Welcome To Your Nightmare
1901 Words
Aria POV
Prince Todd's eyes locked with mine.
He drew his lips closer to my ear and whispered something.
"That uniform looks tight, do you...want me to help... Report to the head maid?" He asked. I heaved a sigh of relief and moved away from him.
"You don't have to help me, my prince. It's getting late, you should go to your room or you'll catch a cold" I said and left.
"Aria!" He called me back but, I pretended not to hear. I rushed to the small palace and entered my room. No one was home yet, no one. I just had my bath and laid down to sleep.
I kept thinking about today. It was my first time and it's not going as planned. I haven't even found my mom yet.
Oh, I wish everything seems just as easy as I thought I'd be.
.
.
There was a loud knock on my door. I thought it was just my imagination but, no, it was real. I opened my eyes and saw that the sun was almost up.
I forgot I was a maid and I had duties.
"s**t!" I washed my face and walked out of the room.
"You're late girl!" The headmaid said to me.
"She spent the night with prince Todd" another said.
They all rushed to me.
"How's he?"
"Is he good?"
"No, I didn't spend the night with him. He just... Spoke to me and left" I said.
The head maid gazed at me and sighed.
"You all should find something better doing. Go to work, now!" She yelled. We all head out. I didn't know where to work today. Maybe the kitchen, it wasn't that bad yesterday. I could use that means to find out more about the royal family.
"You worked in the palace kitchen last night?" She asked me.
I chuckled softly and nodded.
"Yeah"
"How was it? I'm sure the chefs are talented. Did you get to see the king's face? What about the princes? I heard people gets to see prince Vallin's face once"
I stopped walking and face Yasmine.
"Why don't you come with me and you'll see for yourself? Then, I won't need to answer your questions" I said calmly, trying not to sound harsh.
She squealed and followed me. Immediately we entered the kitchen, people started looking at me in a bad way, except the chefs.
"You saved our life last night. We owe you one" they said.
"It's fine, I did all I could" I said.
"The royal family breakfast is ready" they announced and the maids started taking them out.
"You have to be extra careful. I'll advise you not to serve the royal family for the meantime. You'll get scolded if anything goes wrong" I said to Yasmine.
"Shouldn't we be the one telling you that?" I heard someone's voice from behind. I don't need anyone to tell me it's Natalia. She hated me, I know.
The kitchen was silent.
"I told you to stay away and pretend you're a ghost. Didn't you just arrive with the other slaves yesterday?" She asked.
"Why act like you aren't a slave yourself?" I asked in response. She raised her hand and slapped me hard on the cheek. They all gasped. Even Yasmine looked shocked.
I held my cheek and gazed at her.
"Attention w***e! That's what you are. You think you can come from nowhere and try to get the attention of everyone in the family. Not on my watch" she said.
I tightened my fist angrily, trying to control my anger. I was in the kitchen where there were knives everywhere. I could just stab her and kill her right away, but no. I have other things to take care of.
"Please, take the trays to the table" the chef said.
I grabbed the tea pot tray and walked out.
"Come here! Come..." She yelled softly. I didn't stop at all.
I appeared on the dinning table and placed the tray on the table. The whole maids watched me from the door.
"It requires years of practice before anyone can pour tea for the king. She's going to die" one of the maid said.
"She should die, she sent herself to her grave" Natalia said.
"It's you!" The king recognised me from last night. I bowed my head.
"It's an honour to be recognised by you, your Majesty" I bowed.
"You seem new" he said.
"Why is the king talking to that w***e?"
The maids started murmuring. They paused and watched me pour some tea into his pot. They thought I was going to make a mistake, but I didn't. Even the king watched me.
"You seem so skilled" he complimented me. I bowed, wearing a cute smile.
"She is father and very nice" Prince Todd added. He winked at me. I slightly bowed to him.
"From today, you'll start working in the palace. Make sure to serve me and the princes well" he said.
I bowed again.
"It's an honour, my king. I'll do well to serve you" I said.
I smirked. Now, I've gotten what I wanted. A free access to the palace. Another way to find more about these people and also my mother.
After pouring the tea, I placed the teapot and wanted to leave.
"Oh, please stand there Aria. It's nice to see your beautiful face while I eat" the king said. I just faked a blush and kept standing there. I just made queen Natalia mad. Just while I stood there, Prince Vallin raised his head and exchanged glances with me. He looked like he wanted to strangle me, but, why should I care?
