CHAPTER ONE

"Get up your sleepy bottoms you lazy folks! The cock crowed a long time ago and you're all here, still drooling?"

Lateness and slothfulness are two things Madam Felicia despises. She is the head maid, and she has been stressing how annoying it is to wake up early just to discover that she is the only one who takes punctuality seriously in the house.

"Good morning, Madam Felicia." Anastasia rose up from her bed. Stretching lazily and yawning loudly. Madam Felicia scoffed and dumped a basket of clothes on her head.

"You? Even you? Anastasia, you're on laundry duty today and...hey! Are you girls deaf? I told you to get up! Get up now!" 

Madam Felicia walked up to each of the servants' beds and pushed them out. The maids grumbled, which made her much angrier than she already was. Anastasia jumped out of bed, laughing. She finger-brushed her hair and tossed the soiled clothing back into the hamper.

"Madam Felicia, take it easy."

"Don't tell me to take it easy, Anastasia. You know how much I hate lateness." 

Madam Felicia stated as she rearranged the beds. The maids were running around frantically getting ready for the day's job, but Anastasia stayed still, nodding off. Madam Felicia looked around and exclaimed.

"You brat!"

"Just a little bit more, please. Madam Felicia, you know how much I worked last night. I didn't get to sleep early." As she sat back in her bed, Anastasia moaned. The other maids had already emerged from the house. Madam Felicia shook her head and sat down next Anna on the bed when she saw her worn face.

"Hungry?"

"Yes."

Madam Felicia can be irritable at times, but she treats all of the maids as if they were her children, especially Anastasia. Anastasia's parents died a year ago in a devastating flood while returning from a trip. She had to work odd jobs to make ends meet. She was an only child with no one to turn to for help. She was taken as a slave from her town to Gardenia eight months ago. She was initially terrified, but Madam Felicia rescued her and stood by her side. Madam Felicia showed her love and affection and told her not to worry. She'll always look out for her.

The royals Anastasia serves are lovely and generous folks. The royals are adored by the people of Gardenia, including Anna. Tragic events occurred two months ago when the devoted king fell ill with a terrible illness. He could not be healed by any magician or doctor  in the kingdom. People expected him to live, but he did not. The kingdom was saddened at the king's death. They mourned him and continue to do so.

Someone had to take over now that the King was gone, and the young Crown Prince is doing an excellent job of carrying on his father's legacy. He's skilled at making snap decisions, and he's a natural leader. Not to mention that he's quite attractive. Anastasia isn't the only girl in the kingdom who fantasizes about him. When she sees him pass by, she can't help but steal a glimpse at him. If word gets out that she secretly admires the Prince, she'll most likely be beaten to death, but who can blame her?

Despite the fact that he is rumored to be engaged, Anastasia smiles sheepishly whenever his name is mentioned. Even if he isn't enganged, a maid and a royal? Please, no! Such a thing should never happen, and if it does, the result is simple: death!

"Firstly, you stink, go take your bathe. After that, go to Cornelius and gather flowers to replace the ones in the palace hall. After you do that, then we can talk about your growling stomach."

"Thank you, Madam Felicia."

Anastasia kissed Madam Felicia on the cheek and took her cover cloth from her. She walked through the back door to the stream where the maids bathe. Even though it's been eight months, Anna still feels uneasy bathing with a large group of people, even if they're all ladies.

"Anna!" Ivory, Anna's best friend, squealed. Waving her hands as she swam around in the water. Anna groaned and took off her clothes. She stepped in the water and she shivered as the cold water met her skin.

"Have you heard?" Ivory asked and Anna raised her brow.

"Heard what?"

"About Prince Kai's betrothed."

"Ugh! For the love of God, Ivory. I've told you it's just a rumour. He's not getting married."

"He is. Maximus told me that...

"You still talk to that guy? I thought you said he annoys you and talks too much."

Maximus is the guy that is completely smitten with Ivory. For a long time, he has been bothering Ivory by telling her how much he "loves" her. This man is capable of anything for Ivory, including information theft.

"Yeah, but he's still useful, isn't he? Anyway, Maximus was the one on duty last night and he overheard the Queen talking with Lord Ronald about the prince's wife to be."

"And did he tell you anything about who this wife to be might be?" 

"Nope."

"Poor Prince Kai. He's not over his father's death yet and now, news about his betrothal comes up. How he handles all these still baffles me." Anastasia said, shaking her head.

"Wipe off that dreamy look off your face and let's get to work."

Anastasia laughed and dipped her body in the water one final time before exiting. She went back to the maids' quarters with Ivory, wrapping her body in her cover cloth. They both got dressed in their uniforms and their hair was groomed.

"Well, see you after today's work, hopefully." 

"Bye, Anna."

Anna waved at her friend and walked to the palace garden. She met Cornelius arranging flowers into a basket. Anastasia thought sneaking up on him and scaring him would be a good idea.

"Pacemaker! Oh my...Anna!"

"Ha! Gotcha!"

"Did you really have to sneak up on me like that? You could have given me a heartattack. I'm old and my heart sure isn't working that well anymore."

Cornelius handed Anastasia the flower basket, and she giggled. Before she met Ivory, Anastasia's first friend was Cornelius. She would visit him on a daily basis to bring flowers and read books to Cornelius. He is now quite old, and he can no longer see things well.

"You didn't get to finish that book yesterday, Anna."

"I know. You know how busy I am. It's work here, work there. What do I even expect? I'm a maid."

"A beautiful maid." 

Anna covered her face with her palms to hide the fact that she was blushing but her ears gave it away. Seeing her cute little ears turn red, Cornelius bursted into laughter.

"You're too easy to sway."

