Chosen

Chapter 5

Sitting in my new room I can't help but look around in shock even though I was exhausted.

This room was more like a house. In fact, I was pretty sure it was bigger than our house. Like our entire house could literally fit in this single room.

Ridiculous.

The walls were made up of purple hand-painted flowers with a white background. Gold embellishment lined the ceiling and corners. There was a sitting area around the fireplace with a purple couch and white chairs that were the softest velvet I'd ever felt.

And the bed.

The bed.

It. was. massive.

Four adults could sleep comfortably shoulder to shoulder.

The bedspread was in the same theme of purple and white with embroidered flowers and so plush I couldn't help but plop down and sigh.

Good thing I like purple. And flowers.

Going over to the connected washroom, my mouth fell open.

There was a white porcelain bathtub with more gold accents, a separate smaller room for the toilet, and the whole other wall was taken up by a massive mirror with gold curvy framing. A vanity sat in the middle with brushes, make-up, lotions, creams, and I don't even know what else.

I picked up one of the hair brushes and admired it.

It was silver and engraved with flowers and swirls on the back, the bristles were so soft and dense. I ran my fingers over it, then rubbed it on my cheek.

So soft.

"I hope you find your dwellings acceptable, my lady."

I nearly screamed. The voice scared me so bad. I turned to see an older maid standing with her hands folded in front of her. Another maid about middle age stood the same exact way a few feet behind her.

The older maid was tall, pale, and thin and she had her white hair pulled up neatly under her maid cap. She clearly was beautiful in her youth but some harsh frown lines obscured her features.

The other had a sweet round face, caramel-colored skin, and dark brown hair sprinkled with some gray. Something about her made me want to hug her and tell her all my problems.

"Sorry, my lady, I did not mean to surprise you. Us maids are meant to blend in as much as possible, so sometimes we are unnoticed," The older maid said and inclined her head apologetically.

"No, no, you're fine," I said with my hand on my chest, my heart pounding. "And please call me Rowan, I'm not a lady."

"While you are here, courting our two beloved princes and others of notable rank, you are a lady, my lady," she bowed her head again, the other maid copying her but smiling more kindly.

This is so weird.

"Um, okay, I guess," I said quietly.

"Then you find your dwellings acceptable, my lady?" she said again, motioning around her and looking at my hand. I realized I was still holding the hairbrush. Quickly putting it down, I straightened up and tried to regain some dignity.

"It is absolutely beautiful," I said genuinely and smiled.

She smiled back but it didn't reach her eyes. I couldn't help but wonder if she also felt like I didn't belong here.

"My name is Martha, and I am your head maid," she said.

Again she bowed her head. She motioned to her left where the shorter plumber maid bowed her head.