The Royal Deal Chapter 239

Chapter 239

Chapter 239

“Carol, if you’re done being a hero, go finish cleaning. You have a job to do, this no ti to beco involved with sothing that doesn’t concern you.”

The gathered crowd quickly dispersed as if nothing happened. Looking at the slave on the ground, the head maid turned to angry man and said, “He’s supposed to be useful. If you continue like this, the most he’ll be able to accomplish is eating liquid foods. Get him fixed up.”

“Yes, Madam,” the angry man said ekly, and he and another man dragged the slave away.

“Carol, you told you’ve done maid work before?” The head maid asked Athyst.

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“Then you should know better. No matter what you see, you pretend you didn’t and shut your mouth. Don’t get involved. That’s the best option for a servant who does not want to be punished.”

“But to hit soone like that?” Athyst couldn’t let such cruelty slide.

The head maid sighed. “Slaves are required to be disciplined so that they don’t disobey orders. The beatings will end soon, once he has been trained, so don’t concern yourself about it. They won’t kill him, we’re already short staffed. Is this the first ti you’ve seen a slave.”

“Yes.” Athyst hoped it would be the last. She did not approve on how they were treated.

“Not all slaves were slaves to begin with,” the head maid explained. “Most slaves were once from noble families. It’s rare that one becos a slave nowadays. They would have to had committed treason against the Empress.”

“So that man committed treason?” Athyst asked.

“Possibly. We aren’t given details of a slave’s past. Most slaves, when they are first forced to work, still try to keep their noble attitudes and think they deserve special treatnt. So, we need to get that attitude out of their system. The best option has always been beatings, and after three or four days they beco completely passive. This slave will follow orders soon and then the beatings will stop, so there is nothing to worry about. You need to get back to work now.”

The head maid was right, this shouldn’t be anything that concerns Athyst. But she couldn’t let a man be beaten for no reason except to make him a faithful slave. And there was sothing in his eyes that seed so familiar. What was it about the ashen-haired man that bothered her so?

***

After she had finished work, Athyst picked up Erina from the temple. Stopping by the café before returning to Pauline’s, she picked up so food for Erina and Pauline’s dinner.

When they made it ho, Athyst instructed Erina to wash her hand as she went to check on Pauline. The fever was almost gone and the colour was starting to return to Pauline’s face.

“How do you feel?” Athyst asked her friend.

“Much better. Did you have a hard day?” Pauline asked.

“Yes. But I was lacking exercise, so it was good,” Athyst replied. Even though Athyst had emphasized that it was a joke, Pauline still looked apologetic that Athyst was going through this for her.

“Pauline, even though your fever is down, you should rest a few more days.”

“No! I’m better!” Pauline insisted.

“What if you faint again? Rest so more to make sure it’s out of your system.”

“But…” Pauline tried to continue to protest.

“I told you I’m fine in the job. You need to get better so you can earn a lot of money and spend it at my café.” Athyst smile mischievously. “I need to maintain my best and only custor.”

“Thank you for being so good to , Carol.”

“I’ll bring you so food. You should eat when you take your dicine. And then get so more sleep. I’ll look after Erina.”

Pauline smiled weakly at Athyst, as Athyst left to prepare the dinner. Now that Pauline was starting to get better, Athyst started worrying about the ashen-haired man. He had so many injuries and no one seed to want to help him or treat him with any kindness. If only there was sothing she could do?

After dinner and the cleaning had been completed, Athyst put Erina to bed then collapsed on her own. Since she used muscles she didn’t even know she had, her body was exhausted and she fell asleep instantly.

“Auntie.” Erina’s voice was penetrating her subconscious. “Auntie!”

Athyst didn’t want to be pulled from her dream, but the shaking of her body caused her eyes to eventually open. Erina stood at her bedside with tears in her eyes. She had obviously been woken by Athyst mumbling in her sleep. Athyst sat up and hugged Erina close to her.

“Auntie? Are you ok?” the child sobbed.

“I’m sorry. It was only a dream,” Athyst said, comforting Erina. She wiped away the tears from the girl’s eyes. There was still darkness beyond the window, so she took Erina back to her bedroom and made her lie back down.

She then started singing a lullaby that she rembered from her old life. “Rock-a-bye baby, in the treetop, when the wind blows…”

“Auntie?” Erina interrupted, in a sleepy voice.

“Yes, dear?”

Erina took her hand out from beneath the blanket and place it on Athyst’s hand. “Let the nightmares disappear and only have happy dreams,” Erina whispered as if she was casting a spell.

Athyst cried and laughed at the sa ti, placing her forehead against the girl’s. “Thank you,” she whispered, as Erina fell back into the depths of sleep.

***

Before heading to the Veolense mansion, Athyst decided to stop by her house. She sat Erina down at a table with a glass of cherry juice.

“Erina, I’m going to get changed so wait here for a few minutes.”

“Ok.” Erina happily drank the cherry juice as Athyst went upstairs to change into sothing more comfortable.

The head maid didn’t seem to like that she was working on behalf of Pauline. Athyst didn’t know what she would say when Athyst ca to work for Pauline again. Heading back downstairs, she packed a bag with food items for lunch. Once ready, she took Erina’s hand and they headed off to the temple.