Chapter 4 Rejection and Secrets

Two days , Gwendolyn was kept secluded in her room in the castle. The only person she had contact with was the maid, who looked at her strangely. However, Gwendolyn had already made some progress with her, managing to get her to talk a little when they were together, even if it was just a few words.

The door opened, and the same man who had greeted her when she arrived entered, looking her up and down.

"The king wishes to see you tomorrow at the banquet, and our prince will be present. Be presentable for this occasion," he spoke while standing by the door, gazing at her, then looked away.

"Come in." She was curious to see who it was, and then the maid entered, keeping her head down and standing by the man's side. He continued speaking.

"Look at her, looks horrible. Is this how they take care of her? will be punished for this negligence," king's advisorsaid, holding the maid by the arm. Gwendolyn could see the fear in her eyes and decided to intervene.

"My lord, I apologize for being like this! It wasn't her, it was me," Gwendolyn said nervously and fearfully. The man looked at her seriously, released the maid, and approached her, stopping in front of her.

"Explain further," he requested in a serious tone.

"The clothes, sir, made me feel unwell. I took them off because they are too tight," Gwendolyn said, realizing he was paying attention, and continued, "I believe they are my sister's measurements. I asked her to get clothes in my size," she added, hoping he would believe her and perhaps she could gain the maid's trust. It was a shot in the dark.

"I will arrange clothes in your size," the man said. Even with her head down, Gwendolyn felt his eyes scanning her body. He stepped back and left, leaving them alone.

"You didn't have to do that," the maid said, walking towards the bed to tidy it up.

"Pleasure to meet you, I'm Gwendolyn," she said, extending her hand. The maid looked for a moment as if she was deciding whether or not to trust, and finally shook Gwendolyn's hand.

"I'm Lucy," she replied, smiling.

"Lucy, I know you're afraid, but I want you to know that you can truly trust me," Gwendolyn said.

"Servants aren't friends of noble castes," Lucy replied timidly.

"Well, we'll be different. That will be our secret, agreed?" Gwendolyn suggested, smiling. Lucy looked at her suspiciously, which was understandable.

"Agreed," Lucy said, still wary.

"What are the king and the prince like?" Gwendolyn asked curiously, wanting to know more. Lucy looked scared, approached the door, opened it to look at the corridors, and then returned. Gwendolyn was confused, not understanding the reason for this behavior, and looked at Lucy for answers.

"The king is the brother of the great alpha Cedric, who was killed in an ambush. Many say it was the king himself who ordered the killing of his brother and his family to assume the throne," Lucy revealed. Gwendolyn covered her mouth, frightened by what she had just heard.

"My God! And does the prince know about these rumors?" Gwendolyn asked, sympathizing with him and wanting to know if these rumors had reached him. Lucy looked around, scared as if someone might be listening.

"He is blind and crippled and cruel. He killed a servant who was dressing him because he scratched him," Lucy told her. Gwendolyn widened her eyes.

"But he's not blind and crippled, ?" she questioned, trying to understand how that was possible.

"You didn't have to do that," the maid said, walking towards the bed to tidy it up.

"Pleasure to meet you, I'm Gwendolyn," she said, extending her hand. The maid looked for a moment as if she was deciding whether or not to trust, and finally shook Gwendolyn's hand.

"I'm Lucy," she replied, smiling.

"Lucy, I know you're afraid, but I want you to know that you can truly trust me," Gwendolyn said.

"Servants aren't friends of noble castes," Lucy replied timidly.

"Well, we'll be different. That will be our secret, agreed?" Gwendolyn suggested, smiling. Lucy looked at her suspiciously, which was understandable.

"Agreed," Lucy said, still wary.

"What are the king and the prince like?" Gwendolyn asked curiously, wanting to know more. Lucy looked scared, approached the door, opened it to look at the corridors, and then returned. Gwendolyn was confused, not understanding the reason for this behavior, and looked at Lucy for answers.

"The king is the brother of the great alpha Cedric, who was killed in an ambush. Many say it was the king himself who ordered the killing of his brother and his family to assume the throne," Lucy revealed. Gwendolyn covered her mouth, frightened by what she had just heard.

"My God! And does the prince know about these rumors?" Gwendolyn asked, sympathizing with him and wanting to know if these rumors had reached him. Lucy looked around, scared as if someone might be listening.

"He is blind and crippled and cruel. He killed a servant who was dressing him because he scratched him," Lucy told her. Gwendolyn widened her eyes.

"But he's not blind and crippled, ?" she questioned, trying to understand how that was possible.

"Yes, but nobody really understands. He only gets along with Fenrir, his childhood friend," Lucy explained. Gwendolyn wondered if Guinevere knew these things and refused to marry that cruel and disabled man because of them.

"I hope he doesn't act that way towards me," Gwendolyn said, placing a trembling hand on her chest. Lucy made a gesture with her face that left her curious.

"Is there something I don't know?" she inquired.

