ALEXEIN

Child-in-Waiting

Upon arriving at the Duke's palace, Alexein was bathe and ordered to put on decent clothing purchased from the second-best shop in the kingdom, her hair was tied to a bun and no jewelries were allowed.

“We cant have the princess thinking our people have no sense of fashion”- Duke Charles. Alexein was then given a room in the basement almost crawling in bugs and rodents around it with very little sunlight passing through a metal bar window. The room was locked from the outside and only the Duke has the key.

“Behave yourself, food will be served later in the evening and tomorrow, you get to start learning how to aid a noble, specially the princess don’t you worry, you'll be earning your wage so its not that bad, and stop pouting" – Alexein didn’t answer and simply sat down the tiny framed bed that couldn't even accommodate her size. She kept thinking about her aunt and how she was doing. Did she make jam out of the berries she had pick? Did she love the flowers in the basket?

She sighed

“I'm here now, far from the hut in the cliff, and I can't even get out of here even if I wanted to "

A few hours later, an old maid arrived to give her food that the Duke Charles ordered to be sent. “Hello there child”- the maid as she puts down the tray with trembling hands. It had milk and sumptuous food in it.

“Hello”- Alexein a bit withdrawn, stood up and took the tray. “I'm Victoria, what's your name little girl?” alexein stopped chewing, looked at her and said “ earlier this morning I thought I knew who I was, but now I'm starting to doubt that”- She sadly answered, Victoria felt her sadness so she took out a book from her pocket. “Here, I know It could get quiet sometimes, why don’t you read this book to ease the Sadness in you” The child curious went near and looked at the book.

“ The starry sky?”- she read “oh yes, it’s a very interesting book, I've just finished it recently”- Victoria smiled and handed the book to her. “Thank you, I'm Alexein ”- the child answered genuinely grateful for the old woman.

The next day

Alexein, the eight year old child woke up to the sound of footsteps nearing her locked room. She rubbed her eye, thinking that maybe she's hearing things because the sun hadn't even come out yet.

“ Get up child, His grace told me you start training today, hurry now, rise and shine”- a woman wearing a beautifully laced dress who introduced herself as Constance, the one in charge of training new maids in the house Spencerton.

She helped Alexein put her hair in a bun. “Rule number one, you must never let other people see you with your hair down, especially those in the imperial family, it is a mistake worthy of death”- the child couldn’t focus very well because of how tightly constance was tying her air it was as if she pulling her every scalp. They moved into a different room- a ballroom, so wide Alexein felt even if she combined their chicken,sheep, and pigs they wouldn’t fill a quarter of the room.

“Now I'll be teaching you some basics first, no smiling, straighten your back and never look a noble in the eye, you can only ever look at their feet or their heads”- Alexein was writing everything she heard from Constance in order not to forget. Sometimes smiling because she didn’t understand why those rules were necessary.

After a few hours of practice...

“ Greetings, your highness, I am your lady-in-waiting, Alexein”- Alexein tried her best to bow gracefully in front of Constance “still could use a bit of practice, much more gracefully child don’t embarrass our kingdom”- Constance

if you wanted someone graceful, you should've taken a noble instead -Alexein thought to herself.

“Start from the top”- words that the child wished would be removed from peoples vocabulary. She's been hearing it nonstop since the morning. She continued learning and upon the third day, she finished reading the book Victoria gave her. On this third day, Alexein was to show her progress to the duke. Walking through the long hallway with hundreds of doors, Alexein realized she's never seen other nobles in the manor except for the duke and Constance.

“ Constance, is this an abandoned manor?”- the child asked professionally the way constance taught her. “ I told you never to ask personal questions Alexein”- Constance answered “you did, but still you said knowledge must be gained one way or another, you wouldn’t want me to ask his grace would you? “- Alexein showing off her wisdom with such simple words almost baffled the woman. Constance looked at her “by now you must be wondering why not many people are in the manor is that it?”- she asked and Alexein nodded “sigh, that’s because this is the east manor, no one is allowed in here not even the dukes' family, you will learn when you get older but I suppose you don’t have to learn everything for now”- they’ve reached the room where the duke is waiting for their arrival. “are you ready?”- Constance. Alexein took a deep breath “I'm ready”. Constance knocked two times-a sign of loyalty.

“Your grace I brought Alexein” a long silence came from the room before they heard an answer “Very well, come in”- Duke Charles. Constance and Alexein walked in while looking at their feet. Constance closed the door and stood near it. “come closer child”- duke Charles. Alexein gracefully and quietly without breaking her eye contact with her feet she went near the duke. “look me in the eye child”- Alexein raised her head and never looked at the duke' s eyes, instead stared at his head without any emotions. Within her peripheral view, she saw a woman roughly dressed with lipstick stains on her face. She chose to ignore the woman, because noble business' is a noble business only.

“Greetings your grace, It is I, Alexein “

“My word, Constance you’ve outdone yourself yet again, three days and she's all straight from the feet up”

“you flatter me, your grace”- Constance

“ Leave child, get packed you'll be going to the castle tonight”- duke Charles

“ understood your grace”- Alexein curtsied and left the room. As she closed the door she was curious as to why Constance was made to wait inside.

She can slightly here the duke shouting angrily inside.

“You dare run your mouth to my wife of my affairs?!”- Alexein felt something was wrong, she was scared and worried for Constance

“Your grace I have no idea what happened, I swear I am innocent your grace plea—“- bang! Bang! Alexein knew what had happened. She covered her mouth with her hands, quietly walked from the room and into the basement. She gathered her things, almost hoping to get away from there but before she could even get out of the basement.

A group of knights came stating that they would escort her to the carriage that would send her to the palace.

Outside the manor, the duke was waiting for her near the carriage. She acted like nothing happened. "I'll be taking my leave now your grace, I fare thee well" - Alexein turned her back

"Wait"- Duke Charles. Alexein stood there wondering if the duke knew what she knew. "Yes your grace? "- she asked. "Are you not going to wait for Constance, child?"- Duke Charles. "Oh no, your grace, Us ladies in waiting mustn't get personal when it comes to work, I was taught that by Constance herself, your grace"- she answered continuing her posture, staring below. "I see, well then, I bid you good luck child. I'll see you in the castle, and don't you disappoint me"- Duke Charles, menacingly as possible. Alexein hopped into the carriage and sighed a relief. It is said that it would take half a night to travel to the Castle if Arkavia located at the very center of the kingdom. Alexein observed the surroundings as the night started to wrap the kingdom. The light in the streets illuminates, a view Alexein only got to see from afar in the cliff of their hut. "I really hope imperial people are nice"- she said to herself, hugging the book - the starry sky. Slowly drifted herself to sleep.