Valerie's POV:
The days went by in a blur. I had already been assigned a wing- the west wing, and was starting to get used to my duties as a maid in the Palace. I had tried to make friends with the other maids, but they weren't too eager to chat. The only friends I had made were Julie and Jude, who were really nice and showed Mira and me around the Palace. They made staying in the Palace bearable, and I was grateful for their kindness.
I had also discovered that we were all given off days at specific times, which was a relief. I had moved out of Mira's room and into the servant's quarters in the north wing, which was cozy but a bit lonely. I normally called my parents every few days to check in, and they were always happy to hear from me.
Mrs. Bertha was also really nice and good to me, and everything was going well. I had even found out that Prince Nova was away on a business trip, which was a relief. I had promised myself that I would stay far away from him, remembering how I had said I would help Mira win his heart.
As I walked through the well-manicured lawns of the Palace, the evening sun cast a warm glow over the perfectly trimmed grass and vibrant flowers. The lawns were like a lush green carpet, stretching out as far as the eye could see. I was still walking, enjoying the serene air, when I turned to see none other than Prince Cadoc standing in front of me.
He was dressed in a simple white shirt and black pants, his bright red hair standing out in the fading light. He was smiling at me, and I immediately smiled back, feeling a bit surprised. I hadn't run into him for the last few days, considering we lived in different wings.
"Hey." He said.
"Your Highness!" I said, smiling and curtsying slightly.
"Mind if we chat?"
"How have you been," Prince Cadoc asked, his voice gentle and concerned. We were standing side by side, watching the sunset from the courtyard, the sky ablaze with hues of orange and pink. Prince Cadoc had asked a maid assigned to him to bring us each a banana milk, which reminded me of our first conversation. We were both sipping our drinks, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
"Honestly, here and there," I replied, trying to sound casual. "The winter was brutally cold, and I struggled to adjust to the strict schedule but I managed, I'm happy spring is finally here and I'm glad to be spending it in the Palace."
"That's a lie, Val," he said matter-of-factly.
I sighed, feeling a bit caught out. "Truthfully, I was fine before I came here, and I'm still fine, but the Palace can be a little overwhelming and I'm just worried about..."
He cut in, "Nova."
I looked at him, confused. "Huh?"
He smiled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I'm sure my brother has something to do with you feeling this way."
I frowned, wondering how he knew that I felt uneasy because prince Nova might come anytime soon. "How....?"
He leaned in, his voice low and conspiratorial. "It was the night it first snowed. He was sick, and after the nurse tended to him, I decided to stay with him. He kept repeating a name - Valerie, Valerie. I wondered who that was, and I realized I knew only one Valerie, and that was you." He turned to me, grinning. "Congratulations on capturing my brother's heart."
I felt awkward, trying to brush it off. "It isn't supposed to be congratulatory."
He chuckled. "It is, and I'm not saying this because he's the Crowned Prince of Calonia, but because I've never heard him speak of any girl before. You must be special, Valerie, and I can see that you are."
I blushed, feeling uncomfortable. "I don't really feel special, Prince Cadoc. I actually didn't come here for Prince Nova; I don't want to be by his side at all. I just want to focus on coming out of here with something productive."
He sipped his banana milk thoughtfully before speaking. "Val, I just have one thing to tell you - Nova won't give up on you. He'll probably try to get your hand."
I shook my head, trying to sound confident. "I won't let him get my hand, and besides, he must have already forgotten about me."
Prince Cadoc looked unconvinced. "That might be true, but..." I waited for him to finish, but he changed the subject instead. "Valerie, my brother might have lost feelings for you, but do you still have feelings for him, or have you lost yours, or did you even have feelings for him from the onset?"
I sucked in a breath, unsure how to answer. I hadn't thought about it, or I had tried not to think about it. Now I felt confused. What I felt didn't matter; what mattered was that Prince Nova didn't like me anymore.
I kept quiet, just sipping my drink; unsure what to say. Prince Cadoc looked at me for a long time before sighing and gazing at the sky. "The sky is really pretty today."
I looked at him, then at the sky, and agreed, "Yes, it's really pretty."
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I entered the staff lounge, craving my special coffee - a rich, hazelnut-flavored brew with a hint of vanilla. After finishing the cleaning in the beautiful corridor of the west wing, I needed a pick-me-up. I approached the kitchenette, where I carefully measured the coffee grounds, slowly poured the water, and added a dash of creamer. As I poured the steaming brew into a large coffee cup, I heard two maids chatting and heading towards the kitchenette.
The maids wore the standard Palace staff uniform - a crisp white apron over a black dress. One had dark hair tied in a neat bun, while the other, taller and with light brown hair, looked older and more experienced. The light brown-haired maid exclaimed, "Did you hear?" with a hint of excitement.
The dark-haired maid raised an eyebrow. "Hear what?"
The older maid leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "I heard that Prince Nova came back an hour ago!"
My hand trembled, and I almost dropped the mug. Prince Nova was back? I hadn't expected that.
The dark-haired maid sighed, "Wow, that's great! I missed him so much."
The older maid nodded enthusiastically. "I know, right?"
Just then, another maid; I recognized her as Ariana, approached them with an excited expression. "Are you talking about Prince Nova?"
