The devil -part one

"You're really fortunate Prince Nikolai chose you as his personal maid. He's never had a servant so close," Peter remarked as they returned to the kitchen. "At least, not since him."

Fortunate? Jasmine silently scoffed. She felt anything but lucky. When Peter turned to look at her, she forced a smile onto her face before he looked away.

Peter knew the girl was terrified. It was only natural. Nikolai intimidated even the most elite people who crossed his path, let alone a common maid. There was something dark and dangerous about him that made people keep their distance. His gaze felt as though he was peering directly into one's soul, a thought that sent shivers down their spine.

"He values his privacy. Unless he personally calls for you, don't linger around him," Peter warned Jasmine. She felt the warning was superfluous. She intended to stay as far from him as possible. The knowledge that he could end her life at any moment unnerved her.

Assigned to kitchen duty, Jasmine washed the dishes quietly, refraining from joining the chatter of the other maids. She could feel their gazes and overhear whispers of Nikolai and Lucian's names. She could well guess the topic of their gossip. Servants lived on rumors, feeding on every bit of information they could glean.

Jasmine and the other servants were served two meals a day. At noon, she moved to the entrance of the palace, tasked with cleaning the windows. She saw Prince Nikolai approaching the steps. Before he could glance her way, she bent over, wringing her cloth in the bucket of water. Her long, golden-brown hair, tied in a high ponytail, fell to one side, effectively hiding her face.

Once he had passed, she resumed her work. When she finished that floor, she returned the bucket to the storeroom. Another maid handed her freshly laundered clothes belonging to Prince Nikolai. Her heart pounded as she ascended the stairs to his quarters, quickening further as she passed Prince Lucian's room.

When she reached Nikolai's room, she tried the doorknob, only to find it locked. She turned to leave, descending the stairs. As she did, she heard a lock click behind her. Her eyes widened, and she quickened her pace to evade any chance encounter with Lucian.

In her room in the servants' quarters, she carefully placed Nikolai's clothes on her bed, ensuring they wouldn't become stained. By ten that night, dinner was served. Jasmine ate her meal silently on a kitchen stool.

"I don't think Prince Nikolai will return tonight. You can rest," Peter stepped into the kitchen to inform her . She nodded, rising to clean her plate after her meal.

Back in her room, Jasmine sat by the window, gazing at the moon. It reminded her of nights in the slave market when she had worked late. She remembered a conversation with her mother.

'Mama, what is that big ball up there?' Little Jasmine had once asked, pointing at the moon before they stepped inside.

'It is the moon, Jasmine. Just like the sun gives us light during the day, the moon lights up the night,' the mother had explained to five year old daughter who seemed thrill by the 'white ball' in the sky.

"Moon," The little girl cooed and smiled, 'I like the moon,' she told her mother who smiled back at her. When the wind breezed gently, she noticed her daughter shiver and she picked her up from the ground to step inside their home while saying something that made the girl laugh.

Jasmine exhaled, closing her window when the night chill seeped in. Lying on her bed, she curled herself on the hard mattress and covered her feet with the end of her gown while placing her hand under her head as a pillow. Sleeping at night had become terrible for Jasmine, and she had resolved not to remember anything about that night ten years ago.

Her blue eyes started to close as she was already feeling sleepy, with her legs curled and feet inside her dress, providing a little warmth for her as she slept off.

Just as she had started to wander into her dreamland, a knocking came on her door. Two harsh ones followed, drawing her from the throes of her sleep, and she woke up. She frowned and got up from the bed, wondering who was disturbing her sleep at such a time in the night.

She dragged her feet frustratingly on the ground and opened her eyes to see Peter. What was he doing here?

"Prince Nikolai has arrived back to the palace and he has summoned you to his room," The sleep cleared from Jasmine's eyes almost immediately and her eyes widened.

What!?

Peter didn't say anymore and turned to leave, letting her sulk alone. That man was no doubt a devil, having her sacrifice her sleep.

Goodness, what had she gotten herself into, she whined and went to pack up her clothes before walking out of her room and locking the door.