Parallel

Chapter IV: Spotty Cleaning

Auralea

I have been working in the castle for 10 days now. Mrs. Inman tells me that we are paid on a 14 day cycle. Not having taken my supplements for 10 days, paired with the laborious work of cleaning up after adults with no care for your well being has been wearing me thin. I keep telling myself that I am just adjusting but the pounding in my head and the fatigue I feel are telling me something different. I have just finished cleaning my last room and have decided to visit the castle physician. Having an estimate of how much my medicine will cost wouldn't do any harm even if I couldn't afford it yet.

I followed the directions Mrs. Inman gave me and firmly tapped on the physician's door. I hear him mutter a rather rushed, "Come in." and take that as my queue to enter. He takes in my weak state and sits me down on a shabby bed he has in the room. "What seems to be the problem, ma'am?" It takes me an embarrassing amount of time to process the question. I don't even remember what the supplements were for exactly. "I have been experiencing painful headaches and fatigue. I was taking medication before I arrived but I am not sure what it was called or what the condition I have is. I have been taking it for as long as I can remember." I look up at him sheepishly and he shakes his head in disapproval.

"Let me run a few tests and I will send for you when I have results." The physician draws blood and performs a full examination. After a half hour, I am told to leave. Mrs. Inman tells me that I should rest and I spend the rest of the night in my room.

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The next morning, Mrs. Inman wakes me with fresh bread and a herbal tea that she promises will make me feel better. She helps me wash and dress. She even goes as far as braiding my hair. By the time we are finished, she assures me that if I am unwell I can retire back to my room at any point. I wave dismissively and go about my duties. Cleaning the chambers is rather difficult in this state but I just recite Braxton's words in my head when I feel like giving up.

You have a duty to all of the children here, to yourself, to me and to the Bishop to succeed.

You are exactly where you belong.

I save the strange man's room for last. All I know about him is that he is a handsome royal. I don't even know his name. I knock lightly and enter. Today he is standing by his fireplace and reading a letter. He looks up at me as I enter, just as he does every time I come to enter. I curtsy and he looks away. It has only been 11 days but it has become our routine. I begin to clean the room slowly, careful not to overwork myself. My headache has returned and I feel a bit dizzy. I think about Braxton and the bishop and the children as I work.

"You did not clean my quarters yesterday. There was someone else." His words cut through the silence and I nod my head in acknowledgement of his statement. "I was feeling under the weather, your highness. I was sent to my chambers to rest." His eyes remain focused on the paper in hand as we converse. His brow furrows and I wonder what he is thinking.

"You still look ill. You should be resting today as well." Our eyes meet briefly and I look away in fear of what he will think if I hold his gaze for any longer but his concern startles me. I fidget with the duster in hand and try to think of a proper response to his statement. "I am feeling better today actually, your majesty. I can perform my duties without laze. I am very efficient so you need not worry about my illness." There is a pause in the conversation.

I fear that I have offended him and prepare to take whatever consequences are in my future but to my surprise he lets out a chuckle. I glance over at him. He is very handsome when he smiles. There is amusement dancing across his features and I can't help but to feel confused. "Your highness?" He sobers up but the lazy smile stays. "My concern is not for the efficiency of your cleaning, Auralea." At that moment, I am frozen in place. I am not sure what he means exactly but it seems mischievous. I am to avoid any trouble. I instinctively take a step back, putting a bit more distance between us. My brain feels like mush and I can't even begin to formulate a response. After some time, I finally speak.

"May I kindly ask what your name is?" I try to busy myself with my cleaning but it is becoming considerably more difficult. I can't seem to focus. "My name is Prince Leopold Hayes. I am next in line for the crown." The duster drops from my hand and I reach to pick it up. Spots line my vision and the duster starts to blur with the floor. My legs tremble and I feel my eyes rolling into the back of my head as I begin to fall onto the wooden floors. The last color I remember seeing is brown before everything fades.