"What happened?" Anna sat up quickly, only to find that she was sitting in a cell in the dungeon. Beatrice smirked and replied,
"I used your exhaustion to my advantage. That mixed with the relief of being able to stay as long as you like, well, your body decided it didn't need to be awake anymore." Anna considered this for a little while, then said quietly,
"Does this mean I'm your servant now? Or just a prisoner?" Beatrice smiled sincerely and said, "Of course not! I mean, you will not be treated as an equal in our family, because you're probably from some poor family who burned their house down on purpose to keep warm!" Anna felt her jaw drop to the floor, but Beatrice continued. "And you will help the servants with their duties. But I am giving you my hospitality, am I not?" Anna nodded, unsure of what would become of her. "And you will sleep in the dungeon, but only because we don't want you to get lost in the castle." Anna's eyebrows were above her head as she silently questioned this reasoning. "You will also wear this," continued Beatrice, holding up a maid's outfit.
"Yes, ma'am," replied Anna, reaching out for the maid's dress.
"Ah, ah, ah," corrected Beatrice. "Mistress." If Anna were allowed to, she would have made the longest, most annoying groan anyone had ever heard, but instead she just hung her head and recited,
"Yes, mistress."
"Very good!" clapped Beatrice. "Now get ready. Today is my garden party and you will be the server." Beatrice shoved the dress in her face, pushed her into the cell, and shut the door. "It will automatically open in five minutes. Don't be late."
YOU ARE READING
Without a Crown
General FictionIn this novel, Princess Annabelle of Aslaria runs away from home after a fight with her father. She becomes a servant at one of her subject's home, only to find out that she was becoming much more of a servant than she could have ever imagined!
