Mira's POV:
As I entered the dining hall, I scanned the room, taking in the grand chandeliers and intricately carved wooden panels. The room was filled with the warm aroma of freshly baked bread and roasting meat. The King sat at the head of the table, his blond hair adorned with a crown, and dressed in a simple yet elegant white shirt and black pants. Prince Cadoc was to his right, and he smiled at me, his eyes shining with warmth. Princess Evie was seated to the King's left, her blond hair styled in an elegant updo, and a tiara sparkled on her head. She wore a beautiful blue dress that matched her eyes, and despite her cold demeanor, she smiled at me.
I noticed a woman in her 40s, with curly brown hair and a kind face, seated opposite Prince Cadoc. A boy with messy brown hair and bright chocolate eyes sat beside her, looking no older than 16. I searched the room desperately for Prince Nova, but he was nowhere to be found. I curtsied gracefully, and the King smiled warmly.
"Welcome, Mira. Please, seat yourself."
I took the seat beside Prince Cadoc, who smiled at me, his eyes shining with warmth. The waiters began serving us, and I was amazed by the amount of food on the table. There were platters of roasted meats, steaming vegetables, and freshly baked bread. The King encouraged us to eat, and I couldn't help but indulge in the delicious food.
After the main course, they served us dessert, and I noticed the King chatting with the woman, Velma, like old friends. They talked about a recent charity event they had both attended, and the King laughed at something she said.
After dessert, the King asked me, "How was your trip, Mira?"
I smiled politely. "It was long, but I'm glad to be here, Your Majesty."
The King smiled. "I'm glad you made it safely. Oh, before I forget, I need to introduce you to my friend, Velma Pierce." He smiled fondly at her. "She is the wife of the head of the bodyguards and Prince Nova's personal bodyguard."
My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Prince Nova's name, and I wondered where he was. I stood up and curtsied. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Pierce"
She smiled. "Please, call me Velma. Mrs. Pierce makes me feel old."
The King introduced the boy beside her as Xander, her youngest son. I smiled and bowed to him, and to my surprise, he stood up and took my hand, kissing it. I was taken aback but tried to hide it. He smiled and said, "It's nice to meet you, Miss Mira."
I frowned slightly, unsure of what to make of his gesture. Prince Cadoc looked like he was suppressing a laugh, and I wondered what was funny. He whispered softly, "Let's talk after breakfast."
I nodded excitedly and smiled brightly at him, he looked away quickly, clearing his throat. I raised an eyebrow but shifted my focus to the King and asked respectfully, "Your Majesty, I didn't see His Highness, Prince Nova."
The King replied, "He is on a business trip with Velma's husband."
Velma teased the King, "I'm sure my husband is keeping him out of trouble."
The King chuckled. "I'm sure Nova is keeping your husband on his toes."
I wondered when Prince Nova would return, but I pushed the thought aside and focused on the moment.
After that, the King and Velma excused themselves, while Prince Cadoc led me out of the room. I smiled at Xander, who smiled back and blushed, quickly looking away. Outside the room, I noticed Bellamy waiting for me, along with a guard standing at attention. The guard had a stern expression, his eyes fixed forward.
Bellamy started to speak, "My lady, how wasâ"
But she stopped when she saw Prince Cadoc with me. She quickly looked down, curtseying and blushing furiously. Prince Cadoc smiled at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
The guard bowed to Prince Cadoc. "Your Highness."
"Thank you, Caleb. You may leave us," Prince Cadoc said, dismissing him.
Caleb nodded and left, his footsteps echoing down the corridor.
I turned to Bellamy. "Bella, you can leave us for now. We'll meet up later, okay?"
Bellamy nodded, her eyes still cast down. "Of course, my lady." She curtsied again and quickly rushed away.
Prince Cadoc looked at me and said, "Shall we?"
I nodded, and we walked together, Prince Cadoc leading the way. He pointed out various tapestries and paintings, telling me stories about each one. As we walked, guards, maids, and everyone we encountered bowed or curtsied, making me feel a bit uncomfortable. But I tried to push it down, getting used to the royal treatment.
We walked through the west wing's foyer, and I paused when I saw a portrait of a stunning woman. She had fiery red hair, like Prince Cadoc and Prince Nova, and a small nose, plump lips, and bright green eyes. She wore a crown on her head, adorned with precious gems and intricate designs. I was struck by her resemblance to Princess Evie, except for the hair and eye color.
Prince Cadoc noticed my gaze and said solemnly, "My mother."
"She's beautiful," I said, turning to him. He smiled sadly, his eyes filled with a deep longing.
