ONE----THE CALL

Maree turned in bed as she felt something tickling her nose. She swatted away whatever it was and continued her sweet sleep. As she was about to fall deeper into dream land, she heard the sound of an alarm ringing,

"Grinnnnng, grinnnnng, grinnnng! It's morning time and you have to get up. Lazy ass off the—" The alarm started singing but Maree's palm slammed against the top to stop it.

"Ugh! Ouch!" She grumbled as she sat up. She held her palm and scowled as she remembered something. "Melva! I thought I told you to change the alarm tone!"

"You did, blockhead. I just didn't do it." Melva said as she walked into the room holding a bowl of yogurt.

"Well, why didn't you?" Maree asked with an annoyed scowl imprinted on her face.

"I like the song. I don't like listening to you. And I love extracting money from you each time you do that to the alarm." Melva replied, grinning. She nudged her head in the direction of the alarm and then held out her hand to Maree.

Maree looked at the alarm and her frown grew deeper. She shook her head as she threw the blanket off her and stood up.

"Why are you so grumpy this morning?" Melva asked, sitting down. She brought out her phone from her pocket and began tapping away.

"I don't know. Must be my period or something." Maree replied. She walked to Melva's side and collected the bowl of yoghurt. Maree moaned immediately she put the spoon in her mouth. "Pure bliss!"

"Hey! That's mine! Yours is in the fridge. In fact, why should you take yoghurt? You're on your period!" Melva whined. Maree rolled her eyes at this statement before handing the bowl back to Melva.

"Period pains can never stop me from taking what I love." Maree said as she opened the door. "Besides, who told you I'm on my period?"

"Not a person. A sign. More like a stain." Melva giggled as she eyed the back of Maree's nightwear. Maree turned around to look at her trouser and her face went red!

"Oops! Yoghurt later. I need to bath." She muttered as she turned around and ran to the bathroom. As she was about to close the door, she remembered something. She stuck her head and screamed to Melva,

"Mel, I need you to help me get a pack of pads. I kinda forgot we didn't have any left. Thanks in advance!"

Melva rolled her eyes and walked into the room to get some money.

"You owe me for this, boo." Melva screamed as she stepped out of the house. Melva walked to the shop closest to their place and bought some pads for Maree. As she was coming back, she noticed two cars speeding in the direction of the street.

"Th- those look like palace cars."She murmured as she stood for a while. "Oh no!" She thought then started running to their place.

Melva slower down as she got closer to their place.

"Hello?" She said, tapping on the window of one of the cars. A guard stepped out and walked over to her. He bowed when he got to her front.

"Guard, if I may ask, why are you here?" Melva inquired with her head bent slightly.

"It is a confidential matter and not fit for the hearing of a common maid." The guard announced. Melva nodded slightly as she stood straight and placed her arms at her back. She had mistaken the guard bowing as a sign of respect. How could she forget that one of the rules of Alvaria is that no matter the status, a man must bow to a woman? That must have been why he bowed. After all, she was lower than him in status.

"Is Princess Maree around?" The guard asked.

"Yes she is and she suggests that you do not talk to Melva that way." Maree said from the window. She had come out from the bathroom not too long ago and had been waiting for Melva to come back when she heard the engine of cars. She stood by the window in hopes that Melva would arrive soon but had actually heard the whole conversation!

"My Princess!" The guard exclaimed as he went on one knee and bowed his head.

"Stand up!" Maree ordered.

"Thank you, my Princess. May I ask where you are for I cannot see you, Princess?" The guard inquired, looking around for any sign of Maree. Maree and Melva giggled lightly as they both tried to hold in their laughter.

"Do not worry about that. You shall see me In a few minutes."Maree said. "Melva, come inside right now!" She shouted. Melva hurriedly went into the house and handed over the pads she had bought to Maree who was wearing just a towel.

"You know you didn't have to do that." Melva said, silently.

"Do what?" Maree asked with an innocent look on her face. She walked to the bathroom hurriedly so she could dress up.

"Stop! You didn't have to say that to the guard. You didn't have to defend me." Melva continued as she followed her.

"Oh, but I did! I had to do it if not they would've continued. I needed to put that idiot in his place." Maree said from the bathroom. She fixed the pad onto her pant and stepped out of the bathroom to find what to wear.

"You know the Queen will be angry when she finds out about this." Melva said.

"Well, let her be. It's not a problem. I can handle mum." Maree replied. She opened her closet and picked out a jean and a shirt. She put it on and started walking out of the room.

"But-"

"Melva, stop worrying! I'll handle my mother when the time comes, okay?" She said as she placed her hands on Melva's cheeks. Melva sighed and nodded at this.

. "Okay." She said. Maree walked to the kitchen brought out a bowl of yoghurt from the fridge.

"Let me enjoy myself." She sighed as she started taking the yoghurt.

"I won't say a thing." Melva muttered.

"Haha! Let him wait a while. An hour thirty minutes sounds good to me." Maree let out as she took her yoghurt.

SOME TIME LATER

"My Princess? Are you there?" The guard asked hesitantly as he knocked on the door.

"What?" Maree answered as she pulled open the door.

"My princess." The guard greeted. "I have come with a message from your mother."

Maree's heart fell at this. Her breath quickened as she feared the worst.

"Yes? What is it? Is- is it time?" She inquired.

"Princess Maree, your mother, the Queen, has summoned you back home. She has left me with instructions that you must be back no later than tomorrow afternoon." The guard said without answering.

"What time do we leave?"

"Tonight." The guard answered. Maree walked back into the house looking dejected.

"What happened?" Melva asked.

"She wants us back."