Linda sat across the long dining table that seems to have almost like a vanishing point to its perspective. She wasn't the only maiden who sat on the dining table, she was also attended by the rest of the slaves that just seems to love chattering all about and could never keep shut.

She sat on the table quietly, her nervous fingers drumming on her laps due to the stress she was in. Her long hair was neatly hung in a ponytail that Abriana had helped her with. She woke up to find out that Abriana had gone back to Midian and won't be coming back until sunset. With this new news, Linda felt she couldn't live without Abriana for a day considering she had just know Abriana for just 24 hours.

She hadn't heard of Uria since she saw Abriana which made her wonder where the silly shadow would have flown to. Her consciousness wasn't settled.

The titillation sound of the glass cup alerted her of the presence of Richard.

In some sort of way, he appeared a little too settled like he had everything under control. On the other hand, he hadn't bothered her about working anymore. She was scheduled to work only on Thursdays. Just not appealing to others, her tasks were always different from others.

This hasn't been left unnoticed by other slaves as some of the gossips about her behind closed doors. Unknown to them, nothing was left unheard in the villa.

"You humans don't just know how to shut your ugly mouths." Insulted Richard with a frown balanced on his lips.

The hall went silent just hearing the sound of his dark- commanding voice spewed with disgust.

Richard continued. "Do you know why you are here, anyway?"

Silence.

"Fools. You humans have no brains. Ugly as you all can get."

"Could you stop insulting them? You have no right to say all those." A female voice obstructed.

All eyes turned to stare at Breth's figure that looked ghostly pale. She had her eyeless hole intact with her brownish dark hair.

She glared at Richard, turning around to face the maidens and spoke.

"You all look drilled out of food. You are here to eat to your satisfaction." Breth's smile didn't look satisfying to the maidens. She had an evil agenda under her skin.

"Come on. I know you guys must be hungry since you've been working your ass under the scorching sun.

"Where're our guardians?" One of the maids had the audacity to talk. Everyone snapped their eyes to look at the 'courageous' girl. She was a blonde with blue eyes, skinny bones with a skimpy statue.

"They are out for a walk. They'll back by sunset."

It looks like all the slaves are constantly starting to get attached to their guardians, thought Breth.

"Let's start with sweetened corn." Breth smiled, showcasing her rotten teeth. Almost all the slaves cringed. She opened the tray that held the sweetened corn in large quantity. She turned to meet eyes with Richard who nodded and walked away.

The small act wasn't unnoticed by Linda who quickly looked away so she won't get noticed.

The sweet smell of sweetened corn and chicken breast filled the air, romanticizing the stomach of the maidens. Their mouth watered at the sight just wanting to devour the food immediately.

Close by, Linda observed Breth. She didn't look like she wanted to be here. The confused girl couldn't just read the emotion displayed by Breth who looked somewhat suspicious with how she kept eying the food.

Stretch, Linda got her own piece of her chicken breast and sweetened corn. Indeed, it looked attractive and delicious.

Moans filled the air with just one taste of the meal. They all seemed to be enjoying the meal that was sweetly cooked by Goith, the male chef.

Linda waited for several minutes watching the face of the maidens for any sign of discomfort with the food.

Still staring at the slaves as they ate, Breth locked eyes with Linda. She noticed she hadn't taken a bite of the food yet. Her blood boiled with anger steamed with frustration.

"Aren't you hungry little one?"

Her voice sounded stressed out. Her first meeting with Linda wasn't nice and the main reason for her staying here wasn't acceptable either to Breth.

Linda quickly looked away and shook her head, trying to look convincing.

There must be no way Breth could be nice to her in such a manner. Death markers weren't nice. Breth wasn't an exception.

Several minutes had passed and still, nothing seems to show up with the maids.

Was I wrong? Linda thought to herself.

She picked up her fork and injected a piece of meat into her mouth. The sweet feast melted on her taste buds. It was indeed appealing. The juicy meat was cut through again as she brought it to her mouth, devouring it bit by bit.

Breth stared at Linda with a long widened expression. Her eyes slowly narrowing in, she glances back to see all the maidens who were enjoying their meal heartedly. It shocked to get to the core.

How could it be? She asked herself, glancing back at Linda who was now eying the sweetened corn in front of her.

"Very well. I must take my leave now." Breth's dragged voice ruffled through the air. She spun on her heels and walked across the room where Richard stood, waiting for her to arrive.

"The plan? What went wrong?" She asked, her voice only adding more fuel to her anger. She had planned everything smartly like the back of her fingers. She was crafty too with her thinking.

"Didn't you add the spice I gave to you?" She voiced out quietly biting her chapped lips.

" I asked Goith to put it in. I'm afraid the question you asked may not be for me."

That morning, after breakfast was eaten, Breth decided to take a stroll in to the kitchen where maidens were thoroughly washing the dishes. At the left-hand side of the kitchen, Goith stood there in all his bulky form watching the maidens do their work. Sometimes, he communicated with them. A little conversation here and there to catch up with the running mouth of the slaves. He wasn't the bad guy you thought he is. Actually, he was the friendliest young male chef.

"Get out everyone!" Breth's voice was ridiculously calm but yet to its little edge, you could sense the tautness towards the tongue. Her mood wasn't to be joked with.

The words as soon as it was out of her lips, the maidens scumbled out of the kitchen, trying as possible not to anger the death marker.

Maidens out, A loud stinging slap that would, just saying would remain on Goith's face for some few hours. Her fingerprints were almost shown on the face of Goith.

"You fucking piece of shit!' Breth cursed loudly.

"You couldn't do just one simple task, could you?" Breth's hysterically questioned.

Goith gulped loudly, stunned by the slap across the cheek. He couldn't believe what just happened. In his years of serving in the villa, no one had dared slapped or insulted him before. Breth was the first to cross the limit.

"I'm talking to you." Impatiently screamed Breth.

"I'm sorry ma'am." Goith coughed out. "But I am just a simple man who wouldn't go beyond what's said. As instructed, I added the spice into the food. I have no intentions aside from that, m'lady." Politely answered Goith with unprecedented manners.

Breth looked downcast as she strolled around the kitchen still pondering in the matter.

"You sure you aren't lying?" She asked confusedly. Goith shook his head kneading his jaw.

If Goith successfully added the spice, then why didn't the spice take its effect? Breth asked herself in thoughts.

Why didn't it kill Synn's Bride?

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Summarization

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