The Beginning (2)

Annalyn took her time to arrive to the princess' room. The maid never really found it in herself to follow the tradition all servants knew - to follow the rules and respect their masters. But no one would blame the maid for being this disrespectful and allow the princess to wait for her arrival.

The maid has made her choice and chose to side with Princess Eris, the third princess of the Kingdom of Ellesmere.

"Are you sure you're not passing your task to me? Annalyn questioned Julie who was leading her towards Princess Medea's room.

Julie threw her a disdainful glance but didn't say anything. She was also puzzled by the princess' decision to allow such disrespectful maid to serve her. But it was also a maid's duty to never question their master's intentions.

"My princess, Annalyn is here with me as you've asked." Julie called out of the room and opened the door.

Medea sat on the edge of the bed, eyes drawn towards the two maid who stood before her room. Julie wore her maid uniform; the black and white garment looked neat when she wore it. On the other hand, Annalyn didn't bother getting out of her nightgown as the top of her red hair curled above her shoulders.

Amongst her maids, Annalyn looked better and prettier. Her skin was the right kind of cream white and brown eyes large.

It was no wonder why her brothers would fool around with Annalyn. Medea mused.

The door closed behind Annalyn and she walked closer towards the center of the room.

"Have I disturbed your sleep, Annalyn?" Medea asked the maid. A smile was on her lips and the expression on her face didn't show any distate for the belated arrival of the maid.

Annalyn wanted to say yes, but she still forced her lips to say, "No, your highness."

"That is good, then." Medea said. She pointed to the mess she made earlier. "I called you here because I want you clean that up. I tried to comb my hair myself since no one was around to help me. But as I was combing my hair, I underestimated my grip around the comb and let it slip. It broke the mirror as well."

Annalyn turned to where the princess was pointing at and frowned at the mess. In the corner of the room, there was the tall mirror frame standing but the mirror was already broken and helplessly shattered that anything reflected in it won't look good. Below it, just a tiny bit to the side of mirror was a golden comb that has pearls and jewels attached to the handle.

But despite the shiny objects was flashing below, the thing that caught the maid's eyes was the dark mark that was staining the soft, velvety carpet on the floor.

"I'll call the other maid's to clean this up." Annalyn said and tried to step back. She didn't want to clean this mess so early in the morning. It was almost four in the morning.

As Annalyn stepped to the door, Medea's voice sounded from behind her, "You don't have to. They're too incompetent and I think you're the most suitable maid to clean this up."

She goes on before the maid could find excuses so she could leave, "I'm going to expect that this will be cleaned quickly."

With that, Medea went back to her bed and tucked herself in.

As if she was forgot to tell the maid something, she peeled her head out of the thick blanket on her body and said, "And please do not make any sound. I still need to go to breakfast with father later and I don't want him to think I'm not presentable enough because I lack sleep."

Annalyn stared at the bulge in the bed where the princess was sleeping and wanted to scream. She's just an abandoned princess who barely got the King's affection despite her being royal blood and yet, she's acting as if she was especially asked by the King to come to break the fast with him.

The maid scolded the princess in her heart. Everytime she lifts her hand to pick something up, she wanted to throw them to the bed where the princess slept.

But thinking about Princess Medea's words, Annalyn couldn't dare to do as she wishes. The King might not favor the princess but he didn't want them to look ill and bad as if they were mistreated in front of other people.

By the time Medea woke up, the room was cleaned and Annalyn was gone. The carpet was, well, not cleaned as much as she expected since Annalyn must have not know how to perfectly perform her duties.

Nonetheless, Medea welcomed the morning sun shine outside.

Julie entered the room. This time, she was shocked that the princess was awake and said, "The King and the princess and princes will be having breakfast in the Grand Garden. Do you want me to serve your meal to your room, Princess?"

Medea turned to the maid and smiled. "No, I'll be eating my father and siblings today."