Love in Ireland

/Prologue/

-May 31st, 2020-

Normal is by far not a word in my vocabulary. I'm eighteen years old and moved to Ireland three months ago so my mom could take care of my sick grandfather. So now me, my mom, and my two brothers live in a cramped apartment in Dublin, Ireland. My mom is a single mother. After my nine-year-old brother Isaac was born, my dad got up and left. No reason, no note, he just left. It broke my mom's heart. Since then, my mom's been trying her best to keep us afloat, and I started helping when I was fifteen. By the age of seventeen, I worked three jobs. When we got to Ireland, I decided I wouldn't go to college for a while and I would help out my mom with Hudson, my eleven-year-old brother, and Isaac so she could spend more time with grandpa.

Another thing that's not normal about my life is about a two weeks ago, something AMAZING happened. I was working at my waitress job at a nearby pub, right? Totally normal. When I ended up serving the royal seamstress! The royal seamstress. You know, the one who works in the castle and pretty much makes all the clothes for the royal family of Ireland. So anyway, I was waiting for the food I needed to serve and I was sketching out this idea for a new dress on a napkin. And well, I forgot to pocket the napkin, but I did write my name on it and somehow I don't know how the royal seamstress, Madam Bowden, found it and when I went to serve her food, she asked me if I was the one who drew it as obviously my name tag said Milena. I said yes, and she literally offered me an interview, because turns out she was looking for an apprentice to take over when she retired.

Obviously, I took the interview. It was last week, and I got a call three days ago AND I GOT THE JOB. And I am literally so excited about it. Being a fashion designer was my dream, and I had to put that on hold to help my mom, but now luck is giving me a second chance.

Today is my first day. And I am SO EXCITED. I get to go to the castle and help Madam Bowden. I AM FREAKING OUT.

Right now, I am in a car on the way to the palace. Apparently Madam Bowden lives at the palace, which is so cool. But I'm also super nervous. The royal family lives there. What if I run into them and say or do something I'm not supposed to?

I'm in the back seat of the car bouncing my legs nervously and staring at my reflection in the window. Even in the window, you can see how bright my red hair is. My skin is pale and covered in freckles, and I have bright green eyes that are framed by black round rimmed glasses. My ex-best friend used to joke that I looked like I could be the daughter of Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley. She also joked that I checked almost every box when it came to Irish stereotypes.

For my first day on the job, I thought I would dress nicely. You know, to impress Madam Bowden. I'm wearing a tight white short sleeve turtle neck, a green and black plaid pleated skirt, black combat boots, and a few gold bracelets. I tied half of my waist length red hair back with a green bow to match my skirt.

We get to the castle, and I was definitely freaking out. Will Madam Bowden be waiting for me? Does the palace have a doorbell? Will I get lost? I sighed and got out of the car, clutching my black leather backpack, which held my sketchbooks and other stuff. I walked to the front of the castle and knocked on the door. Will anyone even hear me knocking?

"Ah, Miss Summerfield! Madam Bowden said you should be arriving at about now!" a girl exclaimed, opening the door. She was around average height and had chocolate brown hair, which was pulled up into a bun, and she had on a basic grey dress.

She ushered me inside and I followed. The castle was amazing. Literally straight out of one of my fantasy romance books. "I'm Maisie!" She told me. "I'm one of Princess Alannah's ladies-in-waiting. Madam Bowden sent me down to fetch you so I could bring you to her studio."

Well, that explains a lot. "I'm Milena. Please don't call me Miss Summerfield."

"Will do Milena." She smiled. Maisie seemed like a very peppy person.