Usually I would slack of after such a long journey, but as it seems now I won't have the time to. In my mind I curse myself out. Why do I have to do this? Now I won't have free time ever again.
Gideon leads us through half the castle until we stop right before a big black wooden door. After opening the doors I face a room full of shelves with a loot of books. Across the room stands a big table, over and over with stacks of paper. I'm rubbing against the ring on my thumb. Originally I wanted to hang it around my neck but I definitely lack the necklace to do that. So for now it must remain where it is. At the sight of the workload I have to swallow. "Can I still say I changed my mind and act like I've never seen any of this?" I'm normally no one who goes back on my word, but this load of work is definitely not of this world. That must be at least a few month worth of paperwork that lays in front of my eyes. "Sadly not Princess. We know it will take a lot of time to work off, what piled up over the last half a year. And half of the papers is stored elsewhere, but sadly we couldn't do more. But cheer up Princess. The more help the faster it goes. You will get all the help you want." Only half of it is in here? The papers nearly reach the ceiling and that is not even all of what I have to work through while new reports and other come in daily? I want to tear my hair out. But that's the burden I have to bear as it comes with my status. So I clap my hands and get to start.
Firstly I gave someone from the maids instructions to let some soldiers bring two more desks. The maid was a little surprised but followed my words instantly. These workers are fast to notice a change in power. While waiting I opened the curtains behind the desk that I discovered. Instantly the room let in the sunlight that would soon vanish. Opening the windows would only let the papers fly in the whole room, so I sadly let them be. The air in here was definitely not the best, but we have to do with it as it is. While waiting I let Gideon brief me what kind of papers there lay in here. It seems like I have to work with the oldest reports, contracts, requests and even more. While I work with the oldest and not that urgent matters. The king does everything in his current might to work through the urgent matters, that really can't be delayed and does his part of the job. So I have at least a little bit of time to learn the ropes of how everything works in this kingdom.
Still waiting I think about where to start and make a rough plan, so I won't neglect eating and sleeping. The rest of our luggage will probably arrive by tomorrow so I won't have to worry with it today. While I spin it all in my head I see Gideon and Ray working together to make enough place for the desks. Seeing how they move stacks of books that were placed there after the shelves couldn't make more space to store them, is a sight to behold. Gideon knows Ray nearly as long as me, but after all he has lived his whole life in a country where Fae are treated even less than human slaves. That he plans to let him work without batting an eye and looking for other ways, shows how much he must have suffered under the workload.
The sounds of steps, the voices and the clang of iron announce the arrival of the ordered objects. Two men at each desk, bringing them into the room and arranging them until I was satisfied, marked the start of a hard-working time. The soldiers left and with them the maid that overlooked everything. But before that I gave her another instruction. With that taken care of we could finally start for real. I gave Gideon and Ray instructions and explained my approach. While we started to sort the papers into the three categories I just made up and after a long thought, Gideon started to talk about the kingdom's actual situation, politics and everything I thought would be good to know. Even through I won't remember all of it, it will shorten the time he will have to instruct me in the future. And it could be helpful to do my job. Here and there I ask a few questions while sorting and bringing little stacks of papers to their destinated desk.
After around four hours we finally sorted them out. I rub my eyes while leaning back on the chair. My head is splitting cause of a headache, and my eyes are dry. Two strong hands stop mine from rubbing my eyes. Raymonds eyes stare at me softly but determined. With a sigh I let my hands rest in my lap. "Hey Gideon, can you look for a few books in here to help me grasp the information you just told me. For example, one about the noble families, their names and who's on who's side. With portraits if possible. I couldn't remember even one of the names you told me." My hands moved automatically and only after Ray caught them I realize I wanted to rub my eyes again. I gave him an apologetic smile. It makes no impression on him in the least. Instead, he lays one of his palms over my eyes. The darkness and the coolness of his hand calms my burning eyes. While hearing the rustling of the searching Duke I close my eyes and take a short break.
After hearing a knock I come back to my senses. It seems I fell asleep for a short time. I open my eyes and get irritated by the lingering darkness. It takes another moment until I realize that Rays hand still covers my sight. I don't know how much time has gone by, but there was definitely no need to continue with my sleep. I shrug my shoulders, now that it's to late and softly brush his hand of my face. Silently we stare at each other while the Duke opens the door. Before him stands the maid with a food trolley. The food I ordered her to bring after five hours arrived. While the maid arranges a little clumsy the plates on the small area the desks left her, I realize the big stacks of books in front of me. While I accidentally napped away, Gideon got a good amount of books together. It's less than I thought but still a lot. While Ray goes of to help the maid to make some place on his desk, after all it holds the category with the biggest part of requests, I decide to do something against the bad air. I snatch some books out of the shelves and place them on top of the stacks of paper, then I cautiously open the window. No paper flews across the room so I open them wide and got to finally eat my dinner.
The soup is warm and wakes up my mind. At least a few hours of work should now be possible again. The soup is not the usually feast one eats in the royal family. There would be at least five other dishes to show of ones wealth and to assure the diversity that the picky people need so that they have something they can eat because they are to stingy to say the chef everyday what they want to eat. "The food we save, through only eating one kind of meal could be used later on. We shouldn't pamper vanity in times like this." I explain the baffled Duke searching for the other dishes. He needed a little time to think over it and to realize that he has to save expenses whilst saving food. While he whines after the good old times, I order a second round and gobble it down like I didn't eat for years. Not the behavior a princess should have but momentarily I care a shit for manners. After all I literally ate nothing the whole day since we arrived, and even if it is only a simple meal. It tastes like heaven, the spicy taste is nothing I ever tasted before. It's delicious. And Ray too doesn't care, as a Fae he does not care about manners, he doesn't understand this human behavior and won't act like it. They eat in other ways so he necessarily won't have to eat like humans do. But as it's one of the behaviors the Fae doesn't want humans to know about, he eats a plate himself. And after all it's already served.
After dinner we continued to sort the papers on each desk. Firstly we sorted the different papers after similarity, secondly after duplicates and last but not least we sorted out the few that changed their mind and canceled their former request. After nearly another two hours I finally finished my piece of work and go to help Ray that had worked of two-thirds of his mountain. The sun set a while ago and the friendly maid lighted the light after bringing us some warm tea. After all the weather is normally cold but at night it gets freezing cold. I really appreciated it.
Together we get through the last third really fast while Gideon who finished a little earlier breathed through alleviated. At least we could go to sleep now. The work for today is done. A short while later Gideon showed us to our rooms laying next to each other as they should. I checked for the connecting door that makes it easier for my chevalier to come to my rescue if something would happen. Then I set a time for breakfast so that we can work directly after. Ray put the books to the side of my bed, nods at Gideon, wishes me a good night and vanishes through his room door after making sure Gideon was really gone. I close my door nearly at the same time and make myself ready for bed. Originally some maids or at least Ray should help me, but as I'm only wearing a pairs of trousers and a shirt, not a dress I insisted on doing it alone today. I take one of the books to at least study for a little bit until I fall asleep.