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.

C6: A NEW DAY AT THE PALACE

Searching, her eyes wandered till they landed on a masculine tall man who stood out amongst the other soldiers he took regal strides as he walked to a seat one like a throne at the other end of the hall.

He wore a black royal robe, his face was masked, there was something off about his silver coloured mask; she couldn't see his eyes, one thing she needed for confirmation.

One thing was certain this man before him screamed danger whereas she was comfortable with the stranger.

Sighing she silenced her thoughts.

The head maid was there with them as well. She brought out a scroll she had seen her holding earlier and guessed it contained the names of the new maids.

After a while she heard her name "Lily, step out" she said coldly and Lucy walked out immediately feeling the king's eyes on her as she couldn't see his eyes she held herself from glaring at him.

"Present" she said just like the others.

"You will be assigned the duty of making the king's daily tea and if you should work faithfully you shall be his personal maid"

the woman said stiffly as if she didn't like the idea of Lucy being the king's personal maid.

Some of the maids were envious of her, being the king's personal maid was going to fetch her a lot more money than being an ordinary maid.

Lucy smiled inwardly. She was going to do her best to become his personal maid so that she could know him more and how to strike.

"Thank you your majesty, I shall do my best to serve you wholeheartedly" Lucy said the words rolling off her tongue happily, everyone could see how happy she was but then why she was, differed.

After a stressful night Lucy lay down on her small bed massaging her legs, Catherine squatted down helping her,

"Lily you're lucky to be the king's tea maid I'm happy for you" Catherine said and the new maids glared at them.

"true it's good you get to serve the king tea it's a simple job but quite trouble especially if the king is in a bad mood, you should avoid anything that would piss him off, that's why you are paid heavily" the new girl said,

Lucy stared at her and she coughed "um I'm only trying to help, I'm Ann" the girl as she cleared her throat.

"thank you for your concern Catherine had told me a lot about what it takes" Lucy replied and the girl nodded, then faced the wall as she lay on her bed at the extreme.

Lucy, who had made sure everyone else had their bath, poured fresh water into the bathtub and had her bath.

Wrapping the towel around her, she wore her night wear which she had brought along from the inn.

She layed on her bed and slept off.

THE NEXT MORNING

Waking up early Lucy took her bath before everyone else as she wasn't used to bathing with others when she was done she found them awake.

"Lily you didn't bother to wake us up is anything the matter" Ann said with a frown, they didn't oversleep but Lucy had woken up very early.

"I only wanted to take my bath we still have two hours before we start working" Lucy said and the girl's frown deepened,

"even so we are roommates aren't we, or is there some flaw which you are scared of showing" Ann question her hands folded under her chest.

Lucy sighed "if that's what you think fine I have a huge problem and I wouldn't want anyone to see it" she replied as she dramatically stretched her hands apart to show how big her problem was.

Ann glared at her wanting to say more but Catherine stood up

"fine everyone this isn't a time to fight,

we just met each other yesterday and a few days ago so why fight over nothing" she asked and Lucy sat down on her bed.

"Ann just like you said earlier we are roommates and should behave as one, it isn't a must that we must bath together at least it is not a rule in Clearstone palace so don't make trouble because of this"

Catherine said and Ann scoffed.

"fine if you say so, besides what do I expect from an orphan they are naturally loners" she said and left while Catherine shook her head.

"don't take her words to heart Lily" Catherine said and Lucy sighed once more "it's fine I won't, which dress should I wear now" Lucy asked pointing at the neatly folded dresses.

"the pink one and the blue one the next day" Catherine explained, Lucy thanked her.

Lucy stepped out of her room as she headed to the kitchen.

"do you know where the kitchen is, I might as well take you there" Catherine said but Lucy shook her head.

"I know where it is Cathy" she said and left, Catherine shrugged "maybe someone showed her the way already" she said in a low tone and walked away leaving Ann who narrowed her eyes.

one thing she knew in this palace at least this one, the maids loves to ignore others so how did she know the way to the kitchen,she thought and left as well.

Lucy hummed as she prepared the king's tea the cooks couldn't help but praise her the scent of the tea made them salivate.

"Lily can I have a taste of this wonderful tea" a young cook asked and Lucy smiled,

"sure but you will have to take it from the teapot not the king's royal teacup" Lucy said and the cook face smacked herself.

Lucy headed to the king's quarters only to hear heavy footsteps behind her turning around she saw him, his golden eyes brightening as they met her hazel ones,

Lucy looked away.

"good morning sir" she greeted with a slight bow and the man stared at her.

"Goodmorning to you Lily, what's that?" he asked her as he pointed at the cup she carried, she felt oddly satisfied and happy to see him and hear his voice.