Her eyes stay wide open. At last, she asks, with many questions beneath, "A maid? Are you sure, my dear?"
"Yes..."
"Well... I'm sure if you're asking, this is because she's worth it?"
"Yes, she is a mother," I respond
"Well, first, you must know that your lady-in-waiting should be serviced and needs to know how
to behave properly. Should dress for every occasion and be there for you whenever you want. You understand that's a lot of responsibility for a maid who doesn't know anything about the royal life?"
"Yes, mother, I understand the responsibility it takes to be my lady-in-waiting. And I know I should choose someone with a higher rank, but this girl is perfect for the work. Plus, she is my friend!" I explain.
"Well, if that's what you really want. Then I'll start the preparations for the maid to become your lady-in-waiting."
"Are you sure a ceremony it's necessary?" I groaned as I don't make it such a deal. "Well..." She hesitates as thinking for something that could work.
"What is it?" I cry.
"The King, your uncle, has invited us to his birthday party." My eyes open as if I had seen the light. "Nothing too big. Just the closest friends... As a princess, you should be able to bring your lady-in-waiting."
"And?" I say already knowing where this goes.
"You can present her as your lady-in-waiting. But first, she must take some classes with your etiquette tutor. She must learn how to dress, eat, and even walk. But remember it is in two days."
"She will! I promise!" I affirm with excitement on my eyes.
After talking to the Duchess, I went to my dorm, where I found Scarlet. I told her what the Duchess said and what she needs to do. I got changed into a less fancy light blue evening dress. After a few hours, I went to the library to search for a book of interest. The library was more significant than any other I've ever seen. There were millions of readers about any genre ever created. After at least fifteen minutes, I chose a history book to know what has happened through the years as everything is different. I read it until Scarlet started calling my name through the halls. I shook the dress a bit to remove the wrinkles, and then I walked towards the door to find nervous Scarlet in the middle of a panic attack. "What happened?" I ask worriedly, my friend.
"Your mother...sorry I mean the Duchess called me and gave me a list of responsibilities that I needed to comply with. After that, she had the royal tailor to take my measurements and gave me this dress!" She declares, pointing at the fancier dress that she is wearing. I'm confused about the abrupt information she just gave me. The worst part is that all I could keep thinking is that the dress fits her perfectly. Though it was not made for her.
"Okay. First of all, I love how the dress fits you." I respond to the tsunami of information she just gave me.
"Yeah! I know, right?"
"Now, with that said, what list? What is it about?" I ask.
"Read it yourself." She says, giving me a piece of parchment with a list written down.
The functions discharged by ladies-in-waiting must include proficiency in Common courtesy, languages, dances, horse riding, music-making, painting prevalent at court, keeping her mistress abreast of activities and personages at court, care of the rooms and of her mistress tasks, supervision of servants, reading correspondence to her mistress and writing on her behalf and discreetly relaying messages upon command.
To this list may be added more tasks in consideration of the mistress.
"There could be more?" I ask in disbelief.
"Technically, if you or the duchess decides to, yes." She says, turning her head towards the floor.
"I'll make sure there are no more tasks. I promise." I say, looking at her in the eyes. "Well...do you know any foreign language?" I ask, almost laughing.
"I can learn..." She insecurely says.
"Well, I think you should learn german and dutch for the moment. Later we can talk about Spanish and Russian." I announce. We walk approaching my bedroom. There I change and ask another maid, which is Harriet, to bring me dinner and excuse me with the Duchess. Scarlet and I ate dinner in a little rounded table, and I started teaching her somethings from the "common courtesy" book I found in the princess' bureau. When Scarlet went back to her ordinary room, I prepared myself to sleep and read a bit about the royal family in this strange world. I discovered the reason behind everyone calling me a princess. According to the most updated history book, I could find I or let's say the princess is the next in line for the throne as her uncle and aunt, the king and queen, never had a successor 'cause all their children died at a shortage. Meaning that she is going to take the throne when her uncle dies. It's not the first time a woman takes the throne.
The next morning, I woke up dressed up with a pink printed cotton fabric puffed sleeves morning dress, accompanied by a blue silk ribbon. I called a maid to braid my hair and help me put on some jewelry. After that, I made the maid call Scarlet and tell her to come. A half-hour later, I see Scarlet wearing a solid pink dress. With puffy sleeves and a sapphire necklace. "Wow. Scarlet, you look stunning!"
"Oh... thanks, Cam- I mean your highness." She says, noticing that the maid who helped me before was still there cleaning the room.
"Who gave it to you? Are you still in the same room you were before? I hope no." I say rapidly without letting her answer.
"First, I found the dress on the door this morning. This morning a friend brought me to the southeast room and said that this was my new room." She answered the two questions I made before.
"Well, let's go to the dining room and eat," I tell her. We head to the dining room, and before we get there, I stop cold and hold Scarlet too.
"What happened?" She asks worriedly.
"Did someone told Lady Eliza that you're also my lady-in-waiting?"
"I don't think so. Why?"
"Because she is right there." I point towards her slim body.