C3: THE KING'S QUARTERS

Waking up, Lucy blinked her eyes as they tried to adjust to the sunlight coming from the wooden window in her room.

she yawned her hazel eyes dull as she stood up and went to take her bathe.

stepping into the mini bathtub she could barely stretch her leg, she missed taking her bathe in her large bathtub as wide as a pond.

Lucy sighed, scrubbing her skin after a while she came out with a robe.

She wore a beige coloured dress, packing her hair into a ponytail she left her room.

On walking out of the inn she saw the woman "goodmorning ma'am" she greeted the woman who smiled at her.

"Good morning to you too Lily, I thought I would have to go to your room, glad you came out, we have to go to the palace now" the woman said and Lucy nodded and they left.

CLEARSTONE PALACE

Lucy arrived there with the woman, she glanced at the sturdy gigantic gate before her she clenched her fist, the guards present stopped them but the woman gave them the necessary information they let them pass.

They went to the head maid.

Lucy might be discovered even though she had lived in the last palace of the Clearstone kingdom the head maid might still recognize her, but there was no backing out.

She stood before the head maid whose rigid face could scare many. The woman scrutinized her.

"Who is she, Eve?" the head maid asked the woman who brought Lucy.

"She is Lily, she would like to be recruited as a maid, she is good at making tea that I can testify" Eve said and the head maid stared at Lucy for a while.

"you look like a noble so what are you doing here" she asked Lucy who pursed her lips.

"ma'am I am an orphan who is trying to survive I hope you would offer this job" Lucy said bowing to the woman who raised a brow,

she sighed "fine you are selected you will be assigned to the king's quarter's, I hope you won't fail me" she asked and Lucy smiled she was making great progress.

"I won't ma'am and I promise to do my best" Lucy said firmly and the woman nodded.

"good you may have a word with Eve before going to your assigned quarters" the head maid said and Lucy bowed before leaving with Eve.

"Ma'am thank you for helping gain this job" Lucy said and the woman's lips curved into a smile.

"why won't I, you seem special so of course I would love to help you. Though she is a good friend of mine, it's surprising to know she accepted you without going through many tests.

that's to show how different you are, just be good and don't step on the king's toes and that of his soldiers"

Eve said and Lucy nodded after a while of advice they bid farewell to each other, with the former heading out of the gate and latter walking further into the palace.

the palace had three buildings one for meetings, balls and to accommodate guests, the second being in the middle was her parents quarter's it was for the royalties,

but then they had built a new palace behind the two and it was where she lived funny enough she never lived with her parents and it saddened her heart sometimes.

She didn't know where the new king stayed.

Confused, she went to the first palace but she was asked to go to the king's quarters. No one said anything more.

After a long while searching for the king's quarters a maid walked up to her.

"Young miss who are you" the maid asked Lucy turned "I'm Lily, a new maid here I was assigned to the king's quarters but I don't know where it is"

Lucy answered politely and the maid nodded her head with an 'oh'.

"I'm Catherine, the king's quarters is the last palace" she explained and Lucy smiled but the girl came closer

"be careful do not mess with him or you might be killed, some of the former guards and maid's were killed as well, and beware of his soldiers they aren't human know what you say before them"

she added whispering into her ears before gently stepping back, she hastily left a thoughtful Lucy.

she didn't know if Helene was alright remembering their last meeting a tear slipped through her eyes, as long as she could remember Helene had always been with her.

she had been her maid since they were little so she was also like a friend, she wiped the tears and headed for her own palace.

Lucy stood before the beautiful milk coloured building, she stared at a place she once lived and called home.

she chuckled it was no longer her home not until she defeated that monster who took everything away from her.

She had a strong urge to take a look at her room but she suppressed it immediately, she couldn't afford to be suspected by them she saw ten soldiers who were bulky.

she felt that something was off about them, one walked up to her "you, have I met you before" he asked and she flinched when he sniffed her.

"I haven't seen you before this is my first time here" she lied but he refused to let her go.

she felt familiar, like the one talking to the maid he had captured, but another soldier walked up to him

"Frank, let her go we shouldn't harass the poor humans they are way beneath us" the soldier said and the other reluctantly left her.

Lucy heaved a huge sigh as she walked into the mansion she saw a slightly open room.

It had been an empty room when she lived there.

her feet took her there before she could stop herself she had fully opened the door,

'oh no Lucy' she face smacked herself mentally she had the intention of closing it and walking away but a voice stopped her.

"who are you, what are you doing here" she halted immediately breathing in she opened her once closed eyes.

"I am Lily, a new maid assigned to the king's quarters but I don't know the way, I apologize for disturbing your peace" Lucy said in one breath.

