Flower Lost and Found

 

Tablo reader up chevron

Untitled Chapter

I have lived and worked in this household for as long as I can remember, I am a maid for the Lady and her daughter. They are often cruel and mean, especially the daughter, who happens to be the same age as me. The daughter has often purposely spilled tea on carpets and blamed me for it. I learned how to sew, clean, and cook, as I am the only maid that works for their family that is a very low standing of Lady. For the past six years, I have been taking scraps and excess fabric from dresses and gowns that I had to make for the lady and her daughter. The fabric that I have taken and hidden and I worked on only at nights and designed into three different gowns that are beautiful; one is red in different shades, another is purple, and the third is going to be blue, it is not completely finished yet, I just need to sew it together the rest of the way. All three have matching fans, and possibilities for matching masks. While I was attending to milady's needs, I overheard that the crown prince would be visiting today. I was surprised and almost dropped the tray with the teapot.

            "Watch what you are doing you rotten girl," the Lady scolded fiercely.

            "I am sorry milady, it will not happen again," I quickly apologize, fearful of retribution and punishment; as the lady's daughter scoffed at me.

            "When is the crown prince arriving, mother," Lady Gale asked the Lady Charlevoix.

            "Not long now," the Lady stated reassuringly.

I left the room after that, as I had to attend to some other chores, being the only servant of the house. Soon enough there was knocking at the front door; I went and answered the door.

            "Hello, how may I help you?" I asked as I opened the door.

            "Oh, good day young miss. Is this the residence of the Lady Charlevoix and her daughter?" The Crown Prince greeted and kindly asked.

            "Yes, sire, this is the Lady's home. Come in, welcome. They are in the sitting room, shall I show you there?" I nervously asked, slightly rambling.

            "Yes, that is fine," he replied, smiling about my nervousness. I showed him in and guided him to the sitting room, announced his presence to the lady and her daughter and curtsied to the prince as he entered the room. Lady Charlevoix and her daughter, Gale, both rose and curtsied to him.

            "Sit, ladies. So, are we to have some lovely fresh tea and crumpets?" The prince calmly diffused the situation.

            "Yes, sire tea and crumpets will be coming quickly," Lady Charlevoix told him sweetly. "Go get the prince the special tea and best crumpets we have," she said to me coarsely.

            "Right away milady," I curtsied and hurried off to fetch the tea and the crumpets that I just freshly made that morning.

            "So, are all of you fine in this small dwelling that is all that is for your title," the Prince asked nicely as I returned to the sitting room.

            "Of course, sire; it is a tight fit and wit difficult at times, yet it is all we have," Lady Charlevoix replied as I started to set the tea cups and pour the tea as well as the small plates for the crumpets.

            "Even with only enough rooms for the two of you and your one servant, that means you must sacrifice quite a bit for basic living," the prince obviously mentioning me in the conversation.

            "Why, yes; life is difficult and very trying at times. However, our one servant is perfectly capable of fulfilling all our needs," Gale carefully explained.

            "Is that right," the prince directly asked me.

            "Yes, sire; I am very able to complete all the tasks of the house," I responded cautiously. Suddenly, Lady Charlevoix and Gale's tea spilled all over their dresses and heads.

            "My goodness, I apologize for our clumsiness, you highness," Lady Charlevoix quickly apologized and rushed herself and her daughter out of the room.

            "So, what is your name maiden?" The prince quickly turned to me and asked as soon as they left the room.

            "Lily, your highness, and I am naught but a maid and servant," I shyly answered.

            "I insist that you call me Leo when it is just the two of us, Lily of the Charlevoix household."

            "Oh, I could never do that, sire; you are wonderfully kind though."

            "I know many things about the Lady Charlevoix, and her lack of kindness and consideration to her staff that is limited due to her lack of wealth. As well as the great lack of character both her and her daughter share."

            "I know more about their treatment and character, or lack thereof, than you do your highness."

            "Unfortunately, I need to leave quite soon, I must return to the castle for my father to be able to begin planning the welcome home celebrations."

            "I understand, shall I show you out, sire, and tell milady that you were unhappy to leave?"

            "That would be perfect; however, you would need to imply that I was unhappy to not bid them farewell, which I am all too happy to miss."

            "I know, your highness, I shall so that they believe that you miss their company rather than them knowing that you preferred my company, even just for a short while," I gladly said as I walked with him to the door.

            "I shall hope and pray to see you again, and really soon, milady," he bowed, kissing my hand and leaving before I had a chance to curtsy.  After he rode off, I closed the door and turned back to the house and all my chores awaiting me. I went first to clean up the sitting room, then had to start on dinner and setting the table for dinner.

            "Did the prince leave?" Lady Charlevoix asked coming to check on my preparations for their dinner.

            "Yes, milady. He had to leave to be able to give his father, the king, time to plan the balls to celebrate his return to the castle," I answered, as I continued setting the table.

            "Are you almost done with dinner?"

            "Yes, milady, I just have to put the food in the proper bowls and on the proper plates for you and your daughter, milady."

The Lady nodded in understanding, leaving me to finish the dinner preparations and place the dishes of food on the dining table. The Lady Charlevoix and her daughter, Lady Gale Charlevoix, came into the dining room, ready for dinner.

            "Is it ready?"

            "Yes, milady, dinner is served."

They sat down, and started eating, with me standing off to the side, if there is anything that they need me for.

            "So, there is going to be a ball coming up to celebrate the crown prince's return to the castle, is that right mother?" Lady Gale asked.

            "Yes, but there are supposed to be three balls. The first two are supposed to be masquerade balls, and the first is tomorrow night."

            "Which dress shall I wear for each night, mother?"

            "The orange one, the green one, and the pink one for you. For me, my three best black gowns. Lily, we will need matching masquerade masks for the two nights, make two separate ones for me."

            "Yes, milady. What two dresses of your lovely daughter should I make matching masks for, milady" I get included in the conversation briefly for their demands.

            "The orange and the green one would be lovely," Lady Charlevoix answered.

            "Yes, milady; I shall start on those after I finish taking care of the dinner dishes, preparing your evening tea, and serving your tea to you." I confirmed.

            "When is the first ball, mother?"

            "Tomorrow night, my sweet."

            "So, Lily needs to finish with the masks before tomorrow so that we can decide if we like them or not," Lady Gale stated cruelly.

            "I shall make beautiful masks for both of you before bed tonight, milady," I accepted the added chores.

            "Good, see that you do, Lily," Lady Charlevoix stated curtly.

They soon finished their dinner, barely eating much of the food that I made. They stood up and left the mess for me to clean up. As I cleaned the dishes and plates, I would also eat some of the food that was left over; this was accepted behavior for a maid and saved the Lady money on food for me. I moved all the dishes into the kitchen and prepared them for washing, as they were sitting in the bin of water, soaking for a bit, I set about getting the tea together for the lady and her ungrateful daughter. As the teapot was on the stove and would whistle once ready, I returned to the dishes, sighing. I washed the dishes carefully, while I thought of the gowns that the lady and her daughter wanted masks made for. I considered the design for the masks as I finished the dishes, and gathered the things for their tea; after which I got the teapot off the stove and made the tea. I daintily carried the tray of tea, cups and some small snacks to go with the tea, to the sitting room where they were waiting for their after dinner tea.

            "About time for the tea, you really need to work hard in order to finish the masks before we retire to bed," Lady Charlevoix said curtly.

            "Yes, milady," I answered her as I served the tea to them. Right once I finished serving the tea, I went to get the items needed to make the masks for the two of them. I brought the materials into the sitting room, to be on hand if they needed me, and to for them to see the progress of the masks as I made them. The orange one I added designs of the orange of leaves in autumn and made it show the colors of autumn, primarily orange. As soon as I finished, I looked up at them, noticing that they were watching the whole time.

            "What do you think milady?"

            "It is lovely, it perfectly complements my beautiful daughter's features, too," Lady Charlevoix stated proudly.

            "Yes, well done, maid. What about the green one and the two for mother?"

            "I can only make one at a time milady, the green one will be next," I answered nicely.

            "Good, get on with it, Lily."

            I started making the green mask, adding foliage of trees and branches for spring and summer growth. I looked up after finishing, seeing that they were still closely watching me work. "What do you think of this one, milady?"

            "Very well done, Lily; I should know that you would be good at this task too, since you are a fabulous dress maker as well" Lady Charlevoix complemented me without giving full credit.

            "Good job, maid. You still have to make mother's masks," Lady Gale stated grudgingly.

            "Those are next milady," I responded, moving materials that I don't need aside and bringing the materials that I would need forward. The first one I made I included a crescent moon and a smattering of stars across the black of the mask like the night sky. I peeked up every so often, seeing if they were still watching me. I held up the one with the crescent moon to show them, they nodded in approval. Then I went onto the last mask of theirs to make, a night sky with a large array of stars glittering across the mask. After finishing that one, I held it up for them to see; the Lady herself was surprised at the beauty of the mask.

            "Wonderfully well done, now is time for us to retire to bed," Lady Charlevoix stated. I added them in going to bed, cleaning up the remains of their tea, washing the tea cups and teapots, and then I took the mask making materials to my room, pulling out my hidden gowns of red, purple, and blue. I then made complementing masks for the red and purple dresses; red of flowers in the spring, purple of the violets and irises that grow in the wild.  I then quickly finished sewing the blue dress and put the dresses back in the secret closet that the lady and her daughter did not know about. I went to bed for the night shortly after so that I could get up before I had to wake up the lady and her precocious daughter.

 

Morning came quickly, I got out of bed, dressed, went to the kitchen to start making their breakfast and morning tea. Once I had everything started and simmering lightly, I went up the stairs to the lady's bed chamber to rouse her. After I woke her and helped her dress, I went to her daughter's room, and had to fight to wake up Lady Gale, as she sleeps soundly and is intentionally difficult for me to wake and then she also is difficult about me helping her get dressed. She makes me dress her like she is a doll. I went back to the kitchen and finished their breakfast, brought it to them in the dining room, served them their tea after setting down the plates of food, then I had to move the food onto Lady Gale's plate for her. The day progressed much as usual, Lady Gale giving me lots of difficulties about the food, her clothes for the day, the chores that I am doing, that I'm not following her around for her "needs," rather than doing my chores. I served them their tea, prepared and brought lunch to them and same with dinner. Thankfully, that was the first night of the balls to celebrate the return of the prince. Instead of having to endure more of Gale's rudeness and stubborn personality; I had to help both of them change into their gowns, and put their masks on. Gale was rude all the way through, the dress and mask had to be just so for her... "The dress is too long. Now it's too short. The bodice is too tight. Now it's too loose. You must really want me to look terrible for the prince."

All I could answer for all of that was "Yes, milady, I am trying to fix it. I am sorry milady, I am adjusting that now. I will fix that again milady. No, milady; I want you to be perfectly lovely for the prince."

Finally after all the stress and strain with Lady Gale, helping her mother was a simple matter. I also put their hair up and helped put lipstick on their lips, and see them off in the carriage.

 

Once they were gone, I went to my room, pulled out the red dress, fan, and mask. I changed into the beautiful gown, put my hair up artfully, put the mask on, and carefully added some lipstick to my lips. I arranged for a carriage to come and pick me up and drive me to and from the ball, which was the same time during the day that I arranged for the carriage for the lady and her daughter.

            The man who drives the carriage was surprised when I came outside, "What a surprise, you are very lovely for being the maid of the house."

            "Thank you, I guess. I may be naught but a maid, but I am one of the hardest working maid in the area," I replied. "So, I think that I deserve a chance to have some fun."

            "Yes, you definitely do. Let me help you in," he agreed as he took my hand to help me climb into the carriage.

The ride went by fairly quick, and the driver kindly helped me out of the carriage.

            "Let me know when you are ready to go, I know you have to return before Charlevoix and her devil daughter," he whispered to me.

            "Thank you, my true rank in society must stay secret or I will never be able to go out in public again," I quietly explain before entering the castle and the ball.

I entered into the ballroom, seeing the waves of people twirling and spinning around the dance floor and moving around the room itself. The beauty of the room and the vast array of gowns and suits worn by all the people there. I froze, so taken aback by everything; eventually, the prince, the only one wearing the simplest mask, approached me.

            "Are you alright, milady?"

            "Oh, yes, sire. I am fine," I answered nervously.

            "Would you care to dance with me?"

            "That would be lovely, your highness."

He gently guided me to the dance floor, put one hand on my hip, holding my hand with his other hand; I put my other hand on his shoulder. We danced for quite a while, and eventually, we started conversing.

            "You seem familiar, milady," Crown Prince Leo said to me.

            "I might be someone you met once, but then again, we might have never met before," I replied mysteriously, hinting at my identity while still trying to keep it hidden.

            "Until I seen you, I could not stop thinking about someone else. Now, you remind me of her, yet seem completely different from her."

            "Is that supposed to be flattering, sire?" I asked, wondering who he was thinking of.

            "I am sorry, I was distracted. I think you are very beautiful"

            "Thank you your highness," I tried to be humble. "I will have to leave soon; thank you for dancing with me, sire." As the song ended, I curtsied at the same time that he bowed. Then I discreetly left the ballroom and the castle, the driver of the carriage was waiting for me.

            "Milady, is it time to leave?"

            "Yes, I must return home."

            "I hope you had some fun tonight," he said as he held my hand helping me get into the carriage. The carriage ride was fairly quick, I arrived home with just enough time to change and ready myself and some tea for the lady and her daughter's return from the ball. Upon their return, I had to help them change and serve them the tea as they discussed what happened at the ball.

            "Whose daughter do you think it was that kept dancing with the prince at his ball, mother?" Lady Gale asked.

            "I do not know, my dear; with it being a masquerade ball, she could be almost anyone. She seemed very familiar, like I seen her somewhere before" the lady said as I poured her more tea. "Thank you Lily. Go get some rest for the morning, as you must prepare our breakfast and do all the other regular chores."

