"This is where you will live, the room is shared with two other girls," An old woman, the head maid of the palace informed me about the rules and regulations of the palace. Her black hair streaked with gray was up in a neat bun, and wore an ugly brown and white dress. "Change into this dress and come out, I need to introduce you to her Highness." I nodded at her, looking at the ugly uniform I'd have to wear to for the next two years, or maybe more.
The head maid left, closing the door behind me and I scanned my new living quarters. A wooden single bed with white sheets was placed in the corner, the other two already looked personalized with ribbons or newspapers. I took off my dress, and slipped on the ugly one, looking at myself in the mirror. My breasts have gotten bigger in the past few months. I usually wore loose dresses, but this one was made for my size, and the buttons were restraining. I sighed, hoping the head maid would take notice and give me a size larger, or I'd have to ask her.
I went outside my room and down the hallway. The servant's quarters were exceptionally well kept, though the furniture was old and worn out, the walls and floor were clean, and the place smelled like baked dough. I figured the smell directly came from the kitchen located at the end of the hallway.
I was about to enter the kitchen when the head maid called me from behind. "Not there, Colette. Follow me," she said in a stern voice. I followed her quietly, wondering if she noticed my indecorousness.
The head maid led me to a series of hallways and then out into the open air, where I noticed trees and walls hiding the city outside as if the palace was its own little world. A few men worked in the garden, trimming the bushes and carrying baskets of fresh lemons and oranges.
"Hurry up, girl," she said and I started walking faster, the shoes were a bit uncomfortable, black, and not made for walking on a stony and grassy path.
We went to the other side of the palace and this side was much bigger and beautiful. The head maid entered the main palace and kept on walking, the land beneath my feet changed from stony to smooth marble, where my shoes clicked and clacked. We went upstairs and took another set of stairs until we stood outside large golden double doors. I was out of breath, my back slick with sweat and I tried not to breathe so hard. The head maid looked over her shoulder and whispered. "Wipe the sweat from your forehead."
I did and she knocked twice.
The door was opened by a maid, she had red hair reaching her shoulder and looked like it was cut unprofessionally. "Come in." She gave a polite smile to the head maid.
We walked inside the room. The floor was white marble, a golden chandelier hung above me, and the furniture was so beautiful, golden, pink, and blue that I forgot for a while I was here as a maid and not a guest. "The new maid has arrived, Your Highness." The red-haired girl took us to an adjoining room where a four-poster bed was located. Facing the bed was a four-seater sofa and an ottoman, on which Verbena Astoria Dawner, was reading a book, donning a puffy light green gown, her black hair falling over her shoulder, reaching her waist, and the front strands were twisted.
Verbena looked up at me and I bowed to her as instructed. She got up, her shoes never making a sound against the marble as she took two steps towards me. "What is your name?" she asked, and I looked up with a polite smile.
"Colette, your Highness," I replied.
"Colette. Pretty name." she smiled and waved her hand at the head servant. "You may leave."
The head servant bowed to her and left the room, Verbena got back to her seat, picked up the book, and put her feet up on the round table. "Colette, can you read and write?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Good, I don't like illiterate maids. Come." she beckoned me with her finger and I followed it. "My legs have been hurting after walking in the lemon orchard with the Queen," she didn't have to give the order because I already knew what she wanted. I quickly went to my knees and started massaging her legs.
After 10 minutes of silence, Verbena told me to stop, as she closed her book and sighed, her eyes on my breast. My cheeks bloomed with shame, but Verbena didn't say anything.
"Colette, I am to be married in two weeks time." wait really? I thought, still on my knees, looking up at her. "To Waedal's emperor's brother," Verbena smirked, looking straight ahead.
"Congratulations, Your Highness." That was all I could think to say at that moment. I didn't know anything about the emperor's brother but I knew one thing. He was a fierce warrior, commanding every battle from the front lines and winning each time. "Thank you, Colette. You can get up."
I did as told, my feet were starting to ache. "Helios Astaroth, my soon-to-be husband." She then faced me. "I need two personal maids because even though Waedal is an ally, the palace will have enemies." I didn't know where this was going and why she was telling me all of this, on my first day at that.
"I am taking Maria here." she pointed to the red-haired maid, "and you to come with me to Waedal."
"To Waedal, Your Highness?" I repeated, baffled at her. She had so many maids at her disposal why was she going to take me there?
"Yes, because you are pretty Colette, and I can't take ugly girls with me, what would that say about my taste?" verbena pouted.
"May I ask for how long, Your Highness?" my heart was beating wildly, i won't be able to send messages to my parents, and my mother won't be able to send me plum cake.
"Until I become the empress of Waedal. After which I'll reward you with a handsome amount and the freedom to go wherever you want." she was the princess, I couldn't refuse her, the emperor of Waedal was young, though he didn't have any heirs yet, it could take her a decade or longer to become an empress, will I have to move there forever, start my life there? Can I take my parents with me? But what will they do there?
I was bombarded with so many questions that I didn't hear what she said next.
"I apologize, your highness. I didn't hear that."
Verbena chuckled, getting up. "I asked, are you engaged, or do you have someone you love….romantically?"
"N-No, Your Highness."
"Perfect, I don't like whiny girls who keep disturbing me to get a vacation of three days just to meet with their loved ones. You have a job here, Colette and that is to make sure I, the princess of Kralan and the future empress of Waedal, is kept safe and well informed in the empire."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"I hope you've brought everything with you. We will depart the day after tomorrow." Verbena walked towards the large window, overlooking the lemon orchard, she folded her arms and just stood there.
"Yes, Your Highness," I replied to her.
The whole day and the next I found the princess's true colors. She was a spoiled brat, slapped whoever missed a spot on her perfect white floor, yelled at the maids who served her cold tea, and threw a plate at a boy who didn't get her dress delivered on time. I made sure to work perfectly and learn her temper. I did hear that a week ago, Verbena chopped off Maria's hair with a knife, because the emperor's brother who visited that day to bring gifts and confirm dowry, stared a second too long.
I was afraid she'd have me wear a bandage around my breast to keep it flat, but she didn't utter a word about it.
"Collette, you're the only one who does things right," she said while I was helping her get ready for bed. We would depart tomorrow at 9 am, and I still had to deliver my message to my parents.
"Thank you, your highness," I said, brushing her black hair.
"You won't leave me once we're there, right." I stared at her reflection, a face of such beauty and innocence but hidden under that rose was a mastermind turning screws of her own plan.
"Never, Your Highness." how could I, i was practically bound to her, and the only way I would be free was when she became the empress. I finished braiding her hair, Verbena got up, slipped into her silk gown, and walked towards her bed. "I can always count on you, Colette."
******************************
The news of the princess's departure to Waedal was announced early in the morning when traders had just woken up to start off their businesses. After which the palace sent out piles and piles of rice, flour, and spices to be distributed among the poor, in celebration of the matrimony. I had sent the letter to my parents late last night and hoped that by morning they would send me a reply.
Verbena's clothes, dowry, and essential items were packed in golden trunks and sent ahead to the port. I was pacing in my room, biting my nails, waiting for the letter. Only an hour was left but there was still no response.
The door opened and one of the kitchen maids came in, "Her Highness is looking for you in the throne room."
I checked the time again, sighed, wore my clock, and rushed outside.