I was shocked when I came into the quarters one night and I met most of the girls on their feets, standing with Karen who has a bread in her hand and all glaring daggers at me. I do not need to be told, I knew I had been bursted.
I opened my mouth to speak but someone spoke before I could.
"Where is the thief?"
I looked to my back to find Lyla standing with her minions, her arms folded as she glared down at me. I looked back at Karen but she couldn't meet my eyes. She clasped her hands to her front, staring at the floor. But that wouldn't get me out of the damn mess she threw me into.
Lyla matched up to me and the next thing I felt was a thunderous slap. I gasped.
"How dare you steal from the one who feeds you? Who is the unfortunate boy who gave you the food?", she yelled.
I stared at her. When I refused to answer her, one of her minions side-hit my leg and I fell to the floor. I yelped with pain but they did not care.
"Speak immediately!", one of her minions yelled but I refused to take my eyes away from the shivering Karen. I knew she could not understand or feel the depth of her betrayal but I did not want her to miss any of it.
I wanted her to witness the pain and humiliation I had to go through just for feeding her. The lady that spoke wanted to hit me again but Lyla stopped her.
"Let her be. A greater punishment awaits her.", she said and I wondered if she would report me to Yun, or even Madame Sumaya since she has become so acquitted with the woman.
My heart began to pound in my chest. With a final glare, she walked out of the chamber. Karen sighed out loud and some of the others returned to their seat.
"I truly do not understand why we have to go through that trouble. We could have just tell her to be stealing enough food for all of us", someone muttered and another replied.
"And what happens after she gets caught? Won't we all be punished with her?"
"It's not like she's the only one who sneaks out every night", I heard another lady whisper but it was loud enough that everyone heard and silence took control of the room.
Like everyone else, I also pretended not to have heard her. I managed to get on my shaky feet and returned to my side.
I did not go to Angus' the following night. Not the following one and not the night after. I had a feeling most of the girls were monitoring my movements, waiting for me to leave the room to reveal that secret lover to them.
However, I needed to see Angus and let him know what I have done. That it might be hard to keep the secret.
I made sure the room was as dark as the night before I sat up. I lurk within the shadows and I crept out of the room. I was a few meters away from Angus' quarters when Lyla suddenly appeared before me. Exasperated, I sighed.
"Shocked to see me, eh?", she asked with arms akimbo. "I thought you would stop but I guess once a thief would always be a thief", she smiled. I was about to reply her hen a figure crept out from the dark. I squinted my eyes trying to see who it was. I covered my mouth in shock when I finally saw her. I immediately went on my knees.
"Your Grace!", I exclaimed but she cut me off.
"Keep shut!", Lady Sumaya barked. "You dare steal from me?", she thundered and all I could do was to shake my head, for I knew the end has surely came for me. Slaves, guards and the workers had begun to surround us to watch.
"Guards!", she yelled as the armed men appeared from both her right and left.
"Nooooo!", I screamed before they could get to me. I looked around the little spectators until my eyes found who it was searching for. But he was not looking at me. He had his gaze focused on his mother only.
"Take her to the dungeon until I decide her punishment", she ordered and I screamed.
"Nooooo! Please noooo!"
But it did nothing to stop the men from dragging me away.
"I will find that man who have stolen my food for you", I heard her say and I pray she did. I truly hope she did.
I had spent four days in the dark dungeon with no food or water before Angus came to see me. He wore a black pants and a blue tunic that matches the colour of his eyes. As usual, he still had the nonchalant attitude surrounding him. As usual, he still looked so mighty and untouchable. So cold and devilishly handsome. Just like Satan. Well, he could pass for his heir.
"Why did you do it?", he demanded in an angry voice while I remained quiet. "I gave you food and shelter, what else would you have me do?", he asked. When I refused to speak, he turned to leave.
"I fear you will leave me one day and I shall become hungry again. So I always take some food every night. Even if they spoil on the way, I'd know I have something to eat", I confessed. My eyes burned with tears. It was as if saying it out loud confirmed the doubts.
For a while he remained silent. He kept his face turned from me while I silently begged for him to look at me again. Just a glace. Perhaps he would see me properly, the real me. Shattered, broken, helpless and hopeless. But he never turned to me.
"That is your personal problem."
I scoffed, the sound as dry and broken as I was. The disbelief displayed on my face.
"And what if I mention your name?"
He turned to me then.
"What if then?" He scoffed with disbelief. "You think my mother will punish me for taking mercy on some hungry slave?", he challenged with a smile on his lips. I could only stare at him.
When he put it like that, I was doomed. I watched him leave and I then I bursted into tears.