            "Yes, milady. I will see you in the morning," I replied curtsying before leaving the sitting room. I cannot remember in all my years of life being as happy as I am now, I have never even hoped to be as happy as I am now. I fell asleep looking at my necklace that I have always had, I cannot remember how long I have had the necklace. It is a light blue stone in the shape of a circle, surrounded by a larger circle of a dark blue stone; it is just smaller than the size of my palm.

            The next morning, I was humming cheerfully as I prepared the tea and breakfast for the lady and her daughter and was cheerful even getting Lady Gale out of bed. When Lady Gale complained about the slightest thing, I just smiled and said that I would fix it right away. For me, the day breezed by, shortly I was helping Lady Gale dress for the next ball that night. After they left, I quickly changed into my purple gown, donned the mask and clutched the fan. The driver arrived, helped me into the carriage, and drove me to the castle. I arrived at the ball early enough to see the opening ceremony of the dance. As everyone is already there, loitering and waiting for the prince and king to enter the ballroom to begin the ball; a lovely looking lady approached me.

            "What are your intentions for the crown prince," she inquired.

            "I am unsure what might happen between us, milady. What is your relationship to Crown Prince Leo, if I may ask?" I was cautious, concerned that the lady might be one of the many admirers of the prince.

            "I am his godmother," the lady replied smiling.

            "You look quite young to be his godmother, milady,"

            "I am his fairy godmother, my dear," she whispered into my ear. "I hope you do not to do anything to cause him harm."

            "I understand, and I will take that into consideration as I think about changes to the potential relationship."

            "Presenting His royal highness, King Philip and his son, Crown Prince Leo," announced someone as they entered to the cheers and screams of the ladies of the prince's fan club. Everyone curtseyed or bowed. After the acknowledgement, the prince quickly navigated his way through the crowds to me and his fairy godmother.

            "Hello," Selena curtseyed.

            "I am very glad you were able to attend the ball in advance of the celebration of my coronation that will take place at the beginning of tomorrow's ball," Crown Prince Leo revealed as he kissed Selena's hand.

            "I would not miss your coronation for anything, my dear," Selena replied.

            "I greatly appreciate you coming; it gives me a feeling of good things to come. Now, then, may I have this dance my mysterious lady?" Crown Prince Leo asked me.

            "I would love to dance with you, sire," I replied. He swept me to the dance floor, and we started dancing in silence, with him watching me closely.

            "After this song, I would like to talk with you in private," Crown Prince Leo said.

            "About anything in particular, your highness," I asked.

            "You will find out soon my mysterious lady of the ball" Crown Prince Leo said as the song neared its end.

Once the song ended, I curtsied as he bowed, then he gracefully guided my hand to hold his arm and led me to a private study. Once he closed the door, he turned to me and carefully removed my mask, before I could even mount any sort of protest or try to stop him.

            "I was sure that it was you, Lily. I did not know anyone else who could captivate and stir my heart and mind as completely as you did when we first met." Crown Prince Leo smiled, "please marry me?"

            "It is against all the morals that our society stands on for such a marriage to occur, and it is illegal for a prince or king to marry a lowly maid. Plus, the lady I work for would never allow me to leave her service. I owe her everything that I have," I took her mask back from him and walked further into the room, away from him, awash with unknown feelings.

            "You are just making excuses. I feel like I need to be with you for the rest of my life, plus with Selena talking to you before just shows the great promise of us being together."

            I quickly turned to face him, "We cannot be together, and it would be illegal and improper. After tonight, we shall not see each other ever again." I put my mask back on and left the room. As I was trying to return to the ballroom, I pulled the necklace out from my bodice to look at for comfort. I ran into a lord as I was in my rush to flee from the prince's presence.

            "Pardon me, milady," the lord said kindly.

            "I am sorry, milord. I was not watching where I was going," I apologized, feeling close to tears.

            "Why are you upset, my dear," the lord asked, genuinely concerned.

            "I may have just rejected the love of my life," I managed to choke out, trying not to sob.

            "Please tell me about it, it might clear things up for you" the lord was trying to be helpful.

            "Thank you milord; but I would rather be alone for now," I told him, grateful for his concern. "Pardon me, milord," I curtsied and walked away, going to a courtyard to catch my breath and calm myself.

_______________________________________

Crown Prince Leo

I attempted to follow her and witnessed her dropping her fan and talking a little bit with Lord Grettlby before she rushed off again.

            "Hello, Lord Grettlby. I am surprised to see you here; I heard that you became a recluse after losing both your daughter and wife."

            "Oh, sire, well, I needed to come and show my support for your coronation, or people would be considering my lack of attendance as plotting a rebellion," Lord Grettlby answered.

            "I do not know of anyone who would think of accusing you of something like that," I state. "By the way, you seem puzzled about the young lady that you were conversing with a short while ago."

            "Yes, she looks so much like my late wife. Her necklace looked familiar as well," Lord Grettlby stated thoughtfully.

            "Do you think that the necklace that she has could be the same heirloom necklace that went missing after you gave it to your infant daughter shortly before she and your wife passed away?"

            "Actually, my daughter did not die; she and the necklace just disappeared from my home. But it could be the same necklace; I would need to look at it closer. As for her resemblance to my late wife, I could only tell that her eyes looked like my late wife's eyes."

            "So, it could be possible that she is your daughter that was missing all these years?"

            "Yes, I so hope she could be. Where does that young lady live?"

            "I will help you find more about her soon," I said. "I need to go and find her soon; I must talk with her..."

            "I understand your highness. Let me know when I can meet her again," Lord Grettlby nodded understanding, before I walked away.

_____________________________

Lily

I returned to the ballroom for a short while. I did not want to encounter the prince, or his fairy godmother, so I left the castle altogether.

            "You are leaving even earlier tonight than last night, milady," the driver of the carriage commented as I approached.

            "I do not wish to talk about it," I stated, unhappily before getting into the carriage. Soon, we were off to the house that is my imprisonment. Eventually, we stopped, I did not recognize where we were.

            "Where are we?" I asked as he opened the door.

            "I wanted to talk with you privately for the last night that you are going to be dressed this way," he said as he climbed into the carriage, sitting across from me.

            "What about?"

            "Would you marry me?"

            "What!? No, I am sorry I do not want to marry, ever if I can help it."

            "I am someone suitable for you and we are of the same station in our social status. Plus, I would be able to care for you and a family to live comfortably."

            "I would not be able to leave the service of Lady Charlevoix, and I do not wish to marry."

            "Why would you be so against someone who would be able to be with you, you still would be able to work for Charlevoix?"

            "I do not think that I could endure trying to convince Lady Charlevoix of letting me marry, then the cruelty that Lady Gale would add to my already difficult life. Please drive me back to the house."

            "Fine, be an uptight stuck up woman," he exited the carriage, closed the door, and got the carriage moving again. The next time we stopped, it was at the Charlevoix house. I got out before he had time to get down from the driver's seat.

            "Thank you for the ride to the balls," I said shortly before I went inside. When I entered, I saw that Lady Charlevoix and Lady Gale were home before I returned.

            "Where have you been?" Lady Charlevoix shouted when I entered the house.

            "Mother! She is the girl that enchanted the prince yesterday night and tonight!" Lady Gale shrieked, noticing how I was still dressed.

            "I apologize for not letting you both know that I wanted to attend a ball someday, and that I used the scraps from dresses that I made for the two of you for dresses of my own."

            "This goes against everything that our society stands for. You are to not leave the house for the foreseeable future, you will modify the red gown from last night and that purple gown to fit Gale," Lady Charlevoix ordered.

            "Yes, milady."

            "What are you still waiting for? Go do the chores and start on modifying those gowns, now," Lady Charlevoix commanded.

            "Yes, milady. Right away," I said before leaving the room. I changed into my regular dress, pulled the red gown out of the hidden closet, keeping the blue one hidden. I then moved the dresses to the sewing room, went to start the tea. After I had the teapot on the stove heating up, I went and helped them change out of their gowns.

            "You have such gall to do that to us, risk embarrassing this house and me," Lady Gale ranted as I changed her clothes for her. "This is the worst thing a maid can do for the family that they work for." She punctuated what she said by slapping me fiercely across the face, knocking me down. I stood up, finished helping her change, noticing the smug look on her face, and I left before I could start crying from her cruelty.  Lady Charlevoix was waiting for me, she did not comment on the red mark on my face from her daughter. I helped her change as quickly as I could.

            "Did anyone else know who you truly were?"

            "No, milady, just the driver and I knew the truth," I answered, purposely excluding the prince from the conversation.

            "Good, you should be glad no one discovered your identity and rank in society, the shame that it would bring you would be catastrophic."

            "I understand, milady. I am sincerely sorry," I said as I finished the last snap. "I must go attend to the tea, milady. I shall bring it to you and Lady Gale in the sitting room once it is ready."

            "Good, you better not do something like that ever again," Lady Charlevoix dismissed me. I quickly left her room; I went back to the kitchen to finish preparing the tea. Once the tea finished, I took the tea set to the sitting room and served the tea for the Lady Charlevoix and Lady Gale.

I waited in attendance if they needed me for anything. Once they finished, I had to clean up the tea, go to their rooms and help them change for the night. Then, I went to the sewing room, I knew that I could not widen out the gowns with the material I had at that point. Lady Gale is about double the size that I am in the waist, hips, the whole bodice, and she is a few inches taller in the bodice and her legs are longer than mine, too.  I would need at least two feet more of material for each gown, just so that I can try to make it large enough for Lady Gale's girth. I sighed, knowing that I would have to bring it up to Lady Charlevoix in the morning. I retired to my room, changed into my nightgown that used to be Lady Gale's, and I cried myself to sleep, knowing that I would only have it worse in the morning of chores and added strain and punishment.

The following morning, I got up, dressed and had to keep rubbing my eyes and blowing my nose at times, I could tell that I was broken hearted about the prince and hurting about the torture that Lady Gale would have planned for me. I went to the kitchen, prepared breakfast for the Lady Charlevoix and Lady Gale; after that, I went upstairs and woke up the Lady, and helped her get dressed.

            "Milady, I do not have enough material for the resizing of the two gowns to fit Lady Gale," I mentioned as I helped her get dressed.

            "Fine, I will go to the town and have the cloth provider come with a large number of samples of shades of purple and red to the house for you to pick from to adjust those gowns for her."

            "Yes, milady," I confirmed her statement, and then I left her room and went to try to rouse Lady Gale from bed. Lady Gale was much more difficult to wake than ever before; then after I finally woke her, she was completely uncooperative to dress.

            "This is some more punishment for your rude behavior," Lady Gale said as she slapped me again, harder than she hit me the prior night.

            "I am sorry milady," I say once I get up. "I must go finish preparing breakfast for you and your mother."

            "Fine, you are dismissed." I curtseyed and left the room, returning to the kitchen. Luckily, the breakfast was not overcooked when I returned; the extra time to wake and dress Lady Gale was a great risk to properly finishing the breakfast. I then took the breakfast into the dining room, where they were waiting. I served the food onto Lady Gale's plate. She took one bite, set down her fork, and pushed away her plate.

            "This food is terrible, make me something else," she demanded.

            "Yes, milady," I said, going back into the kitchen and made a different breakfast for her. I took the freshly made breakfast with a clean plate for Lady Gale.

            "You took too long, I am starving," Lady Gale complained.

            "I am sorry, milady," I said while serving her the other breakfast.

            "This is bad, too," Gale said after eating one bite of the second breakfast that I made for her.

            "Gale, do not waste food. You know that we are not the wealthiest family in the area," Lady Charlevoix admonished her daughter.

            "Fine, I will eat it; but I will not like it."

They finished breakfast and went about their day, preparing themselves slightly for the final ball that the coronation of the prince will occur. I went to the kitchen to wash the dishes and start to prepare lunch and midmorning tea. Once I put the teapot on the stove to heat up, there was a knock on the door. I answered the door to see that it was none other than Crown Prince Leo with the lord that I bumped into the night before.

            "Sire, what a pleasant surprise; shall I go get Lady Charlevoix and Lady Gale?"

            "No, we are here to see you," Crown Prince Leo entered the house with the lord following him to the sitting room.

            I quickly dashed after them, "Me, sire? I am naught but a maid."

            "No, you are not just a maid, you are my daughter. My long lost daughter, you look just like your mother," the lord turned to me. "May I see your necklace that you had with you last night?"

            "What is with all the noise, Lily?" Lady Charlevoix came into the room, "Oh, your highness, this is a very pleasant surprise. I shall go get Gale for a short while."

            "No, milady. We are here to see Lily, not you or your rotten daughter," Crown Prince Leo stated shortly.

            "What would you and this dottering old man want with her?"

            "I, milady, am the great Lord Peter Grettlby, and this young maiden is my daughter that has been missing for many years."

            "I cannot be your daughter, milord, I have lived here and served Lady Charlevoix and Lady Gale for as long as I can remember," I tried to explain.

            "Let me see your necklace and I will be able to prove that you are my daughter," Lord Grettlby stated.

            "She does not own a necklace," Lady Charlevoix scoffed.

            "I do have a necklace, milady. I had it longer than I can remember," I explain as I pull it out of its hiding place in my bodice and show it to Lord Grettlby.

            "Yes, this is the same necklace that is the heirloom that I gave to my daughter before she disappeared," Lord Grettlby confirmed.

            "This means that you are the daughter of one of the highest ranking lords of the country. Then you are of proper rank for society to accept our marriage," Crown Prince Leo explained.

            "What!? The prince wants to marry you?" Lady Charlevoix exclaimed.

            "So, Lady Lily Grettlby, will you marry me?" Crown Prince Leo asked.

            "This is a lot to take in," I said as I sat down on one of the chairs.

            "You are forbidden to leave this house, and forbidden to marry the prince!" Lady Charlevoix shrieked.

