" The King's Luna " under revision

Chapter 4

A month into my service as a maid at the palace, I learned a rule: no romantic relationships with guards or staff.

While dusting the king's chambers, I found a note under a book. It was from a guard to Lily, planning a secret meeting at the stables at midnight. Shocked, I hid the note as Lord Richard, a palace advisor, approached.

"Aurelia, can we talk?" he asked, glancing at my pocket.

We stepped into the hallway. Lord Richard spoke seriously, saying the king noticed my talent for making coffee. Now, I was to make his afternoon coffee daily.

I couldn't believe it. Trying to hide my excitement, I agreed. Then, Lord Richard sternly reminded me about the rule on fraternizing.

"Yes, my lord. I understand," I replied softly.

Relieved, I walked away, realizing I needed to be more careful. Still, I found the secret romance between Lily and the guard amusing.

Back in the kitchen, I chuckled at the thought. I had been covering for Lily and the guard's secret love affair for weeks.

Suddenly, a loud crash came from the kitchen. I rushed over and found the head chef upset over broken dishes.

"What happened?" I asked, hiding my amusement.

"The new kitchen assistant," the head chef grumbled. "He keeps breaking everything."

Looking at the young assistant, on the verge of tears, I felt sorry for him.

"I'll handle it," I said with a smile. "I'll show him how to handle dishes properly."

The head chef left, and I comforted the new assistant, promising to teach him the ropes.

The rest of the afternoon was spent teaching the new assistant to handle dishes better. By the day's end, he had improved a lot. Leaving the kitchen, I felt proud of solving problems.

Despite challenges, I enjoyed working in the palace. I liked the company of fellow maids and took pride in my work. I felt part of something important, making a difference in people's lives.

The King was busy, but he always made time for his afternoon coffee. I often brought it to his private chambers.

Bringing the coffee, I found the King at his desk. He looked up as I entered.

"Ah, Aurelia. How are you today?"

"I'm well, Your Majesty. Thank you. I brought you your coffee," I said, putting it on his table.

"Thank you. I appreciate it," he replied.

"By the way, I need you to deliver these documents to the council chambers. They're urgent," the King said, giving me a stack of papers.

"Of course, Your Majesty. I'll make sure they're delivered promptly."

"Thank you," the King said with a small smile. "If you need help navigating the palace, ask the staff. We're here to help."

In the council chambers, I handed the papers to the members. They nodded, and I left, relieved to be out of their gaze. Walking to the laundry room, I wondered about the important matters the council discussed.

In the laundry room, I saw Rachel scrubbing a stain on a noblewoman's dress.

"Hey, Rachel. How's it going?" I asked.

"Oh, just the usual," Rachel replied. "Trying to get rid of these pesky stains. How was your errand?"

"It was fine. Had to deliver documents to the council chambers," I replied, sitting next to her.

"Ooh, that sounds important. What were they discussing?"

"I'm not sure. They didn't say much, but I wondered what it was about," I said, leaning against the wall.

"Who knows? Probably just politics as usual. At least we're not stuck in those stuffy meetings, right?"

"That's true," I said with a smile. "And who knows, maybe one day we'll all be knighted for our services to the kingdom."

Rachel laughed, "I highly doubt that, but it's a nice thought."

After finishing the laundry, I strolled back to the main palace hall, still lost in thoughts of knights and kingdoms. Passing by the council chambers, I caught snippets of their conversation, talking about a neighboring kingdom and the possibility of war. It weighed heavily on my heart, realizing the impact on our kingdom.

Wandering through the palace gardens, a sense of calm washed over me. The vibrant flowers and the fountain's sound soothed my senses, easing my worries.

Turning to continue my walk, I spotted Robert, the king's trusted advisor, on a garden bench, lost in thought. Unsure if I should disturb him, I decided to approach.

"Good day, Sir Robert," I greeted him with a small smile. "May I join you?"

He nodded, gesturing for me to sit beside him.

"Of course, my lady," he replied, polite yet reserved.

Silence enveloped us, but I sensed the weight of sadness on Sir Robert's shoulders.

"Is everything all right, Sir Robert?" I asked, concerned.

He sighed, "The loss of the queen and the recent council meetings have been challenging. It's a lot to bear at times."

"I can only imagine," I replied. "But please know you have the support of the palace staff. We're here to help."

Sir Robert nodded in appreciation, and we sat in silence again.

Breaking the quiet, he asked, "How are you finding life in the palace, Aurelia?"

Smiling, I answered, "It's a big change from my previous life, but I'm grateful for the chance to serve the king and the kingdom."

Sebastian nodded, "It can be overwhelming, but there's satisfaction in contributing to something bigger."

"Exactly," I agreed. "And it's an honor to work alongside all of you."

Sir Robert smiled warmly, "It's been a pleasure having you here, Aurelia. You've been a great addition to the team."

Feeling grateful, I blushed. "Thank you, Sir Robert. That means a lot."

In comfortable silence, I reflected on my transformed life at the palace. Despite challenges, I felt thankful for this opportunity to serve my kingdom and make a difference.

"It's been a significant adjustment, but I'm grateful to serve the kingdom in such a meaningful way. And I've made wonderful friends, like you, sir," I said with a smile.

Sir Robert returned my smile, "I feel the same way. It's an honor to serve the kingdom and work alongside such dedicated individuals."

As the sun set, Sir Robert and I bid farewell and returned to our duties. Walking back to the palace, a sense of contentment and purpose lingered in my new life.