29 Her name

Sylvia dreaded as the day had come to an end, and the dusk veiled the skies. She decided not to leave this maid's quarters and give a chance for Maximus to notice her somewhere. She doesn't want to go to his room tonight and let him take the one thing that she's securing for the person she's going to marry.

Many maids sleep with Princes, Generals, soldiers, guards, and even with the King as they were hoping to secure a safe place in the palace. But Sylvia doesn't need that, all she wanted is an escape which is never going to happen if she sleeps with him.

She wants her first time with someone she loves and Maximus is someone she hates with all her heart. When she was sitting on the corner of her bed and pondering about how to escape, one of the other maids called her.

"Your majesty wanted to see you,"

"Who?"

"The crown prince's wife,"

"I will go right now," Sylvia said, not having the courage to walk out of this place.

What if he's here somewhere? God! Please he shouldn't come today, he shouldn't call me today and he should forget me, completely, she prayed yet knowing that won't happen.

On her way, she heard a thunderstorm and noticed it's drizzling outside.

"Nina?" Sylvia enters her room.

"Sylvia, have this dessert. The cook just sent it to me as a token of love," Nina said.

Sylvia mentally cried, "No, Nina. I don't want anything,"

"Why not? Come and have some tea. You will love it," Nina offered. Even though she's upset about what happened this morning with Theodore. Nina tried not to show it on her face and stayed cheerful just like how she's every day.

But Sylvia doesn't have that talent, she's been upset since morning and her face reflects her anxiety throughout their trip to the market. Nina asked what's bothering her and she replied simply that she's not well.

Can't able to say no, Sylvia took a piece of that dessert and shoved it into her mouth, and gulped the tea.

"Isn't it great?"

"Yes, it is," Sylvia nods.

"Can I go? I feel dizzy,"

Concerned Nina, leaned forward, "Shall we go to a healer?" Nina asks.

"No, sleep is enough to get over this,"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," Sylvia nods.

"I am sorry, I shouldn't have called you," Nina apologized.

"No, it's fine Nina," Sylvia again felt bad for lying. She's utterly depressed about everything that's weighing on her shoulders and not letting her think properly. She wanted an end to her misery.

Sylvia walked down the stairs, having tears in her eyes. And to make her cry out loud, she saw Maximus at the end of the stairs, he has just now returned.

She stared at him and her slides to cheeks and he stared back at her intently, like she's here to receive him. At each step she took down, her heart raced to see Maximus's smirk. When they were finally close to hear each other's whisper, "Are you here to see me?" he asked.

"No," she nods.

He stepped close to her, their lips were close enough to feel the warmth in that cold.

"It's so cold in here, let's go to my room," he suggested.

"No, I-I can't come with you, your highness," Sylvia answered.

"You can't say no to me," he said.

She knows it's a calm warning before he gets all arrogant and controlling.

She looked at him, helplessly. "Just come with me, I won't hurt you," he persuaded instead of ordering her.

She can't take this anymore. Instead of fighting him, she decided to do what he says so that he will stop scaring her.

She had no other choice, she should either leave this place which is going to be worse if she imagines. Certainly, her aunt won't take her in if she hears that she has lost her job. Because of this job, the money she's providing for the family, she still has a shelter to sleep and she is treated by her aunt with a little bit of decency. If she loses it, she will be lost forever. She has no one, does not have a single penny in her hands and if she complains to anyone, no one will listen to a low-rank maid. Most of all, she doesn't want any scandal to follow her around.

But if she does what he says, she might have a way to escape. She knew he would eventually get bored of her if he found another woman.

Every path seems miserable and it doesn't matter what she chooses. She's going to be hurt at the end.

Sylvia pretends to smile for him. "Do you like some tea?" she asks.

"Yes," he nods.

"I will be back in your room, your grace," she bowed and walked to the kitchen wiping off her tears. She made tea, crying silently wondering what mistake she had ever done in her life to endure this punishment.

She walked to his room, accepting her fate and she had no clue where it would lead her to.

"Your highness," she quickly lowered her gaze after noticing him half-naked.

"Are you not well?" he asks, hearing her sniffling voice.

"I am fine," she answered and placed the tea on his table. She poured a cup and placed it at his side.

Sylvia stood there, silently looking down when he enjoyed his tea.

The dimly lighted room is quite clean today because of her.

Maximus sat on his bed and asked her to come to him, reaching out his hand.

She gulped and ambled there. She held her hand to his satisfaction and he pulled her to sit on his lap. She's so embraced and she's hesitant to even breathe beside him.

"We shouldn't do this," she said one last time.

"Why not? Don't you like me?" He asks. What a nonsensical question this is. She likes nothing at all.

She nods, not able to say anything.

"Answer me," he demands.

"You shouldn't be with me, we aren't the same," Sylvia looked in his eyes as she said that.

"We are all humans and I see no difference with you," he answered and kissed her lips, passionately. She knew he's lying to get what he wants; he has treated her worse before he starts to have these lustful feelings for her. Men can do anything to sleep with a woman they want and she's seeing it now.

Again, Sylvia pushed him off, "You must know that I am not beautiful as you think,"

"Enough! I don't want to hear anything," he answered and continued the kiss. Letting go of her guard, Sylvia kissed him back, the feelings, that's clouding her mind and spreading through her veins, it is something intangible. Though it feels wrong, she doesn't want to stop at all. This is the most unexplainable moment of her life. He's not the only person who is attrected her from the very start.

Maximus stopped kissing her and looked into her eyes when his hands were busy removing the buttons of her old dress.

It fell off her shoulders, revealing her breasts. Maximus's eyes were gazing at every bit of skin, and he didn't wait any further. He pushed her onto the bed and undressed her.

Sylvia could barely breathe in this circumstance, she never imagined she would lose her virtue to someone she won't have a chance to marry, nor love nor at least get the least bit of compassion. It's just pure lust, nothing else. That makes her eyes moist with tears.

After he got naked, he parted her legs and filled in the void as he owns her. He kissed her lips roughly, and all over her face and down to her neck.

"This might hurt a bit," he said as he invaded her innocence.

Sylvia left out a small scream in pain, it's an utter discomfort and she tried not to look into his eyes but it's hard to avoid his grunts. He held her hands and kissed her cheek as he thrust into her. Maximus is filled with the pleasure he always yearned to experience.

As he was about to reach the height of the passion they were engaged in, he pulled out and fell onto the other side groaning as he ejaculates. He doesn't have any intention to have a child with her.

Sylvia sighed as it came to an end, she joined her legs and hoped he would never summon her again.

When she's about to get up to put on a dress, Maximus embraced her. He again showered kisses on her face and nibbled her collarbone, before resting beside her. Moments passed, as they stayed entangled. Maximus's gaze was all her on her, while her gaze was fixed on the roof.

"I have to go, sir," Sylvia asked.

"Stay with me, tonight," Maximus meant those words.

"That's an offense,"

"You just did," he retorted.

"Which I am not…" she stopped before saying that she regrets every second of it. "Please let me go, your majesty,"

"What if I insist you stay,"

"Then you must answer me a question,"

He agrees with a nod.

"Do you know my name?"

That question caught him off-guard. He stared at her, trying to remember her name which he has no clue at all.

She knew he certainly don't know her name, it makes her sad and angry at herself. But she smiled in despair and got up from the bed, taking off his hand. She put on her clothes quickly and strolled out of the room.

Maximus didn't stop her and let her go.

Sylvia still feels the pain between her legs and can't able to stop her tears, she ran out of the house, desperately wishing to run away or vanish altogether.