            "You are not her owner, nor are you her parent. I am her father; she is allowed to marry whomever she wishes to. And you should get your clothes packed up; you are leaving with me today, my dear daughter. Do not forget to pack those two lovely gowns you wore at the past two balls,"

            "I will pack; however, Lady Charlevoix does not wish for me to have those two gowns that I made for myself from scraps and left over fabric from gowns and dresses that I had to make for Charlevoix and her frustrating daughter," I stated as I stood up, growing sure of my place in the world not being here.

            "Get the gowns, you made them, you deserve to have nice things," Lord Grettlby, I mean my father, said.

            "Yes, milord, I mean Father," I agreed before leaving the room to get the gowns from the sewing room. I entered the sewing room to find Lady Gale with scissors cutting the dresses apart into shreds. "What are you doing!?"

            "Destroying what never should have been yours," Lady Gale turned to me, scissors still in hand, approaching me threateningly.

            "Fine, I am done with you and this house," I announced before I went to turn to leave. Lady Gale was on me in an instant, using the scissors to shred my clothes, cutting me at the same time. "Stop," I shrieked in pain and fear that she could kill me.

            Crown Prince Leo heard and ran into the room, "Let her go, Gale."

            "Why should I? She is nothing but a maid!"

            "I am not a maid any longer. I am the daughter of high ranking Lord Peter Grettlby," I cried out.

            "Liar, you are just trying to get the prince to be with you!"

            "She is not lying, your mother must have kidnapped her or purchased her shortly after she was taken from her father," Crown Prince Leo said. He quickly leapt on Lady Gale, disarming her and knocking her unconscious. "Are you alright?"

            "I think so," I said shaking in fear. I then looked down at my dress and realized that he could see parts of my body and my underclothes. I turned bright red as he glanced in the direction I was looking. He turned red and pulled off his traveling cloak and covered me with it.

            "Let's go to your room to retrieve the rest of your clothes," Crown Prince Leo stated as he hugged me close to him.

            "I have another gown hidden in my room, and I need to change and care for my cuts," I trembled. I managed to calm myself enough to show him where my room has been for all these years.

            "You still have not answered my question," Crown Prince Leo said as he helped me sit on the bed that was mine for years.

            "I still do not know what to think of everything that happened."

            "I understand, this has changed your life in a complete way that you could have never seen coming. So, where is that third gown that you made and kept hidden?"

            "In the space, behind the hidden door, next to the small armoire."

            "Here," he asked as pulled open the hidden door.

            "Yes, is should be right in there." He went into the space and moved the model with the gown on it out and into the daylight.

            "That is extraordinarily beautiful," Crown Prince Leo said, surprised at the design and that the colors exactly match my necklace.

            "Thank you, I tried to make it so it would complement my necklace."

            "Are you well enough now to pack all the rest of your clothes on your own?"

            "Yes, I should be fine. I will return to the sitting room with my few clothes in a satchel that I have," I let him know, smiling slightly at him.

            "Good, I am glad you will be fine. I will see you in the sitting room when you are ready to leave," he hugged me lightly before he left, taking the blue gown with him and closing the door behind him. I sighed, happy that he cares about me; however, still lost on what to do about his marriage proposal. I stand up and gather up my few nightgowns and dresses, carefully wrapped up the dresses and put them into my small satchel; I had to do some pushing and squeezing to fit the dresses into the bag. I then changed into one of the remaining dresses from the cut dress. Then I returned to the sitting room to a rapidly escalating argument. I entered the room cautiously, knowing Lady Gale got her violent nature from her mother. I luckily ducked just after entering the room as the teapot flew over me and smashed on the wall. I stood back up, looking in the direction that the teapot came from, unsurprised to see Lady Charlevoix herself, red-faced and breathing heavily.

            "You are not taking her from me. I worked really hard to get her here from that wretched castle that the dottering old fool lives in," Lady Charlevoix revealed angrily.

            "So, you did kidnap me from my father and put me into poverty as an infant," I shook my head, saddened that Lady Charlevoix would resort to such low tactics to get a cheap maid.

            "It is time to go, Lily," Father said, I could tell that he wanted the arguing to stop.

            "Yes, it is. I cannot stay here any longer with such hateful people," I agreed.

            "Then, we shall go. I put your gown in the second carriage already," Crown Prince Leo stated. I nodded, showing that I understand, and then I let my father and Crown Prince Leo guide me out of the prison that I have known for my whole life. Unfortunately, we encountered Lady Gale once more before we got to the door.

            "You will not take her, she is my servant! She has to make me more dresses and gowns much better than the ones she made for me! I am able to command her to do whatever I want her to do," Lady Gale ranted.

            "Step aside, my dear, you will get hurt if you do not move and allow my daughter to leave this place, then I will have to intervene," Father stated to her in a way that came off as threatening through sounding completely nonthreatening.

            "Lady Gale, I have always enjoyed making dresses for you. I want to go to my home, to the place I belong. I can still make some dresses for you, because I will continue making dresses for myself," I attempted at convincing her to let me leave.

            "You shall never leave, never," Lady Gale seethed.

            "Then I shall force you to move," Father said prior to moving forward towards Lady Gale.

            "Lord Grettlby, that is unnecessary. Lady Charlevoix, unless your daughter moves, I shall strip your family of your title and make it where you both shall live as paupers for the rest of your life," Crown Prince Leo called.

            Lady Charlevoix rushed to the foyer and moved Lady Gale out of the way, "Do you want us to be out on the streets with winter coming in a few months!?"

            "We should go while they are busy fighting each other," I said, starting to walk out of the door. Crown Prince Leo and my father followed me outside and noticed that I suddenly stopped and was staring at the carriages.

            "One carriage is my personal carriage," Crown Prince Leo said nervously.

            "The other carriage is the carriage for the family of Grettlby," Father stated. "Shall we go?"

            "Yes, let's leave this terrible place once and for all," I said, wondering which carriage is for whom, and which one we will ride in.

            "We should all ride in one, we are all going to the same place and the gown is in mine," Crown Prince Leo said, sounding slightly nervous.

            "Yes, we should go. I cannot wait for you to see your home," Father said excitedly. Crown Prince Leo held my hand, helping me get into the carriage; he then climbed in after me, and my father followed. Crown Prince Leo sat next to me in the carriage, and held my hand as the carriage started moving.

            "I want an answer to my question before the coronation tonight," Crown Prince Leo stated.

            "What question did you ask her, your highness?"

            "I asked Lily to marry me."

            "I am sitting right here, and that is not much time to consider an answer."

            "Whatever you decide, my daughter I will accept and hope you will live with me for a while before you wed, if that is what you decide."

            "I do not have any idea what to do about you two," I sighed.

            "Wed me and spend lots of time with the both of us," Crown Prince Leo smiled, squeezing my hand at the same time.

            "Your Highness, you have to give me some time to consider your proposal."

            "Yes, you have until tonight. I do not want to wait too terribly long for you," Crown Prince Leo looked at me and my blushing face. We made it there eventually, the carriage jerked to a stop. My father and Crown Prince Leo got out first, and then Crown Prince Leo helped me out of the carriage and continued to hold my hand for a while longer.

            I looked at the castle that is the place of my birth, "What a large place, the royal palace is definitely bigger though."

            "Yes, this castle is only about half the size of the royal palace. It was built about 150 years ago when the branch of the royal family that became our family, by the ruler's brother at the time."

            "So, I am related to Crown Prince Leo?"

            "Yes, distantly related, separated by the 150 years of marriages to other lords and ladies as well as dukes and duchesses of other countries. Once or twice there was a marriage to a princess of a different country."

            "You know my family's history?"

            "Yes, it was part of my studies when I was growing up," Crown Prince Leo explained to me. We walked to the door, more like a large gate than a door; someone opened it and bowed to us as we entered.

            "Welcome home, sir. Welcome to the Grettlby Manor, Your Highness. And welcome to you milady, your return is to be celebrated today prior to the Royal Ball tonight."

            "Yes, we shall have some celebrating. Not too big, I do not want to overwhelm her on her first day home," Father said to the man.

            "Very well, sir."

            "There is a gown in the second carriage that belongs to the lady, it needs to be retrieved," Crown Prince Leo stated to the man.

            "Very well, Your Highness. Is there anything else?"

            "I want to have access to the sewing room and able to choose swaths of fabric, as well as to be able to make dresses and gowns for myself. Perhaps paper and pencils to sketch ideas out for gowns as well as fans, masks and other accessories that would be beautiful with the ideas," I address the man, trying to be specific.

            "Yes, milady, it will be arranged."

            "That is all for now, I shall show the lady to her room and then we will need lunch soon."

            "Very, well, milord."

            "Come, Lily, I want you to see your room right away," Father said sounding as excited as a child. I followed him, and Crown Prince Leo followed behind me. We went up a few flights of stairs and down a few hallways until we arrived at a door. Father opened it for me and stepped back, wanting to see my reaction to my room that should have been mine once I was old enough to not need my parents as much. I looked inside and could tell that the whole of the Charlevoix house would fit inside this sitting room that was mine. I walked inside and looked into the doors adjoining the room to find the massive bedroom with connecting bathroom, and a bell pull.

            "What is the bell pull for?"

            "You ring, a servant comes and they will help you with whatever you might need or want," Father said, pleased.

            "I think that I am dressed too much like a servant to be in the place of the daughter of the lord of this house," I said, looking at my plain dress.

    &

Comment Log in or Join Tablo to comment on this chapter...

Untitled Chapter

I have lived and worked in this household for as long as I can remember, I am a maid for the Lady and her daughter. They are often cruel and mean, especially the daughter, who happens to be the same age as me. The daughter has often purposely spilled tea on carpets and blamed me for it. I learned how to sew, clean, and cook, as I am the only maid that works for their family that is a very low standing of Lady. For the past six years, I have been taking scraps and excess fabric from dresses and gowns that I had to make for the lady and her daughter. The fabric that I have taken and hidden and I worked on only at nights and designed into three different gowns that are beautiful; one is red in different shades, another is purple, and the third is going to be blue, it is not completely finished yet, I just need to sew it together the rest of the way. All three have matching fans, and possibilities for matching masks. While I was attending to milady's needs, I overheard that the crown prince would be visiting today. I was surprised and almost dropped the tray with the teapot.

            "Watch what you are doing you rotten girl," the Lady scolded fiercely.

            "I am sorry milady, it will not happen again," I quickly apologize, fearful of retribution and punishment; as the lady's daughter scoffed at me.

            "When is the crown prince arriving, mother," Lady Gale asked the Lady Charlevoix.

            "Not long now," the Lady stated reassuringly.

I left the room after that, as I had to attend to some other chores, being the only servant of the house. Soon enough there was knocking at the front door; I went and answered the door.

            "Hello, how may I help you?" I asked as I opened the door.

            "Oh, good day young miss. Is this the residence of the Lady Charlevoix and her daughter?" The Crown Prince greeted and kindly asked.

            "Yes, sire, this is the Lady's home. Come in, welcome. They are in the sitting room, shall I show you there?" I nervously asked, slightly rambling.

            "Yes, that is fine," he replied, smiling about my nervousness. I showed him in and guided him to the sitting room, announced his presence to the lady and her daughter and curtsied to the prince as he entered the room. Lady Charlevoix and her daughter, Gale, both rose and curtsied to him.

            "Sit, ladies. So, are we to have some lovely fresh tea and crumpets?" The prince calmly diffused the situation.

            "Yes, sire tea and crumpets will be coming quickly," Lady Charlevoix told him sweetly. "Go get the prince the special tea and best crumpets we have," she said to me coarsely.

            "Right away milady," I curtsied and hurried off to fetch the tea and the crumpets that I just freshly made that morning.

            "So, are all of you fine in this small dwelling that is all that is for your title," the Prince asked nicely as I returned to the sitting room.

            "Of course, sire; it is a tight fit and wit difficult at times, yet it is all we have," Lady Charlevoix replied as I started to set the tea cups and pour the tea as well as the small plates for the crumpets.

            "Even with only enough rooms for the two of you and your one servant, that means you must sacrifice quite a bit for basic living," the prince obviously mentioning me in the conversation.

            "Why, yes; life is difficult and very trying at times. However, our one servant is perfectly capable of fulfilling all our needs," Gale carefully explained.

            "Is that right," the prince directly asked me.

            "Yes, sire; I am very able to complete all the tasks of the house," I responded cautiously. Suddenly, Lady Charlevoix and Gale's tea spilled all over their dresses and heads.

            "My goodness, I apologize for our clumsiness, you highness," Lady Charlevoix quickly apologized and rushed herself and her daughter out of the room.

            "So, what is your name maiden?" The prince quickly turned to me and asked as soon as they left the room.

            "Lily, your highness, and I am naught but a maid and servant," I shyly answered.

            "I insist that you call me Leo when it is just the two of us, Lily of the Charlevoix household."

            "Oh, I could never do that, sire; you are wonderfully kind though."

            "I know many things about the Lady Charlevoix, and her lack of kindness and consideration to her staff that is limited due to her lack of wealth. As well as the great lack of character both her and her daughter share."

            "I know more about their treatment and character, or lack thereof, than you do your highness."

            "Unfortunately, I need to leave quite soon, I must return to the castle for my father to be able to begin planning the welcome home celebrations."

            "I understand, shall I show you out, sire, and tell milady that you were unhappy to leave?"

            "That would be perfect; however, you would need to imply that I was unhappy to not bid them farewell, which I am all too happy to miss."

            "I know, your highness, I shall so that they believe that you miss their company rather than them knowing that you preferred my company, even just for a short while," I gladly said as I walked with him to the door.

            "I shall hope and pray to see you again, and really soon, milady," he bowed, kissing my hand and leaving before I had a chance to curtsy.  After he rode off, I closed the door and turned back to the house and all my chores awaiting me. I went first to clean up the sitting room, then had to start on dinner and setting the table for dinner.

