Amellia is one of the maidservants who has been serving Penelope and the suitors for nearly four years. Although relatively new to the palace, she possesses enough knowledge to understand the proper protocols; she quickly grasped the lay of the land and the household's inner workings during her first few months in Odysseus's home. She has no fixed role regarding palace chores, so she is constantly on the move—filling wine cups, preparing or serving food, washing clothes or dishes, and so on.
She has friendships with other maids in the palace—most notably Melantho, her closest friend there. She does not consider any of the suitors friends, viewing them merely as "companions" or "acquaintances," while she holds no particular opinion on or relationship with the rest of them.
She is currently 25 years old; her birthday falls in the coming spring. According to her mother, her birth was a "gift" from Persephone, arriving at the very start of a season held dear by the Greeks. She stands 1.62 meters tall—a respectable height for her age and build—though she harbors a certain insecurity about it and wishes she were shorter (ideally between 1.55 and 1.60 meters).
Amellia was born in Ithaca; although both her parents were of Spartan descent, they had moved to Ithaca while her mother was already pregnant with her. She was not an only child; she had three older siblings, making her the youngest in the family. The delivery went smoothly, but her mother became dangerously weak in the weeks that followed, barely able to breastfeed the infant and nearly causing the baby's death. Fortunately, she survived thanks to the help of local female healers in Ithaca.
Her childhood was... peculiarly normal. Amellia grew up learning to cook, sew, and write, engaging in all the activities typical of a child. While her siblings were always training and learning about behavior, academics, and tactics, she always loved spending time with her mother, helping her with household chores.
When she was seventeen, her parents looked for a suitor for her. But she didn't want that; she wanted true love, not a marriage based on convenience, money, or politics. Her brothers—all in their thirties and already married—agreed with her. Indeed, they were very protective of their little sister. Her parents eventually relented, allowing Amellia to continue living at home.
At twenty-one, she turned her thoughts to work. Although it wasn't common for a woman to work, it was something she had envisioned since childhood. She soon became one of Penelope’s handmaidens—after her parents spoke with the queen. The first few weeks were difficult: too many men, too many loud mouths, too much noise—it was all overwhelming. She was constantly dropping things; she faced frequent complaints and was often ignored. Yet, she didn't give up.
She carefully observed the behavior of the men there; they all acted in much the same way. It made Amellia feel sick and anxious at first, but she managed to compose herself. It was simply a matter of staying calm—keeping a stern face with some while being engaging with others. That ability became her greatest strength on the job.
She didn't have many, but a few that will truly stay with her throughout her life include:
・her mother's near-death experience
・her first days at the Palace
・insecurities about her body and height
She is balanced, knowing exactly when to show her feelings and with whom. She always tries to maintain a neutral expression around suitors—offering only faint smiles to a select few—while remaining vigilant and careful not to make any mistakes. The upside is that most of them don't even pay attention to her facial expressions; they only care about the wine. It’s always about the wine.
However, she laughs and smiles easily with those she is close to; she is actually a cheerful and energetic person, even if she doesn't appear that way at first glance. She is very caring and always prioritizes helping others over herself. She tries to remain optimistic—at least in her own mind—though she will adopt a tone of "irritation" when a situation demands it. And she also likes to flirt... Wow, she loves it. But only with the specific people who have caught her interest.
Little art bonus 🫶 (desings by @moonlight-dreams912)
・WHAT DOES SHE THINK OF THE SUITORS?
"Pigs. Most of them. No judgment here; we know exactly why they come: Penelope, wine, and the hospitality of a house that isn't even theirs. Most are wealthy nobles, so why not marry some other woman? If they want to take over Odysseus's throne, they ought to show a shred of respect—but they don't. A few do behave and show manners, though—the minority, I’d say. Let's just say they have no idea how hard it must be to rule a kingdom alone for 20 years. Poor Penelope... If she keeps refusing to marry, things are only going to get worse..."
・WHAT DOES SHE THINK OF THE MAIDSERVANTS?
"They’re incredibly brave women to put up with that bunch of men in the palace—how do they manage it? I’m friends with most of them, and they’re amazing people; I’ve heard some of their stories, and I’ll absolutely stand by them no matter what happens. And I have to admit, Euryclea is an inspiration to me. That woman has lived through so much! She says she looked after Odysseus when he was just a child. Wow—talk about enviable! But then there’s Melantho! She’s amazing—except for that brother of hers... Ugh. She’s a great person to gossip and chat with... She’s beautiful... I mean—not in a way where I *totally* want to hit on her; it’s just a compliment... You know?"
・WHAT DOES SHE THINK OF PENELOPE AND TELEMACHUS?
"Penelope—the woman you are!!!!!!" (In short: she’s Penelope’s #1 fan and has huge respect for her. She’s a girl's girl.)
"Telemachus... Poor thing. The guy is already twenty years old, his father was never in his life at all, and now there are these suitors trying to win over his mother? He must be stressed. He always tries to say he's fine, but clearly, he isn't. I feel sorry for him."
・she had a dog named Holis
・she got her first loom at age 12
・her favorite color is red
・when she was born, her siblings were between 13 and 15 years old
・she is actually bisexual~
・she prefers savory and spicy foods
・she greatly admires the goddesses Hebe and Persephone (the latter partly due to the circumstances of her birth)
・she is the only one in the family with black eyes (the others have brown or green eyes)