The person scoffed "I would like to see the face of this maid who doesn't know where she is assigned to, come in" the voice replied it was a domineering male voice.

she hesitated a bit unsure.

C4:THE KING'S QUATERS 2

Lucy decided to go inside since she was caught already, walking in her breath hitched as she stared at the person before her.

He sat down lazily on the chair, his long raven black hair a bit disheveled as he stared at her with his golden coloured eyes, Lucy gulped.

His face screamed ethereal beauty and his broad shoulder showed how masculine he was.

"Oh so you're the one looking for the king's quarters" he asked and she nodded after a while waking herself.

"Good day sir, please can you tell me where it is?" she asked, composing herself, he smiled leaving her breathless once more.

she had never felt this way before she cautioned herself mentally she was here for revenge not to fall for a stranger.

"Hmn, Lily you have to go the room by the left at the end of the hallway" he said,

Lucy was stunned at how beautiful her name was as they rolled off his tongue, she bit her lips.

looking up she saw those golden eyes on her once more she sighed inwardly, today wasn't a good day for her.

"Thank you sir, I shall take my leave then, I apologize for disturbing you" she said and left immediately making the man who wanted to say more pause.

he stared at the door, he had never seen her before yet he felt connected to her he sighed, he had so much to do he left the room shortly after.

Lucy stopped before a room, it was the king's quarters. It was right opposite hers, she glared at the brown sturdy door as if it was the king.

She was unsure what to do, the head maid had accepted her immediately but then she felt like she didn't like her at all,

first assigning her to the king's quarters secondly not sending her a guide nor giving her a particular duty.

Someone tapped her and she flinched. It was the maid earlier "Catherine, you are here" Lucy asked and the girl shook her head.

"Lily I see that you're lost, I am assigned to the king's quarters as well, follow me" she said and Lucy nodded.

The girl gently opened the door and Lucy followed her staring at the interior decorations of the room.

A huge bed was at the center of the room but it was pushed against the wall with a black curtain draped around it then it had a couch placed before it and a table with three stools around it.

The large room was painted white with golden designs, same as the stools except the couch which was black in colour with little golden embroidery.

Catherine walked to the other side of the room there was a white door there which she didn't notice earlier, Catherine signaled her to come closer which she did,

The maid opened the door revealing a huge bathtub one bigger than hers white in colour beside it was a wooden hanger which stood at the left side with three different robes placed neatly on it.

"this is his bathtub, I have to show all these to you though you will be presented to him just like the other maids it is then you will be made clear what your major duty is"

Catherine explained and Lucy nodded thoughtfully she couldn't wait to see him.

"I will take you to your quarters, the maids live close to where they are assigned, so you will stay at the servant's quarters in this palace.

every other room is accessible to you except the room opposite, for some reasons the king doesn't want anyone near that room"

she said and Lucy narrowed her gaze.

so he had restricted everyone from coming to her room 'for what reason' she thought, he had chosen to stay opposite her room,

Was he expecting her or someone that could bring him to her? She sighed, rubbing her head. She was thinking too much.

"It seems you are tired. Let's go. I will take you to your room," she said as she stared at Lucy.

"Thank you very much Cathie" Lucy left with her she stared at the walls. It had pictures of her parents but not hers. She frowned.

Did they know that this was going to happen but then wouldn't have averted it?

she bumped into Catherine.

"Are you really ok, you sure need to rest," Catherine said, holding her.

"I will be fine just a bit stressed" Lucy replied and Catherine nodded

"I can relate life as a commoner is not easy, I am grateful for this job at least I get to feed my old mother at home,

you will get used to working here just avoid any trouble"

Catherine said and Lucy smiled.

she was acting like Helene, she felt the urge to ask about her.

"Cathie what happened to the old maids, it was said that the king's quarters needed more maids what of the ones assigned here" Lucy asked carefully,

"oh, though I came here last week but it's said that the king had killed them while some said they were held captive in the inner dungeon" Catherine said in low whispers, Lucy frowned

"was it necessary" she asked annoyed and Catherine hushed her "lower your voice, they are likely to be killed since the king is searching for the princess but she is nowhere to be found and they aren't giving him any information"

she had heard enough the thought of Helene being truly dead made her heart ache if she had escaped with her maybe she could have saved one person at least

"Where is my room?" she asked and Catherine opened it by their side. It had three beds.

"here the one at the left side is yours mine is the one at the middle there is a new girl that came three days ago she will be staying there, your robes are in your wardrobe"

Catherine explained once more, she had truly helped her out a lot.

"Cathie thank you a lot, I guess I will take a nap if it's allowed" Lucy asked.

