"Em? So, how did you do it?" She asked, wondering how her daughter got promoted in one day, while she herself worked for the family for fifteen years, but never got promoted even once.
Emma shrugged.
"I didn't do anything, mother. Prince Adam had told his father that he needed help, and he suggested me as his new help. That's what happened, 'is all. Nothing else," Emma replied, clearing up all of Chloe's assumptions.
Chloe found the information quite intriguing.
The prince himself suggested her as help?
She immediately realized what was happening.
Adam had feelings for her daughter.
It was simply too obvious.
Emma was a beautiful girl, not to mention intelligent, strong, brave, and compassionate. But sometimes, she could be quite the oblivious girl.
She raised her eyebrow, even though she knew Emma was oblivious to it all, how could she not realize the truth?
While she was deep in her train of thought, a bellow erupted from behind them.
"EMMA! COME QUICK! PRINCE ADAM NEEDS YOUR HELP IMMEDIATELY!"
Chloe and Emma turned, their faces both plastered with expressions of shock.
Lily - another maid that worked for Prince Adam way before Emma was promoted - came rushing in the room.
"Em! Come quick! He needs your help!" Lily exclaimed.
"Couldn't he ask anyone else?" Emma asked.
"I tried volunteering, I really did, but he said only you would 'suffice'. He's waiting for you upstairs in his bedroom, he expects you to get there immediately," Lily explained.
Emma sighed and let out a groan of frustration.
"Thanks for telling me and trying to help me, Lil. You're the best, bestie," Emma replied before rushing up the stairs and heading to the palace located upstairs.
She had made her way to his bedroom, her eyes filled with rage as she stormed to his room.
She stopped at the front door of Prince Adam's bedroom.
She took a deep breath before she opened the handle of the door.
There, Adam was already waiting for her, his hand holding his head as he laid on his bed, awaiting her arrival.
He always was the amorous prince.
When she opened the door, she gasped in shock. Not only from how huge his bedroom was, since it was ten times bigger than her and her mother's maids' quarter. But another reason why was because of what Adam was doing.
"Your majesty, what are you doing?" She asked timidly, her eyes widening.
Was he really trying to-
"I was waiting for you of course," he replied, his voice said huskily.
Emma was stunned. She didn't know whether to gag, barf, or run away.
She chose none of them, and replied calmly, "Why did you request my help here? Do you need help with anything?"
The Prince, shocked at the girl's obliviousness, but also quite nervous while being around her, and racked his brain for answers, trying to change the subject from his failed attempt.
Any answer was better than being humiliated in front of a beauty like Emma, he thought.
"Oh, umm, yeah, I summoned you here because I need your help-" He paused, not knowing what else to say. He then remembered that today was his parents' thirtieth anniversary. He had already prepared a gift that was neatly wrapped, sitting on his grand desk. He pointed towards it.
"I need you to help send this gift to the King and Queen. It's their thirtieth anniversary, and I've already prepared a gift for them, right there," he said, staring at Emma.
Emma raised her eyebrow.
"And why exactly do you only want me to help? Why not anyone else?" She asked.
He smirked.
"There's just something special about you. I just don't know what," he admitted.
Emma nodded, taking in the information he had just said, and gently picking up the wrapped gift.
"Well, if that's all, I'll take my leave," Emma said as she curtsied and left the room, sighing in relief the minute she closed his room door behind her.
She shook the box, and a light rattle was heard.
She made her way to the throne room, where King William and Queen Isabelle were delivering orders to their royal subjects.
She walked in the room and saw a butler leave, giving him a subtle nod as he made his way out of there.
She bowed in front of the two two ruling monarchs, not being able to curtsy because of the gift.
King William raised his eyebrow.
"What may I ask, is that?" He inquired.
Emma nervously answered, "This is his royal highness Adam's gift for your thirtieth anniversary. He asked me to deliver it to you, your majesties."
He nodded.
Emma continued, "And I must say, congratulations to your thirtieth anniversary, I wish you both a perfectly happy anniversary."
The King and Queen smiled warmly at Emma.
"Why thank you," Queen Isabelle replied in return.
King William nodded, and Emma handed them the gift.
She curtsied and excused herself politely before leaving, not noticing the conversation the King and Queen had after she turned.
"If only Adam was as polite as her," Queen Isabelle said quietly to her husband.
King William nodded.
"Yes, she'd be a good role model for that arrogant son of ours, and as a bonus, he does seem to take interest in her, he'd probably listen to her," he suggested.
Queen Isabelle smiled at her husband.
"So what do you suggest that we do?"
"I suggest we find out more about this girl. I've never seen her around the castle beforehand, so it's best we take the necessary precautions," William suggested, looking at his wife, who nodded, agreeing to the idea.
King William called his most trusted advisor, Julius, to the throne room.
Julius quickly entered the room when summoned, bowing to the two as soon as he approached the two thrones.
"Julius, I need you to check the history of a maid called Emma. Report back to me when you get any results as soon as possible," the King ordered.
"Yes, my king, right away," Julius said as he bowed, excusing himself and leaving the room. He had called some close contacts and used some means to get a background or history check on Emma.
Speaking of Emma, who was currently walking back towards Prince Adam's room, a hurried Prince Michael ran behind her, not noticing her and bumping into her.
Emma winced.
She put her hand to her head, rubbing it, while glancing at the person that had ran into her.
"I'm so sorry! I was in such a hurry, I didn't see you there," Michael said as he apologised sincerely and guiltily looked at the fallen girl.
He extended his hand, and Emma took it, getting back on her feet as she straightened her apron, and smiled.
"It's no big deal. I'm fine, your highness," Emma replied back, forgetting the fact that Michael had asked her to drop the formalities.
"I feel terrible, how could I make it up to you?" He asked.
Her eyes widened.
"No, no need," she replied.
"No, I insist, please, let me make it up to you," Prince Michael insisted.
The girl sighed, and finally gave in.
"Okay, do you have any ideas?" She asked.
He nodded.
"What about a walk in the gardens to make it up to you? The palace was always known for its beautiful plethora of flowers," He asked.
He was a prince after all, even if she didn't want to go, she had to say yes. But this was a different case, she willingly said yes.
"Yes, of course. Thank you, your-
She stopped, remembering he had asked her to drop the formalities during the morning, so she continued, "Michael."
He nodded in return, smiling warmly.
"Does 8:00 PM settle for you?" He asked, unsure when to meet.
Emma nodded, remembering that her shift for Prince Adam ended quite early - as in 7:00 PM or so - so she did have time to meet Prince Michael in the gardens.
"Yes, 8:00 PM is just fine."
Emma bowed before she took her leave, quickly heading back to Adam's bedroom where she was expected.
But what she didn't know was that Prince Adam himself was watching the whole scene unfold, a jealous glare piercing through his younger, much more handsome brother as he thought of a plan to keep the two away.