"Tynan!" Ms Carlos called someone in the room she was in and when the person arrived, she ordered: "Send for all the maid trainers now!" And Tynan followed instructions without asking.
In a few minutes, the entire group of maids stood in front of the chief maid, including Paloma. They were all wondering what made the woman send for them in the middle of the day. Normally, if they ever needed to have a meeting then it was during the night or day at the beginning or end of the day not during working hours. What was the urgent news?
"The King has commanded that all the current servants are to be removed and recruited." She paused and observed them for a while before finishing "Prince Leon's reign is about to start." And the room filled with murmurs and gasps of shock and confusion with everyone wondering what was going on. After Ms Carlos let them converse among themselves for some seconds, she deadpanned "By tomorrow, the new maids and other servants will come in while the current ones will go." Then she started again at them. "I am sure you all know what to do. Get your novices ready so they can be escorted tomorrow as the official maids of the Palace.
"So soon? Couldn't the King give us a little time to process....." Paloma who was dumbstruck tried to protest but Ms Carlos didn't seem to like it.
"If you want to protest then go and talk to the King yourself. Don't ask me questions like I am in charge of the castle!" She blurted and sent them outdoors to continue with their work.
That evening, after Paloma came back to her room, she wasn't herself.
"Aunt Paloma? What is the matter? Did anything happen?" Melina asked when she saw her trainer packing all her things in a blue suitcase.
"Start arranging your things and prepare yourself for tomorrow's introduction. You are going to become an official maid and I'm going to be leaving "
"Huh?!" Melina just blankly stared at her.
"What are you saying?" Melina asked with horror on her face.
"I'm not joking with you, Mel! Arrange your things now!" Paloma shouted at her in frustration and Melina immediately obeyed without questioning.
"You're going to become a trainer maid now as any other child could be signed in for you to take care of and you keep acting like a little child!" Paloma was suddenly mad at her now. This was a side she had never seen before.
Melina carefully arranged all her things while thinking deeply that night. Knowing her childish and stubborn behaviour, she wondered how she would get out of trouble from now on since Aunt Paloma will no longer be here to defend her.
.
The next morning, all the maids had already packed their things and dressed up their learner maids in the new uniform dress that was brought for them. While Paloma wore Melina her dress, she talked to her.
"Mel" She called calmly unlike yesterday.
"Hmm"
"You know vividly well that I have always treated with care to the best of my ability, don't you?"
"I do"
"I just want one favour from you and that is to reflect everything I've thought you from day one. Because every behaviour you display from now on will tell if I taught you well" She paused and looked at Mel before continuing. "Make sure you do well okay?" She told Meliña and Melina simply nodded. She was no stupid person to not know that her life was at so much more risk now that Aunt Paloma was leaving.
Paloma styled Melina's red hair into a neat bun that had been well brushed. After they exchanged some more words and bid each other goodbye, Paloma left the Castle along with the other maids leaving Melina all alone.
.
.
It was a culture(in the fictional story) for servants, Kinsmen and Castle interior decorations to be changed when a new King's reign was about to start. So since King William seemingly had no hope of survival, they were all preparing for Leon's reign that was about to begin.
The only people who weren't often changed were the chief servants who were in control of the Castle's surroundings etc. But once they were 50, they were to hand over to their children.