"Yeah yeah. Give me the flowers now, I have a plate of food waiting for me."

Cornelius arranged five bouquets of various flowers in the flower basket. Anna bid him farewell and entered the castle halls. Cleaning the floors, she met other maids. She found her bucket and mop, as she had expected, waiting for her. She let out a sigh and began replacing the flowers. She emptied the vases and replaced the old flowers with new ones. She returned the basket and returned to the hall to clean the floors with the other maids. The hall is a massive structure. Cleaning it takes such a long time.

She started humming to a song while she mopped. As a result, she didn't notice when the entire hall became silent. She was so lost that she didn't realize she was blocking someone's path. She slowly raised her head and noticed the other maids knelt with their heads bent. Only one thing could be the case. When her eyes came into touch with the man towering over her, she gently turned around and her heart fell. "Oh my goodness, it's the Prince!" Anna yelled quietly to herself. 

"I'm so sorry, my Prince." Anna quickly got on her knees and bowed her head. 

"You're still blocking our way."

"Our way?" 

When Anna raised her eyes, she saw the prince with his sister. Another blunder, she raised her head and stared the Prince dead in the eyes, something she shouldn't have done.

"Please accept my apologies, Your Highness." She promptly bowed and moved out of the way so they could pass. As soon as the Prince exited the hall, she let out the air she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She exhaled deeply and lifted her head, relieved.

"Anna, you saw his face right? Tell us how he looks like."

"Yes, come on. Tell us."

"Is he handsome as they say?"

Anastasia smiled, which quickly became into a grin. She felt as if she had won the jackpot. She felt like a celebrity as her fellow maids asked her these questions..

"Calm down, my fellow mates. I'll answer your questions one by one." 

"Me first, is he handsome?"

"He's...

Anna paused and smiled dreamingly. "...so beautiful."

"Arrghh!" The girls shouted with delight.

Prince Kai has always been a stoic figure. He only went out when it was absolutely necessary. He spends all of his time in his private garden. He is either in his garden or in his chamber at all times. Only a glimpse of him has ever been seen by the servants.

You now see why this is a huge deal.

=========

....So this is love. So this...

Anna kept singing, dancing with her mop as she walked to the laundry room. 

"My Anastasia." 

Anna's smile drop and a deep frown appeared on her face as soon as she heard that voice. She turned and she got even angrier when she realized she guessed right.

"Davis! I've told you times without number, don't call me your Anna. I'm not anyone's Anna, at least not to you."

"Come on, what can I do to prove my love for you?"

Anastasia gagged and pointed her mop threateningly at Davis. 

"Don't talk to me, stay six feet away from me and don't even breathe the same air I breathe." 

Just like Ivory, Anastasia also has a guard  always on her neck, disturbing her and professing his love for her every second. 

"Anastasia, my Anastasia. How beautiful you are...

"Ugh! Even your voice is as ugly as your face. Just leave me be."

Anastasia ignored Davis's calls and walked to the laundry room. She groaned at the amount of dirty clothes she has to wash. 

"Seriously!"

|•THE COUNCIL ROOM•|

"Spies have seen invaders trying to break through the borderlands." Columbus, the Grand Duke said, staring deep at Prince Kai as he played with the gold bar in his hands.

"When is this?" Prince Kai asked, leaning back on his royal seat.

"This very morning and speaking of borderlands, My prince, the Killians are trying claim it." Grand Duke answered.

"Claim it?"

"Yes, my Prince. And if something isn't done about it, it might result in war and that will risk the lives of many people." The Grand General said and Prince Kai hummed. The members of the council knew that hum was a sign of him being bored of all these but as usual, they ignored that.

"Gather guards to go with you to Killian and tell them the land isn't for them but for the two kingdoms. Tell them that I, Prince Kai will not allow them to claim that land as theirs and if they should pester on, it will result in bloodshed. We are both sharing that land and now they want to claim it as theirs? That's greediness and I can't take that. Give them my message." He said and they all bowed before they stood up to leave. The council members left the room and Courtney, prince Kai's little, sister came rushing in.

"I told you not to barge into this room like that again, this room is for...

"Business concerning the affairs of the  kingdom and it's very confidential. I know. Yeah yeah..just tell me how I look." Courtney twirled and stroke a pose for Kai to see how she looked.

"You look beautiful as always, my princess"

"Thank you, my prince." She said, bowing playfully and Kai smiled.

"What's the occasion?" Kai asked, taking Courtney's hand as he walked made for his chamber.

"I can't believe you've forgotten I'm taking music lessons now."

"Oh yeah. Sorry about that. But why do you want to learn how to sing so bad?"

"Because...You know I went for Princess Miranda's birthday party last week, right?"

"Yes."

"Hmm. At her party, her other royal friends were showing off thier talents. Hitting high notes and playing instruments while I just stood among them, staring at them like a moron."

"So you felt left out?"

"Yes, I did." 

Courtney sat on Kai's bed and sighed deeply. 

"So that's why you're dressed this glamorous?" Kai asked as he walked to the windows.

"I'm just trying to give my music teacher a good first impression."

Kai hummed and slid the window blinds out of the way. He peered down as he opened the window. The first person he noticed was a maid by the stream, beating unclean garments with a washing stick as she washed them. Kai leaned against the window frame, watching the girl from a distance. Her backside appeared to be familiar. Kai scoffed when he saw the girl's face when she turned around.

"It's just the girl at the halls." He muttered. He tried to turn his gaze away, but the smile on her face wouldn't let him. Kai was perplexed as to why she appeared to be having so much fun washing so many clothes. She's a palace maid, virtually a slave, and she's this content? He has everything he could ever want, and he has never grinned so broadly.

"What are you looking at?"

"Nothing, let's go meet mother."