            "Did the prince leave?" Lady Charlevoix asked coming to check on my preparations for their dinner.

            "Yes, milady. He had to leave to be able to give his father, the king, time to plan the balls to celebrate his return to the castle," I answered, as I continued setting the table.

            "Are you almost done with dinner?"

            "Yes, milady, I just have to put the food in the proper bowls and on the proper plates for you and your daughter, milady."

The Lady nodded in understanding, leaving me to finish the dinner preparations and place the dishes of food on the dining table. The Lady Charlevoix and her daughter, Lady Gale Charlevoix, came into the dining room, ready for dinner.

            "Is it ready?"

            "Yes, milady, dinner is served."

They sat down, and started eating, with me standing off to the side, if there is anything that they need me for.

            "So, there is going to be a ball coming up to celebrate the crown prince's return to the castle, is that right mother?" Lady Gale asked.

            "Yes, but there are supposed to be three balls. The first two are supposed to be masquerade balls, and the first is tomorrow night."

            "Which dress shall I wear for each night, mother?"

            "The orange one, the green one, and the pink one for you. For me, my three best black gowns. Lily, we will need matching masquerade masks for the two nights, make two separate ones for me."

            "Yes, milady. What two dresses of your lovely daughter should I make matching masks for, milady" I get included in the conversation briefly for their demands.

            "The orange and the green one would be lovely," Lady Charlevoix answered.

            "Yes, milady; I shall start on those after I finish taking care of the dinner dishes, preparing your evening tea, and serving your tea to you." I confirmed.

            "When is the first ball, mother?"

            "Tomorrow night, my sweet."

            "So, Lily needs to finish with the masks before tomorrow so that we can decide if we like them or not," Lady Gale stated cruelly.

            "I shall make beautiful masks for both of you before bed tonight, milady," I accepted the added chores.

            "Good, see that you do, Lily," Lady Charlevoix stated curtly.

They soon finished their dinner, barely eating much of the food that I made. They stood up and left the mess for me to clean up. As I cleaned the dishes and plates, I would also eat some of the food that was left over; this was accepted behavior for a maid and saved the Lady money on food for me. I moved all the dishes into the kitchen and prepared them for washing, as they were sitting in the bin of water, soaking for a bit, I set about getting the tea together for the lady and her ungrateful daughter. As the teapot was on the stove and would whistle once ready, I returned to the dishes, sighing. I washed the dishes carefully, while I thought of the gowns that the lady and her daughter wanted masks made for. I considered the design for the masks as I finished the dishes, and gathered the things for their tea; after which I got the teapot off the stove and made the tea. I daintily carried the tray of tea, cups and some small snacks to go with the tea, to the sitting room where they were waiting for their after dinner tea.

            "About time for the tea, you really need to work hard in order to finish the masks before we retire to bed," Lady Charlevoix said curtly.

            "Yes, milady," I answered her as I served the tea to them. Right once I finished serving the tea, I went to get the items needed to make the masks for the two of them. I brought the materials into the sitting room, to be on hand if they needed me, and to for them to see the progress of the masks as I made them. The orange one I added designs of the orange of leaves in autumn and made it show the colors of autumn, primarily orange. As soon as I finished, I looked up at them, noticing that they were watching the whole time.

            "What do you think milady?"

            "It is lovely, it perfectly complements my beautiful daughter's features, too," Lady Charlevoix stated proudly.

            "Yes, well done, maid. What about the green one and the two for mother?"

            "I can only make one at a time milady, the green one will be next," I answered nicely.

            "Good, get on with it, Lily."

            I started making the green mask, adding foliage of trees and branches for spring and summer growth. I looked up after finishing, seeing that they were still closely watching me work. "What do you think of this one, milady?"

            "Very well done, Lily; I should know that you would be good at this task too, since you are a fabulous dress maker as well" Lady Charlevoix complemented me without giving full credit.

            "Good job, maid. You still have to make mother's masks," Lady Gale stated grudgingly.

            "Those are next milady," I responded, moving materials that I don't need aside and bringing the materials that I would need forward. The first one I made I included a crescent moon and a smattering of stars across the black of the mask like the night sky. I peeked up every so often, seeing if they were still watching me. I held up the one with the crescent moon to show them, they nodded in approval. Then I went onto the last mask of theirs to make, a night sky with a large array of stars glittering across the mask. After finishing that one, I held it up for them to see; the Lady herself was surprised at the beauty of the mask.

            "Wonderfully well done, now is time for us to retire to bed," Lady Charlevoix stated. I added them in going to bed, cleaning up the remains of their tea, washing the tea cups and teapots, and then I took the mask making materials to my room, pulling out my hidden gowns of red, purple, and blue. I then made complementing masks for the red and purple dresses; red of flowers in the spring, purple of the violets and irises that grow in the wild.  I then quickly finished sewing the blue dress and put the dresses back in the secret closet that the lady and her daughter did not know about. I went to bed for the night shortly after so that I could get up before I had to wake up the lady and her precocious daughter.

 

Morning came quickly, I got out of bed, dressed, went to the kitchen to start making their breakfast and morning tea. Once I had everything started and simmering lightly, I went up the stairs to the lady's bed chamber to rouse her. After I woke her and helped her dress, I went to her daughter's room, and had to fight to wake up Lady Gale, as she sleeps soundly and is intentionally difficult for me to wake and then she also is difficult about me helping her get dressed. She makes me dress her like she is a doll. I went back to the kitchen and finished their breakfast, brought it to them in the dining room, served them their tea after setting down the plates of food, then I had to move the food onto Lady Gale's plate for her. The day progressed much as usual, Lady Gale giving me lots of difficulties about the food, her clothes for the day, the chores that I am doing, that I'm not following her around for her "needs," rather than doing my chores. I served them their tea, prepared and brought lunch to them and same with dinner. Thankfully, that was the first night of the balls to celebrate the return of the prince. Instead of having to endure more of Gale's rudeness and stubborn personality; I had to help both of them change into their gowns, and put their masks on. Gale was rude all the way through, the dress and mask had to be just so for her... "The dress is too long. Now it's too short. The bodice is too tight. Now it's too loose. You must really want me to look terrible for the prince."

All I could answer for all of that was "Yes, milady, I am trying to fix it. I am sorry milady, I am adjusting that now. I will fix that again milady. No, milady; I want you to be perfectly lovely for the prince."

Finally after all the stress and strain with Lady Gale, helping her mother was a simple matter. I also put their hair up and helped put lipstick on their lips, and see them off in the carriage.

 

Once they were gone, I went to my room, pulled out the red dress, fan, and mask. I changed into the beautiful gown, put my hair up artfully, put the mask on, and carefully added some lipstick to my lips. I arranged for a carriage to come and pick me up and drive me to and from the ball, which was the same time during the day that I arranged for the carriage for the lady and her daughter.

            The man who drives the carriage was surprised when I came outside, "What a surprise, you are very lovely for being the maid of the house."

            "Thank you, I guess. I may be naught but a maid, but I am one of the hardest working maid in the area," I replied. "So, I think that I deserve a chance to have some fun."

            "Yes, you definitely do. Let me help you in," he agreed as he took my hand to help me climb into the carriage.

The ride went by fairly quick, and the driver kindly helped me out of the carriage.

            "Let me know when you are ready to go, I know you have to return before Charlevoix and her devil daughter," he whispered to me.

            "Thank you, my true rank in society must stay secret or I will never be able to go out in public again," I quietly explain before entering the castle and the ball.

I entered into the ballroom, seeing the waves of people twirling and spinning around the dance floor and moving around the room itself. The beauty of the room and the vast array of gowns and suits worn by all the people there. I froze, so taken aback by everything; eventually, the prince, the only one wearing the simplest mask, approached me.

            "Are you alright, milady?"

            "Oh, yes, sire. I am fine," I answered nervously.

            "Would you care to dance with me?"

            "That would be lovely, your highness."

He gently guided me to the dance floor, put one hand on my hip, holding my hand with his other hand; I put my other hand on his shoulder. We danced for quite a while, and eventually, we started conversing.

            "You seem familiar, milady," Crown Prince Leo said to me.

            "I might be someone you met once, but then again, we might have never met before," I replied mysteriously, hinting at my identity while still trying to keep it hidden.

            "Until I seen you, I could not stop thinking about someone else. Now, you remind me of her, yet seem completely different from her."

            "Is that supposed to be flattering, sire?" I asked, wondering who he was thinking of.

            "I am sorry, I was distracted. I think you are very beautiful"

            "Thank you your highness," I tried to be humble. "I will have to leave soon; thank you for dancing with me, sire." As the song ended, I curtsied at the same time that he bowed. Then I discreetly left the ballroom and the castle, the driver of the carriage was waiting for me.

            "Milady, is it time to leave?"

            "Yes, I must return home."

            "I hope you had some fun tonight," he said as he held my hand helping me get into the carriage. The carriage ride was fairly quick, I arrived home with just enough time to change and ready myself and some tea for the lady and her daughter's return from the ball. Upon their return, I had to help them change and serve them the tea as they discussed what happened at the ball.

            "Whose daughter do you think it was that kept dancing with the prince at his ball, mother?" Lady Gale asked.

            "I do not know, my dear; with it being a masquerade ball, she could be almost anyone. She seemed very familiar, like I seen her somewhere before" the lady said as I poured her more tea. "Thank you Lily. Go get some rest for the morning, as you must prepare our breakfast and do all the other regular chores."

            "Yes, milady. I will see you in the morning," I replied curtsying before leaving the sitting room. I cannot remember in all my years of life being as happy as I am now, I have never even hoped to be as happy as I am now. I fell asleep looking at my necklace that I have always had, I cannot remember how long I have had the necklace. It is a light blue stone in the shape of a circle, surrounded by a larger circle of a dark blue stone; it is just smaller than the size of my palm.

            The next morning, I was humming cheerfully as I prepared the tea and breakfast for the lady and her daughter and was cheerful even getting Lady Gale out of bed. When Lady Gale complained about the slightest thing, I just smiled and said that I would fix it right away. For me, the day breezed by, shortly I was helping Lady Gale dress for the next ball that night. After they left, I quickly changed into my purple gown, donned the mask and clutched the fan. The driver arrived, helped me into the carriage, and drove me to the castle. I arrived at the ball early enough to see the opening ceremony of the dance. As everyone is already there, loitering and waiting for the prince and king to enter the ballroom to begin the ball; a lovely looking lady approached me.

            "What are your intentions for the crown prince," she inquired.

            "I am unsure what might happen between us, milady. What is your relationship to Crown Prince Leo, if I may ask?" I was cautious, concerned that the lady might be one of the many admirers of the prince.

            "I am his godmother," the lady replied smiling.

            "You look quite young to be his godmother, milady,"

            "I am his fairy godmother, my dear," she whispered into my ear. "I hope you do not to do anything to cause him harm."

            "I understand, and I will take that into consideration as I think about changes to the potential relationship."

            "Presenting His royal highness, King Philip and his son, Crown Prince Leo," announced someone as they entered to the cheers and screams of the ladies of the prince's fan club. Everyone curtseyed or bowed. After the acknowledgement, the prince quickly navigated his way through the crowds to me and his fairy godmother.

            "Hello," Selena curtseyed.

            "I am very glad you were able to attend the ball in advance of the celebration of my coronation that will take place at the beginning of tomorrow's ball," Crown Prince Leo revealed as he kissed Selena's hand.

            "I would not miss your coronation for anything, my dear," Selena replied.

            "I greatly appreciate you coming; it gives me a feeling of good things to come. Now, then, may I have this dance my mysterious lady?" Crown Prince Leo asked me.

            "I would love to dance with you, sire," I replied. He swept me to the dance floor, and we started dancing in silence, with him watching me closely.

            "After this song, I would like to talk with you in private," Crown Prince Leo said.

            "About anything in particular, your highness," I asked.

            "You will find out soon my mysterious lady of the ball" Crown Prince Leo said as the song neared its end.

Once the song ended, I curtsied as he bowed, then he gracefully guided my hand to hold his arm and led me to a private study. Once he closed the door, he turned to me and carefully removed my mask, before I could even mount any sort of protest or try to stop him.

            "I was sure that it was you, Lily. I did not know anyone else who could captivate and stir my heart and mind as completely as you did when we first met." Crown Prince Leo smiled, "please marry me?"

            "It is against all the morals that our society stands on for such a marriage to occur, and it is illegal for a prince or king to marry a lowly maid. Plus, the lady I work for would never allow me to leave her service. I owe her everything that I have," I took her mask back from him and walked further into the room, away from him, awash with unknown feelings.

            "You are just making excuses. I feel like I need to be with you for the rest of my life, plus with Selena talking to you before just shows the great promise of us being together."

            I quickly turned to face him, "We cannot be together, and it would be illegal and improper. After tonight, we shall not see each other ever again." I put my mask back on and left the room. As I was trying to return to the ballroom, I pulled the necklace out from my bodice to look at for comfort. I ran into a lord as I was in my rush to flee from the prince's presence.

            "Pardon me, milady," the lord said kindly.

            "I am sorry, milord. I was not watching where I was going," I apologized, feeling close to tears.

            "Why are you upset, my dear," the lord asked, genuinely concerned.

            "I may have just rejected the love of my life," I managed to choke out, trying not to sob.

            "Please tell me about it, it might clear things up for you" the lord was trying to be helpful.

            "Thank you milord; but I would rather be alone for now," I told him, grateful for his concern. "Pardon me, milord," I curtsied and walked away, going to a courtyard to catch my breath and calm myself.

_______________________________________

Crown Prince Leo

I attempted to follow her and witnessed her dropping her fan and talking a little bit with Lord Grettlby before she rushed off again.

            "Hello, Lord Grettlby. I am surprised to see you here; I heard that you became a recluse after losing both your daughter and wife."

            "Oh, sire, well, I needed to come and show my support for your coronation, or people would be considering my lack of attendance as plotting a rebellion," Lord Grettlby answered.