My heart went out to him, and I took his hand, squeezing it gently. We stood there for a moment, side by side, staring at the late queen's portrait.
Then, Prince Cadoc's usual witty smile returned, and he said, "Ready?"
I nodded, and he led me to the double doors across the room. When he opened them, I gasped at the breathtaking sight before me. A grand garden stretched out, filled with vibrant flowers, towering trees, and sparkling fountains. A fluffy white cat and a playful golden retriever wandered around, adding to the serene atmosphere.
Prince Cadoc smiled, amused by my reaction. "Welcome to our garden."
The scent of blooming flowers enveloped me, and I breathed in deeply, feeling instantly at peace. This garden was far more beautiful and bigger than the one at home, and I couldn't wait to explore it.
We sat down on a bench, and Prince Cadoc called out, "Luna, Majesty!" The cat and dog rushed towards him, eager for attention. The dog's tail wagged excitedly, and the cat meowed, rubbing against the prince's leg. He scooped up the cat, cradling it in his arms, and it began to purr contentedly.
"Ah, my little furballs," he cooed, "I've missed you so much." He kissed the cat's forehead, and it licked his hand in response.
I smiled at the scene, taking a moment to study the animals. The cat, Luna, was a beautiful white fluffy ball, with bright green eyes and a little pink nose. The dog, Majesty, was a golden retriever with a luscious coat and a wagging tail that never seemed to stop. Both wore collars with the crest of Calonia, marking them as royal pets.
Majesty came over to me, his tail wagging, and I laughed as he nuzzled my hand, wanting more attention. Prince Cadoc chuckled, "Looks like Majesty has taken a liking to you, Mira."
Just then, we heard someone calling out, "Majesty, Luna!" We looked up to see a man, dressed in a simple tunic and pants, sweating and panting. He seemed to be one of the royal pet handlers, responsible for walking and caring for the animals.
He bowed to Prince Cadoc, "Your Highness, I'm so sorry. I was walking them, and I didn't notice when they ran off. I didn't mean to disturb you."
Prince Cadoc waved it away, "No need to apologize, Edward. I'm just glad to see them. It's been too long since I've spent time with them."
The handler smiled, relieved, and reached out his hand, "Majesty, Luna, let's go." Luna jumped out of Prince Cadoc's lap and into the awaiting arms of the handler.
Majesty looked at me, and I rubbed behind his ears, "Don't worry, I'll come visit you later, okay?"
His tail wagged, and the handler smiled, "Let's leave His Highness and his guest to it, then."
With that, the handler took the royal pets away, leaving us alone. Prince Cadoc turned to me, looking amused, "You seem to have a way with animals, Mira. Majesty seems quite taken with you."
I blushed, "I just love animals, that's all."
He teased, "Well, I'm glad to see you're making friends with the royal pets. Maybe next time, we'll have a picnic in the gardens, and they can join us."
I smiled, "That sounds lovely."
We sat in a comfortable silence, admiring the garden's beauty and serenity. I breathed in deeply, enjoying the scent of blooming flowers. "This place is really peaceful," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
The prince nodded, "It is. That's why it's one of my favorite places in the Palace."
I nodded, taking in the tranquility of the garden. Then, I remembered something. "I heard that this isn't the only garden in the Palace," I said, curiosity getting the better of me.
He smiled knowingly. "There's also the queen's garden, tended by the queen herself." He turned to me, his green eyes clouded with a hint of mischief. "Which you are also supposed to tend to."
I was taken aback, surprised that he knew about my father's arrangement. "How did you know?" I asked, my voice laced with wonder.
He chuckled. "I know because I'm smart." He said it offhandedly, but I couldn't help but laugh at his confidence.
"Of course, Prince Cadoc. You're the smartest person I know," I teased, playfully rolling my eyes.
He mock-bowed, his smile widening. "Thank you, kind maiden."
My expression turned serious, and I sighed. "Regardless, I don't know why I feel guilty."
He looked at me thoughtfully. "It's because you want my brother to choose you on his own. You couldn't stand it if he didn't like you."
I realized then that Prince Cadoc was indeed very smart.
I turned to him, my voice barely above a whisper. "I know you might think I'm kind of cheap, but I don't really have a choice. My father wants to send me to the University of Valdoria, but I don't want to go. Winning the prince's heart isn't the only reason I'm hereâ"
He stopped me, his voice gentle. "I don't think you're cheap, Mira. You don't owe me or anyone any explanation for being here. It's your choice, to stay or to leave, to marry my brother or not. It's all you, Mira. You don't have to feel guilty about it." He looked down at his hands, his eyes shining with kindness. "And even if Prince Nova doesn't choose you, then you don't have to marry him. If you don't want to, Mira."
