Royal Deception (GirlxGirl)

Chapter 6

𝐇𝐀𝐖𝐊

A few days already passed and I was starting to get used to all my tasks. Princess Faith never called me to do anything for her, so my days were only filled with being cooped up in my tiny room all day.

I was getting kinda jealous of Robin because he gets to fly around the kingdom most of the time and gets accustomed to the place.

I still brought Princess Faith breakfast and took away her dishes and she always thanked me after but never looked up to see me. She was always busy with something. Either her reading, her writing, or something else entirely.

I didn't know why her private servants never stayed long and were scared off. She's probably the most low-maintenance Royal I have ever had to deal with.

I shrugged, I was still new here. Things could drastically change.

I wasn't invited to their private family lunches and dinners in the great hall. Only royal guards and the food staff were allowed on the premises which was understandable.

The three wicked witches were still the same. They called me 'big girl' as much as they could, which honestly didn't bother me that much. I didn't see it as an insult but the way they said it, like it was something that I should cry about at night was mind-boggling.

We trained so hard to get bigger and stronger and it was a great achievement, yet it was something to be embarrassed about here in Gona.

I suppose women here were expected to be delicate and small if that was the kind of insult they came up with. There was nothing wrong about having a preference for how you want to look, it's your body, but in Gona, it was a standard.

I stretched my back and went back to my push-ups. Being stuck here all day wasn't good for me. The stairs were enough to exercise my lower body but not enough for my upper body. In case I got out of here early I still needed my strength if I had to travel with the risk of bandits and other threats outside.

I still wasn't allowed to roam freely in the kingdom to get any information. I need to think of something to get me out of this castle.

The kitchen staff and the maids barely spoke when I was there so I didn't get any information from them at all, but it was expected. I needed to get their trust first. I was an outsider.

I did a last stretch before exiting my room and got ready to get Princess Faith's breakfast from downstairs. I glanced at the view as I passed by the hallway just to boost my mood a little.

I walked down the stairs and headed for the kitchen.

The staff was already there bustling around the kitchen. The pantry was left open as the cooks and maids continuously got items inside.

I entered and stood beside Lily who only reached my shoulder height. She smiled at me as I entered, "Hey," she greeted quietly. I replied with a small smile and faced Lady Antoinette as she threw orders around the room.

The few days I was here, I got a very good idea of how everything works. I found out that Lady Antoinette handled the staff in the kitchen and personal maids of the Royals.

Lady Isidora mostly handles the servants outside, like stable boys and gardeners.

And Lady Marigold handles the tailors and all the clothing staff. Either for an event or their everyday clothing, but both of them still answered to Lady Antoinette, she was the only one who spoke with the King when it came to the servants.

She was the one I needed to keep my eyes on. The secrets she must know about the kingdom.

"Come here, big girl," I clenched my jaw as Lady Antonette called me. Lily raised her eyebrows at the name, I guess it was the first time she heard it.

I stopped in front of the wicked witch as she looked up at me, "Princess Faith is out but will be back shortly, would you leave this on her table," she said then grabbed my forearm, "If I find out you stole something, you're dead," she whispered but was still heard by everyone in the room.

I nodded as I grabbed the tray. I exited the room without looking at Lily or anyone in the room, I hated that I felt embarrassed. I was never treated like this, like a cockroach in someone else's shoe, or a crook you can't leave unattended.

Even though I took a lot of odd jobs, I always had power and pride. In this place, you can't even have any ounce of dignity.

I was a Royal Guard before all of this and I was pretty well off. I knew servants handled all of the things to run the castle but I don't remember them being treated this way. Our Queen's handmaiden was even her best friend and no one batted an eye.

My heart clenched as I thought about our Queen. I shook my head to get rid of the memories of years before.

I reached Princess Faith's bedroom and Lady Antonette was telling the truth. The Princess wasn't here. The room was empty and tidy. Her bed was made, her clothes were hung properly and her books were properly stacked above her drawers.

I didn't see anyone come here in the last few days but one of Lady Marigold's maids who helped the Princess with her corset and dress. No one else.

She didn't even have a bodyguard, which I knew every single Royal had to have. There has to be a story there.

I arranged her food perfectly on the table and made sure that the utensils were perfectly straight like I'd been doing every morning for the past few days and then I exited with an empty tray.

I closed the door behind me and went down the stairs to return the empty tray. Every one of the kitchen staff was minding their own business. They never gave me any attention as I put the tray above the other empty trays.

I turned to go back to my room when I bumped into Lily. "Sorry," I mumbled and she only smiled, "Hi," she greeted.

"Hey," I said awkwardly and stepped back away from her since she was too close. "Um, I better go back. See you around, Lily" I said and when I took a step I felt her hand on my arm.

I turned and looked at her hand that was holding my forearm. She blushed and dropped her hand before speaking, "There's a little get-together for staff in town if you want to come. There's dancing. It's just a way to let loose after a month of work," she said.

"Oh um," I started, "Thanks but I don't think I'm allowed to leave the castle yet."

Lily's been nice to me since I got here and I felt bad that I couldn't come even though it's out of my control. It would be nice to be around people, not as a servant but as an individual.

Lily looked down, "Oh, I forgot about that. They let me go out after a month of serving," she sighed and looked down, "That's too bad."

I shrugged, "Well, there's always next time," I said with a smile to bring her mood back up and it worked as she looked up with a smile, "Yeah, I guess you're right. We do it once every couple of months," she said.

I nodded, "Good. Well, I'll see you around Lily," I said and waved before walking up the stairs.

As I traveled up the staircase I started to think. I just need to be patient. I need a month to get the trust from the wicked witches and I'll attend one of those get-togethers. It's so easy to ask around when they're too drunk to remember.

I need a plan.

I got to our floor and went to my room. I'm sure the Princess was already back in her room but I knew she'd never ask for me, so I went and tried to use my time to form a good plan.

I pulled out my journal from under my pillow to write the new info. 'Get-together every couple of months for staff,' I wrote.

This is a good start.

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