Chapter I|II|III|IV|V|VI|VII|VIII|IX|X|XI|XII|XIII|XIV|XV|Setting
Shorts: I|II|III
In a possible future, in a world not unlike our own, one single kingdom rose as the dominant and only power. It was an ethereal realm with castles made of gemstone and technology so great it was indiscernible from magic. A land where humanity had advanced so far that to live in comfort and excess was the standard, and a life of hard labor and servitude was a rarity. It was known as the kingdom of Celene.
To be a worker or servant in this kingdom was a special privilege. They were the 1% who slaved their lives away so others may prosper. Alas, to be a worker was not a simple choice but a burden granted at birth. As in our time, where to be noble meant to be part of a family lineage, in this kingdom, a worker was a sort of birthright. Grand worker families spread their branches across the domain. To be born in one meant a life of hard work and labor, no matter your personal opinion.
However, their best and brightest were chosen for the highest of honors. To be personal servants for the eternal royal family that ruled this ethereal kingdom. Among those best and brightest exists one family. For generations, that family has held the grandest honor of being the only ones allowed to attend the Queen and her daughters. However, such an exclusive honor can create odd results in exceptional circumstances. Such abnormal results greatly influenced the life of the young woman Serena Diane. Suddenly thrust from her life as an average girl into one as the personal maid to the kingdom’s youngest princess. Such a life should be one of poise, elegance, and formality. Alas, Serena is not so lucky, as the Queen, princesses, and high nobles are anything but…
<<<~--~>>>
Suspicious Secret
Serena and Aphros sat in the latter’s room. It had been a long day and the full moon sitting high in the sky was a testament to that. The exhausted maid was given some solace in the noble’s room, away from prying eyes and curious ears. A question lingered in her mind, and now was the best time to ask.
“Lady Aphros,” Serena began. “I’ve worked here for several months now, but there’s still one thing I don’t understand.”
“And what might that be?” Aphros leaned over the table smiling, her ears open for whatever may be asked.
“Well, if we have a queen, and she has so many daughters, where’s the king?” The maid inquired. At this, Aphros’s smile flipped into a concerned frown.
“Oh, that,” the blonde muttered. “It’s a secret. But I assure you, there is a king.”
“That figures,” the raven-haired maid sighed. “Well, it’s more of an answer than I thought I’d get.”
“Oh?” Aphros leaned back coyly.
“I was afraid you’d say that the Queen made her daughters from clay or that they fell out of the sky,” Serena joked. “Or worse, that one of them is illegitimate, or that they all have different fathers.”
“Yep, that would be silly,” Aphros said rigidly as she turned away from the younger girl.
‘Oh Lord,’ Serena tried not to groan. “Which one is it?” The maid pressed.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Aphros whistled poorly. “Oh,” she checked her watch, “would you look at the time? You should get to sleep now. Don’t you have a long day ahead of you tomorrow?”
“It’s not even 8:00, and no, I don’t. It’s my day off,” Serena pointed out.
“Well, goodnight,” Aphros shoved the maid at the door and closed it. The two guards standing watch looked at Serena in confusion, and she returned the gesture.
“Perhaps I said too much,” the maid stated before she curtsied and walked away. ‘I should have been more specific. Now I’ll never guess which one it was,’ Serena sighed to herself as she walked through the grand halls of the palace. ‘… It’s probably the second princess. Or would that be too obvious?’
<<<~--~>>>
Just About Unbelievable
Lady Ze returned to the palace training grounds. She had Serena and Orion in the middle of a long drill and left them to complete it while she finished a quick errand. It wasn’t anything grand, only five hundred jumping jacks to warm up for a contest to see who could jump the highest. As the Captain of the Guard arrived, she found Orion alone, staring up towards one of the palace’s taller spires.
“Orion, did you complete your drills?” Ze inquired.
“Yes, Ma’am,” Orion replied, his eyes still fixed above, concern mounting on his face.
“Did Serena?” Ze continued.
“Yes, Ma’am,” Orion confirmed, but he still didn’t look at her.
“Did you begin the contest like I instructed?” The noble pressed.
“Yes, Ma’am,” Orion fidgeted.
“Who won?” Ze followed the line of his gaze.
“Serena did, Ma’am,” Orion declared.
“I can see that,” Ze looked straight at the spire. Atop the structure and wrapped around a flagpole was Serena, clinging for dear life.
“Get me down from here!” Her voice echoed distantly.
“Impressive. She’s grown much faster in her abilities than I expected,” Ze beamed with pride. “That’s at least double your best jump.”
