Way of the Empire

7

"Girl! Are ya daft?" Lilibeth could see the individual lines that marked the woman's age on her face. Her hand was on her hip, soaking her apron with soapy water from scrubbing down the tables. Lilibeth's head jerked to the side as water droplets pelted her cheek. The coolness of the water helped numb the stinging on her face. She had struck her on the left side of her head and walked away, shaking her head in annoyance and muttering a few choice words about her.

"Get to work, ya daft fool!" she yelled out without sparing her a second glance. Lilibeth did her best to rub the painful sensations out of her head. She hadn't gotten much sleep last night, and everyone was already on edge with exhaustion dragging them down. The heavy gaze of her mother's eyes were digging holes into her back and pleading with her to hurry and do as she's told. Lilibeth swallowed her pride as if it were a lump of hot coal in her throat and turned around and got back to work cleaning off the tables from last nights festivities. She lifted a plate only to find a slimy substance leak out from underneath it, nearly gluing the plate to the table. Then another one. And another one. Lilibeth gagged. The heavy smell of fermenting garbage and sour vinegar like fluids littered with chunks of food were splashed along the tables and benches. She was sure that some of it had once had a home inside of somebody's stomach but for the sake of keeping herself sane she told herself that wasn't possible. Cups and goblets covered every empty space around her. Some were on their sides with bits of drink dropping out and contributing to the ever growing puddle on the floor. Glass crunched under her shoes as she walked around. Some of the cups had lingering insects having a party of their own. Some of the male servants were just waking up. They came crawling out from under tables and chairs, the smell of alcohol leering in their presence. Most of the other servants were still asleep. Lilibeth had only seen her mother, Maudie, and three kitchen servants that were too young to attend the festivities and the head cook, who had so kindly reminded her of her place.

Lilibeth piled the dishes into a crate and made her way back to the kitchen. She did her best to hold the box far away from her body, afraid the liquids seeping out of the bottom would transfer over to her dress. The sun shown through the archways casting shadows on the wall behind her. The summer weather had fully left, leaving a soft breeze in its wake. Lilibeth felt the familiar itch in her body as she passed her spot. The small closet with a secret passageway hidden behind abandoned paintings and old decrepit decorations. Over the years, she had learned the ins and outs of the passageway. She had gained access to the unused classroom and small library after one day the boy had stopped arriving. Surely, they wouldn't miss her too much if she snuck away for a few minutes. She could still remember the last time she had snuck away nearly seven years ago.

"Hurry darling, the king's expecting breakfast. Mustn't keep him waiting. Maudie sped past her, hobbling her way to the kitchen whilst leaning on her walking stick. Maudie had worked here for years. She was the one who personally made every meal for the royal family. Until the war. The war had left the palace in shambles. There was less work and so many servants were forced to leave and find means elsewhere. Meanwhile, Lilibeth had finally found a bit of joy in being an indentured servant, it wasn't like they could just kick her out.

One of the girls rushed past her, shoving her against the wall. The dishes rattled in the box, splashing small drops onto her foot. Lilibeth put the box in the washing bin just as Mrs. Wilhelmina dropped a basket of fruit in her hand, ordering her to get work. She squeezed herself past the other girls while lifting the basket above her head. Everyone bumped into her and they rushed past angry and tired.

In moments, the food was ready. The women were clamoring around the dishes, whispering frantically. The smell of eggs and meat danced around her nose. Lilibeth's stomach protested in hunger. Banging its fist against the walls.

"Girl, come and bring this to the royal family.'' Lilibeth froze. She knew they were speaking to her. She was the only one they ordered around.

"I'll be with you deary, I just can't carry it me self anymore,'' Maudie patted her shoulder in reassurance. Lilibeth smiled at her. Fear in her eyes. Was it possible that King Abdeel remembered their altercation from the night before? Lilibeth wasn't too keen on wanting to find out. She pushed the serving cart out of the kitchen and followed Maudie.

"Don't you worry, I'll tell you where everything goes and how to serve.''

Lilibeth didn't know if she was even allowed to serve. Her family had been forced into servitude generations ago because a past king had helped one of her grandfathers on the condition that his offspring worked off the debt in the palace. There had been rules set in place, such as keeping out of sight and away from the royal family. Lilibeth was sure that serving them was out of the question.

Yet, here she was, pushing that stupid cart to the dining room. The silver cutlery making tiny jingling noises as they went .

Lilibeth followed Maudie around the table, setting fruit, meat, bread, and eggs in their appropriate spots. She made sure that the table was spotless, and the cutlery was placed in order by both plates. She and Maudie tugged open the long velvet curtains, letting the morning sunlight filter through and brighten up the room. The room smelled old, like the carpets were damp. As if it hadn't been used in years, which was true. They had cleaned and dusted and wiped, but opening the curtains and doors had granted permission to the musty odor to remove itself from the castle. Lilibeth scrunched her nose, the smell piercing her nose.

A booming voice echoed down the hall.

"All I ask for is that things be ready when I command! I leave for years! Give my life to defend you people, and all I humbly ask for is things to be done how I like them!'' King Abdeel turned into the dining and curled his nose. He took a breath before bursting into a coughing fit and exiting the room doubled over.

"Oh,'' he managed over his cough until he was sitting on the floor across the hall from the dining room.

" We won't eat in that room until that horrid smell is gone! I'll eat in my quarters.'' Lilibeth and Maudie hurriedly piled everything back onto the cart and started the treck to the king's room. She would have to wheel the cart to the stairs, serve the food, and then carry it up to the rooms.