I noticed that Prince Nova seemed to have a lot of admirers among the staff.
The light-haired maid grinned. "Yep, he's back."
Ariana lowered her voice. "I heard he came with that pervert, Lord Luke."
The dark-haired maid groaned. "Why did that creep have to come now?"
The light-haired maid scowled. "That guy is so weird, I dislike him with passion."
The other two maids agreed, exchanging disapproving glances.
I realized I was still standing there, staring at them. Before I could turn and leave, the light-haired girl snapped, "What are you staring at?"
I immediately flushed and muttered, "Nothing," before quickly turning to leave. As I did, I heard one of them whisper, "What a weirdo."
I left the lounge without looking back, feeling a sting from their rude comment.
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Prince Nova's POV:
I made my way to the elevator in the east wing, encountering some workers who hurriedly greeted me. I smiled slightly, trying to quell the anger I felt simmering beneath the surface. I pressed the button for the first floor, and the elevator doors slid open to reveal the elegant hallway of the king's suite. The entire hall was reserved for the king and queen's private quarters, and as future king, I was expected to move in here with my wife once I married.
I hurried to my father's office, ignoring the guards at the door who bowed to me. I burst into the office, my anger boiling over. The room was large and opulent, with high ceilings and intricate tapestries adorning the walls. My father, the king, sat behind a massive mahogany desk, a warm smile spreading across his face as he saw me.
"Father, why is Mira here?" I demanded, my voice tight with anger.
"Good day to you too, my son," he replied coolly, pressing a button on his phone. "How was your trip?"
"Don't change the subject," I snapped. "Why is Mira here?"
Just then, a maid entered the room, bowing to both of us. The king ordered, "Bring two cups of tea." She bowed again and left, closing the door behind her.
My father sighed and gestured to a chair. "Seat, Nova."
"I'm not here to sit, just answer my question, father," I said stubbornly.
"Mira is my choice for you," he stated, his expression calm and collected.
"What?!" I exclaimed, my anger spiking.
The king continued, unfazed. "You were too slow, Nova. Your birthday is just four months away, and you haven't even chosen a queen. I had to take matters into my own hands."
"What if I have someone in mind?" I asked, my expression tight with frustration.
"That's fine, but you know the standards she needs to have," he replied, his piercing blue eyes boring into mine.
I snapped, my anger boiling over. "I'm sick of this, I'm sick of you dictating my life!"
The king remained calm. "I'm not dictating your life, Nova. That's why I asked you to bring the girl of your choice before your birthday."
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I rarely got angry, but when I did, it was like a storm unleashing - fierce and unrelenting.
"Mira doesn't deserve all this, she's just a pawn in your game," I said, my voice low and even.
"She agreed to it, Nova," he said. "I think you should start seeing with your eyes instead of your heart. Try and see what's right in front of you. This is the right thing to do, son."
I shook my head. "Then why doesn't it feel right? Why does it feel wrong to me?"
The king's calm eyes shifted to something, a hint of steel beneath his gaze. "Trust me, Nova. It only feels wrong to you."
I paused, then said with conviction, "Then so be it, your majesty. I will do what I believe is right."
My father's eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing.
I turned to leave, but he warned, "Don't do anything stupid, Nova."
I smiled wryly. "Don't worry, it won't be stupid, dad. Because it makes me happy."
With that, I left the office, passing the maid who had just brought the tea. I could feel my father's eyes on me, but I didn't look back.
Valerie's POV:
I sat in the Library, resting my head on the table, feeling a bit aimless. I had just found out that Prince Nova had returned to the Palace, and I was trying to avoid him. I wasn't assigned to him, and I was relieved about that.
"Valerie?" a voice said uncertainly, then more steadily, "Valerie!"
I snapped up to the sound, finding Julie standing there. She was a little plump, with short brown hair and a kind face. Her thin lips curved into a smile.
"Hey Julie," I said with a smile.
"I thought you were sleeping," Julie said.
"I think I was about to, without even knowing," I replied with a grin.
Julie chuckled. "Ahh, I hope I'm not disturbing you."
"Not at all," I said. "What is it?"
Julie's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Someone wants to meet you."
I raised an eyebrow. "What? Who?"
Julie's smile grew wider. "You'll know when you see the person. He's my friend."
I was curious, wondering who Julie's friend was. Maybe it was a fellow worker, so I trusted Julie's judgment.
I smiled, getting up. "Okay."
Julie's face broke out in a huge grin. "He'll be so happy, Val. He's in the South wing's roof."
I nodded, and Julie said, "Thank you, Val. I'll be off now. He's waiting."
After Julie left, I thought about going with my maid's outfit, but I changed my mind. I didn't have any work to do, so I dashed to my room and hurriedly changed. I wanted to look presentable since I didn't know who I was going to meet. I decided on a green halter dress that reached my knees and wore a light jacket, leaving it unbuttoned. I slipped on small heeled sandals and let my hair down, deciding against makeup. I took one last look at my face and left.
I took the elevator, feeling a bit late, and it took me to a hall. Then I took the short stairs to the roof. I paused at the door, feeling a bit nervous for some reason. I took a shaky deep breath and opened the door. As I closed it, I heard a deep voice say with amusement, "You kept me waiting again, Val."
When I turned, I was surprised to find him there.
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