The Return of the Princesses

Chapter 11

The loud echoing of our heels hitting the cool marble floor rang through the hallways. It would've been a relaxing noise if all our feet were in sync, but due to my inability to walk in heels, I couldn't manage to keep up with Marlee and Lucy's fast pace.
We past dozens of dark-tinted windows, and low candles dimmed the hallways. I'd have to go on a walk around tomorrow to better see things in the light, because right now it feels like I'm just walking in circles around the same wooden doors and hallways.
" Here we are, at the bath." Said Lucy, stopping infront of a random wooden door that looked like the one to its left, and right. I'm thankful I had these ladies with me, I wouldn't have ever been able to find the room on my own.
" I'll go get your nightgown and some towels. We weren't expecting you to be home tonight. " exclaimed Marlee, clapping and lighting jogging down the hallway.
" We won't hesitate to start now, by the time she gets back, we will be done." Said Lucy, opening up the door to expose the same style of bathroom I was tortured in to get dressed in just this morning.
" When you say we, do you mean?" I asked, walking into the washroom.
" Yes, of course we are still going to wash you, you're Princess Belle."
" That's very generous, but I can wash myself."
" And that is nonsense! " She yelled, startling me.
It made me nervous at the thought of exposing my body to Lucy. Back home, I had never had a boyfriend, no sexual relations, and I always changed alone.

I didn't want to push her away when she approached me and started unbuttoning the buttons on the back of my dress. As soon as it hit the floor, she marched past my naked, shivering body and grabbed a bucket of water from the corner, and dragged it over to me. Once she stopped it infront of me, she glanced up.
" Are you going to get in?" She asked, not even fazed by the sight of my nudity.
Without another word, I carefully stepped into the water. I just stood there as she went around my body, first washing it with water, then applied what looked like a homemade bar of soap to my skin, which smelt like lavender. After she washed by body, she grabbed a smaller bucket, filled it with water from the one I was standing in, and carefully dumped it over my head, making sure none gets into my eyes. Using the same bar of soap she used on my body, she lathered it in my hair, and dumped 3 more buckets on my head to make sure it was soap-less. Clearly, shampoo and conditioner hadn't been invented yet.

As Lucy predicted, Marlee walked in right as Lucy poured the last bucket on me. I had just gotten comfortable to being naked around Lucy, but having Marlee walk in just reset my whole fear.

Without any need for communication between the two, Marlee hung my nightdress on the hook on the wall, and Lucy gathered my wet hair on top of my head, and wrapped the dark brown towel around it. At the same time, Marlee wrapped a matching towel around my body, which I gladly grabbed to make sure it covered me.

Just 15 minutes later, I was dressed in a long cotton nightgown that dropped to my mid-calves. I had matching white slippers on my feet to keep them from getting cold from the concrete floor. My wet brown hair was also brushed, and tied back into a french braid. 

" Would you care for an escort to your bedroom, my lady?" Asked Lucy.

" That would be greatly appreciated, Lucy." I said.

" My lady, I am going to stay back here and clean up, but I will see you in the morning for your early wake-up call. Since your absences, you have a lot of your duties to catch up on." Said Marlee, picking up the used towels off the floor.

" Of course, Marlee. I will see you in the morning."

" Sweet dreams, and welcome home." Said Marlee, and she dropped into a graceful curtsy. 

I nodded my head in her direction, and followed Lucy out of the bathroom door. 

We continued down the hallway of never-ending doors, until I finally spotted the end. At the end of this wing was a set of grand white doors, with fine carvings of flowers intertwined with geometric shapes. As we got closer, I could identify the handles as giant knobs made out of solid gold.