            "I do not know of anyone who would think of accusing you of something like that," I state. "By the way, you seem puzzled about the young lady that you were conversing with a short while ago."

            "Yes, she looks so much like my late wife. Her necklace looked familiar as well," Lord Grettlby stated thoughtfully.

            "Do you think that the necklace that she has could be the same heirloom necklace that went missing after you gave it to your infant daughter shortly before she and your wife passed away?"

            "Actually, my daughter did not die; she and the necklace just disappeared from my home. But it could be the same necklace; I would need to look at it closer. As for her resemblance to my late wife, I could only tell that her eyes looked like my late wife's eyes."

            "So, it could be possible that she is your daughter that was missing all these years?"

            "Yes, I so hope she could be. Where does that young lady live?"

            "I will help you find more about her soon," I said. "I need to go and find her soon; I must talk with her..."

            "I understand your highness. Let me know when I can meet her again," Lord Grettlby nodded understanding, before I walked away.

_____________________________

Lily

I returned to the ballroom for a short while. I did not want to encounter the prince, or his fairy godmother, so I left the castle altogether.

            "You are leaving even earlier tonight than last night, milady," the driver of the carriage commented as I approached.

            "I do not wish to talk about it," I stated, unhappily before getting into the carriage. Soon, we were off to the house that is my imprisonment. Eventually, we stopped, I did not recognize where we were.

            "Where are we?" I asked as he opened the door.

            "I wanted to talk with you privately for the last night that you are going to be dressed this way," he said as he climbed into the carriage, sitting across from me.

            "What about?"

            "Would you marry me?"

            "What!? No, I am sorry I do not want to marry, ever if I can help it."

            "I am someone suitable for you and we are of the same station in our social status. Plus, I would be able to care for you and a family to live comfortably."

            "I would not be able to leave the service of Lady Charlevoix, and I do not wish to marry."

            "Why would you be so against someone who would be able to be with you, you still would be able to work for Charlevoix?"

            "I do not think that I could endure trying to convince Lady Charlevoix of letting me marry, then the cruelty that Lady Gale would add to my already difficult life. Please drive me back to the house."

            "Fine, be an uptight stuck up woman," he exited the carriage, closed the door, and got the carriage moving again. The next time we stopped, it was at the Charlevoix house. I got out before he had time to get down from the driver's seat.

            "Thank you for the ride to the balls," I said shortly before I went inside. When I entered, I saw that Lady Charlevoix and Lady Gale were home before I returned.

            "Where have you been?" Lady Charlevoix shouted when I entered the house.

            "Mother! She is the girl that enchanted the prince yesterday night and tonight!" Lady Gale shrieked, noticing how I was still dressed.

            "I apologize for not letting you both know that I wanted to attend a ball someday, and that I used the scraps from dresses that I made for the two of you for dresses of my own."

            "This goes against everything that our society stands for. You are to not leave the house for the foreseeable future, you will modify the red gown from last night and that purple gown to fit Gale," Lady Charlevoix ordered.

            "Yes, milady."

            "What are you still waiting for? Go do the chores and start on modifying those gowns, now," Lady Charlevoix commanded.

            "Yes, milady. Right away," I said before leaving the room. I changed into my regular dress, pulled the red gown out of the hidden closet, keeping the blue one hidden. I then moved the dresses to the sewing room, went to start the tea. After I had the teapot on the stove heating up, I went and helped them change out of their gowns.

            "You have such gall to do that to us, risk embarrassing this house and me," Lady Gale ranted as I changed her clothes for her. "This is the worst thing a maid can do for the family that they work for." She punctuated what she said by slapping me fiercely across the face, knocking me down. I stood up, finished helping her change, noticing the smug look on her face, and I left before I could start crying from her cruelty.  Lady Charlevoix was waiting for me, she did not comment on the red mark on my face from her daughter. I helped her change as quickly as I could.

            "Did anyone else know who you truly were?"

            "No, milady, just the driver and I knew the truth," I answered, purposely excluding the prince from the conversation.

            "Good, you should be glad no one discovered your identity and rank in society, the shame that it would bring you would be catastrophic."

            "I understand, milady. I am sincerely sorry," I said as I finished the last snap. "I must go attend to the tea, milady. I shall bring it to you and Lady Gale in the sitting room once it is ready."

            "Good, you better not do something like that ever again," Lady Charlevoix dismissed me. I quickly left her room; I went back to the kitchen to finish preparing the tea. Once the tea finished, I took the tea set to the sitting room and served the tea for the Lady Charlevoix and Lady Gale.

I waited in attendance if they needed me for anything. Once they finished, I had to clean up the tea, go to their rooms and help them change for the night. Then, I went to the sewing room, I knew that I could not widen out the gowns with the material I had at that point. Lady Gale is about double the size that I am in the waist, hips, the whole bodice, and she is a few inches taller in the bodice and her legs are longer than mine, too.  I would need at least two feet more of material for each gown, just so that I can try to make it large enough for Lady Gale's girth. I sighed, knowing that I would have to bring it up to Lady Charlevoix in the morning. I retired to my room, changed into my nightgown that used to be Lady Gale's, and I cried myself to sleep, knowing that I would only have it worse in the morning of chores and added strain and punishment.

The following morning, I got up, dressed and had to keep rubbing my eyes and blowing my nose at times, I could tell that I was broken hearted about the prince and hurting about the torture that Lady Gale would have planned for me. I went to the kitchen, prepared breakfast for the Lady Charlevoix and Lady Gale; after that, I went upstairs and woke up the Lady, and helped her get dressed.

            "Milady, I do not have enough material for the resizing of the two gowns to fit Lady Gale," I mentioned as I helped her get dressed.

            "Fine, I will go to the town and have the cloth provider come with a large number of samples of shades of purple and red to the house for you to pick from to adjust those gowns for her."

            "Yes, milady," I confirmed her statement, and then I left her room and went to try to rouse Lady Gale from bed. Lady Gale was much more difficult to wake than ever before; then after I finally woke her, she was completely uncooperative to dress.

            "This is some more punishment for your rude behavior," Lady Gale said as she slapped me again, harder than she hit me the prior night.

            "I am sorry milady," I say once I get up. "I must go finish preparing breakfast for you and your mother."

            "Fine, you are dismissed." I curtseyed and left the room, returning to the kitchen. Luckily, the breakfast was not overcooked when I returned; the extra time to wake and dress Lady Gale was a great risk to properly finishing the breakfast. I then took the breakfast into the dining room, where they were waiting. I served the food onto Lady Gale's plate. She took one bite, set down her fork, and pushed away her plate.

            "This food is terrible, make me something else," she demanded.

            "Yes, milady," I said, going back into the kitchen and made a different breakfast for her. I took the freshly made breakfast with a clean plate for Lady Gale.

            "You took too long, I am starving," Lady Gale complained.

            "I am sorry, milady," I said while serving her the other breakfast.

            "This is bad, too," Gale said after eating one bite of the second breakfast that I made for her.

            "Gale, do not waste food. You know that we are not the wealthiest family in the area," Lady Charlevoix admonished her daughter.

            "Fine, I will eat it; but I will not like it."

They finished breakfast and went about their day, preparing themselves slightly for the final ball that the coronation of the prince will occur. I went to the kitchen to wash the dishes and start to prepare lunch and midmorning tea. Once I put the teapot on the stove to heat up, there was a knock on the door. I answered the door to see that it was none other than Crown Prince Leo with the lord that I bumped into the night before.

            "Sire, what a pleasant surprise; shall I go get Lady Charlevoix and Lady Gale?"

            "No, we are here to see you," Crown Prince Leo entered the house with the lord following him to the sitting room.

            I quickly dashed after them, "Me, sire? I am naught but a maid."

            "No, you are not just a maid, you are my daughter. My long lost daughter, you look just like your mother," the lord turned to me. "May I see your necklace that you had with you last night?"

            "What is with all the noise, Lily?" Lady Charlevoix came into the room, "Oh, your highness, this is a very pleasant surprise. I shall go get Gale for a short while."

            "No, milady. We are here to see Lily, not you or your rotten daughter," Crown Prince Leo stated shortly.

            "What would you and this dottering old man want with her?"

            "I, milady, am the great Lord Peter Grettlby, and this young maiden is my daughter that has been missing for many years."

            "I cannot be your daughter, milord, I have lived here and served Lady Charlevoix and Lady Gale for as long as I can remember," I tried to explain.

            "Let me see your necklace and I will be able to prove that you are my daughter," Lord Grettlby stated.

            "She does not own a necklace," Lady Charlevoix scoffed.

            "I do have a necklace, milady. I had it longer than I can remember," I explain as I pull it out of its hiding place in my bodice and show it to Lord Grettlby.

            "Yes, this is the same necklace that is the heirloom that I gave to my daughter before she disappeared," Lord Grettlby confirmed.

            "This means that you are the daughter of one of the highest ranking lords of the country. Then you are of proper rank for society to accept our marriage," Crown Prince Leo explained.

            "What!? The prince wants to marry you?" Lady Charlevoix exclaimed.

            "So, Lady Lily Grettlby, will you marry me?" Crown Prince Leo asked.

            "This is a lot to take in," I said as I sat down on one of the chairs.

            "You are forbidden to leave this house, and forbidden to marry the prince!" Lady Charlevoix shrieked.

            "You are not her owner, nor are you her parent. I am her father; she is allowed to marry whomever she wishes to. And you should get your clothes packed up; you are leaving with me today, my dear daughter. Do not forget to pack those two lovely gowns you wore at the past two balls,"

            "I will pack; however, Lady Charlevoix does not wish for me to have those two gowns that I made for myself from scraps and left over fabric from gowns and dresses that I had to make for Charlevoix and her frustrating daughter," I stated as I stood up, growing sure of my place in the world not being here.

            "Get the gowns, you made them, you deserve to have nice things," Lord Grettlby, I mean my father, said.

            "Yes, milord, I mean Father," I agreed before leaving the room to get the gowns from the sewing room. I entered the sewing room to find Lady Gale with scissors cutting the dresses apart into shreds. "What are you doing!?"

            "Destroying what never should have been yours," Lady Gale turned to me, scissors still in hand, approaching me threateningly.

            "Fine, I am done with you and this house," I announced before I went to turn to leave. Lady Gale was on me in an instant, using the scissors to shred my clothes, cutting me at the same time. "Stop," I shrieked in pain and fear that she could kill me.

            Crown Prince Leo heard and ran into the room, "Let her go, Gale."

            "Why should I? She is nothing but a maid!"

            "I am not a maid any longer. I am the daughter of high ranking Lord Peter Grettlby," I cried out.

            "Liar, you are just trying to get the prince to be with you!"

            "She is not lying, your mother must have kidnapped her or purchased her shortly after she was taken from her father," Crown Prince Leo said. He quickly leapt on Lady Gale, disarming her and knocking her unconscious. "Are you alright?"

            "I think so," I said shaking in fear. I then looked down at my dress and realized that he could see parts of my body and my underclothes. I turned bright red as he glanced in the direction I was looking. He turned red and pulled off his traveling cloak and covered me with it.

            "Let's go to your room to retrieve the rest of your clothes," Crown Prince Leo stated as he hugged me close to him.

            "I have another gown hidden in my room, and I need to change and care for my cuts," I trembled. I managed to calm myself enough to show him where my room has been for all these years.

            "You still have not answered my question," Crown Prince Leo said as he helped me sit on the bed that was mine for years.

            "I still do not know what to think of everything that happened."

            "I understand, this has changed your life in a complete way that you could have never seen coming. So, where is that third gown that you made and kept hidden?"

            "In the space, behind the hidden door, next to the small armoire."

            "Here," he asked as pulled open the hidden door.

            "Yes, is should be right in there." He went into the space and moved the model with the gown on it out and into the daylight.

            "That is extraordinarily beautiful," Crown Prince Leo said, surprised at the design and that the colors exactly match my necklace.

            "Thank you, I tried to make it so it would complement my necklace."

            "Are you well enough now to pack all the rest of your clothes on your own?"

            "Yes, I should be fine. I will return to the sitting room with my few clothes in a satchel that I have," I let him know, smiling slightly at him.

            "Good, I am glad you will be fine. I will see you in the sitting room when you are ready to leave," he hugged me lightly before he left, taking the blue gown with him and closing the door behind him. I sighed, happy that he cares about me; however, still lost on what to do about his marriage proposal. I stand up and gather up my few nightgowns and dresses, carefully wrapped up the dresses and put them into my small satchel; I had to do some pushing and squeezing to fit the dresses into the bag. I then changed into one of the remaining dresses from the cut dress. Then I returned to the sitting room to a rapidly escalating argument. I entered the room cautiously, knowing Lady Gale got her violent nature from her mother. I luckily ducked just after entering the room as the teapot flew over me and smashed on the wall. I stood back up, looking in the direction that the teapot came from, unsurprised to see Lady Charlevoix herself, red-faced and breathing heavily.

            "You are not taking her from me. I worked really hard to get her here from that wretched castle that the dottering old fool lives in," Lady Charlevoix revealed angrily.

            "So, you did kidnap me from my father and put me into poverty as an infant," I shook my head, saddened that Lady Charlevoix would resort to such low tactics to get a cheap maid.

            "It is time to go, Lily," Father said, I could tell that he wanted the arguing to stop.

            "Yes, it is. I cannot stay here any longer with such hateful people," I agreed.

            "Then, we shall go. I put your gown in the second carriage already," Crown Prince Leo stated. I nodded, showing that I understand, and then I let my father and Crown Prince Leo guide me out of the prison that I have known for my whole life. Unfortunately, we encountered Lady Gale once more before we got to the door.

            "You will not take her, she is my servant! She has to make me more dresses and gowns much better than the ones she made for me! I am able to command her to do whatever I want her to do," Lady Gale ranted.

