Enchantment of the Miss

Chapter 6

I pressed the doorbell at the gate of the mansion of the Duke of Adaya. He ordered the strawberries I harvested yesterday. He's the second to order this week and I've been receiving orders from other elites. If they continue ordering from me, I might be able to get my roof done just before the rainy days starts.

The gate opened and the guard called me in. I immediately noticed the metal band on his left foot. A slave. It's the same with the first elite who ordered from me, all the servants are slaves. My mouth tasted bitter. I had frequent interactions with Elites this week and one thing is for sure, to them, servants are synonymous to slaves. Slaves are being hunted from towns to be sold to these people.

The pathway to the mansion is cemented while the front lawn is nothing but trimmed Bermuda grass. The Duke's house is a two story box type with the porch and second story balcony looking exactly like each other. Their posts are made of huge columns. Beyond the posts are five doors leading inside the house.

I followed the servant into the porch. He ushered me into the middle door which led to the dining room. The room is a perfect square with a round table in the middle. I saw the duke in front of the table, eating his lunch. Two more female courtesans are serving him.

The duke is a young man, around the age of thirty. His skin is fair and his body is finely built but not as built as Alezzander. He's a handsome man I must say but... I shook away the thought. Why am I comparing them anyway?

"Good morning, sir," I greeted. "I brought the strawberries you ordered."

"Oh thank you," he smiled. He looked at the servant and the servant took the basket from me before going out of the room. "Why don't you join me? Take a seat."

"Thank you sir, but I already ate," I lied of course. I brought a packed lunch but I plan on eating it on my way home. Besides, commoners cannot dine with elites. That's an unwritten law. He's obviously just being polite.

"Then you can eat the apples," he gestured at the basket of apple on the table.

I was about to decline again when he raised his hand. "Please, I insist. At least take one. Just one bite."

I forced a smile. It seems he won't take no for an answer.

"Alright sir," I walked to the table but didn't take a seat. I reached out for the apple on top. It's red and shiny, the kind of apple only elites can afford. I raised it to my mouth and took one bite. The apple's juice immediately filled my mouth as I chewed on it.

There's an earthquake, or so I thought. My strength slowly left me before my world started spinning. The last thing I saw was the duke smiling wickedly at me.

"Good girl," the duke whispered.

I woke up on a soft bed but when I opened my eyes I'm not in Alezzander's castle. This room is a lot smaller. There are no windows and the only door is at the left wall. There's a chandelier hanging from the ceiling and the walls are painted cream.

Where am I this time?

I tried to remember what happened. The duke. Did he drug me? Surely it's not poison since I'm still alive.

I heard noises outside the door before the doorknob turned. I closed my eyes and pretended I'm still asleep. I heard footsteps walk to the bed.

"Why is she still unconscious? It's been an hour," I heard the duke say.

Four hours? I've been asleep for an hour?

"She'll be awake any minute now," I heard a man say. "The drug should have worn off,"

"She should be,"

I felt his hand caress my face. Ugh. Disgusting.

"I want to taste her,"

What? Taste? They're going to cook me?

"Prepare her. I want her to be ready in an hour,"

I heard their footsteps away from the bed. The door opened and closed again. They're gone. I opened my eyes. I don't know what's happening but I know I have to get out of here.

I was about to get out of bed when the door opened. I lied back and closed my eyes. I heard about two men murmuring as they walk to the bed.

"I heard the duke was eyeing for her since she delivered strawberries days ago,"

"Well, she's actually cute,"

Someone raised my left leg. I gulped. Are they going to butcher me now? I slightly opened my eyes to see what's happening. One man is holding my leg while the other is holding a one-inch wide metal anklet, the one meant for slaves.

My eyes widened as I automatically pulled back my leg. I sat up and scooted away from them. Their eyes widened as they turned to me. I immediately reached for the vase on the bed side table and threw it at the man holding the anklet. The vase hit his face but it didn't break. He fell unconscious on the floor. The other recovered from being stunned. He reached for me and held down my feet but I continued struggling. I reached for the knife on my waistband and stabbed his shoulder. He wailed as he fell on the floor.

Darn! I hope no other servant would hear us.

I got out of bed and kneeled beside him. I held the knife at his throat. He froze.

"What does the duke wants?" I asked.

The man stared at me in disbelief but didn't answer. I pushed the knife closer to his throat but not enough to pierce through the skin.

"Answer me!" I scowled.

"U... Uhm. The duke wants to make you his sex slave," he stuttered.

I gasped. I felt weak as fear invaded my system. Slave.

Mama! Papa!

Giselle! Run! Get out of here!

The guard must have felt my fear because he suddenly grabbed the knife. Darn! I pulled all my strength and pounded my closed fist at the back of his head. He immediately fell unconscious. I retrieved the knife and hid it on my waistband.

I took a deep breath. I have to get out of here.

I slowly opened the door. I saw no one at the balcony. It turns out I am in one of the rooms of the second floor. The sun is already going down to the west. Darn! I really was unconscious for an hour.

I sneaked out of the room. Tsk tsk. They're too careless. Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean they can easily keep me here.

I walked confidently through the balcony. I don't want to look suspicious. Where's the stairs anyway? Two girls walked out of the door beside the one I came from. A slave anklet is locked on their left ankles. I smiled at them and slightly bowed. They frowned as if wondering who I am but smiled back anyway. I didn't realize I was holding my breath until I walked past them.

I sighed.

How am I supposed to sneak out of this mansion? The door must be guarded and the gate... darn!

I heard a door open and I immediately know it was the room I came from.

"Hey stop!"

"Call the guards!"

I automatically started running. I followed the balcony as it turned to the left. I can hear the guards closing in behind but I didn't stop running. I froze when I saw the balcony ended.

Darn! The stairs must have been at the other side.

I turned to my left. A huge double door is beside me.

"Stop!" the guard called behind me.

Without a second thought, I opened the door and immediately ran inside. Err... wrong move. I froze when I saw the Duke smile deviously at me.