Valerie's POV:
The Weldon's home was expecting a visit from the Governor and his family, as well as the Mayor and his family. They were coming to pay their respects to the royal family, and the reception hall had to be spotless and decorated to perfection. I was among the team of maids tasked with cleaning and preparing the hall.
Yesterday, the royal family had made an appearance in the town square, and my parents had been thrilled to see them. They couldn't stop talking about it, and I had to listen to every detail. I had shared my own encounter with the royal family with them, leaving out the part about Princess Evie and Prince Nova being the same motorcycle rider I had helped. They had also seen my injured hand and I had told them that I got it while washing dishes.
Today was going to be a busy day for me. Not only did I have to help with the preparations for the Governor's visit, but I also had to assist Mira with her "date." She had called it that, but in reality, she was just going to show Prince Nova around town. I arrived at the mansion early, quickly changed into my uniform, and set to work on the tasks ahead.
Earlier, Mr. and Mrs. Flynn, Alia, Lydia, and Emily, had all expressed their support and comfort after hearing about my encounter with Princess Evie. They were the only ones on the staff I could truly call friends, and I was thankful for their kindness.
After a few hours of cleaning and arranging the reception room with the other maids, we finished our tasks, and it was already mid-morning. I was about to head to help Mira with her "date" when I saw the lady-in-waiting for Princess Evie approaching me.
"Her Highness requests your presence," she said, her expression stern and unyielding.
My eyes widened in surprise, and a sense of dread crept up my spine. Why would the princess want to see me after yesterday's warning to avoid her? Memories of our confrontation flooded my mind like a video recorder on repeat. I had no choice but to follow the lady-in-waiting, my heart racing with nervous anticipation.
I stood outside Princess Evie's closed door, my heart escalating with anxiety. The lady-in-waiting, Elizabeth, knocked once and opened the door, revealing a room I had cleaned countless times before. But today, it felt different. The room was elegant, with cream-colored walls, gold accents, and a plush carpet that silenced every step. A chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the space.
The princess's bed, a grand four-poster with intricately carved wooden posts and a canopy of silk drapes, sat against the far wall, looking invitingly comfortable.
Princess Evie sat at her vanity, her blonde hair cascading down her back like a river of gold. She held her smartphone, an expensive-looking device that sparkled in the light. Her gaze lifted, and she regarded us with a cold expression. "You can leave now, Elizabeth. Thank you."
I was taken aback by her gratitude towards the lady-in-waiting. Even though Princess Evie was known for her harsh demeanor, she still treated her staff with a hint of respect. I wished she had extended the same courtesy to me, but I knew better than to expect it.
After Elizabeth departed, I was left alone with the princess. She commanded, "I want you to clean this whole room." I hesitated, scanning the space. It was already spotless. Why was she ordering me to clean it again? Was this her way of punishing me?
I had no choice but to obey. "Yes, Your Highness," I replied, trying to hide my frustration.
The princess pointed to the cleaning equipment in the corner of the room, near the bathroom. "The supplies are there."
I nodded and began cleaning, expecting the princess to leave. But she remained seated, her eyes fixed on her phone. I sighed silently and continued my task, knowing Mira would have to wait a little longer.
When I finished cleaning the room, I moved on to the spacious and spotless bathroom, starting the cleaning process all over again. As I scrubbed the sink, I heard a hushed voice, barely audible. It was Princess Evie, speaking in a tone that suggested she didn't want me to hear her conversation. I didn't intend to eavesdrop, but her words were hard to ignore.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't convince my dad to let you come with us," she said, her voice pleading but laced with exhaustion. She paused, waiting for the person on the other end of the line to respond. Her voice almost rose in frustration, "I know you're my fiancé, but that doesn't give you the right to..." The person on the other end must have cut her off, as she sighed and apologized again. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap. I'm just really tired now, and... hello? Hello, Luke?" It seemed like her fiancé, Lord Luke Ryder - the son of the Governor of Nordania- had ended the call abruptly, without letting her finish speaking. I almost felt sorry for the princess, realizing her fiancé might be just as cruel as Magna. Everyone knew about her engagement to Lord Luke, and how they were set to marry soon, before Prince Nova's wedding. She was the oldest afterall.
When I finished cleaning the bathroom, I approached Princess Evie, who looked like she had just finished crying. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her face was streaked with tears. To my surprise, she glared at me with anger, as if she had forgotten I was even there. "What?" she snapped, her voice rough.
"I'm done cleaning," I replied meekly.
"Oh, really? You're not done until I tell you you're done," she said, her tone dripping with disdain. She stood up and touched a nearby vase, examining it critically. "This is still dirty. The room is still dirty. Clean it again."
My heart sank, and I couldn't help but ask, "What?"
Princess Evie's expression turned even more furious. "Did I stutter? I said clean. It. Again."
I cleaned the room yet again, unsure how long this would continue, as Princess Evie seemed to be in a sour mood. She sat on her bed, still angry, scrolling through her phone. I knew it was getting late, and Mira must be worried sick. Just then, my phone chimed in my pocket. I glanced at Princess Evie, who didn't seem to have noticed the sound. I skillfully checked my phone, knowing it was a message from Mira. The text read: "Where are you? I've looked everywhere for you. No one seems to know where you are." I glanced at Princess Evie again, who was still preoccupied with her phone. I quickly texted Mira back, telling her I was with the princess, cleaning her room, and didn't leave out any details. I resumed cleaning, wondering when this would end.
After five minutes, I heard a knock on the door. Princess Evie grumbled while getting up to open it. I glanced up, curious to see who it was, and was surprised to see Mira standing there, looking a little angry. Her ice-blue eyes sparkled with determination. She greeted Princess Evie, who asked if there was anything she wanted, her tone slightly softer than usual.
Mira replied, "I'm here for Valerie. I need her to help me get ready for my date with the prince, and it's already getting late, considering we have guests today." I noticed she spoke coolly, but with an undertone of irritation. It seemed like Mira didn't like the princess.
Princess Evie said, "Get another maid, Valerie is busy cleaning my room," while returning to her bed.
Mira followed her in, not bothering to close the door, and said, "Your Majesty, as I can see, the room looks very neat. So, I don't see why she has to clean it again."
Princess Evie looked up, warningly, "Are you questioning me, Mira?"
I panicked, not wanting Mira to get in trouble, and tried to signal her to stop but Mira ignored me. She said, "Of course not, Your Majesty," in a tone that implied she wasn't intimidated. She walked over to me, took the broom from my hands, and said, "Then, Your Majesty, I have no choice but to help Valerie clean the room, so it will be faster, and we can finish in time for me to attend to the Crowned Prince." She emphasized the last part, showing she knew who held more authority.
I was shocked. Mira's actions were bold, and I wondered what she was thinking. Before I could react, Princess Evie spoke up, seemingly wanting to get rid of us quickly. "Fine, you two can leave. This maid isn't worth my time." Her words stung, but I pushed the feeling down.
As we left, Princess Evie warned Mira, "I hope you will be careful with this mere maid."
Mira responded sarcastically, bowing, "Thank you, Your Majesty, but I'm sure I have nothing to worry about." Her expression was cheerful, but her tone was laced with sarcasm. Before the princess could say anything else, Mira shut the door, and dragged me down the hall, saying, "No time to chat, Valerie. We need to get ready for my date!" Her voice was cheerful again, like the Mira I knew.
I let her lead me away, smiling, thinking Mira would make a good queen. She was bold, determined, and unafraid to stand up for what she wanted.
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