Her Majesty (PROMO SAMPLE)

Chapter 3: Elysia

𝕰𝖑𝖞𝖘𝖎𝖆

The steam of the boiling water reached up to Elysia's face as she let her red hands push down the clothing items that smelt of sweat and body odor. Her fingers pruned from the hard morning labor of washing and her face shined from the warm water bathing her skin. After months of washing the royal's garments her muscles became accustomed to the work and her soreness went away from the built strength.

She had worked her whole life but never as hard as she did currently. The handmaiden's mother was a cruel woman who didn't understand the world of healing and rest which meant all the girls that served in the castle woke at sunrise and only sat when the roosters perched. All this, however, won over her old life every time. She was blessed by the gods to have a place to sleep and a fire to tend to. No men were allowed to wed her and no men were allowed to harass her. She was safe and that was all the pay she needed.

"Let them soak longer girl." Mother commented as her crooked legs passed through the middle of the tubs. The woman could hardly walk because of old age yet her mind worked faster than most of the young girls.

"Where can I be of service then mother?" Elysia asked as she stepped away from her station and wiped the collected water off of her eyelashes and forehead.

"The Dutchess and her daughters will be needing their baths ran and tended too soon." Mother said. "Take their evening wear on your way."

Doing as she was told, the young handmaiden tied her hair back with the long line of silk she kept in her dress pockets. She felt her long black hair had become frizzy and mother would have been appalled to see any one of her workers looking disgusting in front of the royal family.

Taking the dresses hung neatly together, Elysia dangled them over her arms and floated through the halls. Her eyes stayed down at the ground as she walked; contact had to be at the minimum so she figured it was best to not give anyone the chance to find her face in the crowd of workers. While her eyes peered down the shining crystals that decorated the dresses caught her attention. They were beautiful and elegant, nothing like she had ever had the chance to wear. It felt best though that the pretty dresses were only worn by those who deserved it. She would have felt exceedingly guilty to dirty such pristine garments unlike the dress she wore with stains and damaged stitching.

Entering the eldest daughter, Antonella's, room, she took no time to go the back and hang up the evening wear. She smoothed out any unwanted wrinkles and stepped back to make sure they were properly separated in length. When Elysia felt satisfied, she went to the lit fire and put a waiting pot of water to hang above the flames. She stayed put on her knees in front of the fire watching the red and yellow hues before she realized the Marquees had entered. "My lady." Standing as quick as she could, she bowed. "Your bath is not ready yet, but soon."

"I am in no hurry." She sat in front of her mirror and looked at her reflection like she was picking apart every flaw she had. Elysia couldn't see any, the royal family had skin that was a mix of black and white. Their hair was as thick and shiny as the most expensive garments and their bright brown eyes were adored by the countryside. She had watched the royal family as a child when they would venture into their city and gawked at the beauty they presented. The god's probably tired of her prayers at night wishing for beauty like theirs.

"Do you wish for rose scent tonight my lady?"

Antonella stroked her hair slowly before nodding, her mind clearly in another realm as her stare became blank. "I overheard something queer Elysia."

Hearing her name, the handmaiden poured the boiling water into the tub carefully before placing it softly onto the ground. "Do you wish to speak of it my lady?"