woof woof, Don't you know the mad dog?

Huh... Luck in Unluck!

The world spun around me when I finally wanted to get out of my hdising spot, my body crashing through the branches of a thorny bush when I fell down. Pain shot through me, but I bit down on my lip to keep from crying out and I totally had forgotten about this since the guards were taking up all my focus at that point but not anymore. 

DARN IT!

This really hurts.

Gosh....

This is stinging.

Did I.... Oh I am bleeding.

Of course I am bleeding!

With how the horse threw me off, I can be lucky that I didn't break anything at all.

Crazy just like the owner.

Not that I was any better but hey... I am proving that I am even worse than anyone here.

....

Yeah, I lost my marbles.

Whelp, no going back at all.

My riding and hutning clothes, already dirtied from my escape, was now torn in several places. The thorns had scratched my arms and legs, and my hair, once a distinct pink, was now soiled and matted with dirt. I looked nothing like the noblewoman I was and frankly said, the better. After all, I was a fake daughter and not the real one. This might even fit me more than being the one in a fancy dress.

Nothing against the dress... It was an amazing dream but that was about it.

Now what?

Where do I go?

I don't even know anything around here...

SHIT

Getting up would be a start but I don't wanna move!

The pain!

I carefully started to move away and then try to get as far away from that bush as possible while at the same time wincing as the thorns snagged on my clothes and skin time and time again. The process of getting out of this bush wasn't as easy as I thought after all.......Anyways, as I stood, trying to regain my composure and ignoring the pain, a voice cut through the quiet.

Maid: What are you doing there, slacking off?

The tone was sharp, laced with irritation and annoyance.

What do you mean?

You blind or something?

Just look at the situation!

The moment I heard the voice, I turned to see a maid standing with her hands on her hips, glaring at me. She didn't recognize me. That much was clear.

Of course she didn't! Not with how I looked now. 

This was an opportunity.

A golden one!

My mind immediately jumped to that one conclusion.

This is it!

My ticked to get into the castle!

Me: I-I'm sorry,...

I stammered intentionally, lowering my head. 

Me: I tripped and fell into the bush.

I hoped that she wouldn't see my eyes and then recognize me as Penelope. If she did, everything would be over but if not, then this would be such a good opportunity.

Maid: Well, get up for fuck's sake! I swear, I have to do everything around here because of lazy girls like you.

She turned and marched away, not even bothering to check if I was following. I hesitated for a moment, then hurried after her. This was perfect. Disguised as a servant, I could move through the palace without drawing attention. I needed to find the prince, and this might be the best way to do it. Besides that, I owed him a good old slap. If I had a slipper to slap some sense into him, the better! Or a frying pan but I guess that is a bit too much to ask for.

The maid led me through a side door into the palace. Inside, the grandeur of the place was overwhelming, even from the servant's quarters. Gilded edges, marble floors, and opulent tapestries were visible even here.

Maid: What's your name? 

This maid was clearly annoyed, because once again she snapped, not looking back at me at all or carrying for me too.

Me: Penny.

This should be common enough not to draw suspicion and any attention.

Maid: Well, Penny, I need you to clean the east wing's corridor. It's a mess, and everyone is scared ot the prince too... What a troublesome person! Couldn't he be more like a normal human being?! BUT NOOO! Do you even know how much blood we need to clean up because of him? Oh yeah, you don't cause you are slacking!

Yeah... about that...

I think not all the blood is his fault...

How about... he can't do anything about the assassins send his way?

Should he die?

NAH!

He will kill of course... better kill than be killed after all.

Me: Yes, ma'am.

 I said, trying to sound meek and obedient.

She shoved a cleaning rag and a bucket of water into my hands.

Maid: And be quick about it. If anyone asks, you're new to this area. Got it?

I nodded, keeping my eyes downcast. She grumbled something about lazy newbies and walked off, leaving me alone. I breathed a sigh of relief. So far, so good.

I made my way to the east wing, keeping my head down and my movements purposeful. Now that I was wearing servant clothes, everything was so much easier. Of course that maid made me change into propper maid clothes too and it was even hiding my hair which was a plus point for me.

 Servants bustled around, too busy with their own tasks to pay me any mind. The corridor was indeed a mess, but I barely noticed. My mind was focused on one thing alone. Find the prince, make him wake up and then tell him to deal with the shit he left cause it ain't my problem. It was but still... it wasn't.

As I started cleaning, I kept my eyes and ears open for any sign of where his room would be. After all I couldn't simply start looking through room to room. That would make me look suspicious. 

Took me a while to finally find his room. The moment I did, I just slipped into it, throwing the bucket with the dirty water all over the prince's face. This was the very first thing I did. It should wake him up good, no?