"The smokes in the mirrors, the lies in your eyes." - Damon. 

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I looked up to at the man who was clapping and then around to the crowd that was gathering. Who were all these spectators? I wonder. 

"You can get of Thomas now, I think you sufficiently hurt and bruised his ego along with his back." The clapping man commanded. 

I got on my feet and heard the man groan before rolling to his side and slowly getting up. With one last glance he looked at me before walking towards one of the man doors. 

"Welcome to the Palace. I am King Arthur, and you have just passed your entrance test." He said. " Now the only reason I welcomed you is because you passed, so don't take this as a sign of my good favor or approval for you." 

I nodded my head in understanding. What was I seriously expecting? 

"Lets head in so that you can meet my son and the Queen." He said. 

We walked with a phalanx of guards right behind us. As we entered into the palace, my eyes were as big as saucepans. The interior was completely breathe taking. A mixture of ancient architecture bought the place to life. I was immediately enveloped in a tapestry of time, where ancient art from the Renaissance era meets modern sophistication. The air was filled with a sense of history, each corner of the palace echoing with the whispers of lives once lived.

I couldn't help but quickly glimpse at the art hanging on the walls. The walls, adorned with masterpieces from centuries past, were like windows into another world. Each painting tells a story, capturing moments of triumph, love, and loss. The artistry on display is a testament to the richness of the palace's heritage. My mind was buzzing. Everything in this palace felt unreal. 

 I look down to my feet, the marble floor gleaming with a polished sheen, reflecting the soft glow of the chandeliers that hang overhead. I could only imagine how hard the cleaners worked here.  Every step we took reverberates with a sense of grandeur, as if you're treading upon the footsteps of kings and queens who once graced these halls. It was hard to imagine how so much beauty came from those whose hearts were as cold as ice. 

As we got deeper into the palace the windows revealed a lush green forest. The scenery outside was a stark contrast to the opulence within, yet somehow, the two worlds seamlessly blend together, creating a sense of harmony and balance. Was this even possible? Was I just enchanted by world I had never step foot in? It was truly impossible to describe. It was if everywhere you turn, there's a sense of timelessness, as if the past and present coexist in perfect harmony. In this palace, history came alive in every brushstroke, every marble column, and every breathtaking view. It's a place where the past meets the present, and where the beauty of the ages is preserved for generations to come.

We finally stopped at a door after walking for what seemed like forever. I was so distracted by everything around me that I hadn't noticed that the phalanx of guards had significantly reduced. 

"Before we go in, I want you to remember that whatever happens in this room is for your eyes only. If you even dare to whisper it to a single soul, we will feed you to the dogs outside. Do I make myself clear?" King Arthur asked. 

I nodded. 

"Good."

Soon he was pushing the heavy doors open. We were motioned to walk in. Now this part of the house was not as breathe-taking as the whole palace had been, but it was somewhat impressive. 

"Hello my queen." King Arthur said reaching out and embracing a petite looking woman. Her eyes were as dark as gemstone and narrow, so it looked like she was sizing one up with one look. 

"Who is the peasant?" She asked throwing me a disapproved look. 

"Our sons new body guard." King Arthur responded. 

"She is even smaller and frail looking than the last one." She stated. "I wonder how long she will last." 

I tried not to respond to that. Who was she to judge me by what I looked like outwardly. 

"Whatever happens there are many of them out there, so she will be easy to replace." He said shamelessly. 

These people were already disgusting me. 

"Damon, come out." She ordered. 

I heard a door open and a man, the prince I suppose walked in. In the dim light of the room, he stood near his mother, with an aura of mystery. His dark features accentuated by the jet-black curls that framed his face. His eyes, reminiscent of his mother's fierce gaze, held a deep concentration that seemed to pierce through the very soul of those who dared to meet his gaze.

I noticed that his brows were knitted together in thought, as if he was contemplating whether I could protect him. Which now, having met the guy made me wonder why he couldn't protect himself. He exuded an air of intensity. However, something else caught my attention. Amidst the shadows of his demeanor, there lay a mark of vulnerability—a scar that traced its path from the end of his cheek down to his earlobe. I wanted to know who or what  dared to tarnish this mans perfectly carved face. He kept looking at me in his stoic silence, and I was unsure of what to do or say. 

"Is she the one?" He spoke. His voice bouncing off the walls. 

"Yep, Kate Winston from the sixth division." The king said.

"Sixth division?" He smirked. "What a piece of work." 

I stared at him. My fire was now lit. 

"And she is mute?" He said walking toward me. "Silent and obedient, I see." 

He was now standing right in front of me, only slightly looking down. We weren't that different in height and for some reason I felt the urge to knock his mouth out of his head. 

"Why that fire in your eyes?" He asked. 

The amount of sarcasm that filled my thoughts evaporated as soon as I opened my mouth. 

"Its nice to meet you." I said taking a small step back. 

"I wish I could say the same but there is no niceness in meeting a peasant like yourself." He said and turned to look at his parents. "Have you explained to her the scope of the work?" 

"Only one paper. But she managed to pass the physical test earlier." King Arthur stated. 

I soon saw the queen walking towards me, her gaze locked into mine. I refuse to show her fear. I refused to let down my gaze. She stopped in front of me and examined my face. Her cold finger lifting my chin, both left and right.

"Not bad." She said. 

Then she picked up my left arm and examined the scar. She added some pressure onto it and I winched. 

"Not a fraud I see." She said. 

"Take her out of here. I think I had enough of her in my sight." The queen said waving her hand dismissively. "Damon tell her what she needs to know." 

"Yes mother." He said, taking her hand and kissing the back of it. 

He walked out and I assume that was my queue to follow him. 

"I am going to give you a list of rules that I hope you can get through your thick skull. 

1. Never ever ask about my scar. I will kill you if you do. 

2. Your life is not important at all, so don't try and save it. 

3. You should never come unless you are called or you sense some danger. 

4. Never be caught snooping around or we will feed you to the dogs 

5. You do as you are told, and don't bother giving suggestions. 

6. Never, ever fall in love with me.

Did you get that?" 

"Yes." I said. 

"Sir." He added. 

"Yes sir." I repeated 

"My mission as king is to keep the peace in the land as it has been apparent until now. Although we have a strict rule on rebellion and disobedience, we still make silent enemies, and those are the ones that we need to look out for the most." He said. 

"How do you know I am not a silent enemy too?" I asked. 

"Did I tell you, you could speak?" He roared. 

Man felt like a kid stuck in a human body. What was up with his temperament? 

"Here is your schedule. Go over it and make sure you do your job well." He said. 

I took the piece of paper from him and felt the thickness that it held. Paging through it quickly I briefly got an overview of what his day entailed. 

"And don't you dare, not show up for work. Remember we know where you live." He said before walking away. 

I had officially concluded that these people were mad. They ruled with fear and preyed on innocent undeserving people. They knew how and when to pull thee strings and make sure you play in their little theater. Like blood sucking leeches, I knew that I was never going to get out of this. My world had been reduced to sacrifice and my life to a mere moth.  I crotched down and let out a whimper. 

Slowly lifting my shirt, I saw the bruise that was now blackening on my stomach. Slowly I looked around for a house staff that could help. In such a big place, I just realized I hadn't seen any of the work people. Were they away? Were they hiding? Should I go looking for them? My fear was alive now. I didn't know which room was ok and which room would sentenced me to death. However there was only one way to find out.