The Royal Rose

Eliot

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Rose started helping Alice in the kitchen. The other servants were envious of her, because the old woman favored Rose more than others. Two days were left for the Grand Ball.

The invitations were sent to all the maidens of the country to attend the ball. Prince Luke would chose his bride.

Rose wasn't interested in the gossips like other servants. But she heard them talking that the beautiful twin princesses of the neighbouring country have arrived this morning. They were the ultimate favorite of most of the servants. They thought, Prince Luke would chose one of them and rest of the ball was just a pretending show. Although he had not seen any of them yet.

Rose kept working while the others indulged in gossips.

She asked the old woman about Goldie, and the woman asked her to wait for her husband.

Rose spent whole day helping other servants and waited for the evening for old woman's husband to return. When he did, he took her out in the grounds to the dog house.

The falling darkness and loud barks of the dogs made Rose uncomfortable in the small dog house.

The old man spoke,"The last cage."

Rose rushed towards it, without waiting for him. "Goldie?"

The golden retriever recognized her voice. The playful bark made Goldie cry with happiness. She patted him softly.

Suddenly, the old man heard horse hooves outside and spoke. "We need to leave."

"Just a little time more. You go, I'll come back in few minutes."

Unlike she expected, the old man left.

Rose told Goldie about her escape, and how she reached here. Although, she knew that he was just a dog. But she thought of him as a friend.

Soon, it was dark and Rose had to find her way back to the Palace.She sneaked through the grounds, and entered through the kitchen door. Alice was sitting on the chair, while others were still working for dinner preparation.

Alice smiled,"Rose! I was waiting for you."

"Something happened?"

Alive held her arm and took her out of the kitchen.

"No, I wanted to show you something. The dresses of twin princesses for the Grand ball have arrived."

Rose shook her head as hard as she could,"You'll get into trouble."

"Come on,Rose. I just want to see them. Just once."

"Your mother won't like it."

Alice dragged her through the deserted corridors,"She doesn't have to know."

"This is bad." Rose whispered.

"Don't worry. They just arrived, and mother kept them in the Royal wardrobe."

Rose recalled the sound of hooves when she was meeting Goldie.

Alice dragged her towards a big wooden door.

"I present to you... The royal Wardrobe."

Rose froze at the first sight of that place. It was a huge room with wardrobes all around.

In the centre of the room, there was an antique gilded full length mirror. The golden interior was shimmering in the light of chandelier. Alice pushed Rose inside, and closed the door behind them.

"They should be in this one."

Alice pushed the sliding door of the nearest wardrobe. Inside the wardrobe, were atleast 20-30 dresses. The sadness in Alice's eyes was too apparent. She moved her hands down the fabric of everyone of them and commented something negative.