1| Burden

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Burden

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Chapter 1: Burden (Delilah's POV)

I came out from the back staff entrance and grabbed my black apron, pulling it over my head and tying it at my waist before securing my hair in a bun with a clip.

"Delilah, you're late today," Uncle Felix said, spotting me immediately.

"Sorry. I lost track of time," I admitted sheepishly, grabbing a notepad and pen. I work at Mirage here in Everton. It's my uncle's bar and club. We get plenty of customers every night, mostly men that are here to play poker and gawk at waitresses, but we get tipped extremely generously, and that's enough to keep me working here. It's the only reason I'm still working here. To get huge tips, to save up my money, and finally be able to move out of my uncle and aunt's house.

Uncle Felix was my father's older brother, and he kindly took me under his wing when both my parents passed away in a house fire when I was eight. My mom wasn't from Everton, and she hated it here but she always stayed for my dad. I look a lot like my mom, at least that's what everyone says. But unlike all the people here, I don't have that UK accent. I'm definitely like my mom in those terms. My mom was from the kingdom of Zariya.

"Newbies!" Uncle Felix clapped, catching the attention of all the new employees. "Delilah will brief you and lead you for tonight. Follow her instructions and ask her if you have any questions. You can do that, right Delilah?" He turned to me.

I nodded, smiling. "Of course. Newbies," I sang, turning to them. "Come with me." I walked them over to the coffee table for the staff where they sat down while I remained standing.

I've been living with my uncle and aunt ever since I lost my parents, and it's safe to say that my aunt despises me. She didn't when I was younger, but since I turned eighteen, an adult, she wants me out of the house. It's understandable, surely I'm just a burden on their shoulders. Another mouth to feed, another person to spend money on. And that's exactly why I want to save up my money and move out as soon as possible. So I won't be a burden anymore.

"Wear the apron, always. Keep a notepad and a pen, go table to table, and take orders. Be patient with customers," I sighed. "Some of them aren't nice, but you should be." I looked at all the new, young faces. "If you feel uncomfortable at any time, just holler, okay? I'll be right there to help. When you're taking the order, make sure to write the table number in the corner so you know where to take the food, okay? Ladies, keep your hair up. Any questions?"

"How much does appearance matter?" One of the guys asked. I could tell from his bright blue hair and the septum piercing that he was worried about being insulted.

"To us? It doesn't matter at all. Just look neat and tidy. If a customer says anything, you're free to bite back," I shrugged.

"Delilah," Uncle Felix's warning came from behind me. I turned around, tucking my pen behind my ear.

"They're waiters and waitresses. Not cowards. They're free to stand up for themselves, Uncle Felix. That's what you taught me when I came here."

He stared at me for a minute before nodding. "All right. We're open now, so everybody, get to work. Go on," he said, waving us out. From 6 PM to 6 AM. Those are our working hours.

We got to the bar as we left the staff room and I faced all the newbies. "One at a time, I'll tell you which table to start with, okay?"

They all nodded. They seem so young.

I'm twenty-one and sometimes I think I'm too young to be here. Some of them barely look sixteen. "Jenna, table eight," I said and she scurried off to take the order. "Harrison, table two." Gone. We have five new employees. Hopefully, that's enough to help us when we're a full house. "Kiara, table three. Jaden, table twelve. And Phoenix," I sighed, turning to the blue-haired boy. "Take my usual table."

His eyes widened. "What?"

"They're nice people, don't worry," I smiled. "Table seven."

"Table seven," he whispered to himself, walking around the bar and off to the table.

"Delilah."

I turned to Uncle Felix. "Yes?"

"Take the poker table."

I looked over where at least a dozen men were sitting.

"Take someone to help you with it, hmm? That's our biggest table tonight."

"Sure thing. Clara!"

She looked at me from the corner where she was leaning against the wall, just watching the crowd. She's probably our... least enthusiastic waitress.

"Let's go," I smiled.

She grabbed a notepad and pen with a groan and followed me. We walked to the table and stopped in front of it.

"Gentlemen, orders please," I sang, catching everyone's attention.

They all stopped playing, turning to us. They all began yelling their orders simultaneously.

I waited, wasting their time until they shut up. "Great," I grinned. "I got absolutely none of that."

"Delilah," everybody groaned.

I chuckled, "One at a time. Timmy, you first."

The old man grinned. He's sweet and most importantly, he's not a pervert. "I'll take a six-piece fried chicken."

"Next!" Clara and I stood there and took all ten orders, just like that. "Enjoy the rest of your night," I said, bowing down a little before Clara and I walked back to the kitchen, giving the orders.

