- You sent for me, Your Majesty? - I bow slightly, exchanging glances between The King, Juliet, and Melanie.
- Yes, Emillya isn't it? - I nodded. Do you happen to know this young woman kneeling in front of us? - She pointed to Melanie.
- Yes," I glanced indecisively at Melanie, who was pleading with me to get her out of there as quickly as possible.
- So, Miss Emillya, is it true that Miss Melanie gave you a dress that she supposedly made?
I glare at Melanie who doesn't look at me this time and then glare at Juliet who threatens me with her eyes.
I look at The King and reply:
-It's true, Sir- I may not be looking at Juliet but I'm pretty sure her eyes radiate hatred.
- Uncle- The King gives her a disapproving look- Your Majesty... It's obvious that she is lying! She is defending her friend, that's all. Do you think that dress could be worn by someone other than royalty? An unscrupulous Plebeian? - asked Juliet, feigning fake disappointment.
- Juliet, shut up! The facts point to your blatant lie! - Melanie and Emillya, you may return to your normal activities, thank you for the information.
Melanie and I bowed and left the room, we could still hear one of Juliet's hysterical cries and laughed softly.
- What happened? - I asked after we stopped laughing.
- I just did you a favor," she replied simply.
I sighed heavily, disapproving my friend's attitude.
- Tell me straight- I asked.
- After you left she came in with a very large package that I normally use for storing clothes. So when she went to try on the dress she asked me to make, I went to see what was inside and she caught me opening it, and started shouting that I wanted to steal "her" belongings, the guards came and she told them so. Since the king was very busy and the witness to whom I am entitled had already left, they left it until today.
- Did you know that you could lose your job? Or your own head?
- Did you know that you are ungrateful? - I rolled my eyes and she snorted.
- You didn't have to risk so much for me, did you? - Melanie rolled her eyes and I smiled. It's really beautiful.
- I confess that I had some help choosing it, Angie deserves credit too.
- Can you hold on to the dress for me until my workday is over? I'm sure if I leave it in the kitchen it will get dirty or some disaster will happen.
- Sure, come by and get it...again- Melanie left happily and went to her workplace and I went back to the kitchen.
I had a lot to do there, since I had wasted so much time with this whole mess. Certainly if my "boss" hadn't been Angie, I would have been fired a long time ago, not that I am privileged about that, never! But it's just that sometimes I made little mistakes that if she wasn't so nice and understanding I would have lost my job in no time.
To be honest I was very clumsy, breaking glasses, plates, and bumping into people was just one of my talents. I tried very hard to change this, but it was kind of impossible. That must be why I never rose to the top in that kitchen, well done to me.
1- The meeting
After work, as agreed, I went to the atelier and Melanie handed me the dress, she also made me promise that if I saw Juliet around I would tell her the truth.
I arrived near the village already tired from walking so much, the way wasn't that short, besides passing through the extensive grounds of the Palace, there was still a lake to go around. It was getting dark and I wanted to get home as fast as possible. I passed through the gates of the village and could see a lot of excitement for a normal day.
A party. We always had parties for no good reason. Maybe it was a way to forget the problems and poverty that surrounded us. There was a lot of music and people danced by the light of lamps and a bonfire. Most of them were dancing barefoot although the ground was dirt, nobody cared about that at that moment.
I was dying of fatigue, but my mother and little Elise insisted that I go and celebrate with them. After all, I hadn't even celebrated my birthday properly and this would be a good opportunity. I asked permission to at least take a shower and change my clothes.
After getting dressed, I felt my energy renewed and left the house towards the small square where the party was taking place. I liked those parties, they made me forget any and all problems I had. I met some friends and went dancing with them.
Whenever possible, I met my friends from the village to talk, and most of the time we invented choreographies for these parties. Let's just say it was one of the best ways to win over the boy I was in love with.
In the middle of the choreography we would have to twirl, and as clumsy as I am, there was always something that made me fall. Said and done. I bumped into one of the girls and felt the ground approaching. I thought that at the very least I was going to fall on my arm and twist my wrist. But nothing happened, instead of falling to the ground and being laughed at, someone held me up and prevented me from falling.
I stayed in the arms of whoever it was for at least 30 seconds recovering from the little scare. In the end, I realized that I needed to say thank you and pull myself out because it had been too long.
- Thank you - I don't even know how to thank you - I said with a trembling voice from the fright and still without looking at the stepa that "saved" me.
- Not at all, miss - he said in a hoarse voice as I stood up, as I was still leaning over from the fall.
- I really don't know how to thank you. - I stopped the instant I saw his face, I knew him from somewhere but couldn't remember where.
- I said there's no need, young lady. Er... sorry- He said realizing that his hand was still on my waist. He walked away and left me standing there without even knowing his name.
I made a confused face and went back to the party, this time I wouldn't dance, I was still dizzy from the spins and then the fall. I went to drink something to see if I could get better. Still thinking about the boy, I started to remember his features: white skin like a baby's, brown eyes, very shiny black hair. He didn't look like he was from the village. I know I shouldn't
I know I shouldn't judge, but no one had the time and inclination to take care of his skin and hair.
And then there was the fact that he reminded me of someone. I decided to stop thinking about it, after all it was not going to change anything in my life. At least that's what I thought...
- Hey Milly! What was that all about? - Livia came over and sat down next to me on a stool in the small drink stand.
- What was what? - I played confused.
- Don't be silly, the boy who saved you was quite handsome from what I could tell," she said looking for someone in the crowd, maybe the mysterious boy.
- I don't know anything about him, not even his name, he just wanted to help.
- I saw the look he gave you and the look you gave him too, don't think you can fool me" She looked smug.
- Livia, I was dizzy and bewildered from a near fall, you must have been confused by that "look" - I laughed - And after all, I don't even know him - I took a sip of my drink.
- But you may know him - He took a little bite and left again. I decided to go home, it was already late and I would wake up early.