As soon as Arainna and prince Liam came down from the carriage, they were welcomed by a troop of family members. The palace was indeed very large. The building was magnificent. Arainna just gazed in utter awe, she couldn't say a thing. The sight was intimidating. If it was possible, she would have said to Prince Liam, I know we are all royals, but I and my family should be regarded as second class !.
" Welcome to St Lucia! " The palace wardens and maids echoed together, looking at Arianna.
" Thank you ! I am most delighted. " Arianna said bowing respectfully.
"Brianna my darling! There you are, come here " a pretty fair lady, that looked like a person in her mid-thirties or early forties said drawing Arianna to herself for a warm hug.
Arianna not knowing who she was, but had to play along, was very receptive of the lady, and reciprocated the hug. " I am sorry I couldn't be at the wedding, we had to stay back to prepare for your arrival party ", she said hugging Arianna again. " Did she just make mention of a party? Arianna asked herself. " Oh no ! This people can't be serious. I have had enough already today." Arainna grumbled within herself.
" C'mon aunt Marie! You don't have to suffocate the girl " A masculine voice interupted. Aunt Marie replied the voice still hugging Arianna,
" oh! Just let me be, my talk partner is here to stay with me now, and that's all that matters to me right now! Not so darling? "She asked Arianna, releasing her and looking into her face.
" Of cause ! Aunt Marie" Arianna replied faking a jovial mood. Arianna picked the details quickly, " oh ! She's aunt Marie, she must be really nice. " Arianna thought to herself.
Looking up to the masculine voice that had mentioned aunt Marie's name earlier, it was a very young good looking man. He looked like prince Liam, infact the resemblance was impeccable! He walked up to Arianna and prince Liam with a very wide grin.
" Congratulations! Liam You're the man! " The man said hugging Liam, who had been watching silently all the while. " Thank you Roy " prince Liam answered with his head high. Arianna was looking for every chance she could get to pick details of every given person that she comes across.
" And to you Brianna, we'd be delighted to have you join our humble family. You're highly welcomed. " Roy said hugging her slightly. Arainna just smiled as usual.
Nice people around here! Arianna thought to herself. Getting along with them would not be an hurdle then, she continued in her thought. " I better not get too comfortable, not with the few I have seen, there are still a host of them to be met, she thought more consciously. There were palace maids, palace wardens, and virtually every occupant of the palace, except for the king and queen, that came out to welcome them.
Emmaline and Iris stood quietly waiting to be told what to do. It must have been a hectic day for them, but their status as maids didn't allow them complain.
A very advanced woman came to meet them. She was a maid as well. She had the look of a woman in her late fifties or her early sixties. She was plump and really beautiful. She had the look of the fairy godmother of the famous Cinderella story.
" Your highnesses ! " She greeted with a smile bowing meekly. " C'mon aunt Rose, I have said countless of times that you don't have to do the traditional bow for me. After my biological mother, you're the next person close to my heart " prince Liam said restricting her from bowing.
" Liam ! the fact that I am your personal nanny, does not change my status from that of a maid, I remain your maid till I die, she said laughing a bit, revealing her gaped teeth. " And you remain my ma till forever " prince Liam answered her, hugging her tightly. "Congratulations my boy! " Aunt Rose said to him, while the hug lasted.
Arainna was amazed at them both. She questioned so many things all at once. Aside the fact that aunt Rose was prince Liam's personal maid, Arainna kept wondering how the bond between the two was so tight. How was it possible to love a maid that much ?. Prince Liam did not even smile as much as he did with her, compared with how much he smiled at her.
She also wondered why an advanced woman should be allowed to serve as a maid, back at her kingdom, they did not have anything like that, and there was an understood line between a maid and a royal.
" Oh dear you must be really tired, your eyes says it all , and your feet must be hurting as well " aunt Rose said said caressing Arianna's cheeks. Arainna smiled at her looking into the woman's eyes, they were full of compassion and love. There was something about this woman, Arianna couldn't really tell what it was, but she could feel it. Arianna loved her spirit, and made up her mind to love her without even knowing much about her.
" Congratulations my lovely princess Brianna! She said hugging her slightly,You must come with me now, you must be prepared for the arrival party! She said pulling Arianna's hands softly away.
Emmaline and Iris followed behind.
The fact that there was going to be another party made Arianna feel sick again, down to her stomach...
They were soon inside of the palace, aunt Rose led Arainna to a very large room. The room was wide enough to contain comfortably hundreds of people.
Arianna was speechless, she couldn't move at first. No wonder it was heard that St Lucia was a very rich and powerful kingdom. What was she going to be doing in such a room, she thought to herself very confused. Was she supposed to have a room to herself ? Was she not supposed to be in the same room with prince Liam ?.
Emmaline and Iris on the other hand where also given a room, very close to the one Arianna and aunt Rose entered.
" Welcome to your closet princess Brianna! " Aunt Rose said smiling to Arianna. This is where you should regard as your dressing room. After the Arrival party, prince Liam himself will take you to your room. " Aunt Rose announced to her.
Arianna found it difficult to comprehend what aunt Rose had just announced. " What does she mean by a dressing room ? " Why waste so much resources, she wondered.
"I shall prepare you for the party today! Subsequent times, your maids will be given the privilege" aunt Rose spoke again"
" Aunt Rose" Arainna called in a friendly tone,
" Yes my lady " Aunt Rose answered smiling and looking up to her, " it's okay to just call me Brianna aunt Rose " Arianna said to her. Arianna's quest with aunt Rose, was to draw really close to her, as something within her kept telling her that Aunt Rose would be really helpful in her undercover.
Aunt Rose just smiled, and waited for her to state the reason she had called her. " This arrival party, do you think I could just skip it ?"Arianna asked her faking a really tired face .
" Oh dear! As much as I know you're tired, it's a ritual you can't skip my dear . " Aunt Rose answered pitifully. "It's not a party as such, it's just a royal dinner, where you get to meet your new family officially. You see it's something you cannot skip ". She said taking Arainna's tender hands, and caressed them gently.
Arianna just sighed. " But you know what ? Aunt Rose asked again, I am going to use soothing balms to massage your body, it should give relief to your aching body. Arianna just smiled.
Aside the fact that Arianna didn't want another party, she didn't want to meet more people, she has had a long day already, and the day unusually was not ending quick enough.
"Let's get you ready Brianna " aunt Rose softly told her