CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43

"Is that not too convenient for you to say?" Her voice low, her eyes dim, she stepped away from him, leaving him there, heading inside.

Two days went by, and Rhea hadn’t stepped out of her room. During those times, Zeenare came knocking, but she never answered.

She strode from the table to the bedside and drew the bell rope.

Three female maids entered the room, and Aluna.

Rhea’s eyes streamed over Aluna as she glanced at the door. "Where is Othimise?"

"I’d be replacing him today," Aluna replied, not giving her any explanation.

A frown flashed through Rhea as she felt hostility from his tone, but she paid him no mind.

After a cleaning and morning routine was over, the girls left, but Aluna didn’t.

"Can I help you with something?" Rhea enquired, picking up her phone.

Aluna said nothing for a while, holding her gaze, disdain evident in his eyes.

I don’t know him from anywhere. So why is there so much hatred in his eyes towards me?

"Madam," he began, "I don’t know how you’d take what I’m going to say, but I don’t care. You should also know I don’t like you. At all." His voice was as sharp as an ice spear, his pose defined, and his eyes devoid of any emotion — they were empty.

Rhea’s brow knitted with a frown, taken off her feet by the sudden outburst of Aluna.

"Excuse me?" Her brow arched. "Do I know you?" She placed her hand on her waist.

"My name is Aluna, and I’m an assistant to the master," he stated, his eyes cold.

"So what does your likeness do for me? Does it take me out of this place? Does it ease my heart right now?" Rhea sneered at him, her tone cutting through flesh.

"And are you supposed to talk to your master’s guest in such a manner?" she pointed out, her eyes gazing sharply with anger and contempt.

"I shouldn’t. But you are not a guest, you are a pain at his side." He took a step toward her while she backed down. "I don’t know what he sees in you. I’ve tried to wrap my head around it, but I can’t think of anything."

"You are nothing." His eyes held no meaning for her.

Rhea felt utterly exposed under his gaze, like a tiny fish dropped in the vast ocean as bait for the bigger fish.

"All you do is bring destruction to him. You are selfish, self-centred, inconsiderate." His words were each sharper than the last, his eyes not leaving hers, his aura intimidating.

Surprisingly, Rhea’s chest tightened at his words.

"You don’t know what he has done for you and what he has given up for you. All you know how to do is keep running."

Why do his words hurt so much? I know he’s wrong. I know I did nothing wrong. So why does it hurt so much?

Then he continued, "If I could purge you out of his life, I’d be glad. But I can’t, because he won’t just destroy my essence — he’d destroy where my shell will even reside."

I feel like pulling my heart out; it aches so much. His words are too hurtful.

With each word he poured out, her heart shattered by a fraction.

He glanced up at her. "I don’t know what he sees in you. There are other powerful females he could choose from to spend the rest of his eternity with. But he chooses you."

Rhea crouched down a little, tears almost welling in her eyes as she tried hard to hold them back.

"You serve nothing but carnal pleasure. You can bear him a child, but you can’t live as long as him, even if you were not cursed."

Stop saying those hurtful things. I don’t want to listen anymore. Her mind begged.

"Do you think you are the only one hurting, or cursed? Think again. Because his is worse than yours. And you should know you are a leech at his side. Nothing more. So get to 25 and die already."

Everything went silent except for the loud, strong slap sound that resonated through the room.

"H-how dare you!" Rhea’s voice cracked. "Get out. Get the fuck out!" she roared.

Rhea weakly leaned in on the bed, after Aluna stepped out.

I never asked to be here, I didn’t choose to be. Why did he have the right to say that to me?

What right did he have to mock me like that?

Rhea crawled into her bed, tears streaming from the side of her eyes, trailing one way.

If I were such a burden, why did he have to bring me here? Why did I have to be insulted like this?

He gave up his rights to have me here. Did I ask him to?

It hurt. His words hurt so much.

She tightly clenched onto her ripping heart, sobs muffling against the duvet on the bed.

The room echoed for a while with her soft sobs, lingered with birds chirping and leaves rustling.

The gentle breeze fanning her was the only comfort in the room, as it lulled her to sleep.

"Mother, Mother, we hail for the market now. Do check on Bob," Rhea heard a tan girl with freckles on her face, dressed in a kirtle and apron over it, her blonde hair wrapped in a white coif, holding a fruit basket.

Why does she speak in Old English? Rhea pondered.

Rhea glanced down at her body. She had dirty brown sandals on, was dressed in a dark red overall, and had a basket in her hand. Her hair was red but wrapped in a coif too.

"Urith?" the girl called out again, looking directly at Rhea. "What are you doing standing in a daze for? We would be late for the sale."

Is she talking to me? Rhea thought looking behind her.

The girl pulled Rhea by her arm, running towards the vast field.

As they ran off, Rhea noticed cow, goat, horse, and chicken stables. The houses were built with stones, the roofs were made of raw wood and some dry straw.

Where am I? I was in my room seconds ago. Am I dreaming?

She asked herself, still being pulled, running with that girl.

But this is too real to be a dream. I can smell the fresh baking, I can feel the cool wind on my skin, and I’m surrounded by the loud chirping of birds and cricket sounds.

"Urith, please do make sure you don’t rub your face while we are at the market," the girl said, stopping to check Rhea’s face. "We are close to town already."

"Why?" Rhea managed.

Ah! My voice is different. It’s tiny.

"What do you mean by why? It seems you want to die." Her voice was low but harsh.

"Move out of the way, you worms!" A loud, irritated male voice cut through behind them as they stepped into the bustling downtown.

The girl yanked Rhea to the side. "We are sorry, dear sir," she said, bowing slightly.

The man was dressed in silver armour, sword at his side, on a horse.

Rhea’s eyes didn’t leave the soldier; her gaze didn’t drop.

"What are you doing? Drop that gaze of yours down!" the girl ordered, her voice strained but low to a whisper.

"What is wrong with you today, Urith? Do you plan on getting us killed?" She flipped her gaze to Rhea, her eyes wide, her lips pressed in a thin line. "I’m here to sell bread, nothing else. I’m not yet married, and you are planning to take my life away."

"I’m sorry!"

"Do not be sorry. Use your head." They marched deeper into the town.

Why is everything in the woods? And everywhere stinks. What era am I? Because this certainly isn’t where I’m from!

Rhea checked each alley, her eyes raking over every stall, every house, and none of them had any sort of advanced life in it.

This is seriously one weird dream.

As they got to a stall, they stopped and walked inside.

There was a counter facing the entrance, tables and chairs at the right-hand side, it was filled with different fragrance of foods.

"Hello, Mister," the girl greeted, her voice bright and cheerful. "We are here to sell our bread."

"Hello to you too, bring it here," a soft, calm voice said, walking out of the storage at the left side of the room.

As Rhea turned to the voice, her world tilted.

What is he doing here? You are now in my dreams? She scoffed inwardly.

A smirk plastered on her face outwardly.

"Urith, how are you today?" He took the basket from Rhea first.

But Rhea didn’t answer.

"Urith?" The girl called between teeth. "What are you doing?" She gave Rhea a pointed look and nodded her head towards Zeenare.

The girl turned to Zeenare, offered a quick apologetic smile, then grabbed Rhea by her shoulders, and pulled her towards the door.

"What is wrong with you today! Did you not say you wanted to see him? Was that not your plan today?" the girl whispered.

"Me?" Rhea asked, glancing at Zeenare, who was watching them.

"Do I know him?" Rhea asked.

"What? That is your courtship!" She pointed. "You cried all day, you wanted to see him, now you are acting like a stranger? Go meet him already."