The Alpha King's Hated Slave
The Alpha King’s Hated Slave Chapter 168

The next day Danika and Baski didn’t get the opportunity to see the King because it was filled with activities.

Just as the king said, the next morning, he told Zariel about the plan for the irrigation and water distribution to the people. He also told Zariel that she is in charge.

So, she left the palace and went into town with them where she supervised and directed the sharing of water. Coming outside town reminded her of Sally.

Her former maid that was always beside her for years. She misses Sally so much even though she writes to her from time to time. It paid off that she thought Sally how to write.

Sally might not be perfect and might get most of the words wrongly, but what matters to Danika was that she’s able to return her messages and she was also able to comprehend Sally’s messages after a few careful reads. She hopes that one of these days, she will have the time and permission to leave the palace and visit her best friend.

Down the town, she was dedicated to her duty, making sure that the sharing of water works well and properly.

The people were so happy about the water, it was on their face and their attitudes, on the smile they gave her each time they passed with their big buckets. They thanked her and the king as they fetched their rounds. She made sure every family got their share.

She was still making her rounds when a little boy fell into her. She grabbed the child to steady him so that the boy will not fall. He does not look older than six years to her.

“Are you all right?” She asked concerned, staring at the boy’s clothes and not-so-clean hair.

The boy has fear written all over his face. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! Please, don’t hurt me!”

“I have no plans to hurt you, dear. Please, don’t cry. What is your name?” She asked softly.

He took two steps away from her, still crying. The boy hesitated.

Danika patted his hair in reassurance, giving him a beautiful smile. “It’s okay. It’s okay.”

“I’m Corna.” He mumbled at last.

“Stop crying, Corna, okay? I won’t hurt you.”

A heavily pregnant woman came running out immediately with her own bucket on her hand, her eyes widened at the sight in front of her. She dropped her bucket immediately as if it bit her.

She rushed to Danika and knelt in front of her. “Oh, please! Please, have mercy on him please! Corna is very clumsy and reckless, he’s always running without watching his way. Please, have mercy, please!” The young woman cried bitterly.

Danika was already shaking her head. She helped the pregnant woman stand up. “Stop panicking. He only runs into people, he isn’t hurting anybody. Don’t let it bother you so much.”

“Corna has no control at all. Yesterday, he ran into the mistress and he almost got whipped for it. Please have mercy, please! I’ll try to hold him as often as I can.”

“You can only try your best, but it’s okay. He’s just a boy and he’s already scared out of his mind.” She spared the little boy a glance and saw how he shivered in fear.

The sight broke her heart. Not minding the boy’s dirty state, she lifted the boy into her arms. He was quite heavy but she held him.

Danika consoled him with soothing words while the poor mother stood beside them gawking at her. The woman never expected such treatment from a woman who was once of privileged status. A woman who was fathered by a monster.

Time passed and the boy stopped carrying, but he refused to get down from Danika’s arms. Instead, he burrowed his head to her shoulder and stuck his hand into his mouth and sucked on it.

No matter how his mother tried to get him to come away from Danika and allow her to work, the boy turned deaf ears. In the end, Danika just smiled and walked away, carrying the boy.

She held the boy as she continued doing her job. She made sure the older people in the village got enough water too, while Zariel and the guards stayed several miles away from her, getting the pumps working well.

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It was evening by the time King Lucien finished in court. He was feeling so tired, he always is after a long day in court.

Today he had to deal with a married couple who wishes to separate and the little kids in the orphanage of Salem. Those children who lost their parents to the hands of King Cone during slavery. The reminder made his head hurt.

He was almost at his Chambers when a maid ran to him. She was breathing heavily and seemed to have come in a hurry. He turned towards her and waited for her to talk.

The maid fell to the ground and bowed her head. “My name is Kaya. I’m the personal maid of the Mistress. She is so sick, Your Highness! So, so, sick, she requests for you.”

That, had the King’s brows creased in worry. “How is she? What is the matter? Is she doing alright? “

“No, My King. She is not doing so fine. She scares me.”

“Take me to her.”

The maid nodded vigorously and got up from the floor. She led the king to the mistress quarters.

When the king entered, he saw Vetta lying down on the bed. It has been so long since he saw his mistress he felt guilt. He and Vetta has been through so much together, it is unfair that he has been so unconcerned about her for the past few weeks.

The king turned to Kaya, “Leave us.”

“As you wish, Your Majesty.” The maid responded with a bow of her head, before she turned and hurried out of the room.

Vetta’s eyes opened a little, “My King…” She whispered in a hoarse voice.

He walked towards the edge of her bed and sat down. “How do you feel?”

Vetta tried to read him, but it’s as impossible as trying to force rain to fall. His face was as hard as it was carved out of granite but his eyes wasn’t so cold.

“I feel very bad.” She has him exactly where she wants him. Buying the body-weakening and swollen-face pills from the black market was definitely worth it. It gave her inner joy.

Outside, her eyes watered as she watched him. The seller did tell her that the illegal pill does make a person an emotional mess. She was glad about that part too. She needs all the game she can get.

“What is wrong with you?” He asked in a calming voice.

“I started having lots of pain in my belly and so many weakness. I couldn’t control the pain, it was too much.” It wasn’t exactly a lie.

“I should have Baski take a look at you. She can be able to help.”

“No. Not Baski,” she shook her head, “Wouldn’t want to be a burden to her. Kaya already called Angie; the medicine man, and he has examined me. He made me some drugs to take too.”

Her eyes went to the table beside her, leaving the king’s eyes to follow. Indeed, there were indeed drugs on the table but they were her fertility pills and body-energizing portions.

The king nodded. “You will be fine, Vetta.”

“Thank you, My King. I’m just so s-scared…” she swallowed, looking frightened, “… I hate being sick. It reminds me so much about that horrible place. I don’t ever want to live with the thoughts of that hideous past in my head.”

He raised his hand. Hesitated. Then, he placed it on her arm, a muscle at his jaw ticked in that telltale indication that he doesn’t like touches.

He didn’t pull his hand though. “Try not to think about it. We are free, Vetta. The drugs might make you delirious but try not to get buried in that awful memories.” His eyes clouded, “I know what it feels like to drown in them. It is not a good feeling.”

She knows that he knows how awful and tormenting their past has been for him, and that was exactly she’s using it. Tears filled her eyes and overflowed. Being delirious is her best strategy.

“I feel so alone.” She cried.

“You are not alone.”

“Lucien…?” She whispered, knowing he wouldn’t punish her for it.

He stiffened. She’d called him that a few things in slavery…after a massive torture session. “Mmh?”

More tears. “Can you please stay this night with me…? I’m so scared, I don’t want to be alone. I’m so scared to be alone….”