Clara ate a fresh piece of gum, pulling it out from her pocket, and blew a huge bubble before popping it loudly. "Delilah," she said.

"Yeah?" I asked, waiting to be called to another table.

"You've been working here for five years."

"Hmm," I nodded.

She turned to me. "You've been a waitress here without getting a salary for five years."

"Hmm," I nodded again. "Why?"

"Aren't you sick of it? I've barely been here for a year and I already can't wait to quit." She offered me a strip of gum and I took it.

"So quit," I replied.

"I can't. I need the salary."

"Exactly. That's why I can't quit either." I took the strip of gum between my teeth and threw the wrapper in the trash.

"You don't get a salary."

"Clara," I said. "I've been living with Uncle Felix and his wife for thirteen years. They've spent thirteen years' worth of money on me. I don't think it's right to demand a salary on top of that."

"So move out."

"That's what I'm planning to do. But I need money for that too, don't I?" I offered a smile while raising my brows. "Am I wrong?"

She shook her head. "No."

"Delilah!" Uncle Felix came in. "Table thirteen. It's important."

"Why?" I stood upright and tightened my apron while following him out. "Are there a lot of people?"

"No," he sighed. "It's Prince Spencer."

The bubble I was blowing popped. I stared at him, frozen.

"Go!" he whisper-yelled.

I rushed around the counter and over to table thirteen, hoping he wouldn't be angry because we made him wait.

Prince Spencer has never come to Mirage before. In fact, he rarely ever comes to Everton. He's the younger prince out of the two brothers, but he's the ruler. There's a story behind that, from what I've heard, but it's kept hush-hush. He despises this kingdom, his family, and the fact that he's the prince, which is why he's completely isolated himself from this place. There's a mountainside about an hour east of Everton. He has his own castle there which I hear it's just him and some staff members. I hear it's haunted too.

Prince Spencer has been living there for years now, but I can't remember how long. Around the time the queen passed away. Before that, he was the people's prince. He loved the kingdom and the citizens and he would come out into the public often. But now he's in his own land where it's just him. He has voluntarily shut himself out, and I can't understand why anyone would want that.

"Prince Spencer," I cleared my throat.

He looked up from the menu, blowing a bubble out of a blue piece of gum. "Hmm?" he asked. He blinked slowly, his eyes going hazy. Oh, dear. The prince is drunk in our bar.

"Um," I hesitated. "I'm Delilah, your waitress this evening. What can I get for you?"

He blew another bubble while skimming over the menu. "Fries," he sighed, leaning back. He isn't dressed in the prince attire we would see him in all that time ago. He's wearing casual, normal clothes.

"Fries. Anything else?"

"Ketchup."

"That comes with the fries," I smiled. "Anything to drink?"

"Alcohol," he deadpanned.

"Which kind, sir?"

"What do you recommend, Daisy?"

"Delilah," I corrected.

"That's what I said."

I resisted an eye roll.

Everyone says that since he left, he's become a stone-cold, ruthless, and brutal prince. He doesn't seem like it right now.

"I don't drink that often. Would you like another waitress, perhaps someone who could recommend a good drink?"

"Daisy."

"Delilah," I repeated.

"A drink recommendation, please?" He lifted a sharp brow.

"Rosé," I deadpanned.

"Rosé it is."

I blinked in surprise, straightening up. "Bourbon," I corrected.

"Pick one," he smirked.

"Bourbon?"

"Bourbon it is. Quickly, please. I hate Everton," he sighed, looking through the window he was sitting behind which had a direct view of the street outside.

"How come you're back in town?" I asked hesitantly while writing his order.

"You see, my chef is on leave tonight. And I need dinner."

I looked back up at him. "And fries are... dinner?"

He nodded, turning to me, blowing another bubble.

I looked at the menu. "Why don't you get something else with that? A burger? A sandwich? You'd get hungry by the time you get back home if you just eat fries," I suggested.

"A club sandwich," he replied.

I nodded, "Perfect, coming right up." I turned to leave but stopped, swiveling back around. "You're drunk," I stated. "So don't pass out or throw up. Preferably, don't do either." He stared at me blankly so I walked out to the kitchen, asking for his order to be prioritized. I stood there in confusion, falling into thought. Why would Prince Spencer be back in town just for a drink? It doesn't make sense.

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Chapter 1

Let me know what you thinkkkk

there are already mysteries around our Prince Spencer, I love it.

Also, I started writing this yesterday so I already have five chapters written, so you'll get five updates today :)

next chapter: hangover