Chapter 7 Jolt Of Reality

• | • Penelope’s POV
• A strange dream jolted me out of my sleep.
• But what I had dreamt of, I could not remember; only the dull ache in my head remained, and I wondered what exactly it was.
• Then my mind flashed with images of last night, and my cheeks flushed red in seconds, realization hitting me hard, my skin heated up, and the only thing I wished to do was bury myself beneath bedcovers and never stand up.
• I turned to my side, expecting to see the naked back of King Dain, but my eyes dulled the next second.
• He wasn’t there; only the cold space was left behind.
• What was I thinking? That he would wake me up the next morning with breakfast in bed? I scoffed at my own delusions. This is the life I chose. He was not my husband; I was his slave, and he was my master.
• Ready to give him my body whenever he wanted and wherever he wanted.
• The cruelty of that thought caused shivers up my spine, but I choked it down forcefully. I could do it. I had survived years of torture in my past life; this was nothing.
• I slowly got out of bed and stood before the tall mirror, looking at myself through the same mirror that I looked at while Dain pounded me like a beast in heat until I had collapsed into his arms.
• We went at it, morning to night, and then the circle continued till my body couldn’t take it anymore and collapsed.
• Was that when he left?
• My fingers caressed the purple bruises all over my body, and I frowned in disgust. I looked filthy, covered in the marks of my enemy, my body felt sticky, and I bet I smelled awful, covered in his salty seed.
• I needed a shower.
• Before I could move to the bathhouse, a knock froze me in my spot.
• “Come in,” I commanded, and the door slowly creaked open, revealing a young girl with brown curls and a freckled face staring back at me, her eyes sparkling with interest.
• “Great morning, my lady. I am Sanny and I would be at your service from now on.” She sang, I could feel her jumping in her boots and I gave her an uninteresting glance before nodding and continuing on my way.
• One thing I didn’t want was making friends with anyone here. So it was best I drew the line.
• I was about to open the door to the bath house that Dain always used to personally bathe me the past few days, when Sanny rushed into my view and stopped me, her face flushed, and her eyes watery as if she was about to cry.
• It left me dumbfounded that I stepped back in surprise.
• “I am not your enemy, my lady. I am your personal handmaid and anything you want and desire, I shall be at your service. Be rest assured that the king didn’t keep me here to spy on you or lik—” She gasped, slapping a hand against her lips, realizing she had just said something wrong.
• I smirked. Turned out the King was still wary of me, even though he spent days fucking me. He was the king afterall.
• Seems like I need to be careful around this maid.
• “You don’t have to worry about anything, as long as you do your job, nothing will happen to you.” I comforted her and she released a sigh of relief.
• With one eye on me, she bolted into the bathouse and I stood there shaking my head at how absurd it was.
• It was not like he favored me, as a slave, I was not entitled to a handmaiden or even dresses. But not only was I bathed with the best of scents, but once I returned to the room, the wardrobe was filled with colorful clothes, a slave shouldn’t be dressed in.
• “What’s this?” I asked in shock, my eyes glued on the colors I had always loved wearing back at the duke mansion.
• Red, purple, white and black. Everything were on point, even the accessories and the shoes were all my size. It was like Dain used the nights of passion and the information from home to map out everything I liked.
• For some reason, that warmed my heart. I found myself wanting to enjoy this treatment even though I have come to realize that it was because I had suddenly become the west court advisor.
• “Don’t you like the clothes, my lady?” Sanny asked, her voice filled with sadness. She was but a maid who had never come across such beautiful things at once, so it wouldn’t be weird if she didn’t feel sad that I didn’t like them.
• Or was there something else to the dull look in her eyes?
• I shook my head, and picked one of the purple dresses. It had some diamonds decorated on the sleeves and the hems, so it drew my attention.
• No matter the reason, once I get to know this place, it will come to me.
• “Everything here is beautiful, would you mind putting this on for me?” I handed it to her, and it was like she had just been given candy, she collected it delicately and rushed to start her work.
• Her eyes brightened with joy and she looked like a little squirrel, I could not help but chuckle.
• Perharps I could raise her to be my own. Make her a perfect pawn.
• Sanny started dressing me up, and even fixed up my hair and makeup. The accessories fit my skin that it felt like I was no longer Penelope Ernaut but a little pet the King was raising in the back garden.
• It made my chest feel stuffy. And for the first time, I asked myself. ‘What the heck are you doing here, Penelope.’
• Playing a game? I guess not. This was reality. I had become a pet.
• A pet to the man that destroyed my hope in my past life, the man that became my savior in this life but could still end my life in one breath.
• “What is the King currently doing right now?” the question slipped out of my tongue before I could withdraw them back and I gritted my teeth.
• “He is having his morning meeting with the other ministers at the throne room.” Sanny replied.
• I turned and faced her and she gasped.
• “You look exceptionally beautiful, my lady.” Her voice was soft like a feather grazing my heart that I had just steeled and I gave her a warm affectionate smile.
• “Thank you, Sanny.” Either ways, since he is busy with state affairs, It would be better I know the enemy base while I am less busy.
• It takes two to dance on the dance floor, and I for one will not remain to take his hands.
• I looked at the door and then at Sanny who stared at the door to0, her fingers loudly flicking her thumb, as if she was racing for time.
• For what reason I do not know, but I plan to find out.
• I furrowed my brows.
• “Can you show me around, Sanny?”