By Her Majesty's Side

Chapter 4

I had fallen asleep in Mothers arms the night I went to her chambers. I was surprised to find she had brought me to her bed and slept next to me rather than have me brought to my own as she had on past occasions. When I first woke up I was a little disoriented by my surroundings but quickly forgot about my confusion when I caught sight of Mothers sleeping face. Even asleep, she is beautiful. I lost track of time as I watched her face.

I eventually rose for the bed, careful not to disturb her sleep, and made my way out of her chambers. As I walked towards my own I caught a whiff of myself and realized I hadn't bathed the previous night, and judging by the sun it was already later in the morning than I typically started my day.

“Princess!” I was caught off guard by someone shouting for me. I turned to find Vivian approaching me quickly looking a little ragged. “I have been looking for you all morning! Where have you been?!” She finally seemed to take in the sight of me; the clothes from the day prior I had slept in and the hint of body odor that came from me. “Come with me.” she said with a sigh. “We need to get you bathed and dressed immediately”

I followed her to my chambers and got undressed as she started a bath. When I enter the bathroom Vivan has her back to the door as she looks through the various fragrant soaps. “Thank you for your help Vivian but what is so important that we need to rush?”

She doesn’t stop looking through the various scents as she responds. “Besides keeping up appearances?” She asked slightly annoyed. “You do know it is uncouth for a young lady such as yourself to be found walking through the halls bedraggled, and so early in the morning no less!” She takes a deep breath and stops browsing the soaps. “Belladonna or lavender for your bath?”

“Belladonna. And I'm aware but-”

She turns around with the liquid soap. “Where were you last night?” She cuts me off and walks towards the bath to add the soap to the hot water.

“I had tea with my Mother and ended up falling asleep in her room…”

Vivian paused and looked up at me. She tilted her head and had a confused look on her face. “...Well regardless you need to be more sensible, you should have come back to your chambers, we don’t want the staff to talk. Many may already think of homosexuals as perverse people, for you to stumble through the palace looking as you did the morning after coming out…”

She didn’t finish her sentence, she didn’t have to, I understood what she meant. “So is that why you pulled me in to bathe so quickly?” I asked as I stepped into the bath.

“No, I’m rushing because the church has invited you to speak with them today. It appears your declaration did not go unheard.” She lifted my hair and pinned it on top of my head. “No time…” She muttered to herself

I was a little shocked by the suddenness of the invitation but wasn’t unprepared for a meeting with church officials. “Very well, thank you Vivian. You always have my best interest in mind.”

She pauses her washing for a moment before starting again. “It is my duty, Princess. I am your maid after all.”

“Vivian, are you happy with your work?”

“Wh-what?”

“You always deflect when I show gratitude…”

Vivian is silent for a few moments as she continues to wash me. “I guess I don’t really know. It’s not as if you treat me poorly or that I’m unhappy. I just don’t feel as if someone like me deserves such respect from you.”

“But why?” I turn to face her.

“Because you are the princess. I am…” She trails off. Before I can push her further she takes a breath and speaks again. “I am low born, and my employment to the royal family came without merit. I am in your debt.” She sighs. “Now come on. It’s time to rinse off and get you dressed.”