"I shouldn't speak about it," Lucy replied, finishing making the bed and opening the wardrobe to take out the clothes. Gwendolyn approached and touched her arm.

"Please, tell me if something is wrong. My family depends on me and this marriage! What do you know?" Gwendolyn pleaded, afraid.

"If the king finds out that I've been talking to you about these things, I'll be killed, miss," Lucy said, Gwen could feel her pulse racing with fear.

"I won't tell anything, you have my word," Gwendolyn assured her, feeling scared.

"The prince rejected you, that's what we heard in the corridors, also because it was the king who chose. The prince chose another bride?"

"I'll ask Mr. Ziz to take you for a walk in the gardens. That will distract you. Wait here," the maid said, getting up and quickly leaving, leaving Gwendolyn alone. She said a prayer to the goddess Luna, asking the prince not to banish her from the castle, as her family would be in serious trouble. Then she got up and walked over to the windows, looking out over the vast gardens with small ponds.

Soon, the maid returned accompanied by other maids, carrying many clothes. They went to the wardrobe, took out the old clothes and handed them to another maid, leaving only two dresses. As soon as they were gone, the maid looked at Gwendolyn and held up a finger, going to the door, opening it and looking around before coming back and closing it.

"Mr. Ziz allowed you to walk around the grounds with me," she said brightly. They began to choose a suitable outfit and opted for a kind of harem pants, suitable for outdoor activities such as hiking. After Gwendolyn had bathed and dressed, they set off for a walk through the vast gardens, surrounded by soldiers.

"How beautiful! Look at those roses! This place is wonderful. It's already my favorite place in the castle," exclaimed Gwendolyn, delighted with what her eyes saw.

"No need to worry, everything will be fine," said the maid, smiling. There were several fruit trees around, and Gwendolyn ran to them, leaving the maid behind, picked a fruit and began to eat.

"How delicious," she said to herself.

"I'm glad you like my orchard", I hear a deep voice and I throw the fruit on the ground, startled. The king is in front of me, looking at me with his yellow eyes.

"Your Majesty, I apologize for my behavior," I say, shivering in fear of being caught by the king, eating his fruit.

"Make yourself at home, someone besides me appreciates this place," he says, a devastating smile forming on his face, making him simply charming. I smile shyly.

"I hope you at the banquet tomorrow night " It takes on a serious and somber air.

The ground seemed to vanish from beneath Gwendolyn's feet; once again, she had been rejected, less than two days after experiencing the first rejection. The worst part this time was that her family could be in danger. She let herself fall onto the carpet, tears streaming down her face. How could she be so unlucky? She felt as if the goddess was against her, and all hopes of happiness were crumbling before her eyes. Her life was being shaken like dry leaves. She looked at the maid in front of her, who stared at her with pity.

"What do you mean, rejected?" Gwendolyn asked, unsure how to act in this situation. Perhaps this was what the king wanted to see her about tomorrow. What would she do in unfamiliar lands?

"Miss, I ask that you calm down. The king wishes to see you at the banquet, and that's a good sign," said the "Yes, my king." He turns his back and leaves with his soldiers, leaving me with shaky legs. Lucy soon comes out from behind a bush.

"I'm so scared of him," I look at her for a moment and nod.

"We'd better go back to the room. I'm too nervous, I won't be able to appreciate this beautiful place," I say, fearful and nervous. We walk through the small paths lined with stones, passing by the lakes, but I couldn't observe them as my thoughts are on the banquet, my father depends on me, all my hopes are fading away.

"Where are the ladies rushing off to?" We hear a strong voice behind us.

"Fenrir, you scared us," I hear Lucy say. He smiles, but his eyes are fixed on me as he extends his hand. I reciprocate.

"Fenrir, at your service," he says, holding my hand longer than expected. I politely pull away and smile.

"Gwendolyn, pleased to meet you," I say, a little frightened by his intense gaze.

"We must go," I hear Lucy say, and we quickly leave. Upon entering the room, I'm startled to find the king waiting for me.

"Miss Windsor," I hear the king speak. My legs feel weak, and my mouth goes dry. He continues, making me shudder, "Miss, I know your origin and I know about your parents. That's why I am here in your room and not in the throne room." The king speaks with authority.

"My lord..." He raises one of his hands, silencing me immediately, walking towards me and standing in front of me.

"I want this to stay between us. The prince doesn't need to know about your parents. Do this, and you will be welcome in this castle," the king continued. Gwendolyn is completely speechless, and if she thought the rumors were false before, she was now beginning to believe they might be true.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I was very young, and I don't remember anything. It was very painful for me," Gwendolyn replied, although this was not the complete story.

"Perfect. Your family will be safe. Otherwise..." The king looked deeply into her eyes before leaving, leaving her terrified. She felt that her life was being used as disposable., crouching down and rubbing Gwendolyn's arm, trying to comfort her.

"You're right, I can't despair. Besides, it might be a misunderstanding," Gwendolyn replied, wiping away her tears.