            "Step aside, my dear, you will get hurt if you do not move and allow my daughter to leave this place, then I will have to intervene," Father stated to her in a way that came off as threatening through sounding completely nonthreatening.

            "Lady Gale, I have always enjoyed making dresses for you. I want to go to my home, to the place I belong. I can still make some dresses for you, because I will continue making dresses for myself," I attempted at convincing her to let me leave.

            "You shall never leave, never," Lady Gale seethed.

            "Then I shall force you to move," Father said prior to moving forward towards Lady Gale.

            "Lord Grettlby, that is unnecessary. Lady Charlevoix, unless your daughter moves, I shall strip your family of your title and make it where you both shall live as paupers for the rest of your life," Crown Prince Leo called.

            Lady Charlevoix rushed to the foyer and moved Lady Gale out of the way, "Do you want us to be out on the streets with winter coming in a few months!?"

            "We should go while they are busy fighting each other," I said, starting to walk out of the door. Crown Prince Leo and my father followed me outside and noticed that I suddenly stopped and was staring at the carriages.

            "One carriage is my personal carriage," Crown Prince Leo said nervously.

            "The other carriage is the carriage for the family of Grettlby," Father stated. "Shall we go?"

            "Yes, let's leave this terrible place once and for all," I said, wondering which carriage is for whom, and which one we will ride in.

            "We should all ride in one, we are all going to the same place and the gown is in mine," Crown Prince Leo said, sounding slightly nervous.

            "Yes, we should go. I cannot wait for you to see your home," Father said excitedly. Crown Prince Leo held my hand, helping me get into the carriage; he then climbed in after me, and my father followed. Crown Prince Leo sat next to me in the carriage, and held my hand as the carriage started moving.

            "I want an answer to my question before the coronation tonight," Crown Prince Leo stated.

            "What question did you ask her, your highness?"

            "I asked Lily to marry me."

            "I am sitting right here, and that is not much time to consider an answer."

            "Whatever you decide, my daughter I will accept and hope you will live with me for a while before you wed, if that is what you decide."

            "I do not have any idea what to do about you two," I sighed.

            "Wed me and spend lots of time with the both of us," Crown Prince Leo smiled, squeezing my hand at the same time.

            "Your Highness, you have to give me some time to consider your proposal."

            "Yes, you have until tonight. I do not want to wait too terribly long for you," Crown Prince Leo looked at me and my blushing face. We made it there eventually, the carriage jerked to a stop. My father and Crown Prince Leo got out first, and then Crown Prince Leo helped me out of the carriage and continued to hold my hand for a while longer.

            I looked at the castle that is the place of my birth, "What a large place, the royal palace is definitely bigger though."

            "Yes, this castle is only about half the size of the royal palace. It was built about 150 years ago when the branch of the royal family that became our family, by the ruler's brother at the time."

            "So, I am related to Crown Prince Leo?"

            "Yes, distantly related, separated by the 150 years of marriages to other lords and ladies as well as dukes and duchesses of other countries. Once or twice there was a marriage to a princess of a different country."

            "You know my family's history?"

            "Yes, it was part of my studies when I was growing up," Crown Prince Leo explained to me. We walked to the door, more like a large gate than a door; someone opened it and bowed to us as we entered.

            "Welcome home, sir. Welcome to the Grettlby Manor, Your Highness. And welcome to you milady, your return is to be celebrated today prior to the Royal Ball tonight."

            "Yes, we shall have some celebrating. Not too big, I do not want to overwhelm her on her first day home," Father said to the man.

            "Very well, sir."

            "There is a gown in the second carriage that belongs to the lady, it needs to be retrieved," Crown Prince Leo stated to the man.

            "Very well, Your Highness. Is there anything else?"

            "I want to have access to the sewing room and able to choose swaths of fabric, as well as to be able to make dresses and gowns for myself. Perhaps paper and pencils to sketch ideas out for gowns as well as fans, masks and other accessories that would be beautiful with the ideas," I address the man, trying to be specific.

            "Yes, milady, it will be arranged."

            "That is all for now, I shall show the lady to her room and then we will need lunch soon."

            "Very, well, milord."

            "Come, Lily, I want you to see your room right away," Father said sounding as excited as a child. I followed him, and Crown Prince Leo followed behind me. We went up a few flights of stairs and down a few hallways until we arrived at a door. Father opened it for me and stepped back, wanting to see my reaction to my room that should have been mine once I was old enough to not need my parents as much. I looked inside and could tell that the whole of the Charlevoix house would fit inside this sitting room that was mine. I walked inside and looked into the doors adjoining the room to find the massive bedroom with connecting bathroom, and a bell pull.

            "What is the bell pull for?"

            "You ring, a servant comes and they will help you with whatever you might need or want," Father said, pleased.

            "I think that I am dressed too much like a servant to be in the place of the daughter of the lord of this house," I said, looking at my plain dress.

    &

Comment Log in or Join Tablo to comment on this chapter...

Untitled Chapter

 

Morning came quickly, I got out of bed, dressed, went to the kitchen to start making their breakfast and morning tea. Once I had everything started and simmering lightly, I went up the stairs to the lady's bed chamber to rouse her. After I woke her and helped her dress, I went to her daughter's room, and had to fight to wake up Lady Gale, as she sleeps soundly and is intentionally difficult for me to wake and then she also is difficult about me helping her get dressed. She makes me dress her like she is a doll. I went back to the kitchen and finished their breakfast, brought it to them in the dining room, served them their tea after setting down the plates of food, then I had to move the food onto Lady Gale's plate for her. The day progressed much as usual, Lady Gale giving me lots of difficulties about the food, her clothes for the day, the chores that I am doing, that I'm not following her around for her "needs," rather than doing my chores. I served them their tea, prepared and brought lunch to them and same with dinner. Thankfully, that was the first night of the balls to celebrate the return of the prince. Instead of having to endure more of Gale's rudeness and stubborn personality; I had to help both of them change into their gowns, and put their masks on. Gale was rude all the way through, the dress and mask had to be just so for her... "The dress is too long. Now it's too short. The bodice is too tight. Now it's too loose. You must really want me to look terrible for the prince."

All I could answer for all of that was "Yes, milady, I am trying to fix it. I am sorry milady, I am adjusting that now. I will fix that again milady. No, milady; I want you to be perfectly lovely for the prince."

Finally after all the stress and strain with Lady Gale, helping her mother was a simple matter. I also put their hair up and helped put lipstick on their lips, and see them off in the carriage.

 

Once they were gone, I went to my room, pulled out the red dress, fan, and mask. I changed into the beautiful gown, put my hair up artfully, put the mask on, and carefully added some lipstick to my lips. I arranged for a carriage to come and pick me up and drive me to and from the ball, which was the same time during the day that I arranged for the carriage for the lady and her daughter.

            The man who drives the carriage was surprised when I came outside, "What a surprise, you are very lovely for being the maid of the house."

            "Thank you, I guess. I may be naught but a maid, but I am one of the hardest working maid in the area," I replied. "So, I think that I deserve a chance to have some fun."

            "Yes, you definitely do. Let me help you in," he agreed as he took my hand to help me climb into the carriage.

The ride went by fairly quick, and the driver kindly helped me out of the carriage.

            "Let me know when you are ready to go, I know you have to return before Charlevoix and her devil daughter," he whispered to me.

            "Thank you, my true rank in society must stay secret or I will never be able to go out in public again," I quietly explain before entering the castle and the ball.

I entered into the ballroom, seeing the waves of people twirling and spinning around the dance floor and moving around the room itself. The beauty of the room and the vast array of gowns and suits worn by all the people there. I froze, so taken aback by everything; eventually, the prince, the only one wearing the simplest mask, approached me.

            "Are you alright, milady?"

            "Oh, yes, sire. I am fine," I answered nervously.

            "Would you care to dance with me?"

            "That would be lovely, your highness."

He gently guided me to the dance floor, put one hand on my hip, holding my hand with his other hand; I put my other hand on his shoulder. We danced for quite a while, and eventually, we started conversing.

            "You seem familiar, milady," Crown Prince Leo said to me.

            "I might be someone you met once, but then again, we might have never met before," I replied mysteriously, hinting at my identity while still trying to keep it hidden.

            "Until I seen you, I could not stop thinking about someone else. Now, you remind me of her, yet seem completely different from her."

            "Is that supposed to be flattering, sire?" I asked, wondering who he was thinking of.

            "I am sorry, I was distracted. I think you are very beautiful"

            "Thank you your highness," I tried to be humble. "I will have to leave soon; thank you for dancing with me, sire." As the song ended, I curtsied at the same time that he bowed. Then I discreetly left the ballroom and the castle, the driver of the carriage was waiting for me.

            "Milady, is it time to leave?"

            "Yes, I must return home."

            "I hope you had some fun tonight," he said as he held my hand helping me get into the carriage. The carriage ride was fairly quick, I arrived home with just enough time to change and ready myself and some tea for the lady and her daughter's return from the ball. Upon their return, I had to help them change and serve them the tea as they discussed what happened at the ball.

            "Whose daughter do you think it was that kept dancing with the prince at his ball, mother?" Lady Gale asked.

            "I do not know, my dear; with it being a masquerade ball, she could be almost anyone. She seemed very familiar, like I seen her somewhere before" the lady said as I poured her more tea. "Thank you Lily. Go get some rest for the morning, as you must prepare our breakfast and do all the other regular chores."

            "Yes, milady. I will see you in the morning," I replied curtsying before leaving the sitting room. I cannot remember in all my years of life being as happy as I am now, I have never even hoped to be as happy as I am now. I fell asleep looking at my necklace that I have always had, I cannot remember how long I have had the necklace. It is a light blue stone in the shape of a circle, surrounded by a larger circle of a dark blue stone; it is just smaller than the size of my palm.

            The next morning, I was humming cheerfully as I prepared the tea and breakfast for the lady and her daughter and was cheerful even getting Lady Gale out of bed. When Lady Gale complained about the slightest thing, I just smiled and said that I would fix it right away. For me, the day breezed by, shortly I was helping Lady Gale dress for the next ball that night. After they left, I quickly changed into my purple gown, donned the mask and clutched the fan. The driver arrived, helped me into the carriage, and drove me to the castle. I arrived at the ball early enough to see the opening ceremony of the dance. As everyone is already there, loitering and waiting for the prince and king to enter the ballroom to begin the ball; a lovely looking lady approached me.

            "What are your intentions for the crown prince," she inquired.

            "I am unsure what might happen between us, milady. What is your relationship to Crown Prince Leo, if I may ask?" I was cautious, concerned that the lady might be one of the many admirers of the prince.

            "I am his godmother," the lady replied smiling.

            "You look quite young to be his godmother, milady,"

            "I am his fairy godmother, my dear," she whispered into my ear. "I hope you do not to do anything to cause him harm."

            "I understand, and I will take that into consideration as I think about changes to the potential relationship."

            "Presenting His royal highness, King Philip and his son, Crown Prince Leo," announced someone as they entered to the cheers and screams of the ladies of the prince's fan club. Everyone curtseyed or bowed. After the acknowledgement, the prince quickly navigated his way through the crowds to me and his fairy godmother.

            "Hello," Selena curtseyed.

            "I am very glad you were able to attend the ball in advance of the celebration of my coronation that will take place at the beginning of tomorrow's ball," Crown Prince Leo revealed as he kissed Selena's hand.

            "I would not miss your coronation for anything, my dear," Selena replied.

            "I greatly appreciate you coming; it gives me a feeling of good things to come. Now, then, may I have this dance my mysterious lady?" Crown Prince Leo asked me.

            "I would love to dance with you, sire," I replied. He swept me to the dance floor, and we started dancing in silence, with him watching me closely.

            "After this song, I would like to talk with you in private," Crown Prince Leo said.

            "About anything in particular, your highness," I asked.

            "You will find out soon my mysterious lady of the ball" Crown Prince Leo said as the song neared its end.

Once the song ended, I curtsied as he bowed, then he gracefully guided my hand to hold his arm and led me to a private study. Once he closed the door, he turned to me and carefully removed my mask, before I could even mount any sort of protest or try to stop him.

            "I was sure that it was you, Lily. I did not know anyone else who could captivate and stir my heart and mind as completely as you did when we first met." Crown Prince Leo smiled, "please marry me?"

            "It is against all the morals that our society stands on for such a marriage to occur, and it is illegal for a prince or king to marry a lowly maid. Plus, the lady I work for would never allow me to leave her service. I owe her everything that I have," I took her mask back from him and walked further into the room, away from him, awash with unknown feelings.

            "You are just making excuses. I feel like I need to be with you for the rest of my life, plus with Selena talking to you before just shows the great promise of us being together."

            I quickly turned to face him, "We cannot be together, and it would be illegal and improper. After tonight, we shall not see each other ever again." I put my mask back on and left the room. As I was trying to return to the ballroom, I pulled the necklace out from my bodice to look at for comfort. I ran into a lord as I was in my rush to flee from the prince's presence.

            "Pardon me, milady," the lord said kindly.

            "I am sorry, milord. I was not watching where I was going," I apologized, feeling close to tears.

            "Why are you upset, my dear," the lord asked, genuinely concerned.

            "I may have just rejected the love of my life," I managed to choke out, trying not to sob.

            "Please tell me about it, it might clear things up for you" the lord was trying to be helpful.

            "Thank you milord; but I would rather be alone for now," I told him, grateful for his concern. "Pardon me, milord," I curtsied and walked away, going to a courtyard to catch my breath and calm myself.

_______________________________________

Crown Prince Leo

I attempted to follow her and witnessed her dropping her fan and talking a little bit with Lord Grettlby before she rushed off again.

            "Hello, Lord Grettlby. I am surprised to see you here; I heard that you became a recluse after losing both your daughter and wife."

            "Oh, sire, well, I needed to come and show my support for your coronation, or people would be considering my lack of attendance as plotting a rebellion," Lord Grettlby answered.

