Chapter Text
Zaryana wakes up early as always, breakfast is already in full swing when the family's servant Mina, who is old but very lively, enters the kitchen.
- Miss, why do you always do this? That's my job, stop it and go to the garden for some fresh vegetables.
-Mina, you are the least important to me here, I like to cook, so until then, sit down and drink some hot nettle tea.
Mina sat down at the table with a sigh and watched in amazement as the young girl scalded the nettle leaves that she had picked herself.
- You know, Zary, I still don't understand why you didn't marry Mr. Nikoli.
- Mina, you also know that he loves Irina. I wouldn't have been able to stand among them even if my father had wanted it.
- Yes, but you are a servant in your own house, my child!
- Not for long, I only waited so long because of you, but in a few weeks you will retire and I will take a job at the Great Palace.
- Damir won't let him.
The woman looked at the old woman and smiled softly.
- I wrote to Irina, she replied that Nikolai was talking to the king. I will serve him there as a lady-in-waiting!
Mina almost knocked the table over as she ran towards her.
- That's great, I was worried about what would happen to you here without me, but this way I'll be calmer, because you know you'll be safe from them.
A shrill laugh from the doorway caught the attention of both women.
Merima stood in the doorway, resting her hand on the doorframe, looking mockingly at the two hugging figures.
- Very impressive, but our breakfast is late. Mina, you are not paid to have tea here, but to serve the Zinteros family.
- I do, ma'am, the girl is a member of the Zinteros family and the first parent of Velid Zinteros and Armina Bozovis.
- I don't want to hear that woman's name again! She gave her life to a bastard child, who also killed her in childbirth.
- We apologize, Mrs. Merima, we are already bringing breakfast.
- I miss you, Zaryana!
With that momentum, he turned the corner and hurried away.
Her honey blonde hair just fluttered around her.
He might look like an angel on the outside, but he was evil on the inside. Not a drop of kindness radiated from his ice blue eyes.
Zaryana was the complete opposite, no one would have believed that they were relatives.
Armina and Merima were sisters.
After the death of his mother, Damir threatened Merima, who has hated him since the day she was born, killing Armina.
- Your mother was a beautiful woman, kind, smart, brave and a true warrior.
You look a lot like him, little bug.
-Tell me more about it, Mina.
The little girl looked up at the woman pleadingly with her big brown eyes.
Mina put the little girl on her lap and told her the whole story as if it were an old fairy tale.
- Once upon a time there lived a young girl Armina. Armina was beautiful. Her hair is black as night. His eyes are as blue as the ocean. One day a young man falls in love with her. The man sent her flowers with a small letter every day.
Moja zwijezda wrote to him.
Star means mother.
They planned the wedding and were very happy as they were waiting for the birth of their child together.
However, a terrible fire incident occurred and the man lost his life.
The girl was left alone with a child in her heart.
-Then what happened to Mina?
- The man's brother scared the girl, baby.
-Then were they finally happy?
- Yes, you can say yes, but complications occurred during the birth. Armina died in childbirth.
- Why did Mami die?
- Didn't my little one fight for you to the end, you have to do the same, promise to fight?
-Yes, I promise.
During breakfast, Zaryana stood quietly by the table like a servant.
He accepted his role in the family a long time ago
He remembers the old tale that Mina told him. At the time, he didn't understand what the story actually meant.
He told her the terrible reality, but she was still little then.
As he grew up, he understood the importance of everything.
His real parents are dead.
His father was Velid, Demir's brother.
His mother is Armina Bozovis.
Both families are of noble blood and born of powerful Grisás.
Zaryana alone had no skills.
If he had special powers like the rest of the family, maybe I would like him.
Zaryana, we should talk after breakfast. Come to my office.
- Yes, Mr. Demir!
- Good, you can go now. Help in the kitchen!
The girl was happy to help the staff, they were kind to her and always told some funny story.
When he was dead, he tidied himself up as much as possible.
He doesn't want to appear unseemly in front of his father.
She combed her hair neatly and put on a clean bandage.
He learned that his father should not see him as too beautiful because he does things that are better to explain.
He knocks on the light gray door with a heavy heart.
-Come in!
-Good day sir!
-Sit down! I have a talk with you!
Zaryana quietly sat down on a shabby chair. The servants had to sit in it.
- You are useless, Zaryana, you have no skills. You are good for nothing!
- Dad, I'm sorry, I'm very sorry!
-Your regret is useless, just like you!
Merima and I decided it was time for you to get to work.
- To work? Where should I go anyway?
Zaryana's heart beats violently in her chest, her face is impassive, yet for the first time in years she feels hope that she can be away from her family.
-You will work in the little Palace as a servant.
Pain flashed across his face for a second.
- Yes, Dad!
- Don't call me that! I am Mr. Zinteros for you!
- I don't know anyone else, father, but you!
-Shut up, you old whore!
You know what I can do! Or do you want to be punished again?
-No! I'm sorry sir!
There was a sick glint in the man's eyes, but he pulled himself together. It's not the right time to be dealing with things like this when they're coming for her within hours.
Damir feels a sick attraction towards his niece.
She inherited her beauty from her mother.
Sweet Armina, your daughter is perhaps even more beautiful than she was.
His manhood hardened in his pants.
Maybe you can enjoy her charms for the last time. From then on, she will be exposed to the desires of men.
She knows this too, she saw it in his eyes.
-You know what will happen in the Little Palace with girls like you, right?
- I know, Mr. Zinteros!
- Do you also know that they won't be as nice as I am with you now?
She nodded weakly.
- In the palace, they know you are a dirty servant girl who we caught stealing. Since your beauty is breathtaking, you offer your services as a maid and concubine if they wish, of course.
The man laughed evilly.
-Of course he could resist you?
Zaryana cried silently, her tears flowed, the man gently wiped her face.
-Don't cry you fool, I know you enjoy the suffering you cause me!
- No, I didn't want this.
-And I bet if you touch me now, you'll be wet or down.
He shook his head violently, squeezing his eyes so hard that he could see black spots.
His hand carefully slid down her stomach, but a knock stopped her.
He walked nervously to the door. He would like to finish what he started.
- What do you want Mina?
- They came for the girl, sir!
-Tell them a few minutes and you'll be ready.
A red-haired girl stepped forward with a couple of soldiers by her side.
- We don't have time! We're taking it with us now. We collected her things.
- We were talking about that, they'll come for him later.
- The plan is changing.
A tender look towards the young woman.
- Come on, let's go.
Zaryana walked quickly beside the soldiers.
- Goodbye Mr. Damir! I salute your wife, I hope we never meet again. No matter what life holds for me, it can only be better with you.
Without waiting for an answer, he set off, followed by the soldiers.
Zsenya looked at the receding female figure with admiration.
Her dark brown hair fluttered in the air.
This girl is not a thief, but she is not even a maid.
Something more and he will find out.
As the general's brother, he has certain advantages that he sometimes likes to assert.