The Lady-in-Waiting

Chapter 7

Lucinda

Living at Zora's parents' house was a lot different than living at home. Her parents were really sweet and cared a lot about Zora. They always asked me how I was doing and if I needed anything. I'd tell them that I was fine and that I was an adult who could do things herself. But I'd never miss a dinner made by Brigita. There's something about a home-cooked dinner that's different from castle food. I think castle food lacks love. Sure, it's good, but it's not made by someone who loves you. Not that Brigita loves me. She loves Zora. But Brigita thinks she loves me.

It's been a weekend since I found out that I wouldn't be Zora's lady-in-waiting anymore. Today's my first day of work. It'll be cool to be around animals all day. And Eli seems nice. A little weird, but I can't judge a guy based on my first impression of him. "The goose guy." Hopefully, people won't call me "the goose girl." I wonder if everyone will like me. They will. I'm a princess after all, even if I'm not physically me. I have a royal brain. I don't need royal blood to be a princess.

But then again, what will they think of me? I'm not Lucinda, I'm Zora. Everyone seems to not like Zora for obvious reasons. Why did I have to switch bodies with someone so unlikeable? Oh, well, at least Zora's parents like me. I should go to work and stop being so self-conscious.

When I get inside the palace, I realize that I don't know where I work. I ask a maid.

"Hey, I'm the new goose girl," I say. "Do you know where I'm supposed to go?"

"So you're the goose girl," she says as I mentally facepalm at the nickname. "Go to the field next to the guest bathroom by the nearest door."

"Goose girl." I guess the name will stick. I prefer my other nickname, Lulu. But I guess no one will call me that anymore. One week in and I'm already tired of being a normal citizen. When I was a princess, I didn't have to have a job. Maybe when I'm queen, I should abolish work and have people make money some other way. No, that wouldn't work. As Father would say, "There would be too many problems with the economy." He was helping me train to be queen. Sometimes I wonder if I would be a good queen. Will Norillia fall under my rule? One mistake could ruin my reign.

I finally get to the field. The air is nice and fresh and the sky is blue. I don't remember the last time I was outside like this. The peace is disturbed by ten geese squawking. I see Eli in the field. He looks at me, smiling. At least someone likes me.

"Do you know what they want?!" I yell.

"No!" Eli yells. "What did you think taking care of geese would be like?!"

"Taking care of children!"

Eli's eyes widen.

"Are you a parent?!" he asks.

"No!" I yell. "A fairy godmother!"

"Oh! Well, the first thing you'll learn about animals is that they're not like children!"

I think about Adventurous and laugh. He's not like my son, but he can be childish.

"Some are immature!" I yell and Eli laughs.

"How would you know?!" he laughs. "It's not like you can talk to animals!"

"Some! Remember the ones I cursed?!"

"Yeah! That was bad!"

Eli walks over to me. What does he want?

"Zorana," Eli says seriously, his voice quiet. "Why did you curse the crowd at the Christening?"

"I don't know," I say honestly, trying to come up with something to say. "It was several years ago and I was younger. I know that what I did was wrong, but now I'm learning from my mistakes."