Chapter 1 - The prince’s maid
She could feel the anger and disappointment in their speech. The whole staff present was loudly discussing what to do with that. What to do with her.
“They were fully aware of the date and what was expected from them! It’s the same every generation!” - said a male staff, trying to make a point, as it would magically change the reality.
“I am pretty sure the chief had another daughter. According to the registers of the regular inspection, she should on the right age. Are you sure this was the only there?” - asked another male staff, pondering.
“Yes, sir. The older sister was nowhere to be found.” - stated the guard, firmly.
“What is this? Some kind of treason?” - asked a female staff, almost to herself, while clenching her fists tightly.
The older sister, the one supposed to be in this position. According to the registers, she was a healthy well developed lady. The beauty of the village, and no less smart. With such an expressive tribute, the inspections got it lightly on the village, since their “ perfect crop” was already being raised well. The officers weren’t expecting it to disappear. Nor that the chief of the village would send this as a replacement.
“We have no time for this, she will have to do it.” - said another older female staff, calmly and firmly, as her age has taught her to deal with any kind of upcoming disaster.
The other staff members wanted to protest, however they knew they had little choice but to accept it. The prince was already born, and he needed a maid to take care of him.
“Ask Alden to come in.” - said the same middle age female staff, that was a maid herself. A very experienced one, must be noted. She ordered it i the same calm and firmly voice from before. It’s hard to picture if she even had any other voice tone than that.
A young gentleman in butler wearing entered the room. He had his long pale hair meticulously tied up. On his dress coat, a royal badge and a lily from his coat chest pocket, indicating he had been selected for an important role. He had completed 15 long years of studies and training for that, which had began at age of 12.
“Alden, meet your bride, the chief’s younger daughter from the Airwood village.” - she announced.
Alden’s eyes widened in displeasured surprise. He knew the girl coming would be young, but not that young. The girl in front of his eyes seemed to barely had reached puberty, which was informed soon that she had not.
“She hasn’t come to bloom yet. She’s nine, but fairly tall, very skinny, tough. Her parents said she’s smart and well behaved, you have to teach her the ways of a proper maid, since they sent her without completing her education.” - the old maid said, never changing her tone.
“You must be kidding, Amelie! She’s just a kid.” - Alden protested. Although it seemed he had just stated the obvious, and everybody in the room noticed. A not so young maid clicked her tongue in frustration.
Amelie looked from the side of her eye to check who had been that disrespectful, to make sure to reprehend the younger maid later. Soon, her eyes went back to Alden.
I unquestionably am not. That is the girl we were sent. The prince has been born six weeks ago and you know what means. More than anyone in this room.
Yes, he definitely knew what that meant. According to the tradition of the Kingdom of Lyrevent, the lily garden of the Wind Godness, the heir to the throne must be raised by commoners. A boy and a girl must be trained in their hometown from very young age to fulfill the honored role. Each village is informed of the training the moment the royal engagement is decided. Then, is expected the designed village provides a proper tribute by the time a heir is born. By tribute, it means the best of their sons and daughters. This tradition had been built on the belief that the Wind Godness loves all flowers of her garden, and to ensure the Kingdom grows prosper with the Wind Godness blessing, the common people should be part of their rulers education. It’s uncertain when such ideal fell on a couple formed by commoners from two different villages should be formed as a parental view for the heir, but it had been the ways for longer than ten generations of heirs. Although this moment seemed to be the right moment for some change, they had no time for that. The monarchs current in position were the inflexible ones. The prince was born, he is to become 12 weeks soon, and then he will leave his birth mother’ s embrace to be raised by the well educated recently married couple. Except that…
Alden’s eyes turned to the little girl. She was dressed in moderate quality dirty clothes, like the ones a kid that just came back from playing in the woods or climbed some trees. She had pale red hair with curls that fell on her shoulders and hazelnut eyes of someone who had been crying. And could she be blamed for that? It was painfully obvious she was not the one raised for this role. She was just a scared girl whose life changed from dolls and snacks to the most heavy responsibility of the kingdom. He starred at the poor creature with sadness.
“The wedding will take place tomorrow…”
“I will not marry her.” - Alden interrupted Amelie’s instructions. The old maid looked back at him.
“Are you aware of the meaning of this decision? Your whole village would be blamed of treason and suffer the consequences. That one’s hometown barely escaped this tragedy…” - Amelie said look to the scared girl.
“Our role is to raise the prince, right? We don’t need to be married for that.” - the gentleman kneeled in front of the girl and took her hand. His green eyes met her hazelnut eyes with kindness - “We can be partners on this mission. Will you join me?”
The girl looked in his eyes with surprise. She could finally breathe with some reassurance she was not alone. Again, how could she be blamed? Besides the lack of responsible ones, she was just a kid, and any sign of support was enough for her to swallow her tears. - Yes!
“Fair enough” - Amelie turned her back to the new pair - “I take that you understand the means of the path you are choosing. The preparations will start tomorrow.”
Amelie left and most of the staff followed her.
