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Chapter 6 - What is Your name?

The steward, Lark, brought me a few cleaning supplies and some vegetables. He said that was all the trinkets could afford. I cradled the bundle in my arms as I pushed open the heavy wooden door to the kitchen in the Prince's Quarters. The room was dimly lit, with only a small window allowing a thin shaft of sunlight to filter through. Dust motes danced in the beam, highlighting the neglect that had overtaken the once bustling room.

Setting down the cleaning supplies, I surveyed the kitchen. Pots and pans were strewn about, and a thick layer of grime coated every surface. With a deep breath, I rolled up my sleeves and set to work. The first task was to scrub the counters and wash the dishes that had been left to rot. It was hard work, but it felt good to bring some order to the chaos.

As I worked, my mind wandered to Prince Rowan. I had only glimpsed him briefly, but his haunted eyes and disheveled appearance had struck a chord in me. What had happened to this man who had once been a beloved prince? From what I could remember about him, he was the Crown Prince, heir to his father's Alpha King throne. He was beloved. He was a strong werewolf and the leader of his father's armies. Why had his family abandoned him? Why did he get deposed?

After what felt like hours, the kitchen was finally clean enough to use. I took the few potatoes and vegetables Lark had given me and began to prepare a hearty soup. Lark said the Prince was on a liquid diet, but I had a feeling he might enjoy something more than that.

With the soup gently bubbling on the stove, I moved on to my next task. The storeroom was cluttered with old furniture and forgotten belongings. As I carefully arranged Lady Isabelle's luggage that I came with inside the store room, I decided to go through some of them to find anything valuable. Lark mentioned that we would have to pay for all that we needed, which meant that we would need money. I could not leave the Prince's quarters so I had to find something else to sell to him.

I found some more gold bangles and a few necklaces. It was odd because I remember Lady Isabelle having a really impressive jewelry collection, perhaps she didn't want to bring her jewelry to such a place. They were clearly valuable, and I knew they would fetch a good price. I gathered them up, hiding them in a secret spot to sell to Lark later. Every coin would help, and I had a feeling that Prince Rowan needed more than just a clean room and a hot meal.

With the storeroom tidied and my secret stash secured, I returned to Prince Rowan's chambers. He lay on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. He didn't seem to do much talking, or much of anything. I approached him slowly, not wanting to startle him.

"Your Highness," I said softly, "I would like to help you get cleaned up."

Prince Rowan's eyes flickered towards me, a mix of anger and resignation in his gaze. "No," he said firmly. "I want you to leave. I told you to leave here. There's no need for you to stay here."

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation I knew was coming. "I won't leave," I replied, my voice steady. "Even if I wanted to, I have nowhere else to go. And I promised to serve you faithfully. Please, let me help you."

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might order me out again. But then his shoulders slumped, and he looked away. "Why do you even bother?" he muttered. "You can find a way to escape. You don't have to stay here. You're not even the wife they got for me so there is no obligation for you to be here. My own family abandoned me. You should do the same."

I shook my head adamantly. "I won't abandon you, Your Highness," I said softly. "I don't know what you did, or why your family left you, but as long as I am here, I won't leave. Let me help you."

He didn't respond, but he didn't push me away either. Taking his silence as consent, I began stripping the dirty sheets from his bed. They were stained and threadbare, and I knew it would take several washes to get them clean. As I worked, Prince Rowan watched me with a wary expression.

"I won't judge you for leaving me. Do you know that? You have no obligation to stay."

I shook my head obstinately.

"I'm not leaving." I simply answered him.

His gaze faltered, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something – hope, perhaps, or gratitude. But it was quickly replaced by a mask of indifference.

I sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. "If I may ask, what happened, Your Highness? Why were you deposed and rejected?"

His eyes darkened, and he turned his head away. "It doesn't matter," he repeated. "Just... don't ask."

I nodded, respecting his wish for now. "Alright," I said gently. "But please, let me give you a bath. When was the last time you had one?"

He let out a snort. "I can't remember," he admitted. "It's been too long."

"Who took care of you before?" I asked, curious about his past.

"Lark," he said after a moment. "He did what he could, but... he never really  bothered with cleaning me up. And some days, he didn't come at all."

My heart ached for him. How lonely and abandoned he must have felt, with only the occasional visit from the steward. "Well, I'm here now," I said firmly. "And I will take care of you. Please, let me help."

He hesitated, then finally gave a small nod. "If you insist," he said softly. "But don't expect too much from me."

"I don't," I assured him. "I only expect you to let me help and serve you."

With that, I carefully helped him to his feet and guided him to the small bathing chamber adjoining his room. The tub was old and chipped, but it would serve its purpose. I filled it with warm water, adding a few drops of lavender oil I had found in the storeroom. The soothing scent filled the air, and I saw some of the tension ease from Prince Rowan's shoulders.

"Let's get you out of these clothes," I said gently, helping him remove the tattered garments. I only left his underpants on, even though it was dirty, I knew he might appreciate the privacy since it was my first time giving him a bath. He flinched at my touch, but he didn't pull away. Once he was undressed, I guided him into the tub, keeping my eyes away from his body. I tried to look away as much as I could but I couldn't help notice how bony and pale he looked. There were bruises and bed sores all over his body and I couldn’t imagine how long he had spent in such a horrible condition as I watched the grime wash away.

I worked carefully, scrubbing his skin with a soft cloth and washing his hair until it was clean and free of tangles. The water quickly turned murky and I had to change it at least three times, but I didn't stop until every trace of dirt was gone. Prince Rowan sat silently, his eyes closed, as if savoring the rare moment of comfort.

Without all the dirt and grime, he looked pale and a little sickly. But I could tell he was a very handsome man. His hair was raven black and silky and his eyes, they were the most brightest shade of blue I'd ever seen. His beards and moustache were overgrown but at least they were clean for now.

When I was done, I wrapped him in a clean towel and helped him back to his bed. I had found some fresh linens in the storeroom, and I quickly made up the bed with them. I was lucky to find a few clean shirts and bottoms and helped him with them. As he lay down on the freshly laid bed, I could see the exhaustion in his eyes.

"Thank you," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

I smiled, proud of myself and all the work I had accomplished in such a short while. I would bring him his dinner and continue cleaning after I had finished my own meal.

The Prince's quarters was starting to look habitable. And very soon, it would be clean again and worthy enough for a Prince.

"You're welcome, Your Highness. Rest now. I'll be here if you need anything."

I turned, about to make my leave when he grunted.

I turned and looked at him.

"What's your name?"

"Your real name?"

He asked and I smiled a bit. No one has asked me that question in a long long time.

"Ariadne."

"My name is Ariadne."

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