Scarlett's POV
Today marked the first day of work at the Palace, yesterday was used to show me and other new maids around the Palace. All I have to say is this is one huge abode, my legs still hurt from all that walking. I was assigned a room with two other new maids named Amelia and Evelyn.
I had a good chat with Amelia last night and it seemed to me that she was in the same situation as me -'we were both sold here.' Evelyn, an extremely pretty girl, on the other hand, did not seem to have much interest in chatting with us.
The next morning, after quick briefing, we were given uniforms to change into.
Apparently, we're going to spend a month in training. EXTREME TRAINING let me add!!.
On my way to the training room I suddenly got pulled away from the line by Court Lady Agatha.
"Good morning Ma'am" I quickly said.
She replied "You are not training with them"
Surprised, I asked "why?"
I did not get a response from her as she just told me to quietly follow her. As I quietly followed behind her, I looked back to check if perhaps Amelia was still there but they had all left except one person-Evelyn! She was just staring at me.
Oh she is scary already! You know when someone is so pretty and beautiful that it scares you? Yeah that was how I felt at that moment. Her face and body were in the perfect proportions.
I turned my head back I kept following Court lady Agatha. The building we got to after walking for ten minutes was named 'PALACE OF THE QUEEN DOWAGER' From this, I already realised who the occupant was.
The Queen Dowager...why am I here?
Yesterday, the way she looked at me was very weird, now I was in her Palace?
Well organised courtmaids walked like their feet barely touched the ground, avoiding any mistakes such as tripping.
'They way the lines are, if one person trips the entire train is going down. Hehe' I thought to myself.
Court lady Choi took me to a room that looked like where people were taught. I curiously looked around.
"Others have training for a month, you on the other hand have only two weeks to complete your training " she said rather too harshly.
Two weeks? That's too short. I'm extremely clumsy! I will get killed if I make a nonsense mistake in this place.
I quickly said of something along the lines of "Ma'am, forgive my incompetence but I will not be able to learn all of the Palace rules in two weeks. Honestly, it is beyond my capabilites"
"Do as your told or else.....(she motions her hand across her neck) you will die"
My eyes naturally exapanded due to the shock! Death? What's this discussion about Death?? I was so scared. It was all getting too suspicious. Or did Greg have ulterior motives for selling me here?? I had no choice but to comply.
I swallowed nothing down my throat and muttered a quick "Yes ma'am" to Court lady Agatha.
She continued "You will come here everyday for two weeks before you start your major job, today your training begins"
We started first with physical training. Court lady Agatha put a long slim plank on the floor and told me to walk on a straight line...well that's easy. All was going really well until Court lady Agatha told a young eunuch to put a thinner plank across a small pond outside the room.
The plank was so thin, one mis step and I was in the pond.
Let's just say I ended today's training really wet!!!
On my way back to the Quarters for all Courtmaids in training I came across Evelyn who is shooting daggers at me through her eyes. I went over to meet her to at least clear the air.
"Hello Evelyn" I said putting on the most genuine smile I could think of.
With a fake smile, she replied "Oh Hello.....Scarlett."
There was an awkward silence between us in that moment.
"I see you're coming from the PALACE OF THE QUEEN DOWAGER, anything special happening?" she asked me. This was her original intent for shooting daggers at me.
I didn't think it was the right thing to tell her what was going on so I lied "oh just nothing much"
"Nothing much you say??" She said while scanning through my wet body.
I sharply nodded yes before walking away quickly before it got any weirder.
******************************
By the time I cleaned myself up it was evening approaching night. Since there was nothing much to do, I decided to take a walk. As I walked through the paths of the Palace, I began to think of my family, they must be worried about me. I wondered if everything was okay with my mum and the twins.
Everything will be fine, I asked Oliver to keep my situation a secret until I am ready to tell my family
Before I realised, tears already rolled down my eyes. I kept walking and walking until I got lost in a place with a gold painted bridge with lanterns hanging on each side of the bridge.
Oh no, I got lost in my thoughts again!why is this place deserted? No guards or anything? I don't remember Court lady Agatha bringing me to this place while she was showing me around.
I was halfway across the bridge trying to check for clues when all of a sudden I heard a voice saying "Who are you?" I quickly turned towards the direction of the voice.
I didn't see his face clearly but from his physique it's obvious that he's a man.
"Uhm....hello?? Do you work here? If you do could you show me the way to Courtmaids' Quarters" I said while trying to figure out how the face of the person is.
"WHO ARE YOU?" The voice said again, more authoritatively!
"I'm Scarlett, a courtmaid...new one actually. So please now tell me how to leave here. I need to get back before the doors get closed" I said in a pleading tone.
