We finally arrive at a door. Aine fumbles with a heavy brass key, and the lock clicks open. She pushes the door, and I follow her inside.
The room is surprisingly spacious, with a simple bed, a small desk, and a large closet. It also has its own private bath. The closet is filled with clothes and shoes that are nice, practical but not flashy. They look a little plain for a royal household.
"The Queen likes her personal maids to be properly dressed at all times," Aine explains as she catches me staring at the clothes.
"You'll be expected to escort her to a lot of parties and conventions, both within and outside the Royal household. These are the clothes you'll wear." She continues.
"Escort?" I ask, disbelief coloring my tone.
"Yes. You'll be her right hand," she says, her voice full of a sudden seriousness. "You'll refill her drinks, adjust her makeup, fix her dress at a moment's notice. You'll clean a seat before she sits, even if it's already spotless. This is a dream job for most maids here, so don't lose it. Don't make any mistakes. The Queen hates imperfections."
She says as she hands me a stack of papers. "Here's her schedule for this week, and here's her daily routine. I made this before you arrived. Every new week, you'll go to her to write down her plans and any changes to her routine. You have to be prepared for everything."
She trails on, her voice a rapid-fire list of instructions and warnings. After several minutes of careful explanation and constant repetition of the words "no mistakes," she hands the papers back to me. "Study these until you know them by heart."
My curiosity gets the better of me. "Aine," I begin, "about Prince Aidan and Maverick…"
She chuckles and leans closer, her voice dropping to a whisper even though the door is locked. "I've been here since I was a baby, so I've watched this whole mess unfold. The two of them have had a frigid relationship for as long as I can remember."
She continues in a hushed voice, "King Edward had Aidan with one of his closest mistresses. Four months after the mistress's pregnancy was announced, the Queen, Hatia, was also found to be with child. Shortly after Aidan's mother gave birth, she disappeared. The search was a failure and Prince Aidan was raised by another woman.
When Maverick was born, everyone expected him to be the heir, but Aidan surpassed him in everything, knowledge, sword fighting and strategy. He even saved the King's life in a battle when he was just eight years old. He's a born leader."
"So he was made the Crown Prince?" I ask in a whisper.
"Yes. And the Queen, she acts like she's okay with it, but I know she's not. I think she has a plan to put Maverick on the throne. She's too calm about the whole thing. The Queen is furious that an 'illegitimate son,' as she calls him, will rule the kingdom instead of her own son. But she rarely fights the king over it, even the day Aidan was made the heir. Isn't that suspicious? Just let this be between us, Zelda. Okay?"
I nod. I already feel a strange sense of loyalty to her, a small, fragile trust blooming in my chest. "Aine, why did you start working here so young?" I ask.
Aine sighs, her face falling. "Thirteen years ago, my mother was the Queen's personal maid. She got pregnant for a man she refused to name. She was also accused of theft, but she swore she was innocent. The Queen's word prevails. My mother was set to be executed, but her execution was delayed because of her pregnancy. She was imprisoned until I was born. Then, a kind midwife smuggled my mother out of the palace and out of the kingdom. I was left behind. They searched for her, but she was never found. The court decided that I would pay for my mother's crime. I'm a servant with no freedom, paying for a crime I know nothing about. I don't even know what my mother looks like, and I don't care to. I resent her for leaving me here to pay for her crimes."
A tear rolls down her cheek, and she sniffs. On impulse, I pull her close, my arms wrapping around her small frame. She lets out a choked sob, and I pat her back, murmuring, "It's okay."
A tear slips down my own cheek, and I give a small, wry laugh. "I understand. My dad sold me off as a mistress or for whatever else they deemed me useful for. My mother didn't say or do a single thing about it."
Aine pulls her head back, her face marred with concern. "Is your family that poor?"
I chuckle. "No. We're a middle-class family. We lived a comfortable life, even if we couldn't afford certain luxuries. We were a little bit above poor."
Her face scrunches in confusion. "Then why were you sold off?"
"I don't know," I admit, the truth hurting to say out loud. "All I know is that my father has been harsh to me for as long as I can remember, and my mother has always been passive. My brother was the only one who fought for me. He was the only one I could ever talk to."
I look around the room, feeling the weight of my past press down on me. "Every day, I used to dream of my future. A fairytale life. Leaving Balcroft, being successful, having a loving husband. But here I am."
Aine sighs. "We both came from a hell of a family, didn't we?" she says, and we both burst into laughter, the sound echoing in the silent room. A certain weight lifts from my chest, and I feel a sense of calm. I've never been this close to another girl before. Maybe it's because our stories are so similar, or maybe I just needed a friend.
A few minutes later, Aine stands up. "I have to go. My shift is starting soon. I'll come back later to bring you some food when I'm done. Don't wander and be a good girl," she says with a mischievous laugh.
I smile as she leaves, and I lock the door behind her. I glance at the schedule on the desk, making a mental note of the first task: "Bring warm water and fruits to the Queen's room and dress her up just after sunrise."
I nod to myself and walk to the bathroom, splashing water on my face to get rid of my swollen eyes. I smile, feeling a faint glimmer of hope.
Hours pass. The moon is now a sliver of silver light outside my window. My stomach growls in hunger as I pace the room, thinking of Aine and the food she promised. It's almost midnight and she's not here yet.
I can't sleep. The hunger is too much. I consider leaving to find the kitchen, but the thought of getting lost in the confusing maze of hallways and stairs makes me whimper. I walk to the window, sit on the sill, and gaze out into the darkness.
A sudden knock on the door makes me jump. My heart leaps with relief at the thought that Aine is here. I rush to the door and open it without checking the peephole. My relief turns to dread. My breath catches in my throat.
It's Maverick. He walks in and closes the door with a soft click. My heart drops to my stomach as I take a slow step back as he advances. It goes on for what feels like an eternity until my back hits the cold stone wall. He's much taller than me.
My ears ring with the echo of his words in the Queen's room: "If Aidan has no use for her, I certainly do."
He raises his hands, a sly smile on his face, as he grabs my arms. I try to twist free, my wrists straining against his grip. "Let me go!" I hiss, a frantic panic rising in my throat.
"Please…" I mutter, my voice barely a whisper. He doesn't listen.
His eyes roam over my body, a hungry look in them. He lifts my face with his hand, his fingers rubbing against my cheeks. His other hand snakes around my waist, pulling me closer. I squirm, my heart thumping against my ribs like a trapped animal.
"So soft," he whispers, his breath hot against my ear. His fingers continue to stroke my skin, and the feeling is repulsive.
"Let me go!" I say again, this time with more force.
He just laughs. "You're mine now, Griselda. Didn't they tell you? You're our property. You have no say in any of this." He holds me tighter, and I can't breathe.
Tears well up in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I refuse to give him the satisfaction. I look away from him, my gaze fixed on the locked door. I am a caged animal, and there is no escape.