WHISPERS AND WISHES

I walked over to the trays of hardened bread and cold tea. Taking bread from it as I scooped it down as fast as I could.

Holding back the vomit that threatened to come out, I drank the cold disgusting tea, washed out my cup and I set out to work. I hurried down the steps, scurried through the crowded hall that was getting filled with other servants doing their daily work.

I walked over to the cleaning room, taking out my cleaning tools before making my way back to the steps of the castle, walking to the fifth floor where I and some kitchen maid had been assigned to work.

I huffed, walking towards the first room for the day. I knocked on the door, resting the side of my face on it, hearing to see if anyone was in there.

I opened the door slowly, my eyes cast down. After being certain that no one was in the room with me, i lifted my head up.

A weak sigh left my mouth when I saw how messy the room was. A frown formed on my face and I began picking up the clothes on the floor and bed, placing them on the couch to be sorted later.

I carried on picking the trash on the floor, putting them Into the trash can I had brought In with me?

I dusted the bed, fixing it before walking back to the clothes, selecting the ones that needed to be washed, then putting the rest back where they were supposed to be.

In the closet.

I swept the floor, putting the rest of the things thrown on the floor in their rightful places before walking Into the bathroom.

Holding back a gag, I reached for the lavatory, ceasing my breath as I unclogged it, flushing it off.

I moved to the sink, washing my hands off. A look of pure disgust danced around my face.

“I should be used to this.” I whispered to myself again. I finished up with the first room, I hurried along to the remaining six rooms I had to clean up. Knowing I needed to be fast before the royal came back, which would be disastrous if any of us were found still in the room.

I stopped by the maid’s small room where the maids usually gathered to see who I was to assist since it was already dark outside.

My headache, I felt my legs begging to give out, to rest. But I didn’t, I couldn’t. I need to get my work done before nine pm unless I won’t be getting any food for the night.

I took my brush, along with five other maids, and we started sweeping the ballroom. I took in a few deep breaths, placing a hand at the back of my neck to ease the stiffness I felt.

Taking in another deep breath, I inhaled and exhaled, relaxing a little while carrying on working.

By the time we were finally done with cleaning the ballroom, it was already 8:30 pm. We hurried out of the hall back to the kitchen, where our dinner was laid.

Like the morning breakfast, we were served cold, tasteless porridge. We all gathered around, taking an old rusted bowl given to us as we lined up in order for the head maid to serve us our dinner.

We walked out of the kitchen to a small tiny lounge room where other maids gathered to eat. Taking a seat on the ground at the far end of the room away from the others, I slowly drank my soup.

“ Who do you think will be taken to the King’s Palace tomorrow. “ A soft voice whispered a few sits from me to her friend beside her. I instantly recognized the two, Roselani and Saoirse, they weren’t the kind of people any of the maids would want to associate or trust as they won’t think twice to betray you.

“ I, personally, won’t mind being sent to the King’s Palace.” Saoirse said. A smirk on her face like she had everything all planned out.

“ Are you crazy, why would you want to do that?.” Roselani Whispered, looking at her friend like she had lost her mind.

I sat in the dim room, pretending not to be listening to their conversation, taking another bite of the horrible porridge.

“ I intend to get the attention of the king.” Saoirse said again in a cocky tone, filled with confidence. “ With the king by my side, no one would ever look down on me.”

“ I don’t know if that’s going to work, Saoirse, this could go so wrong In numerous ways. You know what the rumour says about him, Saoirse. He shows no mercy.” Roselani Voice quivered at the end of her words.

Even I knew Saoirse plan was down right idiotic. Who in their right mind throws themselves on a psychotic, crazy bastard. It was like asking for a death wish on a silver platter.

I stopped listening to their conversation, drinking the soup on time before the head maid came to dissolve us for the night.

I dropped the bowl down as the door swung open, and Madam Perrine stood there with her usual scorn on her face.

“ Don’t forget to do your dishes and be in your room before ten. Is that clear.?” She asked in an authority voice.

“ Yes, Madam Perrine.”

She scorned at us one last time, walking out of the room as I stood up with the rest of the maid.

We walked back to the kitchen, doing our dishes, putting the bowl back in the worn out rack, and we made our way to our respective rooms.

I looked around the room that always managed to give me warmth, getting rid of my clothes until I was bare naked. We were given less clothes and most of them were maid uniforms . This was one of the reasons why I started sleeping naked.

Making sure to bolt the door locked, as I didn’t want anyone coming in. I walked over to the bow of water, washing my face. Puffing out a breath, I climbed into the hard rock bed, drifting off to sleep.