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“Yes, ma’ am. I’ve been working in the castle for just a couple of days.”

“And my mother appointed you to stay with me?”

“Yes.”

Valda scoffed and tried her hardest to sit up to Maris’s surprise, she did so without any help. Cerberus crawled to her lap and curled into a ball.

“Are you hungry, Your Highness?” Maris asked, thinking that maybe it would be good for her to get her something to eat, maybe get something for herself. She hadn’t been able to eat anything. A good late-night snack, maybe some warm milk would do her good.

“I can’t eat smelling like this. I need to wash the scent of blood off me. After that then I can eat.” Saying that, Valda pulled the bedsheets away from her body. Cerberus let out an annoyed growl and settled at the foot of the bed, looking from Valda to Maris.

Valda moved her legs to the edge of the bed and inhaled loudly, almost in pain.

“Princess, please. Let me—”

“I need to know if I can do this by myself. I don’t want to be handheld.”

Maris bit her tongue and shrugged. “Go right ahead.”

Valda let out a disgruntled noise. She waved her hand until she grabbed the bedpost and pulled herself up. At first, she managed to stand, but just as she did, she fell back to the bed. “Fuck,” she muttered before trying again.

“Oh, please just let me help you for now. Then you can kick me out if you want.”

“You sure talk a lot for a chambermaid.”

“I will be quiet after we make it to the washroom, I promise.” Without giving the princess a second to reject her offer, Maris placed a muscled arm over her shoulders and held on to the princess’s waist. In this position, she was finally able to take in Valda’s height. The woman was almost a foot taller than she was.

“Take me to the washroom. There’s always a tub filled with warm hot water there,” Valda said, her grip on Maris’s shoulder tightening as she took a tentative step.

The princess struggled with her footing as she took her first steps forward. Her legs trembled, weak and unsure. Her other hand moved to her side, fingers spread, careful not to bump into anything, but Maris made sure she made it to the garderobe. Inside was a pearly white claw tub. Struggling with the princess’s formidable weight, she eased her slowly into the tub, helping move one leg in and then the other.

As Valda sank in the water, the sound that escaped her mouth was extremely delightful. Valda threw her head back and moaned happily when the warm waters covered her sore body.

Maris stared quietly in wonder. Valda’s hand dipped to the band of her underwear. Hooking her thumb under the band, she pulled it slowly down her long legs then let it fall beside the tub with a wet ‘flop.’

Then, she tugged on the wraps harshly until her breasts were free. The princess sighed and heat spread through Maris’s face as she couldn’t look away.

All those stories were true. The princess was gorgeous in her own way. The rippling muscles under the sun-kissed skin, the freckles, the subtle tanned lines on her legs and arms, the scars…

Maris stopped her exploration as she looked upon the many scars embellishing the princess’s body. Maris was sure that each one had a story, and, for some reason, she couldn’t wait to find out what they were.

Wondering if the princess knew she was still there, Maris cleared her throat and waited for a reaction. Valda groaned, opened her eyes and waved her hand around.

“Bring me a cloth and soap.”

Maris froze. Did the princess want Maris to bathe her? She cursed under her breath, her eyes roaming the garderobe.

“I don’t know where your stuff is, Your Highness.”

Valda sighed, annoyed. She raised her hand and pointed to the far-left corner of the room. “Third drawer to your right are the cloths, and the last drawer in the middle you will find the soap.”

“All right…” She moved to the bathroom furniture and did as she was directed. There were, however, a lot of different soaps. Maris glanced at Valda then back to the drawer. She grabbed a green bar and placed it under her nose. Mint. She put it back and then grabbed another one. Vanilla. She sighed in contentment. She reached for another bar, this time a pink one with red dots. Strawberries.

“Mint.”

Maris jumped, and the soap slipped from her hand and landed loudly in the drawer.

“What are you doing? Just hurry up already,” Valda muttered, her arms now on the edge of the tub, waiting.