Magnificent: A Dragon Story

Chapter Three

(A/n) cousin means friend when you speak like Shakespeare :P (e/a/n)

I don't do this often. I just do it when I have to. I put on a faded, purple dress and a brown, dirty cloak I hide in my closet. A box in my closet, actually. It was my sister's. She used to keep rocks in it. Yes, rocks. Roches. Why rocks? She said every rock told a story. Every rock has been on a journey. Every rock has memories. I called her crazy. She showed me one of her rocks. Do you see? No I don't. Look closer. And I did. And I saw something. Layers. Layers of color. Rock on top of rock. Pushed together like bread dough and stuck there forever. Wow. But... that was then and this is now.

I came out of the buttery, which heavily smelled like beer, and snuck to the halls leading to the garden. I could see just a few lady servants rushing with plates and forks. I can't show my face or they'll recognize me. With the cloak I'll just be another servant to them. I ran past them quickly until I bump into someone and fall to the ground.

"Sorry! Sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." I apologize. I see a hand reach out and I take it.

"Well, you're in a rush." A voice says. They pull me up and I lift my cloak a bit to see who it is.

"Luca!" I hug him tightly nearly knocking him over. "I haven't seen you in weeks! You're back from the lake!"

"I meant to tell you earlier but I couldn't find you." He says behind my shoulder. I pull out of the hug to see his face.

Luca has been my cousin ever since Marceline left. I was 7 and he was 9 when we first met. His mother was a servant here who worked very hard for her earnings. Her husband left her when Luca was born and being a servant was the only job that could feed him. She died when he was 11. Having no one to look after him he filled in his mother's spot and became a servant himself. And every now and then I'll sneak him a few bread slices and lamb chunks. And on his birthday I give him macarons. They're his favorite. Lately I didn't have to because he was sent to go to camp with fisherman at the lake. And now he's back.

"Sneaking out again, I see." He said.

"Shh! I just... need to go to the village. This is the only way."

"Well I wish you best of luck." He leaned into my ear. "Go through the kitchen" He whispered. "Everyone's busy. They won't pay attention." He leaned back out.

"Thank you!" I squeezed him again and ran off to find the halls to the kitchen.
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Luca was right. Once I entered the kitchen there were servants rushing with dishes. Chefs yelling at each other. Maids washing the dishes in metal basins of water. I can see the door leading to outside. I need to get there unnoticed.

I slipped through the servants. Trying hard not to draw attention. I'm almost to the door. Then I feel a hand on my shoulder.

"There you are!" The voice of a gruff woman says. My heart skips a beat and I turn to face my consequence. "And just where do you think you're going?" I don't look up. All that comes out of my mouth are mixed noises. "I told you to put these dishes in the bin! And here you are not doing a thing! The king will have all our heads if you don't start doing some work around here! Get on it!" She shoves me toward the dishes on a counter and leaves.

She thought I was a servant. My heart is normal and I struggle to pick up all the dishes. Heavier than I thought. Covered in grease and food. I carried them to a bin of water and go out the door.