called.
" She is a slave Princess, and he is there to inspect them. He has the right to penalize any of them who chooses to prove stubborn. They are just a slave", he repeated.
The way he called the slave with repulse, one will think he is speaking of some contagious disease.
" Even to the extent of striping them of their dignity? Father", Princess Sabrina pointed.
" They are slaves princess, they have no dignity whatsoever to protect. They are below, the lowest of human. The last in the food chain ",
The dejected and disappointed look that laced her face is something she could not deny.
How lowly her father thought of servants!
" And even if they are killed? ", She asked pressing on.
" They are of no essence to the world anyways ", he replied, no tint of remorse in his voice.
How cruel!
" Your majesty ", she exclaimed, totally disappointed.
" Princess! You should behave!, ", Lady Ashley, the king's mistress speak for the first time .
There she was standing effortlessly behind the seated king.
" I heard the slave girl was taken to the palace clinic. Such outrageous behaviour princess. Such is only for the royal family", he said, a bit angry.
The princess kept mute this time, she is obviously pissed off but making her father angry won't help her in any way.
" You all should excuse us, you can get back to work Derek", the king ordered.
The slave Master and General Jade bowed respectfully, and made their way out of the courtroom.
" You should leave as well Ashley, I will call for you later in the day ", King Judrith ordered, not sparing her a glance.
His gaze fixated on his daughter standing before him.
For a split seconds,the mistress had a sour look on but was quick in replacing it with her a fake tight-lipped smile.
" Your wish is my command, my king", She muttered with a bow .
Oh, she wished she could witness how the princess will be scolded by her father, the king.
Without wasting anymore time , she walked out of the court. Her ball gown dangling along with her slender figure.
" Princess", the king began immediately they were left alone.
" Yes Father", princess Sabrina responded, gulping a lump of saliva down her throat.
He stood up from his throne slowly,taking slow strides towards his daughter .
" Look up to my face ", he ordered, now standing two feets away from her.
Obediently, she rose her slightly bowed head up, maintaining eye contact with her father.
" For the past years now, I made sure to raise you to be that perfect princess of BADRITH. Best tutors, best books, best foods, best life..... I did all of those for you and not for you to be just a Princess but a perfect one. Not to be a princess who show mercy to slaves. A royalty's favour is not what everyone should get, not the servants, slaves or the weak.", He paused.
Princess Sabrina gulped hard, her hold tightening unto her dress.
" You are a princess, a royal. I trained you to be one and not a weakling and you should act like one. Remember what I always tell you? Speak it to my hearing ",
She took a deep breath, " A real royal doesn't show mercy, We need to be ruthless",
Proudly, his lips twitched up to a smile. Good!
" That's my princess. I know how intelligent you are and that is why I won't give you out to just anyone. You are my gem, you deserve the best man , right? "
" Yes Father ", she forced out , her hand balled into a furious to fist.
" Good. Then I believe you shall act accordingly, I raised a princess not a weakling ",
" You are dismissed ", he ordered walking majestically back to his throne.
" Yes Father ", with a last small how, she walked out of the throne room .
Immediately she got out of his breathing space, she heaved out a huge sigh of relief.
Her sigh coming out in shakes.
That is who she is, the daughter of the most powerful and ruthless king in all of the seven kingdoms.
Her father did a great job in building that powerful image for her as well. Well respected by all, even princesses of her kind envies her.
A princess that lead army of princesses.
But they know nothing about being fathered by a power drunk king is. .... They don't have any idea.
They don't.
With tears in her eyes, she walked back to her quarters.
© Adira H.