Why was he requesting that I retrieve flowers from the garden? Was he attempting to remove me from this location? As a maid, I anticipated a more severe punishment, and judging by the astonished expressions of the royals and the other maids present, they too expected a harsher consequence.
“What type of flowers do you wish for?” I enquired, striving to maintain a neutral tone while keeping my head lowered.
“I am indifferent,” he growled, dismissing me with a wave. “Roses. Depart immediately.”
My gaze abruptly ascended to engage his.
Roses?
The occurrences of the previous night transpired in the rose garden. Was he attempting to convey that he recalled my presence from the previous night? Perhaps his wolf was signalling that I was the one he marked? I did not linger to ascertain the situation; I cast a brief look at the royal family before exiting the room.
The majority were gazing at Jayce with dismay, likely due to his decision to release me. However, Lady Elsie was gazing at me.
Her expression was ambiguous, yet she frequently shifted her gaze between Jayce and me, her complexion becoming slightly flushed. I departed the dining hall shortly thereafter and proceeded to the gardens.
Being outside was pleasant; I was permitted to be here only with authorisation. I was prohibited from exiting the palace grounds without the accompaniment of a guard or superior. Nonetheless, the rose garden was among my preferred sites within the palace grounds.
It was previously the case.
The rose garden was distinctly visible from my room; I would remain awake to observe the moon casting its rays upon the garden, illuminating the flowers and causing them to shimmer.
I took a basket as I exited to collect the roses appropriately. I remained uncertain about his desire for flowers unless he was implying that he recalled our encounter from the previous night. Aside from that, Jayce did not appear to be the type of individual who appreciated flowers significantly.
While I collected the flowers, I relished the tranquil moment. Although I have returned to the vicinity where Prince Jayce marked me, it was pleasant to be away from everyone. I could finally experience my emotions without the concern of criticism or harassment.
I am uncertain about the duration of my stay in the garden and the destination for the flowers I was carrying. I would place them outside Jayce’s chamber door. Undoubtedly, he would be inside changing out of his damp attire.
I blushed at the thought of him without a shirt.
What was amiss with me? I ought not to contemplate such matters. Not following his actions towards me last night. I massaged the sensitive region of my neck where he had sunk his teeth into me. The pink, delicate tissue would endure for a lifetime. It was something I needed to conceal. I was grateful that my hair was sufficiently long to conceal most of the mark; however, there were occasions when they required us to secure our hair away from our faces.
Those moments became dreaded as I had to apply makeup to conceal the blemish. No one could ascertain that I was the one he designated.
My sole desire has been to escape this palace and traverse the lands as an autonomous woman. I desired to do so as a wolf, but it appeared that my transformation would not occur in the near future. The contemplation evoked sorrow within me as I considered the prospect of never becoming a beautiful entity. To experience the liberation and vigour of a wolf; to understand the essence of solitary hunting and to be invigorated by the full moon.
Clutching the basket, I returned to the palace. Kylie immediately recognised me and hurried over.
“We must depart. Mr. Leon is in the maid’s quarters, requesting a meeting,” she conveyed, her gaze filled with concern.
Mr. Leon was in the maid’s quarters. What activity would he be engaged in there? He seldom visited the maid’s quarters directly; that was Vera’s responsibility. The urgency is evident in his decision to convene an impromptu meeting exclusively for the maids.
This implied that he was aware I was the individual designated by Jayce. This would jeopardise any opportunity I had for liberation. I was abruptly overcome by a sense of dread at the prospect of the impending punishments awaiting me.
I acknowledged her with a nod.
“I will deliver these to Prince Jayce’s chamber doors and return shortly,” I informed her as she hurried towards the maid quarters.
Jayce’s chamber was merely a flight of stairs from the main foyer. I gazed at his door, pausing momentarily as I contemplated his presence on the other side. I could perceive him pacing in his room, and I almost sensed his anguish. I swallowed audibly as I set the flowers at his doorstep and descended the stairs.
I needed to acquire the maid’s quarters and discreetly access my room prior to the commencement of the meeting.
The majority of maids were congregating around the courtiers, and none of them acknowledged my presence. I managed to navigate past several of them and reach my room. I opened a drawer and took a low-cost bottle of foundation. I required additional measures to conceal this mark.
They were unaware that I was the one designated by Jayce.
After I completed the marking to the best of my ability, I joined the other maids in the foyer of the quarters. Kylie recognised me immediately, and relief washed over her expression; she linked her arm with mine as I approached the group.
“You are tardy,” she murmured.
I offered her an apologetic smile as we directed our focus to Mr. Leon, who was positioned at the forefront of the crowd. Vera stood confidently beside him, which only elicited a groan from me.
Mr. Leon briefly surveyed the maids until our gazes intersected; we maintained eye contact for an extended duration, and I swallowed the lump that had been accumulating in my throat.
