Chapter 21: The Initial Learning: Part 1

In a guest room of the castle, the first lights of dawn timidly seeped through the linen curtains.

The room was furnished with two sturdy wooden beds, each covered with woven wool quilts and feather-stuffed pillows. A wardrobe housed the garments of previous visitors, and a stone fireplace, now extinguished, had warmed the room during the night.

The twins, having woken up to the crowing of the roosters, had already showered and dressed in their new maid's clothes.

The outfits, simple but functional, consisted of light brown cotton dresses and white aprons tied firmly at the waist. Their hair, still damp from the bath, was tied back in tight braids so as not to interfere with the day's work.

With nerves on edge from the excitement and uncertainty of their first day of work, they adjusted each other's aprons and encouraged one another with a knowing smile. Despite the similarity of their features, each wore the attire with a distinct air, a reflection of their unique personalities.

Before leaving the room, they paused for a moment in front of the polished copper mirror hanging next to the door. They looked at themselves, not only to ensure their appearance was appropriate but also to etch into their memory the start of this new chapter in their lives.

With a synchronized sigh, the twins opened the guest room door and stepped into the corridors of the castle, where the bustle of morning activity had already begun.

Turning a corner, they encountered a maid atop a ladder, busily cleaning the stained glass that adorned the hallway. The sunlight, filtering through the glass, cast a rainbow of colors onto the stone floor.

Emma approached cautiously, not wanting to distract the maid from her precarious balance. "Excuse me," she began with a respectful voice, "could you tell us where Maria's room, the head maid, is?"

The woman on the ladder paused her work and looked down, her kind eyes meeting Emma's. "It's on the second floor, where all the servants' rooms are. But if you're looking for her, you'd better go to her office, which is to the left of her room."

Emma frowned slightly, her mind trying to visualize the layout of the castle. "But how will we know which one is her room?"

"It's easy," the maid replied with a reassuring smile, "on the door, you'll see a sign that says 'Maria's Office.' So if you're looking for her room, it will be to the right of the office."

"Thank you very much," said Emma, relieved by the clear information.

The twins headed towards the second floor. Upon arriving, they found a long corridor flanked by numbered wooden doors. They proceeded until they finally saw the sign they were looking for: 'Maria's Office.' To its right, an unmarked discreet door. They had arrived.

With a sigh of relief and anticipation, Emma gently knocked on the office door, preparing to meet the person who would be their guide in this new world of service and duty.

After gently knocking several times, there was no response. No sound of footsteps or a voice indicating someone was on the other side. Emma and Agnes exchanged looks of uncertainty.

"It seems she's not in her room," murmured Agnes, her voice low in the quiet hallway. "Maybe she's in the office."

Just as the words left her lips, the office door swung open. A middle-aged woman, about 40 years old, with her hair pulled back into a strict bun and a goose feather peeking from her cap, peered out. Her sharp, calculating eyes landed on the twins.

"Wait five minutes, I'll be right out," said Maria with a voice that denoted authority and experience. Before they could respond, the door closed again, leaving them alone in the hallway.

Emma and Agnes looked at each other, both feeling a mix of nervousness and relief at having finally found the head maid. They stepped away from the door and waited patiently, watching the comings and goings of other servants passing through the corridor, each absorbed in their own tasks.

The five minutes felt like an eternity, but the twins remained silent.

Finally, the door opened again, and Maria appeared, this time with a more welcoming expression.

"Come, follow me," she said, and the twins obeyed, following her.

"As you are new to the job, we will start with the basics, which is knowing where the cleaning tools are," Maria explained as they descended to the ground floor.

The stairs echoed under their footsteps as they went down. The ground floor of the castle was a hive of activity, with servants coming and going, each immersed in their daily tasks. Maria led them through a maze of corridors to a large wooden door.

"This is our storeroom," she announced, opening the door to reveal a spacious room filled with shelves and cabinets. "Here you will find everything you need for cleaning: brooms, buckets, rags, waxes, and polishes. It's important that everything is put back in its place after use, to maintain order and efficiency."

Emma and Agnes nodded, impressed by the variety of cleaning tools and the organization of the space. Maria showed them how and where the different cleaning products were stored, explaining what each one was used for.

"Cleaning is the foundation of our work here," continued Maria, "and it's essential that it's done correctly. A clean and well-maintained castle is a reflection of the nobility that resides in it."

"The next lesson is to learn how to clean a room," said Maria in a didactic tone. "To start, you will need a bucket, a broom, and six cloths: two linen, two wool, and two cotton."

Emma and Agnes nodded and got to work. They carefully selected the items from the shelves. Each cloth had a different texture, each intended for a specific cleaning task.

Once equipped, Maria led them out of the storeroom and through a hallway that opened into an inner courtyard of the castle. The open space was surrounded by tall stone walls, and in the center, a stone well stood as a silent witness to the centuries.

"This well is only for cleaning," Maria explained, pointing to the structure with a gesture of her hand. "The water drawn from here is for our daily chores. It's important not to waste it, so make sure to takeIn a guest room of the castle, the first lights of dawn timidly filtered through the linen curtains.

The twins approached the well, watching as Maria demonstrated the correct technique for drawing water with the pulley and bucket. The sound of water splashing as the bucket filled echoed in the courtyard, and the fresh air carried the scent of moisture and earth.

"The water from this well is cold and clear, perfect for leaving the rooms spotless," continued Maria. "Remember, the water for drinking and cooking is drawn from another well."

Emma and Agnes took turns practicing the extraction of water, feeling the resistance of the rope and the weight of the full bucket. Although the work was physical, there was a rhythm to it that they found satisfying.

"Now that you have the water, I'll show you how to use each cloth according to the surface you're going to clean," said Maria, leading them back inside the castle.