The Lost Royal

New Work

"Aaliyah!" My friend, Esa exclaims. "What happened?" I ask startled. I set down my dishrag.

"Madam Cocktail wants you to report to her." 

I am stunned. What business does she have with me? She's the head of the royal maids. 

I hurry to the servant wing of the palace. She's speaking to two other girls, and when she spots me, she gives me a pleasant smile in greeting.

"Aaliyah, I presume?" I blink, and then remember myself, "Ahh, yes, " I stammer in response. She gives me once over, and as if seeing something she likes, she nods. 

"That's very good indeed," replying to my previous comment. She waves her hand to the two girls, "this is Lola and Becca," introducing them. I scrunch my forehead in confusion. Why does she care that I have to know them?

"They will be working at the prince's chambers as will you. You've been promoted." I swallow unsure. I think my eyes jumped to my brain in surprise. I was not expecting this; actually, I thought I was going to be reprimanded for an accident earlier this morning. 

"I'm sorry?" I can't help but ask stupidly. She patiently repeats, "From today, you will not be a palace servant but a maid. You will be attending the royal chambers in lieu of your original duties." I gape at her but quickly compose. But the thing was you can't be allowed to be promoted to this position; it's like you have to have the status and then undergo training. 

"Thank you," I offer instead. There isn't much to say beside this because I can't exactly refuse, and then watching me accept this new line of work, she is satisfied. "Good. You may start tomorrow at sunrise. I suppose you will have time to gather yourself from the servant wing and then settle into the East side wing. And Lola and Becca will be here to help with your transition." Madam cocktail trudges off like she gave me a death sentence. And she might have as well. I have been working three years in the servant wing, and I was happy and comfortable. But I knew it would pay the debts. 

Now I can't even contemplate how I will even adapt to my new surroundings, new faces, and responsibilities. Not to mention new status. 

"Hello," Lola? I think says. I feel mystified looking at her as I clear my head from the train of thoughts trying to overwhelm me. "Um, hi. I'm Aaliyah." I tell the both of them. "We know," the other girl, Becca, replies kind of haughtily.

"But you call me Ally." 

"Sure!" Lola's cheery voice breaks through. I uneasily smile back. 

"You must have some kind of connection to get to be a palace maid." Becca mutters, and it's rude and off-putting. I reign in my defense, "that was very presumptive of you." 

"Oh wow, you seem to know very big words, but, it doesn't scare me." She leaves the room forgetting her manners.

"Don't mind her. She's miserable to everyone. Not only you. C'mon! I have to show you places." Lola takes my arm and guides me out of the room without my consideration.

"Here is your new room. You can put your stuff in the wardrobe. But just like the servant's wing, the bathroom is shared."  I stop listening to her because I'm in awe of the size of the room. I get to have my own wardrobe, and I swear this place is twice as big as my old room. 

"Wow this is amazing. All this space," I can barely hear myself through this space that is whispering to me. Lola hides a grin, "I know! The luxury! You won't regret working here. Even the work area is just as fine." I don't even get to admire for a while longer before she whisks me away to another corridor. 

"Woah, you have to stop doing that." My messed-up bun is like a bird's nest atrocity, which is lacking its intended style. "Sorry! I get excited easily," she gleams as I try to fix up my hairdo. 

"I can no doubt see that," I confirm. She just laughs, and says, "I like you." I laugh awkwardly, "That's a given," unsure of what to else to say.  

"Look." She diverts my focus. What I see leaves me utterly breathless. It's the prince's chambers. It's like a dream. I bet my whole tiny village can fit in here, but that's an exaggeration.There's already a few palace maids roaming around and dusting. I don't even see the bed yet. 

"Now that's heaven on a bed," finally searching for what I yearned to see. So unexpectedly beautiful. What I would kill to lie down there...