            "I do not know of anyone who would think of accusing you of something like that," I state. "By the way, you seem puzzled about the young lady that you were conversing with a short while ago."

            "Yes, she looks so much like my late wife. Her necklace looked familiar as well," Lord Grettlby stated thoughtfully.

            "Do you think that the necklace that she has could be the same heirloom necklace that went missing after you gave it to your infant daughter shortly before she and your wife passed away?"

            "Actually, my daughter did not die; she and the necklace just disappeared from my home. But it could be the same necklace; I would need to look at it closer. As for her resemblance to my late wife, I could only tell that her eyes looked like my late wife's eyes."

            "So, it could be possible that she is your daughter that was missing all these years?"

            "Yes, I so hope she could be. Where does that young lady live?"

            "I will help you find more about her soon," I said. "I need to go and find her soon; I must talk with her..."

            "I understand your highness. Let me know when I can meet her again," Lord Grettlby nodded understanding, before I walked away.

_____________________________

Lily

I returned to the ballroom for a short while. I did not want to encounter the prince, or his fairy godmother, so I left the castle altogether.

            "You are leaving even earlier tonight than last night, milady," the driver of the carriage commented as I approached.

            "I do not wish to talk about it," I stated, unhappily before getting into the carriage. Soon, we were off to the house that is my imprisonment. Eventually, we stopped, I did not recognize where we were.

            "Where are we?" I asked as he opened the door.

            "I wanted to talk with you privately for the last night that you are going to be dressed this way," he said as he climbed into the carriage, sitting across from me.

            "What about?"

            "Would you marry me?"

            "What!? No, I am sorry I do not want to marry, ever if I can help it."

            "I am someone suitable for you and we are of the same station in our social status. Plus, I would be able to care for you and a family to live comfortably."

            "I would not be able to leave the service of Lady Charlevoix, and I do not wish to marry."

            "Why would you be so against someone who would be able to be with you, you still would be able to work for Charlevoix?"

            "I do not think that I could endure trying to convince Lady Charlevoix of letting me marry, then the cruelty that Lady Gale would add to my already difficult life. Please drive me back to the house."

            "Fine, be an uptight stuck up woman," he exited the carriage, closed the door, and got the carriage moving again. The next time we stopped, it was at the Charlevoix house. I got out before he had time to get down from the driver's seat.

            "Thank you for the ride to the balls," I said shortly before I went inside. When I entered, I saw that Lady Charlevoix and Lady Gale were home before I returned.

            "Where have you been?" Lady Charlevoix shouted when I entered the house.

            "Mother! She is the girl that enchanted the prince yesterday night and tonight!" Lady Gale shrieked, noticing how I was still dressed.

            "I apologize for not letting you both know that I wanted to attend a ball someday, and that I used the scraps from dresses that I made for the two of you for dresses of my own."

            "This goes against everything that our society stands for. You are to not leave the house for the foreseeable future, you will modify the red gown from last night and that purple gown to fit Gale," Lady Charlevoix ordered.

            "Yes, milady."

            "What are you still waiting for? Go do the chores and start on modifying those gowns, now," Lady Charlevoix commanded.

            "Yes, milady. Right away," I said before leaving the room. I changed into my regular dress, pulled the red gown out of the hidden closet, keeping the blue one hidden. I then moved the dresses to the sewing room, went to start the tea. After I had the teapot on the stove heating up, I went and helped them change out of their gowns.

            "You have such gall to do that to us, risk embarrassing this house and me," Lady Gale ranted as I changed her clothes for her. "This is the worst thing a maid can do for the family that they work for." She punctuated what she said by slapping me fiercely across the face, knocking me down. I stood up, finished helping her change, noticing the smug look on her face, and I left before I could start crying from her cruelty.  Lady Charlevoix was waiting for me, she did not comment on the red mark on my face from her daughter. I helped her change as quickly as I could.

            "Did anyone else know who you truly were?"

            "No, milady, just the driver and I knew the truth," I answered, purposely excluding the prince from the conversation.

            "Good, you should be glad no one discovered your identity and rank in society, the shame that it would bring you would be catastrophic."

            "I understand, milady. I am sincerely sorry," I said as I finished the last snap. "I must go attend to the tea, milady. I shall bring it to you and Lady Gale in the sitting room once it is ready."

            "Good, you better not do something like that ever again," Lady Charlevoix dismissed me. I quickly left her room; I went back to the kitchen to finish preparing the tea. Once the tea finished, I took the tea set to the sitting room and served the tea for the Lady Charlevoix and Lady Gale.

I waited in attendance if they needed me for anything. Once they finished, I had to clean up the tea, go to their rooms and help them change for the night. Then, I went to the sewing room, I knew that I could not widen out the gowns with the material I had at that point. Lady Gale is about double the size that I am in the waist, hips, the whole bodice, and she is a few inches taller in the bodice and her legs are longer than mine, too.  I would need at least two feet more of material for each gown, just so that I can try to make it large enough for Lady Gale's girth. I sighed, knowing that I would have to bring it up to Lady Charlevoix in the morning. I retired to my room, changed into my nightgown that used to be Lady Gale's, and I cried myself to sleep, knowing that I would only have it worse in the morning of chores and added strain and punishment.

The following morning, I got up, dressed and had to keep rubbing my eyes and blowing my nose at times, I could tell that I was broken hearted about the prince and hurting about the torture that Lady Gale would have planned for me. I went to the kitchen, prepared breakfast for the Lady Charlevoix and Lady Gale; after that, I went upstairs and woke up the Lady, and helped her get dressed.

            "Milady, I do not have enough material for the resizing of the two gowns to fit Lady Gale," I mentioned as I helped her get dressed.

            "Fine, I will go to the town and have the cloth provider come with a large number of samples of shades of purple and red to the house for you to pick from to adjust those gowns for her."

            "Yes, milady," I confirmed her statement, and then I left her room and went to try to rouse Lady Gale from bed. Lady Gale was much more difficult to wake than ever before; then after I finally woke her, she was completely uncooperative to dress.

            "This is some more punishment for your rude behavior," Lady Gale said as she slapped me again, harder than she hit me the prior night.

            "I am sorry milady," I say once I get up. "I must go finish preparing breakfast for you and your mother."

            "Fine, you are dismissed." I curtseyed and left the room, returning to the kitchen. Luckily, the breakfast was not overcooked when I returned; the extra time to wake and dress Lady Gale was a great risk to properly finishing the breakfast. I then took the breakfast into the dining room, where they were waiting. I served the food onto Lady Gale's plate. She took one bite, set down her fork, and pushed away her plate.

            "This food is terrible, make me something else," she demanded.

            "Yes, milady," I said, going back into the kitchen and made a different breakfast for her. I took the freshly made breakfast with a clean plate for Lady Gale.

            "You took too long, I am starving," Lady Gale complained.

            "I am sorry, milady," I said while serving her the other breakfast.

            "This is bad, too," Gale said after eating one bite of the second breakfast that I made for her.

            "Gale, do not waste food. You know that we are not the wealthiest family in the area," Lady Charlevoix admonished her daughter.

            "Fine, I will eat it; but I will not like it."

They finished breakfast and went about their day, preparing themselves slightly for the final ball that the coronation of the prince will occur. I went to the kitchen to wash the dishes and start to prepare lunch and midmorning tea. Once I put the teapot on the stove to heat up, there was a knock on the door. I answered the door to see that it was none other than Crown Prince Leo with the lord that I bumped into the night before.

            "Sire, what a pleasant surprise; shall I go get Lady Charlevoix and Lady Gale?"

            "No, we are here to see you," Crown Prince Leo entered the house with the lord following him to the sitting room.

            I quickly dashed after them, "Me, sire? I am naught but a maid."

            "No, you are not just a maid, you are my daughter. My long lost daughter, you look just like your mother," the lord turned to me. "May I see your necklace that you had with you last night?"

            "What is with all the noise, Lily?" Lady Charlevoix came into the room, "Oh, your highness, this is a very pleasant surprise. I shall go get Gale for a short while."

            "No, milady. We are here to see Lily, not you or your rotten daughter," Crown Prince Leo stated shortly.

            "What would you and this dottering old man want with her?"

            "I, milady, am the great Lord Peter Grettlby, and this young maiden is my daughter that has been missing for many years."

            "I cannot be your daughter, milord, I have lived here and served Lady Charlevoix and Lady Gale for as long as I can remember," I tried to explain.

            "Let me see your necklace and I will be able to prove that you are my daughter," Lord Grettlby stated.

            "She does not own a necklace," Lady Charlevoix scoffed.

            "I do have a necklace, milady. I had it longer than I can remember," I explain as I pull it out of its hiding place in my bodice and show it to Lord Grettlby.

            "Yes, this is the same necklace that is the heirloom that I gave to my daughter before she disappeared," Lord Grettlby confirmed.

            "This means that you are the daughter of one of the highest ranking lords of the country. Then you are of proper rank for society to accept our marriage," Crown Prince Leo explained.

            "What!? The prince wants to marry you?" Lady Charlevoix exclaimed.

            "So, Lady Lily Grettlby, will you marry me?" Crown Prince Leo asked.

            "This is a lot to take in," I said as I sat down on one of the chairs.

            "You are forbidden to leave this house, and forbidden to marry the prince!" Lady Charlevoix shrieked.

            "You are not her owner, nor are you her parent. I am her father; she is allowed to marry whomever she wishes to. And you should get your clothes packed up; you are leaving with me today, my dear daughter. Do not forget to pack those two lovely gowns you wore at the past two balls,"

            "I will pack; however, Lady Charlevoix does not wish for me to have those two gowns that I made for myself from scraps and left over fabric from gowns and dresses that I had to make for Charlevoix and her frustrating daughter," I stated as I stood up, growing sure of my place in the world not being here.

            "Get the gowns, you made them, you deserve to have nice things," Lord Grettlby, I mean my father, said.

            "Yes, milord, I mean Father," I agreed before leaving the room to get the gowns from the sewing room. I entered the sewing room to find Lady Gale with scissors cutting the dresses apart into shreds. "What are you doing!?"

            "Destroying what never should have been yours," Lady Gale turned to me, scissors still in hand, approaching me threateningly.

            "Fine, I am done with you and this house," I announced before I went to turn to leave. Lady Gale was on me in an instant, using the scissors to shred my clothes, cutting me at the same time. "Stop," I shrieked in pain and fear that she could kill me.

            Crown Prince Leo heard and ran into the room, "Let her go, Gale."

            "Why should I? She is nothing but a maid!"

            "I am not a maid any longer. I am the daughter of high ranking Lord Peter Grettlby," I cried out.

            "Liar, you are just trying to get the prince to be with you!"

            "She is not lying, your mother must have kidnapped her or purchased her shortly after she was taken from her father," Crown Prince Leo said. He quickly leapt on Lady Gale, disarming her and knocking her unconscious. "Are you alright?"

            "I think so," I said shaking in fear. I then looked down at my dress and realized that he could see parts of my body and my underclothes. I turned bright red as he glanced in the direction I was looking. He turned red and pulled off his traveling cloak and covered me with it.

            "Let's go to your room to retrieve the rest of your clothes," Crown Prince Leo stated as he hugged me close to him.

            "I have another gown hidden in my room, and I need to change and care for my cuts," I trembled. I managed to calm myself enough to show him where my room has been for all these years.

            "You still have not answered my question," Crown Prince Leo said as he helped me sit on the bed that was mine for years.

            "I still do not know what to think of everything that happened."

            "I understand, this has changed your life in a complete way that you could have never seen coming. So, where is that third gown that you made and kept hidden?"

            "In the space, behind the hidden door, next to the small armoire."

            "Here," he asked as pulled open the hidden door.

            "Yes, is should be right in there." He went into the space and moved the model with the gown on it out and into the daylight.

            "That is extraordinarily beautiful," Crown Prince Leo said, surprised at the design and that the colors exactly match my necklace.

            "Thank you, I tried to make it so it would complement my necklace."

            "Are you well enough now to pack all the rest of your clothes on your own?"

            "Yes, I should be fine. I will return to the sitting room with my few clothes in a satchel that I have," I let him know, smiling slightly at him.

            "Good, I am glad you will be fine. I will see you in the sitting room when you are ready to leave," he hugged me lightly before he left, taking the blue gown with him and closing the door behind him. I sighed, happy that he cares about me; however, still lost on what to do about his marriage proposal. I stand up and gather up my few nightgowns and dresses, carefully wrapped up the dresses and put them into my small satchel; I had to do some pushing and squeezing to fit the dresses into the bag. I then changed into one of the remaining dresses from the cut dress. Then I returned to the sitting room to a rapidly escalating argument. I entered the room cautiously, knowing Lady Gale got her violent nature from her mother. I luckily ducked just after entering the room as the teapot flew over me and smashed on the wall. I stood back up, looking in the direction that the teapot came from, unsurprised to see Lady Charlevoix herself, red-faced and breathing heavily.

            "You are not taking her from me. I worked really hard to get her here from that wretched castle that the dottering old fool lives in," Lady Charlevoix revealed angrily.

            "So, you did kidnap me from my father and put me into poverty as an infant," I shook my head, saddened that Lady Charlevoix would resort to such low tactics to get a cheap maid.

            "It is time to go, Lily," Father said, I could tell that he wanted the arguing to stop.

            "Yes, it is. I cannot stay here any longer with such hateful people," I agreed.

            "Then, we shall go. I put your gown in the second carriage already," Crown Prince Leo stated. I nodded, showing that I understand, and then I let my father and Crown Prince Leo guide me out of the prison that I have known for my whole life. Unfortunately, we encountered Lady Gale once more before we got to the door.

            "You will not take her, she is my servant! She has to make me more dresses and gowns much better than the ones she made for me! I am able to command her to do whatever I want her to do," Lady Gale ranted.

            "Step aside, my dear, you will get hurt if you do not move and allow my daughter to leave this place, then I will have to intervene," Father stated to her in a way that came off as threatening through sounding completely nonthreatening.

