𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐈𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬// 𝐀 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠'𝐬 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

«𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒘𝒐»

«ꜱᴏʀʀʏ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀɴʏ ᴍɪꜱᴛᴀᴋᴇꜱ- ᴀ/ɴ»

     THE RIDE was silent, nothing but the pounding of the horses hooves and Estelle's soft sniveling. She yearned for this to be a nightmare-obviously it wasn't and recognizing that caused her even more devastation.
     That grisly scene of her mother will always dwell in Estelle's mind, persistently reminding her that her mother wasn't with her any more. The hatred she felt for the king was profound. She wanted nothing more than revenge, for him to endure the feeling she felt—agony.
     Through the murky mist, a vast and portentous structure hid within it, enlightening Estelle that they were approaching the capital of Asterin. The frowsy air crept through the crowded street, occupying the locals nostrils as it quickly became the norm to them. Estelle's heart throbbed restlessly as their nosy eyes watched as they passed by, having the faintest idea what had happened; soon the street was swarmed by their gossiping voices, sharing their thoughts with their friends and family. She lowered her head, disrelishing the ongoing attention.
     "Lift the gate," the king commands.
     The gate lifts heavily, producing an overwhelming rasp to come from its hinges.
     "What could the king possibly want from me?" Estelle questioned herself, her nail digging at the palm of her hands.

𖥸

     The servants greeted the two at the entrance, bowing their heads and torsos.
     "Marley."
     "Yes, my king?" An elderly woman spoke, coming to kneel before him.
     "Rise," he ordered tonelessly.
     She removed herself from the stone floor and stood with her back straightened and arms flat to her side.
     "You will inform her about my standards when assisting me, do you understand?" he asserted, shoving Estelle forward.
     "Yes sir."
     The king leaves, slamming the door behind him.
     The older lady, Marley, clasps her hands together and stares at Estelle with a feeble smile.
     "Let's quickly go over the expectations, the king's lunch will be ready soon." She spoke sternly, walking speedily.
     Estelle frowned as she shadowed behind her, "What if I don't want to serve him!?"
     She abruptly stops, nearly resulting in Estelle colliding into  her body.
    "You don't have a choice, girl. You can try to flee, but you'll end up like his last servant—dead!" She spat, scowling.
     Estelle lips parted a bit, unsettled.
     "When assisting our king," she continued, "you will wake up at five o'clock sharp. Following that, you will dress in your uniform that is already prepared in your chamber and then you will make your way to the servants dining area where you will quickly eat your breakfast. Six o'clock, you will enter the kitchen and collect the king's breakfast and hurry to his chamber. Only for today, I'll demonstrate what will be expected from you."
     She bumps against the large door, gradually uncovering the kitchen.
     "Good afternoon Archie!" Marley greeted happily, weighing herself on the edge of the counter.
     "Good afternoon," The chef sighs and glances over his shoulder, "who's the new girl?"
     "This is, uh..."
     "Estelle."
     "Right,she'll be serving the king from now on." She informed him, leaning away.
    "Ah." Archie hums, pushing the crockery forward.
     Marley takes the crockery into her hands and shoves it into Estelle's.
    "Let us be going!"
    Estell turned around on her heels and begrudgingly followed her, 'so impolite.'

𖥸

     "Your majesty," Marley called as her knuckles lightly drummed against the wooden door.
     "You may enter."
      Her hand lays a hold of the door handle and she gives it a dainty shove.
     "Do not speak unless you are spoken to," She spoke hushly and steps closer to Estelle, "just go set the crockery on his table and after that you'll tidy up his bed and gather up his dirty laundry."
     Estelle bobbed her head and drew closer to the king. She carefully laid the crockery down and receded away from him, leaving to neaten the bedding up. Marley stands by, watching her and instructing Estelle how the bedding should be.
     "Pull tight and tuck the bedding, " Marley directed, "then run yours hands along the bedding to relieve it from any creases."
     Estelle tugged at the bedding and eased it underneath the bed.  She then ran her hands over the bedding, as instructed, and rid the sheets and covers from any wrinkles.
    Marley lifts her hand and points at a hamper across the room, "there is the laundry."
     Estelle huffed quietly, annoyed with her and the king. She ambled over to the hamper, hoisting it up in her arm.
     She waves her hand at Estelle, beckoning her over.
     "Now we wait until we are dismissed," she whispered.
      The king averts his eyes from his food, "you are dismissed."
     "Thank you my king," Marley bows.
     Estelle follows her and bow as well before following her out of the room.

     "Here is the washroom," Marley stated , "I will assume that you know how to wash clothes."
     "I do."
     "Well I'm going to leave it to you, but before I go the washing detergent is in the cabinet right over there."
    Estelle nodded her head and thanked her.
     Estelle rested hamper near the wash tub as she strolled over to the cabinet and retrieved the detergent from it.
     'What have I done in my lifetime to deserve this, lord?'

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||Written: July 9, 2021||
||Total of words: 888||