Ethereal - Through Rose Colored Glasses

Chapter 4

The sun rose lazily over Danica, melting away the sleep from the residents and urging them to begin another beautiful day. But for the maids, the sun told them that they had limited time to serve breakfast.

Adela was currently standing over a sink, rethinking her decisions in life as she scrubbed a mountain of plates and teacups. 

 An easy job they said Adela thought, as she angrily ran the sponge over the decorated plates. 

A fellow maid scurried inside, looking pale and tired already. The girl took one look at the plates and huffed out, muttering angrily as she left. "Why hire someone who can't even use magic." 

Adela paused and took a deep breath, stuffing the urge to hurl a bedazzled cup towards the girl and instead focused her rage and shame into rinsing the soapy plates. She rinsed off the last one and ran out the door, into the main kitchen where the chaos reigned supreme.

The kitchen seemed to be the one place in Danica that couldn't be bedazzled. It was whitewashed, with cool sea blue tiles, tall windows and only about ten fixtures that involved the use of precious gems - a very rare oddity from the much Adela had seen. And yet the air was thick with heat and anger permeating any porous surface and choking the joy out of it. 

"Arthur?" Adela said in between coughs as the scent of heavy spices got stuck in her throat.

The burly man stood still with his back to her as he attacked a mound of dough, relentlessly kneading it and oblivious to Adela screaming his name over the cacophony of pot and pans being banged all over.

Adela sighed as she shifted to the side to avoid being hit with pot. She tapped his shoulder and called out his name again. "Arthur?" 

Arthur turned to face her and arched his eyebrows to urge her on while his hands still battled with the dough. 

"I'm done with the plates!" She shouted. 

He nodded and cocked his head to the long table up in the front where rows of dishes were being kept. He craned his neck away from the dough completely, causing Adela to subconsciously rub her neck in sympathy. "Take the plate with the bacon and cheese and take it to the last room on the hallway." 

She nodded and started to make her way out when he called back. "Next time tie your hair with a scarf or something. Hygiene matters."

Adela was tempted to point out that he might be the only one observing all hygiene rules in this jumbled up place. But she just nodded and moved towards the table grabbing the plate and kicking the door open.

She paused and took a deep relieved breath at the change in the temperature before walking towards the next room, admiring the plants that floated with artificial lumine orbs floating around and providing artificial lighting.

The palace was designed like a hollowed square within a hollowed square, and the space between the squares served as a garden where various small animals made their home. The wall that was closest to the garden was just a low marble and jewel encrusted barricade with just a few pillars on it. Even as she was on the second floor, a floating patch of soil stood in the space.

Father must have been happy here 

Adela opened the door and entered, another seemingly back into the madness as dozens of maids moved around. Rows and rows of tables lined with countless dishes dominated the room, with maids moving around them.

Adela weaved around her fellow maids and dropped the trays, turning back around to get the rest. She felt someone hold her and turned to look at the person. 

She turned to look at the maid, her long wavy blonde hair hiding her face. "Can we switch?"

Adela paused and waited for the girl to continue. "I'm sorry but I'm really exhausted. Can you help me take my tray to the eighth floor."