Scandalous Prince

2

The peeled red wooden door creaks as I open it, the warmth from the fire dancing around my body as I shut out the cold but I hand my shawl up on the peg. I can hear faint chatter coming from the sitting room, so I move towards it. My father is sat in his arm chair reading the newspaper, my mother in her chair beside him knitting a shawl. 

"You're back! What held you up?" Mother puts down her knitting needles and stands to take the meat from my hands. "What happened to the packaging? And your dress, Essie what have you done?" She looks at me disapprovingly, and to avoid eye contact I stare at the flowers on the wall paper.

"Im sorry, I fell, town was very busy there was lots of bustle and large crowds. I tripped over someone, I was't paying attention." I ramble whilst admiring the the faint yellow petals and green leaves playing with my sleeves absent-mindedly. 

"You really need to pay attention, stop day dreaming and pay attention to the world around you" She walks into the kitchen but turns and gestures me to follow her through, throughout that ordeal Father remains emerged in the news stories of the week. The kitchen is colder and from the small window you can see Benny and Franky with 2 girls having a snow ball fight among the wilting crops that will never make it to being sold. A blonde girl ducks behind the tractor while Benny creeps around the side, a large white weapon in hand- she doesn't see him before it's too late and she's covered in snow, I can hear her scream from here. The other, her hair a raven colour makes her way through the crops quickly without the others noticing, at once she throws snow balls one after another. I've never had a snow ball fight, they look fun but very, very cold. I stand smiling at the scene my mother behind me putting the meat in the cooler. "Essie" I snap around.

"Yes" Although i'm listening to my mother I continue to watch the excitable events outside. 

"Your father has been talking to his friends down at the pub and he's secured you a job, a very good one if I may say so." I hum in agreement. "You'll begin the day after tomorrow. I'll let your father fill you in of the details at dinner." I nod still watching the girls gang up on the boys making shelter behind the old shed. 

"I'm going to offer them some cocoa, it is awfully cold outside" I make my way onto the back porch as my mother stands with her hands in the warm soapy water washing the pots for tonight muttering to herself; the back door creaks shut. The washing flutters in the cold wind, the screams and laughs getting louder. "Would anyone like some cocoa?" but my voice is lost to the wind and they continue as if i'm not there so I walk closer my hair falling from its bun in the wind meaning I cannot see the large snow ball heading straight for me and for the second time today I land on my backside but this time the ground is slightly softer due to the blanket of snow but a lot colder. 

"Essie! Are you alright, we're sorry" Franky helps me up and pulls me close rubbing my head as if I were a child but his hands are cold and the other soon come running over. 

"I'm sorry, that was my poor aim" The blonde girl giggles to herself, I roll my eyes subtly.

"I was coming to offer some cocoa, it looks as if it's getting colder out here" I smile and look around at eager faces.

"I would love some!" Benny beams picking up the dark haired girl, throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her indoors, Franky drags along the blonde girl and I follow suit the snow crunching beneath my feet. 

When I shut the back door behind everyone closing the latch as the others run to the fire to warm up, mother is peeling the vegetables heating the cooker. I retrieve a pan filling it with milk enough for everyone leaving that to warm as I find the bar of chocolate- quite expensive but father gets given it from a friend at the pub. To keep my hands warm I hold them above the pan listening to mothers quiet singing at the table as she peels potatoes and carrots methodically. 

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We all sit at dinner, including the two girls who i've learned are called; Delilah (the blonde) and Lileth (the brunette) two sisters visiting their aunt to help her with her seamstress business, modelling the clothes. I keep quiet sipping at my 1 small glass of wine i'm allowed at dinner and picking at the carrots on my plate as everyone talks about which businesses are gaining this winter. I have little opinion, I don't help on the farm, and mothers been pressing me to get a job as I don't have the muscles to help with the machinery for the crops; i'm irrelevant to the family business. The voices quiet and I look up to see eyes on me. 

"Child, did you hear me?" Pops smiles and clicks his fingers in front of my face, I smile sheepishly. "I have a good opportunity for you. Practically battled old Mormon to give you this place, so you should be grateful and work your hardest." All the while he eats his meal and rambles to himself, I just nod along, its most likely a chance to sweep at one of the stalls or sort the books out for the schools nearby which I was't too thrilled about. 

"What is it?" I question, still picking at my meal but everyone awaits for the answer apart from my mother who eats quietly. My tone is dull and all I wish to do is go to bed and read.

"For the royals my dear, Mormont agreed to take you onto his housekeeping staff, train you up to be a professional housekeeper. You're young with no achievements yet so this is a very special chance, you understand that right?" He looks at me expectantly. I grin at him falsely giving him a peck on the cheek. I check the clock and decided to go to bed early. 

"Thank you, so much" I force enthusiasm and take my plate to the side I kiss my mother goodnight and hug Franky and Benny quickly muttering a goodnight to the girls. They gush about the prince, his good looks and charm, his reputation and the luxuries of the palace but i'm not all excited. 

Being trained to be something I don't want to be. 

I take myself to the top of the house, my mother has warmed my room by lighting my small fireplace which i'll have to thank her for. I put my pyjamas on and brush out my hair plaiting it for tomorrow before quickly crawling under the covers and watching the flickering of the flames until my eyes shut and i'm surrounded by warmth and sleep.