Chapter 5 Introduction to a New Life

~Cecile's POV~

We had been in another van for what felt like an hour after the plane or helicopter ride. I wasn't sure which it was but I was leaning towards the latter because of how close the noise had felt to my ears. The so called Mr. X was beside me on some call in a language that I couldn't understand. I didn't know where we were or where we were headed to because of the blindfold that was still obstructing my eye sight.

"Why have we stopped?"

I heard him ask who I was assuming was the driver of the car that we were in. The driver responded to him rapidly in a language that I still could not understand.

"I told him that we were coming in today"

The driver said something again and there was a back and forth between Mr. X and the driver. It seemed like they were arguing about something. I wished I could take advantage of his distracted state and get myself out of his hold but it was practically impossible because of the bindings on my hands.

"We're getting down here, Princess"

That was what reached my ears before I was pulled by my hands to get down from the car. I was stopped from moving forward by his hand on my shoulder which kept me pinned in one position. I could hear chattering around and I turned my head back and forth while I whimpered through the cloth in my mouth, hoping to get at least the attention of one person.

"Whatever you're trying to do, it's not going to work"

He said to me in a mocking tone before I heard the screeching of tires which I could tell was from a car stopping before us.

"Your carriage is here, Princess"

If I didn't hear that term for the next 5 years, it was going to be way too close. Hearing him address me as such constantly made me want to block my ears with as much wax as I could get my hands on. It was the definition of irritating. He pulled me again towards the car and helped me inside. I noticed that the seats of the new car was better than all the ones that I had been forced into. It was softer and the car smelled really nice.

"To the castle, please"

Did I really just hear him say castle? Was I going to be working as a maid or something to pay off my fathers debt? Back in the mansion, when my father was not home, I usually ventured into the kitchens and followed the maids as they worked in the house. I was good with cooking and cleaning even though my father never really allowed me lift a finger because he saw those petty chores as something that was to be left for those below our station. If I was really going to be working as a maid in the castle, then, it was a good thing that I had all those skills under my belt.

"The back gate is to be used. I have clearance for that"

I knew that we had been in the air on either a helicopter or a plane. With the way he was speaking, I doubted we were still in Russia. If I were to factor in the fact that he was speaking about using the back gate to access a castle where we were being waited upon, I would wager that we were in an aristocratic society like England. The only reason I knew about aristocracy and the places they were used was because my father made sure that I was well educated though I was homeschooled.

"We're here, Princess"

Finally after a while, the car stopped and I steeled myself as I waited for him to pull me out of the car as usual. Honestly, I was done fighting because all it did was take away the little strength that I had. All the fights that I put up were of no use because my eye sight was impeded by the blindfold. The moment I was let go however, I was going to hightail it out of there faster with a speed that made a headless chicken look like a snail.

"Good evening to you too, Martin"Good evening? Just how long had we been traveling that it was already evening? Last I checked, it was morning. I mean, I believe it was morning when I woke up in that strange room and was met with the man that was still holding onto me so tightly like I was going to run away if he didn't hold me. A door was opened and we walked through, my steps tentative because as usual, I couldn't see a thing.

"Hello, Leah"

I heard the sounds of people kissing and it made me want to retch in my mouth. I was very familiar with the sounds of kissing all thanks to Ava who took me along on her adventures to the servant quarters to meet with her boyfriend who was a guard. Because of my having to watch while they met with each other in dark conclaves and dimly lit corridors, I had heard a lot of things that I really wished to plunge out of my mind.

"Have they started already?"

He asked when the sounds of kissing finally stopped after what felt like ages. Whatever response he got had him letting out a deep breath. I wasn't getting a very good feeling about what he was talking about because though I didn't have anything to go by, I was sure that I was involved in what he was asking for. All signs were pointing towards it being something that I was going to not be so happy being a part of but I couldn't tell what it was going to be. I didn't even have an inkling and that was so frustrating.

"Is this her?"

I felt fingers stroke my cheeks softly and my breath caught in my throat.

"She's beautiful"

Fingers continued their perusal and moved down my body to my breasts. The hand rubbed my breast through my shirt and I took a step back to get out of their hold. My step backward was disturbed by someone standing behind me and a chuckle filled the air.

"She's a shy one"I heard Mr. X say something to the person he called Leah.

"Her hair is too bold. Should we cut it and perhaps bleach it?"

My hair was dragged backwards to reveal my neck even better. I shuddered when I felt someone invade my personal bubble and bring their nose to my neck.

"She needs a bath and some scrubbing. Perhaps some makeup to hide the circles under her eyes as well"

I didn't like the way they were talking about me like I wasn't even there in the first place but there was nothing I could do. I used to think that being under my fathers thumb left me helpless but I just didn't know how helpless I could be until that Mr. X got his hands on me.

"Do whatever you have to do to get her ready for them. They should be expecting her soon"

I heard Mr. X say before I was pulled towards another direction from the one we came in.

"And Princess..."

The person that was holding onto me stopped and I was forced to stop as well.

"Make your father proud"

With those words left in the air, I was pulled again in the direction from before with my mind racing in different directions. What did he mean that I was to make my father proud?