The figure started to approach me....closer and closer until I could see his face a bit, but not so clear. He looked at me and said "Sit and have a chat with me"
"A chat really?" I retorted
He let out a sigh and lazily said "I could kill you right now if I wanted to"
What is wrong with everyone and threatening to kill here?? Second time I'm being threatened with my life.
I didn't care much about my life, but my family needed me. Regardless, I'd rather much be alive than be dead so I obeyed the strange man.
I looked at the railings of the bridge, they looked rather too dusty. Dusty? How long has this place been like this? There's lanterns but the railings aren't cleaned? Who is in charge of this place? I can't ruin a second maid uniform today
The man must have caught me staring at the railings and he said "Not there, you moron." His hands pointed towards a place across the bridge.
The only source of light were the bridge lanterns, they don't see so far. I followed his lead because it seemed like he knew his way around here.
Who is this man?
The place was under a huge tree with already cemented chairs to the ground. It was dusty but not as dusty as the railings of the bridge. Before I could sit, the man brought out a piece of cloth from the inside of his clothes and then cleaned the chair for me.
Well this is gentlemanly, Where's the man who wanted to kill me a few minutes ago?
He did the same for himself then as if planned we both sat at the same time.
"If you could have just clean the bridge railings, we wouldn't have to come all the way here" I thoughtlessly blurted out.
He looked at me like he was going to strangle me, at that moment I realised the fault I committed. This man could kill me right here, right now.
Surprisingly he just sighed and looked towards the direction of the bridge.
"What do you think of Alchlor? The kingdom...how do you see it?" He asked me.
I had been waiting for the moment a person asks me this question. I had so much to say!!
"I think there's too many problems, do you really want to hear them?" I asked him
He nodded in approval
Then I started to speak "I think this kingdom has many problems. Starting from the tax payments"
He looked at me in confusion "Tax payments what's wrong with it? It's only 30 taels of silver per month for the nobles, 15 taels of silver per month for the middle class and 5 taels from the lower class. How is that a problem?"
I scuffed as I replied him "Are you are member of this kingdom at all? What are you saying? The nobles don't pay taxes, the middle class and lower class pay 50 taels of silver each every month"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN??" He exclaimed
I continued "That's not even the most ridiculous one. There's a rule that only the nobles are allowed to wear the colour white! How does that even make sense?? It's just a colour. Any non-noble person that wears white could be killed"
At that point his face was flushed with worry. Regardless, I continued "even during the drought, the citizens don't get relief meals and they die of hunger...many more situations like that. Many are sold as slaves because they can't pay back loans as well."
"Thanks for your honest answer, i will remember you!" he replied
Remember me for what??
Just as I was about to ask him the reason for all these questions I heard the loud bells of the Palace ring....signalling the closure of all doors.
I am absolutely done for!
I got up in a rush and started to panic when the strange man brought out a token, took my hand and put the token inside.
"What is this?" I asked in an angry tone!
It's his fault I'm gonna get kicked out. The loan sharks will hurt my family if I get kicked out and can't pay them back.
"Show the guards this and they'll let you through any door" He said.
He must have seen the disbelief in my eyes when he continued saying "believe it or not gi...."
Without waiting for him to finish I dashed away and over my back I heard him shiut "My name's Felix by the way. I hope to meet you again sometime"
I didn't answer him I just kept running in this uncomfortable black and white maid uniform until I reach the gate of the courtmaids' Quarters.
The guards on seeing me, crossed their spears to the sides of eachother and said "No one is allowed to go in after the gates have been closed. " one of the guards said.
Nervously, I pulled out the token Felix had given me and I show it to them, immediately they looked at eachother and rushed over to open the gates at once. And then, I walked in the Quarters.
Well the token held much power than I imagined.
As I got to my room, Evelyn was already asleep and I'm greeted with a worried Amelia.
"Where have you been? I've been so worried since Courtlady Agatha dragged you away this morning" She said in a shaky voice.
Amelia is only a cute 17year old who also got sold. I pat her head and ask her not to worry about me.
I changed to my sleeping clothes which is pure white silk. Courtmaids and Courtladies were allowed to wear white because they're considered the King's women
I took another glance at the token, and hid it in a place no one would ever think of.
Who exactly was Felix?
************************
The two weeks of my training went really quickly to my surprise. Today was the day of my test, the test that determined whether I was getting kicked out or not and whether I was getting to live or die.
During those two weeks I hadn't come across Felix anymore. I wasn't disappointed!
I was already dressed in my maid uniform when a lady came up to me, signalling that it's time for the test.
"The Queen Dowager calls for you" she said.
I nodded before I made my way to the Palace of the Queen Dowager.
On my way suddenly someone called out my name "Scarlett!!!!"
I look back and before I know it a bright smile came on my face.
Oliver?