Once Upon His December

Chapter 6 - New Friend

Kira

I fell into a routine for my new life fairly quickly.  I still had not met Lady Lada though I had been a maid for a few months now.  The family had not returned to court yet.  Sasha kept me busy with other duties around the palace.  Duties that thankfully also kept me away from Nikolai.

Quickly I learned the procedures of assisting in the kitchen cooking before each meal.  After breakfast was served and cleaned up, I would help in the garden where much of the food was grown.  Both of these tasks I not only found I really enjoyed but I was skilled at them.  When I would assist in the stables grooming the horses, the smell would sometimes make my head throb mildly with an unexplainable familiarity.  I couldn't figure out why.

Still, I found solace when I was able to go brush the horses.  One in particular was very fond of me.  I recognized it as the one Theo rode back from Slovya.  It nuzzled into my shoulder and whinnied every time I passed.   The sensation tickled my neck.  It made my giggle, temporarily forgetting about my dangerous situation and how hurt I was Nikolai forgot about me when I was in the dungeon.

Another comfort was how easily I had been accepted, comforted and befriended by many of the palace staff.  My smile, laughter and infectious personality won over everyone I met.  Especially Sasha who became like a surrogate mother to me.

Andrei reminded gone. Nikolai as the Heir Apparent, assisted his mother takeover the duties of ruling in addition to his advanced studies and training.  I hardly even saw him except by complete accident.  When he called out to me, I would duck my head, ignore and walk faster scurrying away in the opposite direction. 

Then one morning, Sasha delivered the news that Lady Lada's family would be returning to court to visit.  I and several other servants were busy preparing the rooms.  Overheard the Queen give Nikolai the news of Lada coming to court.  He groaned and kept even more hidden.  Sasha shared if there was one person who got under his skin faster than anyone else in the world, it was Lada.

I had just finished making the elegant bed when I heard the door of the receiving room fling open.  The footsteps got louder.  They seemed to head for the bedroom.

"Oh, I simply cannot wait to meet my new maid!" a young girl chimed gleefully.

I stopped what I was doing as the girl entered. I curtsied and bowed my head as Sasha had taught me to do.  It felt wrong.  So wrong that I had to do that but the threat of punishment echoed in my mind.  I suddenly felt my cheeks heat.

"There she is! Oh! You are a child!" the girl, not much older that me, observed.  Her eyes flicked down then up my trembling form, scrutinizing every inch then my face broke into a wide grin.  "We are going to be best friends!  I'm Lada.  What is your name?"

"Kira," I mumbled.  I dared to glance up at the girl who was talking to me. 

"Kira..." Lada tested.  "Beautiful and so are you!  We look about the same age and size.  We could play dress up when no one is looking!" she giggled, clasping my hands in her own.  "Please look at me."  I did. 

The young girl's blonde curls bounced with her giggles.   Dark brown eyes crinkled at the sides from her wide smile, sparkling a hint of green and blue.  Lada's hair was very curly and laid perfectly on her shoulders despite being pulled up on the side to be out of her face.  The light blue dress she wore was beautifully embroidered with gold and covered from her neck to her ankles.  The smile on Lada's face lit her up from the inside out.  She was beautiful even at just 15.

Lada took in my features and for a brief moment.  Her smiled dipped but soon returned in full.  I almost missed it.

"Now Kira," Lada gave my hands a squeeze then led me to sit beside her on the bed.  "If we are alone, none of the formal titles, alright? I despise all the formality.  Just call me Lada, yes?"  I nodded hesitantly.  "Good. Now, have you met my twin brother?"