Hi! I'm back with my second story! I know I haven't quite finished Trampled Hearts yet but I have writers block so I decided to publish this early! Please R&R!

1.1. Prologue 'Start of Something New'

Livin' in my own world

Didn't understand

That anything can happen

When you take a chance

Looking back, I guess is was in my own world. Living in my own personal bubble where nothing could go wrong. I never could've imagined some of the true horrors of the society we live in. Growing up in a palace where every whim is granted, it's kind of hard to imagine how hard people have to work for every little thing that I take for granted.

I never believed in

What I couldn't see

I never opened my heart

To all the possibilities

In my life, my constant companions are pain and exhaustion. For me, happiness was an impossible fairytale; the closest I ever came to it was when I got one of my hours off, which are few and far between.

That morning was typical. I woke up, dressed, made him breakfast, washed the floors and cleaned up the dining room before eating my own breakfast: a slice of toast and a glass of water. By then it was more like lunch, and afterwards, I began to clean the living room and his bedroom.

Suddenly, he came bursting through the front door. I heard him kick off his boots and make his way up the stairs, calling as he came. "Where are you; you worthless little brat!" I had gotten so used to the abuse, that I didn't flinch at his words. Nor his actions; but that doesn't mean the blows didn't hurt.

"I'm up in the bedroom." I call down meekly and listen as his footsteps get steadily louder until he storms into the room with a greedy look on his grubby features. He grabbed my arm and yanked me up so I was at eye level, my feet dangling at least a foot from the floor.

"Go and clean yourself up," he growled, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "There's a market later, and I hear the prince is looking for a new maid. I may even get a good price for a grubby little tramp like you!" He dropped me on the floor and I scrambled up, heading for the bathroom, acting meekly to prevent him coming after me again. Using the bathroom was a rare privilege for me and greatly appreciated at this moment in time. The bruises dotting my body were mostly starting to fade, whilst a new one was blossoming on my upper arm, where he had held me to his eye level. The sores and welts across my back, from when he was either truly displeased with my work or too drunk to be reasoned with, stung as I gingerly lowered myself into the bath water before the soothing sensation of the water dominated the slight stinging. However, I couldn't let myself get lost in the feeling if the first bath in about a week, even if I was awarded the pleasure of lukewarm water in place of the usual ice water, or he'd come looking for me. I shuddered at the thought and quickly began to wash my hair and attempt to clean the grime from my arms and face.

After the best bath I'd had in my lifetime, I stood in my room, wrapped in a towel in front of my wardrobe, flicking through my tattered and torn dresses, trying to find one that was at least half presentable. In the end, I chose my blue winter dress. It was hardly ever worn, so only had a slight rip in the bottom of the skirt and had long sleeves to mask the bruises colouring my arms. As I looked at myself in the mirror, twisting my hair into a loose ponytail, I thought to myself, 'I don't look all that bad…' The dress was loose, drawn in with a simple black sash around the waist, hiding the fact that my ribs were visible, though you could still tell that I was unhealthily skinny by my prominent collarbones, thin legs and bony wrists and fingers, easing my mind that I wasn't conning anyone. It had a rounded neckline which wasn't low cut and the hemline was at my knees.

"Hurry up!" I jumped when his voice bellowed up the stairs at me. I scrambled out of the room after slipping into my worn black pumps and hurried down the stairs. In the likely event that I will come home with him again as no one wishes to buy me, I need to stay on his good side in order to avoid the whip. He'll be mad enough; it'll probably end with a few more bruises and possibly some minor gashes without my being late. I stopped in front of him at the bottom of the stairs, panting slightly. He glanced quickly at my outfit and, deeming it acceptable, proceeded to drag me out the door and down the winding, dusty road to the town square.

As we neared the market place, I noticed the vendors setting up their stalls; fruit, jewellery, herbs, bread… Anything you could possibly imagine was sold at this market. I also noticed the familiar huddle of young girls, the other slaves, with their 'owners' sitting around nearby, drinking. My master shoved me towards the other girls and headed off towards his equally greedy and sadistic companions. I could clearly see that I was the youngest of the slaves and the thinnest too. This gave me some relief, for, though I'm not happy with my own life and desperately wish it was different, I'm glad that no one else had to endure the same horrors I did.

