Chapter 45: Chapter 45

Juliana's pov:

Everyone is in the kitchen, slicing, and helping with the cooking. I feel weak and exhausted and the grumbling sounds that my stomach was making weren't helping at all. I still haven't put anything in my stomach at all since I woke up. Margaret didn't even care.

The girl that I bumped into the previous day kept carrying her shoulders and walking like she won the place. I ignored her and focused more on what I was doing. I was so busy that I didn't even notice that Aria was calling for my scrutiny.

"Hmm….. Any problem?" I raised my eyebrow at her.

"Nothing just wanted to know how you are feeling today," she said with a chipped tone.

"I never remembered telling you that I was sick before," I seemed confused.

"Come on!" She laughed. "I was asking how you are feeling today, how was your night, and so on?" She smiled.

"Ohh!!" I mumbled with my head lowered looking embarrassed.

"Come on, is nothing, and beside………

" Ashley!!!" Aria didn't get to finish before we both froze, not only us but the atmosphere changed as everyone rushed back to their duties.

"Ashley!!" She called again, I distanced myself from Aria and rushed towards her.

"Good morning, Aunt Magaret," I greeted nervously.

"How dare you make me call you twice!!" She yells. "I…. I am sorry," I quickly apologized.

"Sorry for yourself, idiot……" she snapped. "Go pack those cabbage at the rightful place," she instructs with an irritated glare.

I bowed slowly before walking to the place where the cabbage was packed, Gosh! The cabbages are fucking plenty and much for only me to carry. Sensing the burning glare that I was getting from Margaret, I swallowed nervously and lowered a bit to carry on with the errand. I walked quietly to avoid any of them falling from my hold because that would result in severe punishment. I ensured to arrange them well in the right place without any mistakes.

"What's wrong with that girl? Ashley!!" She screams.

"Yes, ma," I answered.

"Aren't you done with that little stuff, you blockhead," she slurs.

"I am almost done, ma," I muttered with a shaky voice.

"Almost," she snapped. "This girl is so stupid and dumb. Does she think that I have all day?" She barked at no one in particular. Aria swallowed before sparing me a quick pitiful stare.

"Here, I am, ma," rubbing my hand nervously at my clothes, I uttered.

"Good," she coldly expressed. "Today is going to be a busy day, everyone," she announced, earning their attention.

"Stop whatever you are doing and pay attention to what I have to say," she authorizes causing everyone to leave whatever they were doing and have their attention fixed on her.

"Tomorrow, the Alphas from different packs will be coming here for a reason I don't know," her statements had my heart throbbing, will Lucien and Taylor be here too? I asked myself. I feel fucking fearful and worried.

"You all will be assigned where to clean, the queen mother requested that everywhere should be well kept and the grasses should be well trimmed," she declared openly

"So with the list on my palms, if I call your name I will assign you on where to clean and what to do," raising the white paper, she disclosed.

I shifted slightly, I know that I will be assigned to the worst place ever. I stared as she kept calling everyone one by one where they were assigned to work. Aria got to clean the passages, hers wasn't that simple but I know that it will be far better than mine.

"Ashley!" She called. My heart heaved up in a panic, looks like I wasn't expecting to be called now. I thought that I could be the last person.

"Didn't I call someone?" She hurled me a heated glare.

"Sorry, here I am," I answered with my right hand lifted to indicate my presence.

"Whatever," she flonts with a disgusted look. "You will clean the king's chamber,"

"The king!" I loudly exclaimed in a surprised voice. I seemed shocked and nervous at the same time, this is the exact guy that I have been doing my best to avoid by all means.

"Yes! King," she snarled. "Don't get too excited, you are only going there to clean, nothing much," she said sarcastically. I nod nervously with a heavy breath.

"Uhmm…… nonsense," one of the maid's affronts, causing his minors to laugh mockery at me. I lowered my head in shame, everyone in here doesn't seem pleased that I was assigned to clean the king's room except Aria. Is not as if I even wanted to work there as well, so why so much hatred?

"Mind your language, Iris," Magaret warned. She grumbled, causing her minors to shut up in an instant.

"Iris!" Margaret called. "Yes, ma," she said all smiley.

"You are to watch all the visitors' toilets and have the flowers in the garden trimmed,'' her smile got wiped out of her face with a twinkle of an eye. Shocks flashed in her eyes, I am sure that was the girl I bumped into the last time. Aria had a teasing smile on her face, and her minors and others had the same shocked faces.

We all know that the visitors' toilets were a lot in number and it is never a one day job, and trimming of the flowers. Gosh! She will be overworked and drained. I truly feel for her despite her cold attitude.

"I think we are done for now," Magaret said. I still wonder why she gives me the easiest place to clean up, the king's room is the neatest in this pack. He is not a messy type and that makes the room easier to tidy up but why do I find his personality appealing? "Don't forget that Lucien and Taylor will be here tomorrow" I panicked.

"I still haven't eaten ma," I rushed towards her before she could make it to the door.

"And how is that my business?" Veering around, her cold broad eye pierced sharply into mine. "I….. I am sorry for disturbing your peace," I quickly apologized.

"Whatever," she spurns with an irritated gaze. "Go make yourself useful….." She dismissed me with her hands before walking out of the kitchen. What makes me think that she could listen to me? Is it because she paired me with the easiest chore and I thought that she would listen to me? I think that I should be ashamed of myself. Rubbing my stomach to stop the gurgling sounds, I quickly finished what I was doing in the kitchen and strode out of the place ignoring the resentful stare I was getting from iris.

I have to go and have that room tidied up, I pray that I won't bump into him inside that room. I pray that our paths will not bridge again, because I don't know how to face him or react around him.