Odessa
I gently shut the door behind me as I walked out of the study and slowly down the hallway. My knees grew weak, and my mind was clouded.
"She's the new slave…. She doesn't know her place yet." Those words replayed in my head like a record on repeat, and the more the words sank into my brain, the heavier my eyes grew with tears.
The crashing sound of ceramics jolted me back to the present as I winced in pain.
"I'm sorry…" I muttered as I crouched to the floor, quickly picking up the broken glassware. "I didn't see you there."
"It's alright, my lady.. I should have been more careful," the little girl replied and smiled softly at me. I quickly packed up the broken pieces, but as I lifted the last bit onto the tray, I heard heavy footsteps approaching me from behind.
"What in the world happened here?" Marcel's guest asked, as I slowly got up from the floor, disregarding her question entirely.
"I'm pretty sure your ears are functioning, little bird.." she snarled, and Marcel joined us.
"What was that crashing sound?" he asked, and I glanced at the little girl.
"I wasn't looking, and I bumped into her. The tray crashed, and all its contents broke on the floor," I responded dryly, avoiding eye contact with Marcel.
"You broke expensive glassware?" the hostile lady growled as if she owned the place. "Can you afford the luxury of these dishes you just destroyed?"
My throat was drying up, and my patience was wearing thin. But I couldn't do more than watch her eat at me like it was her right.
"That's enough, Thana‐" Marcel interrupted. "It's just ceramics. They'll be replaced before the end of today. And as for you Odessa…" I lifted my eyes to meet his, and he immediately looked away. I could see right through him, trying to avoid feeling guilty for what he had done to me.
"Be more focused and careful next time" I nodded and bobbed a courtesy while Thana just glared at me coldly. I watched as Marcel took her hand in his so gently as if the slightest mistake would damage her skin.
"Let's go," he muttered softly, and she giggled as they both walked off.
Looking at them from this angle, I don't need a soothsayer to tell me where I belong.
What was I thinking? How did I think it was possible to sleep as a slave and wake up the next day as the wife of a millionaire?
"Ha! I chuckled.
"So naive of me, that type of story only exists in books and movies," I murmured.
I had no right to be upset ‐ he made it clear to me, even before now, that I was only here because I begged for a favor and he granted it. This Thana must be the one he truly loves, and if I must stay here, I better stay out of her sight as soon as possible.
"I'm sorry for putting you in so much trouble.." the girl said, and I feigned a smile to let her know that it was not much of a big deal. "My name is Annabeth, Beth for short. You can come look for me in the kitchen whenever you need someone to talk to.." she said and left even before I uttered a word in response.
"No problem, Beth.." I whispered to her, receding back before I turned and returned to my room.
The gentle wind flapped my curtains around, and as I walked over to the window for some fresh air, my mind drifted back to Marcel.
The shift from agreeing to marry me just to grant me freedom from Mayor Garrison, to denying me in the presence of another woman.
Was I supposed to be disturbed? I certainly have no idea. But at this point it's best if I do what I have been tasked with and stay out of everyone's way because the last thing I'd want for myself is to be returned to where I was rescued from.
Right outside the courtyard, one of the stable boys was preparing a horse for Thana. Her stay here was brief, but it was very much of an eye-opener for me. Henceforth, I won't continue building castles in the air and daydreaming about being loved by someone as high and mighty as Marcel Edgar.
A knock on my door disrupted my trail of thought, and I grunted in frustration as I walked over to the door and pulled it open.
"Marcel.." I muttered, and my legs froze at the spot. His grey eyes tore my soul and left me bare in his presence. I quickly cleared my throat and pulled myself together.
"Do you need me to do something for you, Marcel…. I'm sorry, I mean sire?" I asked and lowered my gaze to his feet.
"I want to have a word with you," he said, and I hesitated a bit before I stepped aside for him to come inside my room.
I shut the door behind me and stood by it with my arms firmly crossed over my chest and my eyes glued to the floor.
"What happened earlier today was…unexpected." He started, and I pursed my lips. "You must understand how complicated things are between us and how much time it will take for everyone around me to adapt to this new development.."
I swallowed hard and slowly lifted my eyes from the floor. "I understand you, sire," I replied and forced a smile on my face. "And you really do not owe your slave any explanations as to why you make any decisions… it is not in my place to judge your choices.."
The air between us grew tense as we both locked each other's gaze. My legs were slowly giving me away, but I stood firm and put on my most confident look so he wouldn't know the turmoil going on in my head.
Marcel cleared his throat and broke the deafening silence between us. "Well, I'm glad you understand." He shot back, and my stomach knotted.
"You'll get to work from tomorrow, have the rest of the day to yourself.."
"Thank you.." I managed to murmur almost inaudibly. He let himself out of the room and slammed the door right after him. My eyes burned with tears, but I bit my lower lip so hard and fought the tears back in.
I knew what I was doing when I gave him that response… I wanted to leave room for him to apologize for calling me a slave after clearly stating that I was his legal wife in front of Mayor Garrison… but his reply left me shattered completely.
"You were right Mel.." I said softly and sank into the bed, burying my face into the pillows. "There's no escape for a slave.."