The guards led them to a small house that was way less grand and impressive than what they had seen so far. This did not give them a warm welcome feeling.
The guards knocked on the door and were met with a fatigued female figure that appeared to have spent years doing hard work.
The woman had grey hair tied into a bun, with wrinkled skin across her face that showed her age. She was wearing a simple dress and an apron. Her appearance was simple and had a tired look about her that suggested she'd been at this for a long time.
One of the guards exchanged some words with the woman in a low, quiet voice, which Mia and Lila couldn't make out from where they were. The guard then passed a piece of paper to the woman, and she took it. She looked at them with curiosity and pity, saying something back to the guards whose faces betrayed no emotions or expressions. The guards nodded and then left, leaving them on their own.
The woman walked over to Mia and Lila with a faint smile plastered across her exhausted face. Her warm demeanor was in stark contrast to the bleak atmosphere that they had been surrounded by so far.
"I'm Maria, the head servant, and you are?" she asked, giving them a welcoming smile.
Mia seemed to light up a little when she saw her smiling and was quick to reply. "I'm Mia and this is Lila, my sister," she responded, pointing to Lila and hoping she made a good first impression.
Maria led them inside the house as they passed through the narrow corridor, which was littered with servants who stopped in their tracks to give them a look. Some servants seemed curious, and some looked sympathetic, but some also showed open hostility towards them. Maria continued leading them, and Mia held Lila's hand tightly, feeling more uneasy as the glances became longer and more pointed.
Mia noticed Lila's white hair was peeking out from under her scarf and signaled her discreetly to cover it. She knew that white hair was a sign of magic and that magic was forbidden in this kingdom. She didn't want to draw any unwanted attention or trouble to themselves.
Lila quickly covered her white hair with the scarf once she noticed her sister's gestures. She didn't want to cause any problems or have to face any issues because of her hair.
With that gesture, they continued following Maria, still nervous and feeling the hostile stares.
They followed Maria to the small kitchen, and Mia and Lila were greeted by the smell of food and smoke. The room was compact and simplistic in its design, with a fireplace on one side, a table in the center, and shelves containing spices and herbs on the other. There was also a rack hanging from the ceiling with pots and pans, all adding to the rustic, homey feel.
"Gaby, where are you?" Maria called out, and a little girl appeared from behind a door. She looked to be about eight years old and was a bit of a mess. She had brown hair and eyes and a round face, wearing a ragged dress and a dirty apron. Her clothes and appearance were dirty and ragged, making it clear that she had seen a rough life. She looked pretty frightened and shy, and her gaze remained downcast the entire time, making it hard to meet her eyes.
"Yes, ma'am?" Gaby responded politely and respectfully, seeming quite well-trained.
Maria acknowledged her words and gave her a task to do. "Go get the leftovers from this morning and a cup of water," she ordered, her tone remaining soft and kind-sounding towards the young girl.
The little girl nodded and quickly rushed off. She quickly came back with a tray that she placed on the table. The tray was filled with bread, cheese and fruit, as well as a jug of water and two cups. Maria looked at the food and drink and seemed pleased. "Perfect," she said, giving a thumbs-up to the girl, who looked to have done a good job of bringing everything in.
Maria then led Mia and Lila towards a chair and told them to sit. Her tone was still pleasant and kind and she had a good way of making them feel at ease.
"This is all I can offer you for now," she told them. "Eat and drink, you must be hungry and thirsty," she continued, and the sisters sat down on the chairs.
Mia and Lila thanked her and were clearly enjoying the food and drink, their mouths watering at the sight of it. They began to guzzle it down like they were starving, and the food and drink barely lasted for a few moments. Marie continued smiling softly at them the whole time, seeming to enjoy their enthusiasm for the food and drink she had provided them.
After finishing their food, they thanked Maria for it and packed their plates. She called for a little girl named Gaby to help them take care of their necessities. Gaby was instructed to show them where the sink was, so they could wash up after their meal, and take them to an empty corner. This was presumably so that they would be comfortable and settle in. Maria would also assign them their tasks and work afterwards.
Gaby then took them to the sink where they washed their plates. After that, she took them to a little corner that was sparsely furnished and consisted of a small bed and a tiny cupboard, saying "That's your corner," in a small, almost fearful voice. The setup was not exactly the most comfortable or luxurious, but it was at least a place for them to rest and call their own.
Lila then tried approaching the young girl. "My name is Lila, what about you?" she asked in a soft tone. Gaby was shy at first, but she then opened up a bit more. "My name is Gabrielle, but people call me Gaby," she replied, seeming a bit embarrassed. Lila replied saying, "Your name is beautiful." Gaby was surprised but pleased and replied, "Thank you," before giving a cute blush and rushing off.