THE ASHEN MAID

Tonight, King Volkov and Prince Volkov are arriving, and I put on my best gown for the evening. My brown hair is in loose waves down my back. I pat some nude lipstick on my lips with the pad of my index finger. A knock on my bedroom door has me standing up from my seat on the vanity chair. Matilda, the herald, walks into the room and offers me a kind smile. "Your Highness, they have arrived." I give her a firm nod and follow her to the northern wing, the front of the castle, where the Throne Room is located. I smooth the fabric of my gown as it shimmers with the hues of deep ocean water-turquoise, sapphire, and midnight teal. Suddenly, a hand wraps around my middle, and I let out a gasp, but before I can react, I'm lifted off the ground, and I'm carried back to my room. Matilda doesn't move. She just watches. I fight with all my strength, but it's futile. The door to my bedroom opens, and I'm shoved inside, literally shoved, and I hear a bone c***k. I groan in pain and despair. I turn around in one swift motion despite the pain in my leg, only to come face-to-face with Daniel, our most trusted guard. I frown and open my mouth to speak, but a wet cloth settles on my nose, and my eyes slowly drift close. I flutter my eyes open to find myself in what looks like the maid's quarters. I sit up, lean against the headboard of the bed, and try to process what is happening. The door quietly opens, and Matilda walks in, placing a tray with food on the table next to the window that is facing the green space. I wet my dry lips and ask, "Why am I here, Matilda?" She looks up at me and let's out a sigh in bewilderment. "The King instructed you to work as a servant from now on. We have arranged a closet for you. Your schedule is from 8:00 AM to 8:00PM everyday." That is all she said, leaving me flabbergasted and staring at her retreating form. "Matilda, wait." I sprint out of the room and follow her to the scullery. She whirls around and narrows her blue eyes at me. "Matilda, what is this? Why-what is happening?" I throw out, and her lips curve up. "Soon, Althea, you'll find out. And I really, really wish you success in all this. It wasn't I who wanted this, nor was it my idea to hurt you like this, princess, but life changes, things and people change." She murmurs, smiling at me and taking my hand in hers. I frown and shake my head at her. "Where is the King?" I let go of her palm and walk backward, then whirl around and rush to the royal suite. I push the door open. Father and Mother are seated in the foyer with Illiana by their side, and across from them, a young guy. They all look up at me, and Father rose to his feet, approaching me with a strange look in his eyes. "What are you doing here, Althea?" Father asks, his voice indifferent. The young man, whom I now suppose, is Prince Volkov, rises from his spot on the couch and walks our way. I look him up and down, and he narrows his eyes at me. I glance at Father, and he opens his mouth to speak, but Prince Volkov lift a finger to at Father and sticks his hand out to me. I shake his hand and he says, "Good evening, Miss....?" He asked my name, and I open my mouth to speak but before I can Father says, "Prince Salvuis, meet our most trusted servant, Althea." I gulp down the sourness in my throat and fake a smile. "Nice meeting you, Your Royal Highness." I mutter out, my throat itching from all the sourness. We let go of each other's palms, and I take a step back, sort of showing him my respect, when I also deserve to be respected, because I'm a princess. I don't want to ruin this for Father and Mother. He's soon to be my brother in law, and I don't want to ruin things for Princess Illiana, my younger sister. "Althea, you may go now." Father waved me off and lowered myself into a gracefully bow before I left the room. The door closer behind me, and I find Matilda waiting for me at the end of the corridor, and I rush toward her. "What did I do wrong?" I cry out, my voice full of emotion, and she engulfs me in hug so comforting that I almost fought to keep my eyes open. Later that day I'm standing in the kitchen helping the head chef chopping vegetables when he suddenly turns to me and starts talking. "I'm sorry, Princess. Do you know, the day you were born, the King and Queen expected you to be a male, but you are not, and you know how it is with things like this in Royalty. You are already of age to marry, but they didn't arrange a wedding for you, because they don't really care about you. And I know this sounds harsh, but it's reality. They don't care about you like they care about Princess Illiana. And I think you've noticed that already throughout the years, because you got wiser and started understanding most of the things better. When you were two hours young, the King and Queen wanted to unalive you. But they couldn't, because I stopped them. I took care of you till you were four, but you don't remember, because you were young. But I did it because I never got the chance of having children of my own, and because you are an innocent soul, who did nothing wrong. I'm telling you this, because I always cared about you and I still do. You were always a precious little princess who got so much ahead of her, and the strength she has is unusual. Life recently took a big turn on you, but I know that someday, somehow, everything will work our for you." Andrew explained and emotions welled in me, once again. "Thank you, Andrew, for your support and care." I say and give him my realist smile of the day. I turn around and finish up my work chopping the vegetables , but he continues. "I'm the Kings youngest brother, if you haven't realized yet. I started here as a chef. My pay, in not gold, or coins. It's a roof under my head. Two years before you were born, I started preparing my wedding with the love of my life, but King Grandfather and Queen Grandmother expelled me from the palace." He pauses and looks at me for the longest moments. "Malysha was my supposed to be fiancé, but King Grandfather was against it that I was in love with a villager." He lets out a sigh, and I walk close to him, stopping before him and looking up at him. "I'm very thankful that you shared that with me, or I wouldn't have known. May I ask you something?" He nods. "What happened to the palace?" I ask, almost above a whisper, as if Father might appear in this room and catch me asking questions. "It was burned down, King Grandfather and Queen Grandmother burned with it as well. There was some sort of war between the Argyros and the Volkov's back then. I'm not sure what exactly. They always kept me out of it. But later on, King Volkov decided to end the war, helping King Argyros with this castle. At first, King saw it as a way of getting the gold that is owned by King Argyros. But soon, all the hate faded, and they became pretty close. And now you can see that Princess Illiana is even marrying Prince Salvuis." He finishes, and I nod in understanding. "Well, I'm not trying to use you, Andrew, but would you mind helping me reveal myself to Prince Volkov. I've lived all my life in secret, and I'm tired of being hidden in the shadows. I just want to be free of all of this." I beg him, but he shakes his head. "Princess, I really want to help you, but I can't. If the King finds out, he'll probably unalive me for spoiling his plans." I nod, again, unable to form more words because my throat is tightening from all the tension in my body and the emotions I feel right now. I join him behind the stove and stir the tomato soup. ----- Author's note, Thank you for reading the first chapter, I am grateful, but please, this is not edited yet, so some things are written wrong, and not everything written is perfect. This is my first time writing a book, and please don't judge me, I am trying, and I will keep trying until I can do it exactly right. Words:1460