"You can I will tell you more when you wake up for now rest" Catherine said and left and Lucy sighed.

C5: FAMILIAR VOICE

Lying down on the wooden bed she relaxed, for a royal it would have been hard to cope but she had always mingled with commoners.

Closing her eyes her mind drifted back to those golden eyes, she shivered hearing a heavy thump she sat up searching for who it was only to realize it was her heart she face smacked herself.

She wasn't the type to fall for someone easily, she had met lots of handsome men but none was like him.

It wasn't about his looks, she just couldn't tell what it was that made her feel attracted to him.

After an hour of struggles she finally slept off as she curled into a ball on the bed with a duvet draped over her body.

Lucy felt a tap on her shoulder she whined snuggling closer to her pillow a smile on her face as she dreamt of her mother but the tap became numerous she grunted and slowly opened her eyes.

"Helene stop disturbing me please" she said immediately as she rubbed her eyes.

"Lily it's me Catherine not Helene" Catherine said helping her up, Lucy stared at her, she sighed her shoulders dropped, Helene wasn't with her.

"Lucy you have to take your bath, the newcomers will soon be presented before the king" Catherine said and Lucy sobered up immediately.

She stood up once, removing the duvet and went to the bathroom where its door was at the corner of the room.

It was a large wooden bathtub enough for three people but it was local, even though she was okay with the wooden bed, the bathtub at the inn was much better than this one when it comes to its quality.

Catherine noticing her reluctance tried to help her

"I know you might not be used to taking your bathe with others but then you will get used it besides it will be me,

you and the new maid and I think she would be a good workmate" Catherine said and Lucy's eyes went round.

"Will we all bathe together?" she asked and Catherine stared at her,

"Of course but if you're uncomfortable you can bathe alone but don't be late else you will be punished" she replied and Lucy nodded.

Catherine left her alone as she stepped out of the room.

Staring at the clean water she took off her dress and slipped into the bathtub she let out a deep breath.

The water felt refreshing as she splashed it on her skin feeling its lukewarm state, taking her bath she had many thoughts running on her head, these two months had been stressful for her.

Stepping out of the bathroom room with a towel she stepped into the room, 'it seems the maids aren't given bathrobes' she thought as she stared at the towel she tied awkwardly.

Catherine stared at her towel before shaking her head "you should fold the end under the other side tightly else it would fall off" Catherine said and Lucy nodded embarrassed.

"Here, wear this for today" she said, handing a blue dress similar to the one she was wearing to her, Lucy smiled collecting the dress.

"thanks Cathy" she said and Catherine smiled "you're welcome now be quick it's dusk, we have to assemble with the others" Catherine urged her.

Lucy wore the blue plain dress which showed her figure, she wasn't slender but she wasn't too thick either, Catherine's eyes were glued to her.

Lucy snapped her finger before her "are you alright, is the dress too bad, I think it shouldn't be this fitting" Lucy said trying to remove it.

"you're right it fits you, I was surprised to see that this dress fit you so well, but you can't change it,

the head maid is the one who gives out the dresses to the maids and you aren't allowed to change it" Catherine explained and Lucy sighed,then she would have to wear it.

remembering someone she but her lips "Catherine have you seen someone with a golden eye here" she asked and Catherine shook her head.

"I don't think and if there should be any it might be the king or his brother I guess.

when I was presented to the king he didn't bother to see us and I don't think he would today"

Catherine said with a shrug and Lucy shook her head,

'If he is that beast or his brother then I don't need to feel this way' she thought.

Walking through the hallway, her mind drifted back to the stranger as she passed the room where she had met him.

She couldn't help but wish that he wasn't her enemy or at least not her direct enemy, she pleaded inwardly as she walked beside Catherine.

They entered a huge hall, it was where she took dancing lessons with her mother, Lucy's fist tightened.

to think that this place was now meant for gathering new maids made her blood boil Catherine noticing her mood touched her hand.

"Lucy are you alright" she whispered into Lucy's ears, she shook her head

"I'm good, I'm sorry for troubling you" she said and the girl nodded.

Joining the other maids, they were about thirty she tried to look at every one of them but couldn't find Helene her eyelids lowered as they tried to hide the tears within them she gently wiped it off by pretending there was something in her eyes.

"The king is here you all should bow" a soldier announced she found it difficult to do that but she didn't have a choice. Keeping straight back would only raise suspicion and she wouldn't risk that.

bowing her head rigidly she heard a powerful voice which held authority "you may rise"

the voice said but it sounded familiar looking up quickly she had two things in mind,

she wanted to see the monster who made her lose her home and parents but somewhere in her heart she wanted to know who that voice belonged to if it was his or not, her heart thrummed as she looked up.