JiMina Collection

More Than Gold ~ Part 11

     Mina hummed happily as she stood over the stove. She had slipped into the castle kitchen in the early hours of morning to try and cook something up for breakfast. The servants didn't mind if she invited herself in, and so Mina found herself visiting the kitchen cellars often. This morning, she was alone, filling the kitchen with delicious aromas as she cooked. Over the last few days, Mina had learned that this was the most enjoyable way to have breakfast. 

     On the first day, she had been surprised to find a breakfast ready and waiting for her as soon as she woke up. She then quickly explained to the servants that she didn't mind cooking for herself. Mina didn't want to add to the stress of taking care of so many people. After much deliberation, they finally allowed her to do so. It was quite lucky too, as Mina also came to learn that waking up early to leave the corridor was a smart choice.

     You see, on the second day, Mina had slept in by accident. She had been forced into consciousness around noon, which was clearly when the other girls woke. Her peaceful slumber had been interrupted by screeching voices commanding the servants to heed their every demand. Breakfast. Clothes. Jewellery. Everything. It was maddening. Mina was sure she would never make the mistake of sleeping in again.

     She smiled as she plated her dish. It was wonderful to have access to a wide variety of ingredients in the castle kitchen; one of the good differences between castle and village life. After quickly cleaning up, Mina headed back to her room to eat out on the balcony. Whilst basking under the morning sun, Mina's thoughts drifted to the day ahead of her. She had big plans for today. Mina had overheard the other girls jabbering about their plans to woo the prince. They obviously were going to try to hang out with him all day. This left Mina available to do the very thing that excited her most about her stay at the castle.

     Ever since the duke had mentioned the royal library during their initial tour, Mina had been positively itching to check it out. It seemed as though today would finally be the day she would get to do so. After finishing her breakfast, Mina returned her used plates to the kitchen. She was sure to wash everything she had used and made an effort to greet every servant she passed. From there, Mina set off towards the very library that had peaked her interest. Said library was actually closer to her chambers than the kitchen, yet she didn't want the servants to have to clean up after her. Thus, she had opted to take the long trip down to wash her own dishes. After she had completed all the washing, Mina made her way up the stone stairways and down long corridors. If she recalled correctly, the library was situated just before the communal corridor where all their chambers resided.

     It was here that she stopped in her tracks. Much like the duke had previously mentioned, the library was right across from the music room. Mina wouldn't have known that it was a music room if he hadn't said so, as the only sounds coming out of that room was pure noise. Her head was filled with the wails of those inside. What crazy person decides to build a library next to a music room? Carefully, Mina peeked her head through the doorway.

     As she suspected, the 'music' she was hearing was the result of the horrid desperation of several other women. Mina could recall how just a few days ago, some of the girls claimed that they would enchant the prince with their singing and musical ability. Mina seriously doubted that right about now. She didn't mean to be harsh, but there was no way this noise could be considered music. A woman sat at the piano, stiffly plunking at keys. Another was trying to play the violin, emphasis on 'trying'. One was trying her luck with a guitar. But most prominently, several women were singing at the top of their lungs. All singing different songs. All screeching at the top of their lungs. All sorely out of tune. The sheer amount of dissonance in the air made Mina's head spin. She shut the door and backed away from the room. Mina could only be glad only a number of women were in there. She supposed the rest of them must be trying their chances with the prince at the moment.

     With greater determination and far more headache than before, Mina turned around and pushed open the door to the library just across the hall. To her surprise, it was dark and completely empty. When she had asked the maids earlier about the library, they had warned her about its unused state. The royal family consisted of two people. The King would never visit. That brought its visitor count to one. Even so, the prince was often far too preoccupied to make regular trips to the library. Despite these warnings, Mina had still expected a librarian or perhaps at the very least, lights. 

     Nonetheless, Mina could just make out the silhouettes of rows upon rows of books. Cobwebs danced on the ceiling and dust was piled in every corner. And yet the rustic shelves were overflowing with novels of all shapes and sizes. The sight filled her with anticipation, and so she trudged onward. Scrambling around the abandoned bookkeeper's desk, Mina found a tiny old oil lamp and a few worn matches. Regardless, Mina somehow managed to set it aflame, bringing a faint light into the room alongside her. With her lamp in hand, Mina began to browse the collection.

     It was like a dream. There were so many things she wanted to read. To discover. In fact, she would have to come back for more books every couple of days by the looks of it. Mina was saddened by the fact that she would never get to read all of them, for after this month was up, she would return to her life of scrambling for coins in any way possible. Grabbing armfuls of everything, Mina settled down against a wall on the far side of the library. Here, there was enough space to set down her books as she began to read the first stack of bounded parchment to catch her eye. She was seated next to the back entrance of the library, indicated by the rusty old door beside her. Mina wondered if she had a thing for old doors. Nevertheless, it was a small detail she had forgotten about as soon as she began to read.

     Mina was halfway through the book when a loud rattling startled her. The door beside her burst open with a bang as someone came crashing forward, landing harshly on the stone floor. "Ow." The person moaned, before seemingly straightening up in horror. The figure quickly slammed the door shut once more behind them, making sure to close the metal latch and lock himself in. Leaning with his back against the door, the man slid down to the floor in an effort to catch his breath. In doing so, he turned his head to the right.

     By complete and utter coincidence, Mina happened to be sitting right next to that very door. With an odd sense of deja vu, their eyes met. As the faint light from her lamp caressed the lines of this mysterious person's face, Mina was surprised to recognize the man sitting almost too close for comfort at her side. None other than the prince himself was staring back at her with his eyes wide open in shock. Well, this felt awfully familiar. Mina couldn't help but chuckle at the prince's frozen silence. Hadn't the exact same thing just happened a couple days ago? After she finally stopped giggling, Mina sighed and said with a smile, "We have got to stop meeting like this."