I just threw my gaze away from him and kept standing where the king asked me to stand.
Till they were done eating, I didn't leave my spot. The king and his mistress were the first to leave.
Prince Todd immediately stood up and walked to me.
"You look more beautiful each day I see you" he said.
"You only started seeing me yesterday" I said.
"Does it matter? I like you already" he said. I heard the maids gasping.
"I don't want any attention my prince, I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that" I said. I turned and left him. I walked pass the kitchen exit but some angry maids were waiting there for me. Why should I care?
"You only arrived yesterday and you already start working in the palace today. Tell me, what's the secret? You even took Natalia's job" the one in the middle asked, wearing a mocking smile on her face. They looked like they are the good girls, but they weren't.
"I didn't do anything" I said, weakly.
One came and pushed me. I pretended to fall.
"I worked my ass for five years before I was allowed to work in the palace and this crazy w***e came and got it in less than twenty four hours!" She yelled.
"Go easy on her. Natalia said we shouldn't hurt her just yet. We should only threaten her" one ugly looking maid said. Who knew that these girls were Natalia minions, just because she was sleeping with prince Vallin.
One of them grabbed my neck and jerked me up.
"This is just a mere warning, newbie. Don't mess with Natalia or you'll face your demise" she said and dropped me.
I just sat there looking like an helpless babe. Yasmine squatted close to me.
"Are you okay? These people hate you"
"It's okay, they are free to hate me" I said and stood up. I beat the dust off my dress.
"How can you be okay? They'll keep coming after you" Yasmine said.
"I know. I'm not going to stop what I'm doing either. I don't care if they come at me" I said and touched her shoulder.
"So, don't get yourself involved. I may not be able to protect you" I said and walked away.
I kept on cleaning myself up while I head towards where I don't know.
I came here for just revenge and I was getting caught up in a normal maids drama. I was young then, but I remembered things like this. Different maids engaged in fight, frame each other, become friends and break the friendship. They'll try to do evil to each other. I never believed I would be in such scenario one day.
Fate really is a weird thing.
.
.
I stood in front of the main palace, I was going to move in. The head maid walked out, wearing a beautiful smile on her face.
"Welcome dear, I knew from the day you came that you are a good person. You are lucky to work in the palace" she said.
"Let me guess, you're going to tour me and give me some rules?" I asked.
"No, I'm the head of the outside maids. The head of the palace maids will do that"
"Who?" I furrowed my eyebrows.
"Turn around girl!"
That tone! That voice! No way! I gently turned and saw it was Natalia. She's the head of the palace maids. Now I see why she was always cocky and harsh.
"Thank you, I'll take it from here" she said to the old lady.
"Good luck Aria" the woman said and left. Natalia walked closer to me.
"Welcome to your nightmare Aria" she said.
Oh no, this is bad.
"I know I do not like you, but I'll have to do my duties as the head of the palace maids. This way, let the tour begin" she said.
I didn't want to go at first but, I remembered my mom, I remembered this palace. It's my home. I'll have to live in it.
I followed her around. She kept telling me don't ever do this. It's my job. I'm free to do that. It was annoying. We walked around the house and even stopped by my room. It was larger than the old room. Enough space for me to hide my sword.
I followed her out and we head to the garden.
"We have gardeners, you don't need to trim the flowers" she said, proudly.
We then stood beside the training ground. I saw Prince Vallin, training with Todd. I was watching them. All these sword moves, I learned them when I was twelve. They are super old, but, I must say, they are good.
"Hey!" Natalia snapped me back to reality.
"What did I say about Prince Vallin?" She asked.
"Never look at him, never do anything to him. It's your job"
"Good. You're smart. You might be watching Prince Todd. I heard he's hitting on you. Lucky" she said and touched my shoulder. Now, she's acting like a cute, kind person. She's a cunning snake. I watched as she walked towards the training ground and stood close to Vallin.
He stopped fighting Todd and walked to her. They kept kissing as she wiped the sweat off his body.
"Aria!" Prince Todd yelled my name. I bowed and looked away from him.
He left his sword and brother and ran to me. I watched Vallin break the kiss with Natalia just so he can stare at me. His eyes... Was different from this morning's glare.
I immediately broke the gaze. I can't be distracted, no. I won't let these hot, arrogant Princes ruin all of my hard work. Never!
- Writer
