Way of the Empire

8

Her hands were trembling. The tea swirled around the cup, threatening to spill over the edge. Lilibeth balanced the tray on one shaking hand and knocked on the door with the other. Three consecutive knocks. that meant it was a food delivery. The guards stood on each side of the dark stained wooden door. It was tall and thick. The edges had molding in the shape of swirls and flowers decorating the border around it. A gold dragon head sat in the center of the door staring down at her. It wore a crown almost exactly like the one the king wore.

"Come in.'' The words were muffled and barely audible. Lilibeth was doubting having heard them when the guard to her right opened the door and stepped inside. She waited for him to position himself at the door and then followed behind him with her head down. She followed the scratches on the light brown floor that led to the bed and disappeared under the bed skirts.

''Just put it on the table,'' Lilibeth curtseyed and scanned the floor looking for the table legs. She slowly placed the items down and spread them out, trying to remember Maudie's instructions. She heard footsteps approaching her and backed away from the table with her silver tray.

"Where's Maudie? She normally does this.'' King Abdeel stood in front of the table in his chemise. His words slurred together as he spoke. The smell of whiskey steamed off his breath and out of his pores. He was drunk and sweaty. Lilibeth kept her eyes focused on the floor. The king was drunk and basically naked in front of her.

''Maudie is unable to climb the steps, your grace,'' Maudie's advice repeated itself in her mind ' head down, answer swift and get out while you can'.

"Huh, the old bat. She's finally ancient. She's been old since I can remember and now I am old.'' Lilibeth swallowed. She didn't know what to say. Her nerves banged against her skin, threatening to explode. She felt itchy.

"Leave wench," Lilibeth curtseyed and calmly walked away. The same guard opened the door and walked out of the room with her. She bowed as he closed the door and then ran down the steps. Maudie helped her prepare the prince's tray. Fruit, bread, meat, and tea. The tray was much lighter and easier to carry. This time, Lilibeth was curious. No one had seen the prince since he returned from war. Except for her apparently. His presence was missed at the festival according to the female servants that were hoping to catch a glimpse of him. In all honesty, no one had ever seen him. The only proof of his existence laid in Maudie and the slew of tutors that visited the castle years ago.

She repeated the same steps on the door. She knocked, he answered, and the guard opened the door.

The prince's room was different. The room was dark. Only a small bit of sunlight flitted inside through the corners of the window. Just one candle was lit and sitting in the center of the table. Lilibeth took a moment to let her eyes adjust to the darkness before fully stepping inside.

"Just leave it on the table.'' A deep voice echoed from somewhere in the room. The voice stirred something inside her. She had heard it before. Yesterday. The question was driving Lilibeth to insanity. She had hoped he would look at her to confirm her theory that had kept her up last night. She served everything as instructed and stood at the edge of the table. A tall shadow covered her.

"Thank you. That will be all.'' Lilibeth gasped and hurried out of the room. She didn't wait to see if he closed the door. The guard gave her a questioning glance as she hurried away down the stairs and down the hall where Maudie had begun pushing the cart back to the kitchen.

"Maudie, shouldn't we wait for them to finish before we move the cart?'' Lilibeth was breathing heavily.

"We'll be back with cleaning supplies,'' Maudie continued to push the cart using it to hold up her body as they made their way back to the servant's quarters.

"Oh, I almost forgot deary, I've got to grab something from my room. You go on ahead and I'll meet you by the kitchen entrance. Lilibeth smiled at her and rushed to grab the supplies. The only thing on her mind was that voice. It was the same voice as the man in the hallway who stopped the king from striking her and the same voice as the man in the archway last night during the festival. The same voice that had left Maudie's room earlier. The very man she had pressed the masks for. Prince Ero? It couldn't possibly be. He wouldn't talk to her. He certainly wouldn't stop his own father from striking her? Would he? No. Lilibeth shook her head. But he did, a small voice in her head whispered. If she could spare once glance at him. a quick look, she could make sure it was the same man she saw. Pain began to settle behind her eyes from over working her brain whilst running on lack of sleep and hunger.

" So, what's he like, cinder-wench? '' The voice commanded. It was the same girls from yesterday. The one's flirting with the soldiers. The name had ironically followed her for years. Lilibeth had forgotten their names but never their actions or words.

"Who?'' Lilibeth scrunched her eyebrows as she turned to look up at them.

"The prince! You stupid worthless b!tch! You can't do anything right.'' Lilibeth rolled her eyes.

''It should have been me bringing him his food. At the sight of you, he'll surely lose his appetite.''

"I didn't speak to him.'' Lilibeth continued to load the bucket and cleaning rags onto the cart. The girls had nothing better to do, and Lilibeth understood their yearning for a better life.

"Perhaps you'd rather warm the king's bed. If only you were pretty. He might make you a wh*ore'' The girls laughed as they walked away to clean something else. Lilibeth sighed. They had started tormenting her years ago with no sign of stopping. She had told her mother, and her mother simply told her, 'Keep your head and say nothing. They just want to get a rise out of someone'. At the time, Lilibeth rolled her eyes. And now, years later, she still rolled her eyes. She wanted nothing more than to strike back in the beginning. But now, she just wanted them to leave her alone. Whenever she did try, they were quick to remind her of her status or lack of status. Technically speaking, Lilibeth had no place. Her and her family were just specks of dust that resided in the palace. Easy to throw away. Ready to be disposed of at a moments notice. That is why Lilibeth had decided early on that she would never marry, nor fall in love nor be with any man. She would be the last in her family to be indentured into servitude. After her passing, the De' Angelo's would be free. They would also no longer exist but that was a small technicality of her plan.

Maudie finally caught up to her. The two women began their trek back to the stairs while Maudie explained the proper way to clean up after the royal family. Lilibeth took a deep breath at the foot of the stairwell and carried up the bucket and silver tray. She knocked on the king's door and the same guard as before let her in. King Abdeel sat in his chair by the window overlooking the palace entrance. A bottle of whiskey in his hand. Lilibeth loaded the plates onto the tray as quietly as she could. Next, per Maudie's instructions, she wiped down the table, making sure to use a plate to catch loose crumbs that made their way to the edge. The king was mumbling to himself as he took another swig of his bottle. Lilibeth didn't bother to check if he had his undergarments as she rushed out of the room. She carried everything back to Maudie, who was kind enough to arrange everything for her as she nearly dropped the plates and hurried back upstairs.

Now, her real mission would begin. All she had to do was ask. Either he was the man from last night, or he wasn't. Lilibeth braced herself as she knocked on the door to his room. The guard opened the door, and Lilibeth pushed herself inside. The room was bright. The curtains pulled back, fully exposing the sun on the horizon. He was gone. The prince was gone. Lilibeth took two steps in the direction of the bathroom.

"You're not allowed back there,'' the guard's voice made Lilibeth jump out of her skin. He had somehow sensed her intentions. She had forgotten about his presence. She silently cursed herself for being stupid and turned back to the table to see everything stacked. Even the cutlery was placed on the top plate with the sharp sides pointing outwards. Lilibeth grabbed the plates and wiped the table. She gave one final glance at the room and knew she would be back another time. She had questions, and Prince Ero would be giving her the answers.