Exhausted

Authors POV

Melissa continued her torrent of taunting towards Cisca, and Cisca couldn't wait for the punishment to be over. In the past few days, she hadn't seen Alden or any of the princes because she was always exhausted from cleaning.

" How are you coping?" Alden's voice drew Cisca out of her thoughts. He started at her impassively. He thought she had been avoiding him, only to hear that she had been posted to the horse's stalls.

" Fine." She replied. Alden handed her a handkerchief, which she used to wipe her sweaty brows.

" Thank you." She replied as Alden also handed her a bottle of water.

" You're welcome." He said. She was sweaty and sticky; a common occurrence for the past few days.

" Who assigned you here?" Alden inquired. It was stressful for only one person to clean the whole place up.

" Queen Nicky." She replied. Alden was fu