            "Lady Gale, I have always enjoyed making dresses for you. I want to go to my home, to the place I belong. I can still make some dresses for you, because I will continue making dresses for myself," I attempted at convincing her to let me leave.

            "You shall never leave, never," Lady Gale seethed.

            "Then I shall force you to move," Father said prior to moving forward towards Lady Gale.

            "Lord Grettlby, that is unnecessary. Lady Charlevoix, unless your daughter moves, I shall strip your family of your title and make it where you both shall live as paupers for the rest of your life," Crown Prince Leo called.

            Lady Charlevoix rushed to the foyer and moved Lady Gale out of the way, "Do you want us to be out on the streets with winter coming in a few months!?"

            "We should go while they are busy fighting each other," I said, starting to walk out of the door. Crown Prince Leo and my father followed me outside and noticed that I suddenly stopped and was staring at the carriages.

            "One carriage is my personal carriage," Crown Prince Leo said nervously.

            "The other carriage is the carriage for the family of Grettlby," Father stated. "Shall we go?"

            "Yes, let's leave this terrible place once and for all," I said, wondering which carriage is for whom, and which one we will ride in.

            "We should all ride in one, we are all going to the same place and the gown is in mine," Crown Prince Leo said, sounding slightly nervous.

            "Yes, we should go. I cannot wait for you to see your home," Father said excitedly. Crown Prince Leo held my hand, helping me get into the carriage; he then climbed in after me, and my father followed. Crown Prince Leo sat next to me in the carriage, and held my hand as the carriage started moving.

            "I want an answer to my question before the coronation tonight," Crown Prince Leo stated.

            "What question did you ask her, your highness?"

            "I asked Lily to marry me."

            "I am sitting right here, and that is not much time to consider an answer."

            "Whatever you decide, my daughter I will accept and hope you will live with me for a while before you wed, if that is what you decide."

            "I do not have any idea what to do about you two," I sighed.

            "Wed me and spend lots of time with the both of us," Crown Prince Leo smiled, squeezing my hand at the same time.

            "Your Highness, you have to give me some time to consider your proposal."

            "Yes, you have until tonight. I do not want to wait too terribly long for you," Crown Prince Leo looked at me and my blushing face. We made it there eventually, the carriage jerked to a stop. My father and Crown Prince Leo got out first, and then Crown Prince Leo helped me out of the carriage and continued to hold my hand for a while longer.

            I looked at the castle that is the place of my birth, "What a large place, the royal palace is definitely bigger though."

            "Yes, this castle is only about half the size of the royal palace. It was built about 150 years ago when the branch of the royal family that became our family, by the ruler's brother at the time."

            "So, I am related to Crown Prince Leo?"

            "Yes, distantly related, separated by the 150 years of marriages to other lords and ladies as well as dukes and duchesses of other countries. Once or twice there was a marriage to a princess of a different country."

            "You know my family's history?"

            "Yes, it was part of my studies when I was growing up," Crown Prince Leo explained to me. We walked to the door, more like a large gate than a door; someone opened it and bowed to us as we entered.

            "Welcome home, sir. Welcome to the Grettlby Manor, Your Highness. And welcome to you milady, your return is to be celebrated today prior to the Royal Ball tonight."

            "Yes, we shall have some celebrating. Not too big, I do not want to overwhelm her on her first day home," Father said to the man.

            "Very well, sir."

            "There is a gown in the second carriage that belongs to the lady, it needs to be retrieved," Crown Prince Leo stated to the man.

            "Very well, Your Highness. Is there anything else?"

            "I want to have access to the sewing room and able to choose swaths of fabric, as well as to be able to make dresses and gowns for myself. Perhaps paper and pencils to sketch ideas out for gowns as well as fans, masks and other accessories that would be beautiful with the ideas," I address the man, trying to be specific.

            "Yes, milady, it will be arranged."

            "That is all for now, I shall show the lady to her room and then we will need lunch soon."

            "Very, well, milord."

            "Come, Lily, I want you to see your room right away," Father said sounding as excited as a child. I followed him, and Crown Prince Leo followed behind me. We went up a few flights of stairs and down a few hallways until we arrived at a door. Father opened it for me and stepped back, wanting to see my reaction to my room that should have been mine once I was old enough to not need my parents as much. I looked inside and could tell that the whole of the Charlevoix house would fit inside this sitting room that was mine. I walked inside and looked into the doors adjoining the room to find the massive bedroom with connecting bathroom, and a bell pull.

            "What is the bell pull for?"

            "You ring, a servant comes and they will help you with whatever you might need or want," Father said, pleased.

            "I think that I am dressed too much like a servant to be in the place of the daughter of the lord of this house," I said, looking at my plain dress.

            "That is fine; you did not have many things while working in such a terrible household. We can ring to see if they can find some of your mother's causal dresses that you might fit," Father said as he pulled the bell pull. Shortly, someone knocked on the door. "Enter," Father commanded; the door opened and a servant came in and curtsied to my father. Another one followed behind, bringing in my blue gown.

            "Yes, milord?"

            "I want you to see if you can find some of my wife's casual dresses that should fit my daughter," he commanded naturally.

            "May I speak, milord," the other servant girl asked as the first girl left on her quest for proper clothes.

            "Yes, Juniper," he granted.

            "I have never seen such a lovely gown, milord. It is fabulously designed from extra bits of fabric, expertly made. I wish to know who designed the amazing gown, milord," Juniper stated quickly, referring to my blue gown.

            "I made it and designed it without drawing or writing down a single thing for the dress," I told her, accepting my skill with creating dresses.

            "That is exceptional, milady. I would love to assist you in making other dresses and gowns. I will do whatever I can to get you the exact materials you want for the designs, milady. With Lord Grettlby permitting," Juniper curtsied and blushed.

            "Of course Juniper, I want my daughter to be able to be happy, even though designing dresses and gowns. I think that purple one you were wearing last night was exceptional, too," Father turned, addressing me.

            "I shall sketch down exactly what the red and purple dresses looked like and with the matching fans and masks, once I have a chance and the materials to sketch them," I said, feeling both proud and embarrassed that everyone likes the dresses.

            "A red one? I did not get to see that one," Father said sadly, knowing that the dress itself was destroyed by Lady Gale.

            "That was a very beautiful gown, it was the second time that I saw Lady Lily, and she was exquisitely beautiful. I thought that she was a different person and I fell in love at first sight," Crown Prince Leo stated without being concerned about being nervous or concerned about revealing too much personal information.

            "I cannot wait to see the designs of your other dresses, and help with making more dresses and gowns in the future, milady," Juniper excitedly said; the other female servant returned then with some dresses much nicer than the one I was wearing.

            "Milady, these are the closest dresses I could find to your size; you are a bit smaller than Lady Grettlby, we will have to bring it in a bit."

            "Shall we leave the ladies to try the dresses on, Your Highness?"

            "Yes, let's go see about the preparations for lunch and what they shall be making. Anything in particular you want for lunch, Lady Lily, maybe we could ask for them to make something specific for dinner," Crown Prince Leo asked me.

            "I do not have any food preferences, I always had to eat what I served to Lady Charlevoix and Lady Gale," I stated.

            "Alright, I will see you soon, milady," Crown Prince Leo took my hand and kissed it before leaving the room with my father, closing the door behind them.

            "Milady, the prince kissed your hand," Juniper sighed dreamily.

            "And she is all red," the other servant girl commented.

            "Does that mean that you like the prince, milady?" Juniper asked me excitedly.

            "I would like to try on my mother's dresses, please. And I do not know your name yet," I turn to the servant girl with the dresses.

            "I am Olive, milady. Also, diverting like that just proves that you do like the prince. Plus, he said that he fell in love with you..."

            I sighed and took the dresses from Olive and set them down on one of the numerous settees. I then started to look through them, wondering what kind of person my mother was. I grabbed one out and looked at the simple, yet elegant design. "I like this one," I stated to them, showing them the dress.

            "According to one of the lady's maids that helped your mother, this was one of her favorite dresses," Olive stated sadly.

            "I want to see all the dresses and gowns my mother liked when she lived, not right away, but soon," I thought out loud.

            "Of course, milady. We want you to be happy and able to know whatever we can provide about Lady Grettlby," Juniper explained.

            "By the way, milady, I am to be your lady's maid. Even if you marry the prince," Olive told me.

            "I do not fully know what are the duties you perform as a lady's maid; I was more the maid for the whole house, including cooking, cleaning, and helping the two 'ladies' dress."

            "If you want me to show you around, milady, until you get your bearings of the layout of the manor. I also can assist you in getting dressed, if you want. I will understand if you want to dress yourself. I can bring things, serve meals to you here, items for your dress designs, or whatever else you might want or need, to you. There are a large amount of other things, in addition," Olive listed off.

            "Would you help me bring in this dress so that I can wear it?"

            "We both would be happy to help you, milady," Juniper piped up cheerfully.

            "Then, can we get to it. I did not get to have much of any breakfast this morning."

            "Of course, milady," Olive started to work out the differences in size.

            "We should leave some extra fabric in case if we need to bring it back out a bit, when milady starts to fill out from being properly fed."

            "That means the blue gown will not fit me once I am fed enough for my body to adjust to the proper weight that I should be," I sighed.

            "It is a simple matter for the gown to get more of the similar blues of fabric and to add them to the dress without it looking like the dress was cobbled together," Juniper stated, showing her prowess and knowledge of making gowns, and accidently forgetting the proper way to address me. I did not mind that she forgot, actually, I preferred to be considered on equal footing as the two young servant girls. Juniper chattered excitedly as they resized the dress so that it would fit me. After they finished adjusting it and they helped me put it on, they dragged me; well it was more Juniper that did the dragging, to the full size mirror in the bathroom. Olive then insisted on styling my hair some, I watched as she did an extraordinarily artful arrangement that I have never seen before.

            "What do you think, milady," Olive asked, wanting to impress me.

            "Wonderful, you both are excellent at your jobs," I smiled at the both of them.

            "Let's go see what the prince and Lord Grettlby think of your lovely dress," Juniper excitedly jumped up and down like a child.

            "Yes. You two can go to the other room, I want to examine this transformation a little more," I said, staring at the wealthy looking lady in the mirror. Once I noticed that they were a little sad, I said, "I will not be long, and then we can all go to the dining room for lunch, or wherever lunch is going to be served." They both smiled and left to wait for me. I looked back at the mirror; not too long ago I was dressed in simple servants’ dresses, not very good ones at that. Now, I looked like someone that would be perfect to marry the prince and become his queen. I definitely did not make a decision yet; however, I definitely could see me being capable of being his life partner; before I felt like I was just trying to jump social classes because it would help me, now I could tell that I really do want to marry the prince. I walked back into my sitting room to see that Juniper was excitedly showing Olive the "brilliance of this gown."

            "I am ready for lunch," I announced to them. They jumped, so engrossed in their conversation that I startled them. Once they turned to face me, they curtsied right away.

            "Let's show Lady Grettlby to the dining hall," Olive stated to Juniper.

            "If you are going to call me lady at all, I would prefer for you to use my first name. I am still adjusting to having a last name," I flushed.

            "If that is what you prefer, Lady Lily," Olive curtsied again.

            "Well, are we going to go or stand around here all day," Juniper asked happily. I laughed at her excitement and we left my rooms to go to the dining hall. They showed me to the doors and told me that they are not allowed to walk in with me, and if there is anything I want or need that is not food related that they would be close by. I took a deep breath and entered the grand room that is called the dining room. I noticed that Crown Prince Leo and my father were standing together off to the side of the room by one of many vast fireplaces that would be used to warm the room during the cold of winter. I walked over to them and curtsied to Crown Prince Leo.

            "Now you look just like your mother," Father stated proudly.

            "You are a vision of beauty," Crown Prince Leo took my hand and kissed it, causing me to blush again.

            "You must be hungry, my dear, so, let's eat," Father commanded. Servants came from doors that did not look like they are there and set down a large array of food on the large table that filled the center of the room. Crown Prince Leo pulled out a chair for me and politely helped me sit before he walked to the seat opposite me and sat down there, while my father smiled at the prince's actions and sat at one of the ends of the table. We began eating in silence.

            "What do you think of your home, my daughter?"

            "It is very vast, and there are many helpful people that are in your employ. I really like Olive and Juniper; they are different from each other and still be able to work so well with each other."

            "Juniper is a dressmaker, a very skilled one that sells her designs to other dressmakers for other ladies of the court. She has been bored as of late with having no lady to make dresses for, and I would hope that she would be able to continue working with you for years to come," Father stated happy that I like her.

            "I think that I will enjoy working with Juniper designing dresses. I can recreate the designs of the two dresses that Lady Gale destroyed, and I can plan dresses with other matching jewelry, masquerade masks, fans, and other possible accessories," I explain, thrilled to work with a dressmaker.

            "I think that you should refrain from referring to Charlevoix and her cruel daughter as ladies," Crown Prince Leo mentioned between bites.

            "You are right, they were nothing like how any ladies should act and treat their servants," I agreed, knowing that lords and ladies should treat their staff with respect and gratitude.

            "They seem like they are crazy, the mother is obsessed with maintaining the family title and not having to do anything for themselves, and the daughter is completely spoiled and is rotten to the core," Father stated unhappily.

            "Some things that they had me do were things that many other servants would have to do; however, some things that they made me do they were purposely malicious and would make me do things repeatedly," I mentioned, understanding that they were even worse than I previously believed.

            "Can we change the topic of the conversation to something else, this is making all of us angry and upset," Crown Prince Leo noticed.

            "Good idea, Your Highness. I heard you say that you are going to be coroneted tonight, prior to the ball itself. Are you excited," I asked Crown Prince Leo, changing the topic and moving the focus from me and onto Crown Prince Leo.

       &

Comment Log in or Join Tablo to comment on this chapter...
~

You might like 's other books...