Royal Heartstrings

Chapter 2- A stranger at night

ONE YEAR LATER

Valerie's POV:

As I brushed Mira's golden locks, the soft strokes felt like a rhythm playing in my mind, up and down, soothing and calming. Today was the day the royal family would arrive at Weldon's mansion for a three-day stay, which we'd been preparing for months. Willow dale-the capital city of Eldrida and where we live was buzzing with excitement, and my ear was filled with one name: Prince Nova.

"Mira, you've mentioned him a million times already," I teased, smiling. "I think you're a bit obsessed."

Mira's cheeks flushed, but she couldn't help herself. "Do you think he'll like me? Do you think he'll even look at me?" Her voice trembled, revealing her worry.

I said with confidence, "He'll love you, Mira! He'd be a fool not to." I took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "You're kind, beautiful, and intelligent. What's not to love?"

Mira turned to me, her eyes shining with gratitude, and smiled. "Thank you. Thank you for being here."

"I always will be," I promised, believing my own words.

With a nod, Mira's tension eased, and we continued preparing for the royal arrival.

★★★

As I made my way out of the grand reception room that was finely decorated for the royal family's arrival, I couldn't help but think about the inner workings of Weldon's mansion. There were eight of us maids, but only three were trusted to clean the family's rooms on the upper floor - and I was one of them. It was a privilege, really, but also a lot of pressure.

Our butler, Mr. Malcolm, was a man in his late 40s with a kind face but a strict demeanor. He ran the household with precision and expected nothing but perfection from us. Then there was the cook, Mrs. Flynn, and her husband, the chef, who were always busy in the kitchen, whipping up delicious meals. They were a lovely couple, and I enjoyed chatting with them when I could. We also had two young kitchen staff, Emily and Lydia, who were around my age and always had a smile on their faces.

Of course, there was also the gardener, James, who kept the grounds immaculate, and the chauffeur, Michael, who drove the family wherever they needed to go. Magna was the footman, he assisted Mr. Malcolm and ran errands through out the mansion; thinking about him was a little painful but I pushed it down. And then there were the guards, who were always present but never intrusive. They were also waiters who served only on special occasions like today. Our head maid, Alia Mambo, was a mother figure to us all, and I had grown particularly close to her over the past year. Sometimes, I would even babysit her daughter, Willow, who was now six years old and full of energy.

I got changed and prepared to leave around 8 pm. I was really relieved because I didn't want to serve the royal family - I wouldn't know how to act in front of them, and the thought of it made me nervous. I said goodbye to Mira, who tried to convince me to stay, but I couldn't. "Good luck, Mira," I whispered, as she hugged me tightly.

I also made sure to bid farewell to Alia Mambo, who gave me a warm smile and a pat on the back. "Take care, Valerie. See you tomorrow." I nodded and headed out into the cool evening air.

As I walked down the familiar path to my house, I felt a sense of comfort in the crisp autumn air. The trees surrounding me were shedding their leaves, turning golden brown and crunching beneath my feet. I wore a long trench coat gifted by Mira, faded jeans, and warm boots. Underneath the trench coat, I had on a black t-shirt.

As I strolled, I put my hand in my pocket and whistled a tune - "Lost in the Haze" by my favorite band, Echoes in the Dark. I loved their music, especially their lead singer and leader, Max Well. The band consisted of Max, lead guitarist Rachel Chen with her brother, bassist Mike Chen, and drummer Chris Martin. I had always dreamed of meeting them, but they weren't very popular in Calonia.