Garden Of Poison

Even though the room was slightly dark, as not all the curtains had been pulled away from the window, the room felt hot to Anastasia. The gloved hand on the surface of the door didn't pull away until she let go of the doorknob.

Anastasia turned from where she stood while making sure she didn't touch the person who stood too close to her, towering over her.

When her eyes met Dante's midnight eyes that held a hint of glare and curiosity in them, she heard him question her,

"This is the second time that you have followed me in less than twenty-four hours. Who put you up to it?"

What? Anastasia quickly shook her head.

Her eyes fell on him, seeing that his hair was ruffled, he was in loose trousers, with a plain white shirt with its sleeves rolled to his elbow, and the top three buttons were left unbuttoned.

Dante didn't take it too kindly when women were sent to seduce or follow him to know what he was up to, and it had happened more than four times in the past. His gloved hand shot to the maid's neck, his fingers curling around it and his thumb pressing on the space between her collarbones.

Anastasia froze, feeling the grip of his hand, not expecting things to escalate at such a speed that her life was left dangling by a frail thread.

He's going to kill me! Anastasia screamed in her mind in alarm.

"What are you doing here? Are you going to answer?" Dante's glare turned more evident.

Anastasia, who couldn't speak, raised her hands, ready to use signs to explain to him. But the moment she brought her hand forward, Dante's other hand caught hold of her wrist and pressed it against the wooden surface of the door.

Her heart skipped a beat at the forcefulness of his hands, and her body shivered. A drop of sweat trickled down the nape of her neck and slipped down her spine before being absorbed by the back of her dress.

Dante wondered if his father or grandmother had sent this woman. Was she even a maid? Or was she another concubine or courtesan disguised as a maid to catch him off guard? Young women who were sent to him were always eager to gain his good side, as he was a prince, ready to strip for him and please him.

Before Anastasia could use her other free hand to convey her words, Dante leaned forward and brought his lips next to her ear.

"As you seemed too eager to enter my room without my permission, I should perhaps take the matter into my hands… and punish you," Dante's breath brushed against her ear, which left her heart stuttering. "Make sure it is hard for you to show up in front of me ever again," his words held an underlying threat in them.

Anastasia knew she should be scared of him right now, but why was she feeling light-headed and it wasn't because of his hand around her neck. He was handsome, but that didn't mean her mind could give him a pass for the way he threatened her.

Dante pulled away and remarked, "What a compliant woman."

As the hand that held her wrist was about to slide lower as he leaned forward, Anastasia quickly placed her hand on his chest. Thankfully, her fingers didn't touch his bare, taut chest. But as fast as her hand stopped him, she also quickly pulled her hand away from touching and stopping him.

Anastasia didn't look at Dante. Her eyes were lowered, while blood rushed up her neck, with her hand hanging midair. She brought her hand to her lips, and this only caused the prince to narrow his eyes at her. She shook her head.

Dante stared at Anastasia for a second before he realised, "You cannot speak…?" She nodded, her heart thudding in her chest.

Anastasia felt the snake-like fingers that had earlier slithered around her neck release, along with his grip on her hand. She brought her hand in front of her, feeling the skin of her wrist as if the prince's hold had burnt her skin.

Dante's head tilted to the side as he examined her, and it turned Anastasia nervous. Did he doubt that she could speak? Did he know? No, there was no way for anyone to know, she thought.

He stared at her, because he hadn't heard of the head in charge of the servants taking in deaf or mute servants to work in the palace. He asked her,

"Have you always been unable to speak?"

Anastasia had hoped this question would never be asked, so she could avoid lying as much as possible, but she felt stuck between the rock and the wall. She moved her hands,

'Since I came here—'

"Forget it," Dante cut her actions off, as he was quick to lose interest, and his eyes narrowed. He took a step towards her, and Anastasia wondered if her lie had been caught. He leaned forward and said, "Consider this to be your first and last warning, if you enter the room without permission."

Anastasia heard the doorknob click as Dante unlocked the door, and a little light spilt in from outside, and some of it fell on him. The glare in his eyes had not left. She quickly offered a deep bow, and taking the opportunity, opened the door wide and bolted away from there.

Never had she shared such close space with any man before, and especially not a prince, Anastasia thought to herself as her feet quickly moved on the floor. She turned back, making sure she was all alone, but when she was about to turn at the end of the corridor, she crashed into someone.

"Ah…!" Princess Niyasa gritted her teeth, feeling the impact from how the lowly maid had crashed into her.

Anastasia quickly bowed to offer her apologies. It seemed like she was having the worst luck today.

Behind the glaring princess stood Charlotte, whose happy smile slipped and turned into worry. These corridors were for the royal family, and other influential members, and only chosen servants and maids had access to them. Noticing Anastasia here, she believed the person had come to tattle-tale the truth about the sketches.

Princess Niyasa demanded, "Don't you have eyes to see where you are walking?! Or is your mind in your feet?"

"It appears that she's a lower maid. A high princess like yourself shouldn't bother with her, Princess…" Charlotte spoke, hoping they could leave Anastasia behind and her lie wouldn't come out.

Princess Niyasa turned to the side where Charlotte stood and said in a foul mood, "I didn't ask for your opinion. Don't speak out of turn unless spoken to." This had Charlotte close her mouth immediately while bowing her head as to not irk the princess, who seemed to have little patience. "How rude… it looks like the lower maids truly lack manners. To stand rather than kneel to ask for forgiveness," she taunted.

Anastasia could hear the arrogance and pride from the tone of the princess's voice. She didn't want to cause any trouble, and ever since she began to live here, she had realised it was better to obey than go against the people who were higher in position compared to her.

She did what the princess wanted by kneeling on the floor and bowing her head.

Princess Niyasa's lips twisted and she murmured, "What is a lowly maid doing in these parts of the palace?" Looking down at the lowly maid, she took a step forward before stamping on the woman's fingers that were pressed on the floor. "I will be sure to question Norrix on what a lowly maid is doing here."

Anastasia felt the pain shoot up her fingers. She clenched her jaws and closed her eyes to stop herself from screaming in pain.

Princess Niyasa stepped away from Anastasia and said, "Remember to use your eyes and ears next time," before walking away with her two maids following her.