Maria, with a smile of satisfaction upon seeing the room now tidier and cleaner, turns to the twins and says, "We're done for now, let's clean the floor. Take the woolen cloth, wet it, and start cleaning the floor like this."
The twins, attentive to Maria's instructions, take the woolen cloth and dip it into the bucket of water that Maria has prepared for the occasion. They watch how Maria wrings out the cloth so it's damp but not soaked, and then spreads it over the wooden floor.
"You have to move the cloth in the direction of the wood grain," Maria explains, demonstrating with long, firm movements. "That way, the floor will be clean and we won't damage the wood."
The twins mimic Maria's movements, passing the damp cloth over the floor, making sure to follow the direction she has indicated. Maria supervises them, correcting their technique when necessary and ensuring they cover the entire surface of the floor.
After a while, the floor shines clean and the twins feel proud of their work. Maria congratulates them on their effort and dedication. "You've done an excellent job," she says with a smile. "Now, we'll let the floor dry completely."
The twins, happy with the cleaning lesson and the result of their effort, smile and thank Maria for teaching them. Together, they leave the room, leaving the door open so the fresh air can finish drying the freshly cleaned floor.
After making sure the floor was clean and allowing it to air dry, Maria heads towards the pile of bedding they had left by the room's door. "Well, now that we're done with the floor, it's time to take these sheets, covers, and duvets to the room where the dirty laundry accumulates," she tells the twins.
The twins, following Maria's example, help to pick up the bedding. Each one takes a part of the pile, trying to balance the weight between them.
With the sheets and other bedding in arms, they leave the room and head through the castle's corridors. Maria leads the twins through a series of hallways adorned with tapestries and armor until they reach a discreet door at the end of a corridor.
Upon opening the door, they find a spacious room with several large baskets labeled for different types of clothing: whites, colors, delicates, etc. Maria shows them how to sort the bedding by material and color. "It's important to do this separation so that when washing them, they don't get damaged or the colors mixed," she explains while placing the white sheets in one basket and the colored duvets in another.
The twins mimic Maria, carefully placing the laundry in the corresponding baskets. "That way, when the laundry maids come, they can take everything here and return it clean and ready to be used again," Maria tells them.
Together, they leave the room and walk down the corridor, following Maria who knows the labyrinth of the castle's hallways well.
They arrive at a door that seems to lead to the room where they had previously seen the cleaning utensils, but instead of entering, Maria stops in front of the door on the right. "This is where we keep the clean bedding ready to be used," she explains as she opens the door, revealing an orderly room with shelves full of neatly folded and sorted sheets, covers, and duvets.
The twins look on curiously as Maria shows them how each type of bedding has its specific place in the room. "It's important to maintain this order so that when we need to prepare a room for guests, we can find everything quickly," she teaches.
Maria, with a practical gesture, approaches the shelves and selects several clean sheets, pillowcases, and duvets. "Let's prepare the beds in the room we just cleaned," she tells the twins, handing them part of the bedding to carry.
The twins, each with a pile of fresh, clean fabric in arms, follow Maria back through the hallways. The sound of their footsteps mixes with the distant echo of voices and activities of the castle, creating a melody of daily work.
Upon returning to the room, Maria stops at the entrance and points to the floor for the twins. "Before making the beds, we must make sure the floor is completely dry," she reminds them in a didactic tone.
The twins, remembering the instruction, crouch down and extend their hands over the wooden planks, searching for any sign of moisture. Finding none, they look at each other and nod, confirming that the floor is dry and they can proceed.
Satisfied, Maria indicates that they can begin dressing the beds while she passes them the sheets and other necessary items.
Maria carefully places the sheets on one of the beds and shows the twins how to make the bed correctly. "First, the fitted sheet," she begins, making sure it's well stretched and without wrinkles. "Then, the top sheet, with the fold at the top so it looks neat."
The twins watch and then replicate Maria's movements on the other bed, paying attention to every detail. Maria teaches them how to place the pillows with the freshly put covers and to fold the duvet at the bottom of the bed for an elegant finish.
"A well-made bed is the centerpiece of a cozy room," Maria explains. "It's the first thing guests see when they enter, and a perfectly made bed always makes a good impression."
With the beds finished and the room in order, the twins step back to admire their work.
The twins, with a sense of accomplishment and new skills acquired, smile at Maria, grateful for her patience and guidance. The room is now not only clean but also welcoming and ready to receive its occupants.
After making sure the beds are perfectly made and the room is in order, Maria heads towards the windows. With methodical movements, she closes each one, making sure the latches are well placed so they don't open with the wind.
Then, gently, she takes the curtains and slides them along the rods until they are closed, filtering the light entering the room and giving it a more intimate and serene atmosphere.
Once the windows and curtains are closed, Maria does a final visual check of the room, making sure everything is in place and that the room conveys a sense of calm and order.
"Now that everything is ready, we can leave," says Maria, heading to the door. The twins follow her, taking one last look at the room they have helped to prepare.
Maria exits the room, and with the twins by her side, she gently closes the door.
After closing the door, Agnes, with an inquisitive look, points to the left of the door where the buckets and cloths they used for cleaning are located. "And what do we do with those buckets and cloths?" she asks, seeking guidance.
Maria, hearing Agnes's question, slaps her forehead in a gesture of mild self-reproach. "Sorry, I had forgotten!" she exclaims with an apologetic smile. "We have to take that to the room where we left the sheets and other bed things."
Immediately, Maria heads towards the cleaning items and, with the help of the twins, picks up the buckets and cloths.
Together, they carry the buckets and cloths back to the storage room, where they had previously left the dirty bedding. Upon entering, they place the items in their corresponding spot, making sure everything is tidy for the next time they are needed.