In the blink of an eye, a week slipped away, and Anna found herself navigating the castle's corridors without a hitch. Life as the assistant maid to the princess had settled into a comfortable rhythm, devoid of any significant conflict, just how she preferred it.
Avoiding the king was easy. He knew his wife threatened Anna, even if she never said it out loud, and only talked to her when his wife was not around. When she was present, he acted indifferent.
Within the walls of the castle, whispers of scandal echoed louder than ever. Anna quickly discovered that the three princes had earned a disreputable fame across the kingdom. The rumors were all too true: these men were nothing short of perverts, with a record number of illegitimate children born to maids and servants within the castle. Each child was immediately sent away with his mother, often with a handful of coins, while a few remained
On the second day of her service, Anna encountered the second prince, Charles. With his long black hair laced with streaks of white and a smile that could melt the coldest of hearts, he was undoubtedly the most handsome of the late king's sons, also an irresistible figure among the maids. Yet, as he approached her, confidence radiating from his charming demeanor, Anna maintained her composure. His attempts to charm her with flattering words and grand promises rolled off her like water off a duck's back. She had heard the rumors and knew better than to fall prey to his charms.
The fear of being forced into a situation she didn't want loomed heavily in her mind. After all, he was a prince, and men like him rarely faced consequences for their immoral actions. But Anna was determined to keep her distance, knowing that some charms were simply traps waiting to trap her.
Day after day, Charles tried to talk with Anna but she completely ignored him which was a first for him. Anna had once told him that she would rather be killed and hung for public displays than to sleep with him and these words hurt him so much that he began plotting to take her out of the castle.
So much for not experiencing any notable drama, isn't it? But knowing who his brothers were, the King always had Anna's back, he is the most reasonable of all the late King's sons, and currently the most stressed.
Anna always wondered what he did, he left the castle by day and sometimes didn't return till sunset, and he always looked half dead. The weight of the entire kingdom was on his shoulders and he certainly couldn't share them with anyone else, or perhaps he chose not to.
Today, an air of excitement filled the castle as preparations for an occasion unfolded. Everywhere Anna looked, there was a whirlwind of activity, cooks stirring pots in the kitchen, servants hauling crates of wine to the grand dining hall, and attendants fussing over the princesses and the Queen. Yet amidst all the bustle, Anna couldn't shake her curiosity about the reason behind it all.
"What is happening today?" she finally managed to ask the maid who had been her companion since she arrived earlier in the week. They were in the little Princess's room, attempting to fix her scattered hair, but the child was lost in her own world of distractions.
"Oh! Sometimes I forget you're new here," the maid responded with a warm smile as she chased after the mischievous little girl.
"We're preparing for the demigods' arrival!"
Anna's eyes widened, surprise washing over her as she watched the maid dart after the cub that had sneaked into the room through an open window.
"Demigod?" Anna whispered.
"Who is he?" she asked, her voice barely audible over the chaos.
"Who? The demigods?" The maid paused in her pursuit, turning to Anna.
"How do you not know who the demigods are? Aren't you from around here?" Finally catching up to the playful princess, she swiftly began to braid her hair while Clarion giggled on the floor.
"I am," Anna replied, shrugging her shoulders,
"But I honestly don't know anything about him, likely because…"
"I don't need to hear your excuses," the maid interrupted, still grinning.
"Let me tell you about him so you can share in the terror we all feel. You were just a child during the first tumultuous days, weren't you?"
"What happened?" Anna's voice brimmed with intrigue as she leaned closer, hopeful to unravel the mystery.
The maid continued, her hands expertly weaving through the little princess's hair as the tale unfolded.
"Years ago, he was the stuff of nightmares, a true terror. He demanded the late King hand over his daughter for marriage, hoping for sons. But after she bore him no children, he became enraged."
Anna's heart raced at the tale.
"What did the King do?"
"To appease him," the maid replied, her tone somber,
"The King offered his second daughter against her will. Tragically, the demigod killed her after she provided him with a daughter, angry that his desires had still gone unfulfilled."
"Then what?"
"The demigod's wrath fell upon the villagers. He summoned furious storms that ravaged the land, claiming the lives of countless souls and leaving many homes in ruins. And as if that weren't enough, he unleashed plagues that wiped out the animals and swarms of locusts that destroyed entire crops."
Pausing for a moment, the maid finished the braid and began a second one.
"Some say the King struck a deal to keep him at bay, but it's anyone's guess. He visits the castle every two months now, a troubling reminder of his power."
Anna's heart felt heavy as she pondered on the dark legacy of this demigod.
"Do you know what he looks like?" she asked.
"Handsome," the maid said, a hint of a shudder in her voice.
"Too handsome, in fact. You'll see him for yourself today. He should be here in an hour or two."