"What was that?"
"M-my mom... s-she w-was there," I say sobbing through my words.
"Yes, but why are you crying?"
"M-my m-mother is de-death," I say, trying to stop the pain in my chest.
"It's okay. It's okay."She says, hugging me.
"No, it's not!" I say, breaking the hug. "My mom is alive here. But also she doesn't know she's my mom."
"Even if she doesn't know you, you remember her as your mom, and that's what it counts." She says, opening her arms, and I hug her. I start crying. After crying for a few minutes, someone enters the room.
"Your highness, are you okay? Did this maid tell you something you didn't like?" A girl with an elegant dress that seemed from the royalty. She appears to be a countess or someone with a lot of money.
"No! Contrariwise she was helping me because-"
"She remembered her dad," Scarlet says, and I look at her like she just said.
"Yes... I saw the Marquess of Lansdowne, and I remembered how I wish my father was here."
"Yes, miss. There is no time when we do not regret the duke's death, but you should keep your life going." The girl says, approaching me, "And stop talking with maids who don't understand your problems."
"Thank you for the advice. Still, I think it doesn't matter that she's a maid if she is a good person."
"Anyway, your mother is searching for you." She says, taking my arm and pulling me towards the door. "Miss, we should go to the dining room as the Duchess is waiting for you."
"Can you wait a minute, please," I say, pulling myself out of her right arm. "I need to tell this maid something." I mean, but she stays, "In private"
"Of course." The girl says with a disgusted face while she walks away.
"Who is she?"
"Your lady-in-waiting, Eliza Miranda Rosemary Jones ."
"Why did I chose her?"
"You didn't. Your mother chose her as she is a woman with no power though wealthy ."
"Why would she do that?"
"Well...I think that she didn't want your lady-in-waiting to dull you."
"Okay. First, if we're going to do this, we're going to need-"
"A plan?"
"No! Codewords! Good ones!"
"Really?"
"Yes. If you need to know something or something is bothering, you say to use the word fruit in a sentence. Deal?"
"Deal," I say, and I go through the door. I go out from that room cleaning the rest of my tears with a handkerchief I found in one pocket that I got in my dress -I guess there's one on every dress the princess owns. As I close the door, I notice that lady Eliza waiting for me. "Lady Eliza, were you listening?"
"No, miss! Of course not. Why would I do that?"
"The curiosity can do things we can never guess. Sorry for doubting your loyalty and honesty."
"It's an okay princess. I know it's difficult to trust people." She says as we walk to the dining room. I enter everyone except the Duchess stands up. I join in and sit in the chair next to the Duchess. Lady Eliza sits beside me.
"Now that my daughter, the princess, is here we can eat."
"I'm so sorry dear guests. I almost forgot the breakfast as I lost something really precious to me. I apologize again for making you wait."
"It's okay, your highness. We're sure you got good reasons for being late." My father says.
"Thank you, Marquess. Still, as you're guests, I should have been more considerate. I know you' have a long trip from here to your house."
"Indeed miss you could've been more considerate-" Alexander says, and I look at him knowing what he was saying is rude and accurate.
"Alexander! Rude!" My father says, kicking Alexander as he's in front of him. "Your highness, I apologize for my son's comment. He didn't mean to be impolite." He says, trying to apologize to me as it's perilous to be rude to a royal family member.
"It's okay, Marquess," I say. I look at the Duchess, she seems really upset about the commentary. Still, I give her a fresh look. She starts to chill. "Anyway, I have already made you wait too long. Let's eat!"
In the meantime, the Duchess and my father talk politics, and I listen, and sometimes I give my opinion about the topic. Besides my father and alexander at the table, there are two ladies that I assume are the duchess' ladies in waiting. One of them is my mother. Well, not my mother, but her version in this reality. I often try to speak with her, but I'm sure she sees me as a capricious girl who doesn't know how to be polite and behave appropriately. "Dear mother, what is this? It's flavorsome!" I say referring to a fruit that I found myself eating an unknown fruit that was at my plate
"Oh my dear Camille, it's star apple fruit from the latest ship that came from America a few days ago." The Duchess answers my question with enthusiasm. I continue eating while the Duchess keeps talking with my father. After breakfast, the Duchess and I saw the depart of Alexander and my father. Then we went to the Duchess to her chambers.
"Mother, I need a favor." I almost whisper.
"What is it, dear?" She asks. I take a deep breath as my heart is trying to leave my body with the fear of rejection. I try to keep myself calm as I attempt to find the words that won't make the Duchess have a heart attack.
"Well... there's a maid-" I mumble as the Duchess approaches me as my voice volume is almost inaudible.
"Yes. And?"
"I would like to make her my... lady-in-waiting." I rush. The Duchess looks at me as if I'm going crazy. Then she looks at me with the sweetest look as my mother used to do before she died. I look at her beautiful icy eyes and say, "I know it sounds crazy. But I'm sure she'll make the perfect fit."