Chapter Nine: Tragedy.

Elizabeth awoke with a start when frigid water splashed over her entire body, causing a shiver to rack her frame. She tried to clasp herself with her arms, but the cold chain prevented her from doing so and made a loud clicking sound. She had forgotten that she was restrained near Nicholas's sleeping place.

Fear gripped her, realizing that he had left her there all night, chained near his bedside. At one point, she had to relieve herself of urine and was forced to sit on it all night.

Pain shot through her body as she saw the man she once loved, the one who deflowered her, and was now the cause of her agony. 

He spat out with vitriol, "Awaken slave! It's time to labor. You ought not to believe yourself still a princess. You're a slave now, and you must become accustomed to it!"

She wondered how he could contain such pure hatred after having expressed such sincere love. Nicholas summoned a woman with brown curls, who quickly came to him and made a bow.

"Unleash her and demonstrate to her what she'll do from now on," he told her, never breaking eye contact with Elizabeth.

The woman released her bonds, and they dropped at once. Elizabeth was grateful that she could extend her limbs to mitigate some of the pain and discomfort.

"Get up!" Prince Nicholas shouted. "You'd better rush, slave!"

Elizabeth stood motionless; every sense of hope and passion for life vanished. She couldn't believe that Nicholas had altered so drastically. The woman clasped Elizabeth's throbbing arm, assisting her in standing up.

The Prince crumpled his nose and commanded her to glance at him. "You stink and will require a bath," Nicholas informed her. "Then you'll perform your duties and clean up the place that you damaged with your stench. Now, away with you!"

Arlene led Elizabeth as they strode out of Prince Nicholas's room. Elizabeth was dismayed as she was led toward the slave quarters. Only a few days earlier, she was living in a magnificent palace as a princess. Now, since the enemy army took over the kingdom, everything has shifted. She nearly shed tears as she entered a small room in the slave quarters.

Elizabeth saw two of the three slaves she would have to share a room with inside. Her heart sunk even lower as she realized that the room was nearly bare, with only a few straw mats, a bucket, and a small tea candle. She couldn't help but compare it to her former life, with her luxurious bed and silk sheets, and a vase filled with fresh flowers.

Feeling overwhelmed, she was shaking as Arlene led her to the slaves' bathing area to prepare her for the day. She had never showered or bathed in such an overcrowded or dirty space before.She attempted to avert her gaze from the other slaves who scrutinized her with interest.  

Afterwards, she proceeded to dress up. She felt exposed and dirty since she had no fine clothing or accessories. She yearned for the comfort and luxury of her former life and to see her family.

After donning a plain white gown provided by Arlene, Elizabeth felt like a completely different individual. The gown was rough and unattractive, failing to flatter her figure or elegance. She tried to stay confident as she walked back to her new room, but she couldn't help how dejected she was.

After a few minutes, Arlene led her back to the entrance of Prince Nicholas's chamber and stopped in front of it. She cleared her throat and beckoned Elizabeth with her hand.

"From now on, Elizabeth, you will be responsible for cleaning Prince Nicholas's chambers. You will make certain that it's spotless in the morning and when he retires for the night. You will be in charge of cleaning the stables with the other slave girls. You comprehend, don't you?"

Elizabeth bowed her head, unable to locate her voice.

"Wonderful. And don't forget your place. You're a servant now, and you will obey orders." She handed Elizabeth a rag and a bucket of water and a mop.

Elizabeth bowed her head disconsolately, feeling the weight of her new reality as she accepted them from Arlene.

Arlene pointed to the door leading to Prince Nicholas's room. "Now get to work. And don't disappoint me, girl. The prince isn't available right now."

Elizabeth sighed as she approached the familiar door. She had only spent one night in this chamber, and it seemed strange and unwelcoming. She took a deep breath and pushed the door open, resigned to her new life of servitude.

As she came near the bed, a surge of disgust and shame washed over her when she saw the space around the bed. The smell was overpowering, and to make matters worse, there was a spot on the ground where she couldn't control her bladder while in chains the previous night.

She felt mortified as she started to clean the bed and the surrounding area. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to tidy up the mess. She felt trapped, humiliated, and powerless. She had lost all hope and hadn't yet seen her brother, Arthur or the slave girl Aurora. Who knows if they're even alive?

After an hour, she completed the task and hurried out of the room, grateful that Prince Nicholas hadn't returned yet. As she strode toward the slave quarters, she felt the intense stares of the palace people boring into her relentlessly. She was overwhelmed with shame.

They must have thought her a fool when Prince Nicholas had dragged her naked out of the palace hall the day before. Elizabeth had been petrified, wishing the ground would swallow her. How cruel life was to take away her parents, dignity, and the person she loved the most was responsible for it.

As she entered the small room, she saw the girl she recognized from the cage she was kept in. Alice, the girl who was equally captured by the cruel army.

Alice's eyes glistened with joy as she walked up to Elizabeth and gripped her hands. "My lady, I heard that you're our new roommate."

Elizabeth nodded silently, managing a small smile, but her blue eyes were lifeless.

"I'm delighted that you're here."

"Thank you, Alice. Have you learned anything about my friends?"

Alice's lips curled into a frown. "Sorry, my lady, I know nothing."

"It's alright. Please call me Elizabeth."

"Elizabeth," Alice replied, smiling.

At the very least, she wouldn't be alone, but Elizabeth couldn't help but ask at this stage whether she belonged in this place as a princess and a noble. 

The years she spent with the royal family had left an imprint on her, making it difficult for Elizabeth to comprehend that she was now living in slavery. She felt robbed of her own worth and dignity as a valuable human being. She couldn't figure out how she would survive this.

Alice pointed to a blonde girl with a slender figure standing behind her. "This is Bella, one of our roommates."

"Ah, you're the princess who was stripped naked last night?" Bella sneered at Elizabeth with contempt.

"Bella!" Alice chided her.

Bella had been a slave from birth because her parents were also slaves, but Bella was ambitious and a vile person.

Elizabeth, on the other hand, remained stoic, ignoring Bella's rude comments.

Alice slammed her foot to emphasize, "Apologize to her!"

"Why should I do that?" Bella stepped toward Alice, matching her.

"You both just arrived last night. You have no authority over me," Bella remarked.

"Is that ...?" Alice started to say when another girl rushed into the room, nearly out of breath.

"Bella... Bella... Come outside and let's go to the palace grounds. They're executing the slaves who tried to escape last night."

Bella's ears perked up at the news, and she looked at the girl impatiently. "Really, let's go." She accompanied the girl as they hurried outside.

"Come along, let's go see," Alice said, holding Elizabeth's hand.

At this point, Elizabeth couldn't have cared less if they were executing anyone. She had lost all passion for life and felt nothing, but she didn't object as Alice pulled her along.

As they made their way to the front of the crowded palace grounds, her heart sank when she saw a sight that would be etched in her memory forever. The executioner's blade shone in the sunlight, ready to end a young girl's life.

Elizabeth's eyes widened in horror. She couldn't believe that the young girl about to meet her tragic fate was none other than her beloved slave girl, Aurora.