A Royal Mess

9. Ball

I am in Heaven.

It feels like I am floating on clouds. The pillow and mattress I wake up on feel like they are made of magic, that is the only explanation I can think for how soft they are.

"You're up. Good." The sound of someone saying that startles me into complete consciousness. I look to my right and see Sally standing there with a sheepish expression.

"Sorry if I startled you but prince Alexius wanted you to know that he'll be joining you for breakfast in your room. Martha has prepared a bath for you already." Sally explains as she holds out a white colored towel to me.

I take the slightly damp towel and use it to wipe away the remaining sleepiness from my eyes.

I hate the way I am being coddled by my maids and by Alexius but it also kind of feels amazing.

"It's okay, Sally. And thank you." She gives me a small smile which showcases she admires that I thank them for their efforts. Well, they deserve it.

After I freshen up and change into a beautiful white floral dress we, Sally, Martha and I, sit on the balcony and talk about our lives.

Sally is the eldest of three children, she has two younger brothers. Her mother died after giving birth to her second brother and her father ran away from the responsibility of taking care of three kids alone when she was seventeen. She has been working here ever since to support herself and her siblings. She says that the queen carefully picks the staff, people who need the employment and may not be able to get it elsewhere and that the pay is way more than the work they have to do here.

I feel sudden pride towards the queen at this revelation. I admire her efforts.

Martha's dad is a gardener here at the palace. He has worked here for as long as she can remember and he was the sole provider for their family until Martha got a job here because she didn't want to burden her father with the responsibility of paying her college fees. Their stories are sad and inspirational. I get emotional by the end of Martha's. She tells me that most of the people who work here have similar if not more heartbreaking stories. People in this palace are connected through tragedies, hard work, their gratefulness to the royal family for hiring them and giving them a purpose. It is like a big dysfunctional family.

I tell them about what I would've been doing right now if I hadn't been here, in Celia. How Jenna and I walk together, meet our friends by the cafe, talk throughout the short distance to school and how Louis would be walking me to english class right about now.

They think Louis may have a crush on me which I find ridiculously funny because to be honest I may have had a tiny crush on him for a while now and besides he's kind of seeing Michelle Warren from chemistry.

We gossip some more about the other palace maids and guards and who's seeing who. Even though I don't know anyone but them (they're not dating anyone) it's still fun and makes me forget about where I am and why.

Alexius comes with breakfast about half an hour after I woke up. Martha and Sally help the other maids, that brought in our food, set up. After they're done with laying the table in the balcony they excuse themselves and Alexius and I are left alone.

"Good morning, princess." Alexius states brightly. Looks like he is a morning person.

"Good morning to you too. Do we start eating now or do we wait some more?" I question excitedly. Even though I ate a full dinner last night I suddenly feel very hungry. My mouth waters at the sight of the pancakes.

Alexius chuckles slightly and replies, "Of course, we can dig in." So we do.

"Hey, tell me about those boring lessons you were talking about on the plane." I question Alexius in between bites of some bacon I am helping myself to.