He looked up, meeting my gaze. "Mira, I said I would support you, right? And I will, I promise."
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. That was one of the nicest things anyone had ever said to me. I smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude. "Thank you, Cadoc."
He looked surprised but smiled back. "Anytime, Mira."
We sat together in comfortable silence, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I just gained a true friend.
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Valerie's POV:
The day was gradually getting dark, and I wiped the sweat away from my forehead. I had been cleaning since morning, and I was still not done. I sighed, ready to clean the next room, when I heard footsteps. I paused, wondering who that was, since I hadn't encountered anyone here since I started cleaning. I looked up and was surprised to find Mrs. Bertha standing there.
Her eyes widened, and she immediately exclaimed, "Valerie, what are you still doing here?" Her tone was laced with surprise and a hint of concern.
I furrowed my brows, not understanding. "Big mum, you asked me to..."
Her eyes widened in understanding, and she immediately came over to me. "You can stop cleaning now, Valerie. You pass." She said it with a warm smile, and I was taken aback.
I was confused. "But I'm not done..."
She waved her hand dismissively. "It's okay, dear. You've done enough."
My stomach growled, and I flushed in embarrassment. Mrs. Bertha noticed and asked, "Have you eaten?"
I hesitated, not wanting her to know I hadn't eaten breakfast. "No..."
She smiled kindly. "Let me treat you to some soup. You must be starving."
I couldn't protest; I was too tired. I nodded and said, "Thank you, Mrs. Bertha."
My stomach rumbled in happiness as she led me towards the elevator and past the south wing. She stopped a maid and collected the master card she had given me, handing it over to the maid with instructions to retrieve the cleaning tools from the south wing's bedchambers.
She led me to the north wing, and I found myself in a beautiful lounge-like room. There was a kitchenette, a television, and comfortable seating areas. Mrs. Bertha led me to a long dining table, where two identical settings were laid out. She told me to seat myself, and I did, feeling a bit awestruck.
She went to the kitchenette and spoke to a man wearing a chef's outfit, who was clearing up the place. She asked if there was still food, and he nodded. She instructed him to serve it, and soon I had a steaming bowl of soup and other dishes in front of me.
I looked up at Mrs. Bertha, who also had the same food in front of her. I asked, "May I?"
She nodded, smiling warmly, and I started feasting on the food hurriedly. The soup was delicious, and the other dishes were just as tasty. I ate in silence, savoring the flavors and feeling grateful for Mrs. Bertha's kindness.
I finished eating and was about to clear the plates, but Mrs. Bertha stopped me. I sat hesitantly, and let the chef clear the plates away. I felt a little guilty for not doing it myself, but I pushed it down.
Mrs. Bertha was seated beside me, still eating. I asked carefully, not wanting to be rude, "I have a question, Big Mum."
She looked up and said, "You can ask, dear."
I continued, "I wanted to ask why you were surprised when you saw me still cleaning?"
Mrs. Bertha grinned and said, "That's a good question, my dear." She cleaned her mouth and sat up straight. "You weren't supposed to finish it, Valerie."
I was confused. "Huh? I thought I was supposed to clean all the rooms?"
Mrs. Bertha elaborated, seeing my confused face. "The test was to show how far you could go and not actually completing it."
I looked surprised, and Mrs. Bertha asked, "How many rooms did you clean?"
"Twelve," I replied.
Mrs. Bertha's face showed surprise, and she exclaimed, "You are the first person in all my years of being the housekeeper that actually tried to complete it! The rest either gave up halfway or couldn't even start it." She said it with pride evident in her face. "Valerie, you have really outdone yourself."
I looked away, blushing, and Big Mum asked curiously, "Why did you push yourself that hard?"
I thought before answering, "I wanted to give up at first, but I reminded myself I couldn't. I thought of my parents, who sent me here, and how they had so much faith in me. I couldn't go back home with shame, and I'm mainly here to make them proud. So, no matter what comes my way, I will face it head-on."
As I said it, I felt homesick and missed my parents. Mrs. Bertha smiled with approval and said, "I'm sure they are proud. Congratulations, Valerie Alaric, you are now a maid in the Palace of Calonia!"
I smiled widely, feeling proud of myself for proving myself. Just as I was about to say something, the door opened, and we heard a loud chatter coming from outside. I saw maids, chefs, cooks, kitchen staff, and footmen entering the room, all wearing their respective uniforms. Mrs. Bertha stood up, and I followed suit. She said, "Seems like they are here."
