20 Freedom

Alexandra's POV

It has been months since I had been working as one of the slaves of Lady Ophelia. I couldn't count on my fingers how many times I hadn't eaten my breakfast, lunch, or dinner, depending on her mood.

I realized Lucia was wrong when she told me things would get better since with every little mistake we make, we will end up hungry for the rest of the day, and I couldn't believe how her parents tolerated her.

I have met Duchess Catherine, but she looked so approachable and easy to serve with, and I remember Princess Althea every time I glanced at her.

I wondered why her daughter was like that, and I didn't understand how she managed her slaves. Lady Ophelia will instruct us to do something, but in the end, she will deny that she requested one of us to do such a thing.

That is why sometimes, we will not adhere to her command because we are afraid if she would only refuse to accept she was the one who

instructed us to do so, like cutting some fresh roses from the garden.

The last incident that made me end up where I am right now; was when she threw me the perfume bottle that hit my head before it landed and shattered on the floor.

My head throbbed as I felt it swell, but Lady Ophelia didn't apologize to me, but instead, it made her so angry that she came closer to me with her eyes blazing with anger.

"Why didn't you catch the perfume, Alex?" She asked me angrily.

"I apologize, Lady Ophelia; how can I catch when I was pulling out your dress from your cabinet? You threw and aimed the bottle on my head." I replied while I could feel the pain in my head.

I was no longer shocked when she slapped me so hard in my face, and I lost count of how many times she hit my face until I could feel the blood on my mouth.

When she was about to kick me on my side, I dodged her attack, and she plummeted to the floor, right where the glass was crushed.

The glass slightly wounded her arms, but I could tell her injury wasn't severe. The Head Housekeeper was right there after the incident, and Lady Ophelia cried and accused me of hurting her.

Lucia was there, and she witnessed how Lady Ophelia treated me, but I knew her voice would be nothing, and no one will believe us. I didn't want to drag Lucia into the mess I was in, and I begged her to keep her mouth shut.

I felt glad she didn't say anything against the Duke's daughter since I am sure they would never listen to her, and they would only punish her, thinking she was conniving with me.

It felt so rewarding that she plunged into the hard ground and hurt herself, but it will never be enough for all the bad things she had done to me; in the end, I am still the one who suffered.

The moment the royal guards took me to the top of the central tower, I knew my life as a slave was over, and I had become a prisoner.

God knows I didn't do anything that could harm Lady Ophelia. I only avoided her attack, and she was the one who hit my head with the perfume bottle, and I could still feel the pain and swelling in my head.

I was locked up in a room with a sturdy door that locked up from the outside. There was a window but too high that I needed a ladder to climb out, and I knew I couldn't go out.

Granting I could escape from my prison, the moment I got out, the royal guard would still capture me since the prison was located at the central tower, so there was no way to get out from the castle.

I felt terrible about what happened to me because my parents; they expected me to do good with my job, but I ended up disappointing them. I wonder what would be my mother's reaction the moment she found out the truth that I am in prison and I am now waiting for the trial.

I begged and told the head housekeeper about what happened, but she turned blind, and she only listened to Lady Ophelia.

I didn't know what would be the verdict of my case. What I don't understand is the treatment of the Duke's daughter towards us. We are serving her the best that we can, but it seemed like our efforts were useless since she didn't appreciate any of the things we did for her.

She will never be happy with our services, no matter how we try to show her our efforts by working hard and following all her requests, even if some of them are hard enough for us to accomplish.

I could tell that I would be better if I were still living in the village, and I realized even if I belonged to the slave community, I still had my freedom.

But right now, as I was sitting on the hard floor while I leaned my back on the stone wall, I realized how hard my life could be since I am so afraid that they would decide to cut off my hands for hurting lady Ophelia.

I was thinking hard about how to free myself during my trial, and I couldn't wait to see the Duke and explain everything to him; the days dragged on forever, and no one took me out of my prison cell.

They give me my ration of food, but only a little bread and cheese, sometimes only a tiny amount of bread through the small door opening enough for the food container to pass through.

I could only tell whether it was day or night through the window near the ceiling, but it was always dark inside my detention cell. I couldn't believe that such a crime, which I didn't do, would end me up here in this prison that stunk.

I was losing hope, and I wondered why I had to suffer this way because of a spoiled brat like Lady Ophelia. I asked what her attitude would be if she were the princess of Goldovia. She could be the worst.

I didn't know how long I was detained until, one day, the door of my prison cell opened up. I didn't know if I should feel thrilled or nervous since he might be bringing good or bad news.

My face fell as I thought no one has the power to save me except the Crown Prince and King of Goldovia, but who am I to be saved by the king? I am nothing, and that is the reason I was unjustly put inside this jail.

I didn't get up or even raise my head as I could hear the approaching footsteps of the representative of the Duke. His footsteps halted in front of me.

"Alex, I didn't expect you would be sulking here. I was thinking you were waiting for someone to get you out." I heard a familiar voice, and I looked up right away, and my eyes widened in surprise.

"You?" I asked, and I couldn't believe I would see him again.

"Why are you here?" I asked as I remained seated on the floor and averted his gaze.

"Aren't you happy to see me?" He asked, and I couldn't believe he would be asking me that question.

"Why should I be happy when I know you came all the way here to pick me up for my trial," I responded, and he chuckled, and I couldn't believe he would be amused with my answer.

"What if I told you I can be your savior, Alexandra?" He asked, and it was my time to laugh as he offered me his hand.

"You are one of the staff of this castle, and how can I trust you to be my savior when I knew your loyalty would always be with the Duke's family?" I asked after he pulled me up from the ground.

"You could be right, but I am one of those people who believe in truth, and despite the fact I belong to this household, I still stand firm on my belief that truth shall prevail." He responded, and my eyes got so big; I couldn't stop feeling hopeful.

"Do you believe me if I will tell you I am innocent and I didn't do anything wrong to harm Lady Ophelia?" I asked, and he nodded his head.

"But why?" I asked, still unable to believe that there would be a miracle.

"No need to tell me. I know what happened." He said, and I looked at him more confused than ever.

"How?" I asked in more than a whisper.

"I saw everything, Alex," he replied, and my mouth hung open as I couldn't believe what he said.

"Now, I want you to come with me, you are innocent, and you deserve to have your freedom back." He answered.

"How come you knew everything?" I asked as I couldn't stop myself from feeling curious.

"As always, so many questions, Alex, you have been here for three months, yet nothing has changed for you." He answered, and I felt embarrassed, and I realized I had been imprisoned for three months while I only served Lady Ophelia for three months; and to sum up, I was in Oakville for six months.

"I am sorry, I just couldn't control my emotions since I thought I would be forever in this prison," I said.

"Are you now ready to go?" He asked, and I slowly nodded my head.

"Good!" He replied as he motioned me to follow him outside the prison cell as he turned his heels and walked away from me.

I followed behind him with a smile on my face as I realized the truth prevailed, and there was someone who believed in me, and at last, I've got my freedom back.