Some time later, the market opened for business; the bulk of the customers heading for the food stalls, a few straying towards the slaves, but not much attention was on us. We took advantage of that and began to stray ourselves, observing the other stalls from a distance. I was drawn to the fountain near enough to where I was supposed to be. I had often seen it in passing when I went for my weekly grocery run but I had never been able to take the time to truly appreciate its beauty. It was simple but its simplicity made it elegant. A simple, circular shape with a fountain in the middle of no extraordinary shape, to me it looked similar to a vase.

From behind me I heard a snarl. "Just what do you think you're doing?" he glared whilst I backed away, searching for words. "What makes you think you can sneak off like that?" With each question he got increasingly angry and I, increasingly afraid.

"I-I…" I stuttered, fumbling for words. "There was no one around so I just thought-" I was cut off by a sharp slap across the face, causing me to stumble back a few steps, clutching my, no doubt, red face. His eyes flashed with anger and I took another few fearful steps backwards.

"You thought since there was no one around, you would try to escape?" My eyes widened in response. Escape? That was far from what I was trying to do!

"N-no! Of course not!" I managed to stutter before his fist once again connected with my jaw. He made as if to grab my hair and I dodged out of his grasp, thankful for my quick instincts, turned on my heel and ran. 'He's going to kill me!' I thought frantically, 'what will I do?' I looked over my shoulder to see him attempting to follow me and my foot caught on a flagstone, sending me sprawling. Landing on my hands and knees, I heard him catch up with me and glanced up to look for an escape route but was rooted to the spot with shock at what I saw.

Staring down at me from his horse with the most mesmerising emerald eyes I had ever seen was the prince. I stared back for a few moments before I came to my senses and tried to run. Unfortunately, my lapse in concentration had allowed my 'owner' to catch up with me. He caught my arm and, in a very transparent voice, called out to all in the vicinity, "There you are! I'm so glad I caught you!" he turned to the prince and continued, "Thank you for stopping her; she was trying to run away from home. How can I ever repay you?" He pretended to think for a moment before continuing. "You were looking for a maid? Perhaps we can solve both problems; I repay you for stopping her and she gets away from home for a while."

The prince looked between me and my master for a while, as if trying to tell the truth from the lies, taking in my master's falsely earnest expression and my wide eyes. Finally he turned to me and asked "Is this true?" I looked between him and my master helplessly. If I told him the truth, I would be sent back home where my master would most likely beat me within an inch of my life, or I could lie and become a palace maid. I hate lying and yet I was terrified of telling the truth and facing my master's wrath. So terrified, that I was speechless. I turned my wide eyes to the prince and willed him to understand that I couldn't answer his question.

"Well?" I winced as my master elbowed me sharply in the side. "The prince asked you a question." I didn't miss the underlying, threatening tone in his voice, and by the way the prince's eyes narrowed, neither did he.

"And I would appreciate it if you allowed her to answer it." He glanced sharply at my master before once again turning to me. "Were you trying to run away from home?"

I stared at my feet as I shifted the dust beneath them. "No." I answered quietly. I looked back up, into the prince's face. "I don't have a home to run away from."

His brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean? Were you running away from this man or not?"

"I'm a slave." His face darkened and he turned to my master, his expression stony.

"A slave?" he repeated; his voice low and deadly. "First of all, you have a young girl as a slave, which is not only morally wrong, but against my parents' law and then you have the audacity to lie to my face and terrify the poor girl to prevent her from informing authorities?"

"Slavery is illegal?" I piped up, my immense confusion evident in both my face and tone.

The prince turned to me, obviously shocked that I didn't even know that, his expression tight, controlled. "How long have you been a slave?"

I thought about it for a while before answering. "As long as I can remember." His hands shook and his jaw clenched. He looked as if he was trying very hard not to hit something.

"Would you like to work as my new maid?" I was taken aback by his question and I screwed up my face in confusion. "A maid mind you." He clarified, directing a glare at my master when he looked like he wanted to intervene, "Not a slave." I nodded my head slowly, almost afraid of my master's (well, ex-master now, I suppose) reaction and of course the fear that this was a dream. He smiled at me and offered me his hand. I regarded it in confusion until, chuckling; he reached for my wrist and helped to pull me onto his horse behind him. He nodded at his two guards before turning his horse towards his home – my new workplace.

