The Masked prince
Chapter 39: A Mistake

Hannah stiffened when she heard the voice. It belonged to Henry. She was sure. She only came out of her trance when Evelyn nudged her slightly and from her side, she heard Ami and Miri giggles.

"Th...thank you."

She whispered as she took the plate which had already cut veggies from his hands.

"It’s alright. Everyone should help each other."

Henry said calmly.

Seeing his serious expression and hearing his righteous words, Hannah felt as if she had the dirtiest mind in the world.

She couldn’t even speak so she only nodded her head while Henry asked Martha if he and his men could help with anything else.

However, all the veggies were cut so their work was finished.

Martha told them that they could leave.

Hannah was disappointed to see Henry leaving while Ami rolled her eyes seeing her expression.

"Look at your face...a love struck fool if most disgusting!"

"You were the same one day."

Hannah said in retort and made a face when she heard Ami’s mocking words. Ami seemed to have to say something in return but Martha’s one glare had both the girl shut their mouth.

Evelyn was in the process of cooking the last dish when Elias came looking for her and said

"His Highness is calling for you."

Martha heard Elias and didn’t dare to make Evelyn stay. She asked Evelyn what all was needed to be done. After she remembered it carefully, she sent Evelyn with Elias.

"Evelyn, did you cook something again?"

Elias asked Evelyn on their way. Just now, the aroma he took in made his stomach growl with hunger.

Evelyn nodded her head in yes at the question and said

"I will save it for you as well."

Elias grinned when he heard this. But he suddenly seem to remember something and said

"Give it to me secretly."

"Huh?"

Evelyn was confused at his words but she couldn’t ask him anymore as they had already reached the grounds and the prince seemed to be waiting for her.

So she first approached the prince and soon heard him ask

"Where were you?"

"Inside the kitchen, Your Highness."

Regan’s face didn’t look good at the answer. He understood that she must be helping others inside the kitchen.

This girl...she doesn’t understand the meaning of one word ’rest’.

Looking at her all sweaty forehead, he clicked his tongue and said

"Did I not ask everyone to have rest until the lunch comes? Does that not include you?"

His voice was cold when he talked and it sounded harsh. Evelyn was slightly startled by his words.

She lowered her head and went silent all off a sudden before she apologized.

"I apologize, Your Highness. There were slightly more people to cook for today. The kitchen needed help so I thought that I should help since I was free."

There was a crack in Regan’s expression as he suddenly seemed to remember there were only three maids in the kitchen to help the head maid. He did have read this information in the castle’s detailed accounts.

He and Rex, both didn’t seem to remember it at all and ordered that the all the men were to have lunch in the castle only.

His cold eyes went to Rex who had actually ordered it.

Rex had been actually looking towards his brother. From afar he could tell that his brother was scolding Evelyn, He sympathized with Evelyn but at the same time, he imagined how his brother must be scolding Evelyn.

"Where were you? How dare you disappear from my eyes! Don’t you know that I can’t breathe if I don’t see you for a few moments?"

While the sensible Evelyn would apologize to his cold brother.

Rex giggled at his thoughts but stopped suddenly when he felt his brother’s cold eyes on him.

It couldn’t be that...he could hear his thoughts. Rex, being the victim of the cold eyes so suddenly, wondered silently.

He was not afraid...just confused.

So he stood up and walked to them.

When he approached them, he seem to realize what happened.

"Is everything alright in the kitchen? I will order some people to go there and help them."

Rex heard Regan say to Evelyn and he immediately closed his eyes as he realized his folly.

He forgot that the maids inside the kitchen were not enough to make the meal for so many people.

His eyes went to the men who were waiting for lunch and his expression grew serious. If he would have to send them back, it would be very embarrassing for the castle.

However, his expression relaxed when he heard Evelyn say

"Everything is in the hands, Your Highness. The meal is almost ready. Should I go and bring it here?"

Regan looked at the girl who was ready to run back again quite coldly. Evelyn immediately shut her mouth like a child who had done something wrong.

"Elias will go and bring the meal here with the maids’ help. You go and rest under the shed."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Evelyn quietly walked to the shed.

As soon as she was under the shed, the cold air gave relief to her sweaty body.

"When will the lunch come? My stomach is growling with hunger."

She heard a man groaning while saying these words.

Others looked no different from him. Evelyn felt bad for them as she knew very well how it felt when one felt hungry.

So she couldn’t help but assure them.

"Brother, the lunch will be here soon."

She had seen Elias leaving just now after her master said something to him. He must have gone to bring the meal here.

The men looked at her when they heard her words.

"Sister...are you His Highness’ slave?"

One of the men finally dared to ask. Almost all of them had noticed the black band on Evelyn’s wrist. They were actually surprised when the prince let a woman practice by their side.

They had wondered who she was but they didn’t dare to ask. Now that Evelyn had initiated the conversation, a few of them finally dared to talk to her.

However, when they heard what their friend ask Evelyn, they licked their tongue in disapproval.

Who asks someone such a question so directly?

Perhaps the man also seemed to realize his mistake and looked guilty but Evelyn looked calm as she replied

"Yes, I am a slave. His Highness bought me only a few days back."

There was slight awkwardness in the air when Evelyn said these words so calmly. Perhaps she didn’t realize but she talked as if she was just a commodity that could be bought or sold.

Mazic never had the slave system.

Their last ruler, Princess Regina even before marrying King Derrick had put this condition before him that she would rule Mazic even after her marriage according to her wish.

And their princess never let this horrible system enter her city.

In her eyes, every person was their own owner and no one had the right to buy or sell him... not even the parents who birthed him.

Looking at the calm young girl, who said these words so calmly, the men could not help but feel sad for her inside their hearts.