I was surprised on what was going on. Mrs. Bertha cleared her voice and said in a loud voice, addressing everyone, "Silence, please." The room immediately went quiet, and I saw that everyone respected Mrs. Bertha. They were all looking at her with respect.
She continued, going to stand in front of them, and motioned for me to come forward. I went with nervousness, feeling all eyes on me. Mrs. Bertha said to them, "We have a new maid joining us. Please treat her as one of us, since she is one of us." I felt shy, noticing that most of the workers looked at me with hostility, while the rest smiled warmly. I also noticed Julie among the crowd, smiling at me.
They welcomed me, and I smiled, not knowing what to do. One guy, a footman, shouted, "Introduce yourself!"
His friend next to him replied, "Yeah, yeah, introduce yourself!"
Mrs. Bertha shouted at him, "Will you shut up, Jude?" He immediately shut up, and his partner also quieted down.
Mrs. Bertha smiled at me with kindness, saying, "Dear, please introduce yourself."
I nodded hesitantly, hating public speaking. I took a deep breath and said, "My name is Valerie Alaric, and I'm from Eldrida."
Jude smiled brightly and said, "Nice to meet you."
Mrs. Bertha rolled her eyes at him and said, "I'm sure everyone is happy to meet you, Valerie." She turned to them and said, "Right?" They quickly affirmed, even though some looked anything but happy.
Mrs. Bertha said, "Dismissed," and some people left quickly, while others remained. I had counted up to 30 people, plus the chef who had served me earlier.
Mrs. Bertha turned to me and said, "In this Palace, the maids clean wing to wing. Five maids are assigned to each wing, and the most experienced maids clean the east wing, which is the royal family's and the head of the guard's dwelling. Every start of the week, a roster is posted here on the wall, where the names of the maids will be posted to view where they are positioned."
I nodded, taking in all the information. Mrs. Bertha asked, "Do you have a smartphone?" I nodded, and she explained, "An app will be put on your phone, which will signal you when a guest or royal family member that you are assigned to needs you. It's an easy way to communicate and keep track of your duties."
I nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. Mrs. Bertha said, "But that doesn't concern you now. It mainly happens when we have a lot of guests." I nodded, feeling famished, and Mrs. Bertha said, "You don't have to resume tomorrow. I can see you are tired."
I couldn't protest, and I said, "Thank you so much, Mrs. Bertha. I really appreciate your kindness."
She smiled warmly and said, "That's okay, my dear."
She brought out a paper from a pouch tied around her waist and handed it to me. "These are the names and pictures of the staff, so you can get familiar with them." I smiled and nodded.
Mrs. Bertha said, "That's all, Valerie. You can go." I immediately left, feeling tired but happy.
As I got to Mira's room in the west wing, I heard joyful laughter coming from inside. I was curious about it. I knocked, and after a moment, it opened to reveal a dark-haired girl standing in front of me. Before I could wonder who she was, Mira appeared, her face lighting up with a wide smile as she rushed to hug me.
"Where have you been? I've been worried sick! I tried calling you," Mira exclaimed, holding me at arm's length.
I laughed, hugging her back, noticing how small she was compared to me. "I left my phone here," I replied, entering the room.
Mira took my hand, leading me to the couch. "Never mind that, tell me everything that happened! Did you get the job?" she asked.
I smiled, nodding. "Yes, I did!"
Mira shrieked, hugging me again. As we pulled back, I noticed the maid, standing awkwardly in the middle of the room, looking a bit irritated.
Mira introduced us, "Valerie, this is Bellamy, my personal maid and friend. Bellamy, this is Valerie, my best friend."
I smiled warmly and waved, "Hi."
Bellamy replied, "Nice to meet you," but with less enthusiasm. She seemed a bit put off, but I couldn't quite place why. "My lady, I have to go. If you need me, just press the app, and I'll be here in a jiffy," she said, rushing off before Mira could respond.
As the door closed behind Bellamy, I immediately recognized her as the girl I bumped into that morning.
Mira's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "Val, tell me everything that happened!"
I smiled, recounting my day, from the test to meeting Mrs. Bertha and the rest of the staff. Afterward, we decided to video call our parents. Mira called her mum, while I called my own parents.
As I showed my parents the suite we were staying, I laughed at their awed expression. I also called Alia, Emily and Lydia. I interrupted Emily when she was asking about the prince not wanting Mira to get the wrong idea.
After the calls, Mira grinned at me. "I'm so glad you're here, Val. We're going to have an amazing time together!"
I smiled back. "Definitely, Mira. Let's make the most of our time in the Palace!" And I meant every word, I was going to make this stay, a nice one for her.