As we rode towards the palace, he continued to ask me questions about my life. "Did he abuse you?" "Did he starve you?" All of which, the reply was yes and with each yes he seemed to get a little tenser.

"What is your name?" he asked suddenly. "I just realised I never actually got it."

"It's Kimiko, your Highness." I replied, thinking it unusual to say my name aloud. Ever since I could remember, I was called things such as 'you', 'girl' and 'worthless tramp' but since I was old enough to be able to remember my name if someone asked, to avoid suspicion, I haven't been addressed by my name.

"Raimundo." His voice broke into my reflection.

"I beg your pardon?" I asked, confused.

"Call me Raimundo. Just Raimundo." I smiled to myself.

"Alright…Raimundo."

"How old are you?"

"Sixteen, I think." I could never be sure of my age but I was fairly certain I was sixteen.

"Just a year younger than me." He muttered under his breath.

We rode through the grand front gates of the palace and I gasped at the enormous structure that was to be my new home and workplace and I felt an unfamiliar feeling bubbling in the pit of my stomach. Happiness.

I know

That something has changed

Never felt this way

And right here tonight

This could be the start of something new

It feels so right to be here with you

And now, looking in your eyes

I feel in my heart

The start of something new

Upon reaching the palace after navigating the spacious driveway, I was immediately ushered inside and to the servant's quarters for a bath and a new uniform. I was introduced to the head maid, Keiko, and immediately liked her. She was a year older than me and at least a head taller with straight blonde hair that almost reached her shoulders. She was slender without being unnaturally so, like me and her skin was a healthy peach tone. To say I was slightly envious of her would be true.

She helped me off with my winter dress and into the bath, gasping in horror at my bruises and sores across my back whilst I released a contented sigh as I relaxed into the steamy bath water. When I told Keiko that this was my first ever hot bath she fussed over me and ensured I got extra time to revel in the feeling, almost like the mother or older sister I never had.

I borrowed and took in one of Keiko's spare uniforms until I could find time to make my own and she showed me around the palace. "Now, you will be Raimundo's personal maid so your uniform will be a little different if you even need to wear one, he probably will let you wear any dress, we only really have to wear our uniform at balls or if someone is visiting or a new member of staff arrives." We arrived at the throne room and entered to see Raimundo standing by his parents who sat on their respective thrones, all three immersed in conversation. "Your Majesties." Keiko curtsied and mimicked her, pleased that I managed to do it neatly without toppling over. The royal family turned towards us and scrutinised me, making me rather nervous under their stares but Queen Maria smiled reassuringly at me and King Ricardo nodded, a hint of a smile playing at his lips, pity reflected in both of their eyes.

Queen Maria stood up. "Ah, you must be Miss Kimiko, Raimundo's new maid. He will show you where you will be staying." She smiled at me once again before turning to discuss with Keiko. Raimundo smiled and showed me through a series of long corridors until we came to a rather large one.

"This is the West Wing." He informed me, still smiling. He indicated the large door, "That is my room, and this, is yours." He led me to a smaller door in the corner, and opened the door. I stepped inside and marvelled at the size of the room. It wasn't overtly vast, but still enormous in comparison to my old room. Raimundo, upon seeing my awe struck expression, chuckled again and nudged me farther into the room. "This is the tower." He explained, opening the window and showing me the various things around the room: the wardrobe, sewing materials, bed, desk… But my attention was drawn to the window. It had the most spectacular view of the forest and hills, behind which the sun was just beginning to set.

Raimundo, upon noticing my preoccupation, joined me at the window. "It's beautiful." I breathed, still in awe of the entire experience of the day and slightly afraid that I would wake up in my old room any minute now.

"Yeah, it is." He agreed, smiling softly at the view. "I'll take you out riding tomorrow and you can see the entire grounds. They're no less mesmerising as they are from up here." I smiled at the prospect of tomorrow: a ride around the grounds and a visit to town with Keiko to get some fabric. My life was just beginning, after many years of torture; I was finally starting to live.

I never knew that it could happen

Until it happened to me

I didn't know it before

But now it's easy to see

It's the start of something new

It feels so right to be here with you

And now looking in your eyes

I feel in my heart

That it's the start of something new

It feels so right to be here with you

And now looking in your eyes

I feel in my heart

The start of something new

The start of something new

The start of something new

What do you think? Should I continue?