Returning Reign

Chapter 3

"Good morning new girl!" A girl with raven colored hair and eyes stands at my door with a maid uniform on. I struggle to untangle myself from my blankets and sheets. I slept really well last night, which makes me feel guilty. There's no time to dwell on those feelings right now.

"Good morning to you too. Im Cartia," I introduce myself when I finally was able to stand up from my comfortable bed.

"Im Elizabeth but please, call me Lizzy," she walks towards my wardrobe and sets one of my uniforms on the bed. We have about an hour to get you ready before we start to work. She walks out of my room. I change quickly and put my hair into a braid. I brush my teeth, put on some perfume and deodorant and exit my room quickly.

"Oh my," I nearly bump into Lizzy who was reading a book outside my door waiting for me to get ready.

"Sorry, I'm at the best part of my novel," Lizzy sheepishly smiles and puts her book away. She stands up and starts walking. I follow behind her taking the silent cue.

"Basically, I am your neighbor, I live in the room next to you. I will also be in charge of showing you around until you get settled into the palace and your job," Lizzy explains.

"Thats great, I'm pretty sure I would have gotten lost by myself," I laugh lightly. Lizzy snorts when she laughs.

"Trust me when I tell you I got lost so many times when I first started," I smile thinking of a lost Lizzy. She seems to have a light personality and she loves to joke around. We walk into a cafeteria for maids I assume. There are many large tables in the room and a breakfast buffet full of food the chefs and kitchen staff prepared. So far I am impressed with the treatment the staff receive in the palace. I guess I was expecting to be treated much worse.

During breakfast Lizzy and I joked around and got to know eachother better. I can already feel a great friendship blooming, something I definitely want. It will make me feel less lonely and more normal in these new surroundings. 

After breakfast, Lizzy took me to the first area of the day that us and a few more maids were supposed to clean. It was the formal ballroom that needed cleaning since apparently, on Saturday there will be a ball.

"So what event is being celebrated that requires a ball?" I ask Lizzy as I dust one of the many window sills in the overly large ballroom. Lizzy almost gives herself whiplash by turning her head to look at me with her large raven black eyes.

"Oh my god. How did I forget to mention?" Lizzy shakes her head with disappointment.

"Forget to tell me what Lizzy?" I question her. Lizzy was beginning to frighten me.

"Oh silly me. Its nothing to worry about just the crown princes eighteenth birthday ball." Lizzy tells me as if its the biggest news in the world. I let out a sigh in relief. She made me worry for nothing.

"Lizzy, you scared me, I point my duster at her scolding with my other hand on my hip. This ball you speak about, doesnt seem like a big deal."

"Not a big deal? Have you lost your mind? The handsome crown prince is becoming an adult and this means he will become king soon. Which leads to him needing a queen!" Lizzy rambles about the topic. I forgot that Lizzy doesnt know Im not from here. She doesnt realize that I dont know the crown prince or about other kingdom affairs. I make a mental note to myself to learn about Zemira to not look suspicious in the future.

"I completely forgot, my bad Lizzy." I apologize quickly in order to change a subject I know nothing about. The rest of the day goes by quickly. The group Lizzy and I are in, cleaned a couple of rooms and prepared for the upcoming ball. Its barely Thursday and staff get Saturdays and Sundays off unless they want to work over time. I can hardly wait for the weekend so that I can have more time to search for any clues that can lead me to my parents.