Sally started ahead too, even as she stilled talked. "That's the Rose?"
"That's the Rose."
"Oh, it's so beautiful, my princess!" She skidded aside and gently plucked the flowers out. Two long beautiful and fresh looking Rose flowers.
She perforated her hair with the piece of flower and clicked up at Danika with a smile. "How do I look, my princess!?"
With the flower stuck in one side of her black hair, Sally looked more beautiful...more child-like. "You look beautiful, Sally."
She flushed under the compliment. Then, she started closer to Danika and placed the remaining flower on her hair. "There. You look so beautiful."
"Thank you." Danika said to her with a smile.
Then, they continued their journey to the village. They went in search of a library.
The people frowned and murmured whenever they see Danika, but they smile and wave at Sally who smiles and waves right back.
Used to the antagonism, Danika just bows her head slightly to any elder she passes and continues her journey anyway.
It took so much time before they were able to locate an old library downtown. They entered and walked to the counter.
Sally talked with the library worker, got a card and paid some coins. Then, they went through the shelves.
Danika went through each pages of books with so much happiness on her face. Tears prickled her eyes because these books reminded her of a life that once was hers.
Sally doesn't understand a thing and wasn't really a lover of books but it doesn't matter. She's so used to making her princess's happy. Being happy from her princess's happiness.
Danika read to her and tried to each her new words and how to write. They spent so much time in the library.
By the time they got out, sun was almost down. They heard about a festival at the other side of town and Sally dragged her to it.
They watched people dance and celebrate. Happiness everywhere. The loud shout of children singing and dancing. It was a very beautiful night.
Danika slept with a smile on her face.
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On the third day after her torture session, she was feeling way better. The pain in her back reduced too.
While she took her bath, Sally prepared to go to the mines. Sally already complained that the slave trainer keeps asking her about her princess.
"I don't understand his interest in you, my princess and it makes me so scared. He is so dangerous!." She'd confided on her.
It scared Danika too, but she didn't allow herself to dwell on it. If there's one thing she has learnt to do since she became a slave, it is to live one day at a time.
She was done bathing and dressing up, when Baski entered and redressed her wound.
Danika noticed that the woman was more on edge than usual. After she redressed her wound, she asked her what the problem is.
When she went so long without saying anything, Danika gave up that she'll answer. But then, she did.
"It's Remeta. She's refused eating for days now. She does it some times but these days just gets worse.... It's been three days." Her voice cracked in the end.
A wave of guilt filled Danika. The same fifteen year old girl her father brutalized. "I'm sorry."
Baski got up, "It doesn't matter. She'll get over it, she always does. Make sure to take your pills after eating."
"Alright, ma'am.
"The king is going to the Royal Court but he will request for your presence in seven round turns of the long pointer. I would have come get you, but I'll be staying home with Remeta today. I already informed the king."
Seven round turns of the long pointer means in seven hours.
Danika could almost swear that the woman looked sad as she informed her of this. Almost too sad. Why?
She nodded again anyway. "Alright, Madam Baski."
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