“That is correct, Ma’am,” Orion confirmed. His eyes darted around the palace, looking for a path to ascend the structure, but found none.
“What spurred this on? I haven’t known Serena to be so competitive,” Ze inquired.
“There was a spider,” Orion answered.
“Unbelievable,” Ze laughed.
“Seriously, someone help,” Serena yelled again. “My hands are slipping!”
“Just bend your knees. You’ll be fine,” Ze shouted back.
‘Unbelievable,’ Serena rolled her eyes before remembering the situation and clinging back to the pole. She would eventually make it down safely, only to discover that there never was a spider. It was just an oddly shaped piece of wood. On the bright side, she then learned her striking force was enough to shatter marble. On the not-so-bright side, she also learned that marble is still strong enough to break her hand.
<<<~--~>>>
Doubt & Doubtless
(Note: This story takes place at the same time as Chapter XIII)
Princess Atlanta sat alone in her unlit room, staring out the window at the palace garden. Her expression sagged, and there was no light nor sparkle in her eyes. Her long silver lilac hair was a touch messy and unkempt, to the point the pink tips were curled up and lost within a tangled mess of locks. She glanced back at her door as though she were waiting—hoping—it would open any minute. She turned back towards the window and looked up at the sky, the sun had begun to set, and soon night would fall.
“He still isn’t here,” she muttered. “Idiot has one job.” Suddenly, the door swung open, and the princess felt her heart jump. “It’s about time you…Oh, hello, auntie.”
“Princess,” Lady Aré appeared, turning on the lights as she entered the room. “No one has seen you all day. What a mess you’ve made of yourself.”
“It always gets like this when it isn’t brushed,” Atlanta turned away in a huff. “I’m not like my mother or Irene. I could never get that stupid magic hair trick to work.”
“Why the sulking?” Aré swung by Atlanta’s dresser and grabbed a hairbrush. “If you wanted someone to brush your hair so badly, you could have called for the Lady’s Maids.”
“I’m waiting for Orion,” Atlanta dismissed the suggestion as Aré sat down behind her and began to brush her hair. “He’s the only one left who can do it right.”
“Where have I heard that before?” Aré joked. “I hope I’m an adequate replacement.”
“Yeah, yeah,” the princess grumbled but still allowed the noble to continue.
“You’ve grown quite attached to that boy, haven’t you?” Aré commented.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Atlanta denied. “He’s no different than any of the other servants. Except he can do his job properly, or at least he did.”
“He’s gone missing then?” Aré inquired.
“Apparently,” the princess replied. “The only people who’d know where he is would be Aphros or Irene’s maid, Serena. But, I haven’t seen them all day either.”
“That’s odd,” Aré frowned. “When was Orion supposed to meet with you?”
“Around 1:00,” Atlanta answered, “but I haven’t seen him, Serena, Aphros, or even Irene since before 11:00.” Aré looked at the clock on the wall. It was almost 5:00 pm.
“I see,” Aré forced a smile, but even turned around, Atlanta could sense the older woman’s growing anger. “You wouldn’t happen to have any idea where they might have gone, would you?”
“Not a clue,” Atlanta answered, a little uncomfortable. She had sensed this emotion in Aré before and knew the best place to be now was far away. “But, Aphros was going on and on about the wonders of nature and exercise this morning.”
“Oh, really?” Aré ceased brushing the princess’s hair and stood up. “Please forgive me, princess, but something just came up that I have to deal with immediately.”
“You do that, auntie,” the princess unconsciously leaned away from the noble.
“I will send a servant to attend you shortly,” Aré bowed and marched away. Once the door closed behind her, Atlanta plugged her ears. “APHROS, YOU F****** MORON!”
“I hate it when she gets like this,” Atlanta sighed. “I wonder when she’ll realize how well sound carries through the palace?” The princess pondered this thought while she heard Aré stomp away outside.
Atlanta returned to staring wistfully out her window. Now it was undercut by her amusing herself by imagining what Aré would do when she got her hands on Aphros. The scenario kept her attention until the next day when a ragged and exhausted Orion finally returned. The first thing she told him to do was take a bath and eat something, and when he was done, come brush her hair. Afterward, the butler entertained her with stories of his impromptu hike and subsequently getting lost in the countryside with Aphros, Serena, and Irene. The stories would keep her attention until the next ridiculous thing happened. Atlanta wouldn’t have it any other way.
May This Fantasy Continue A Little Longer…
I got nothing clever to say today, so I hoped you liked the stories and there a more to come (except next week, that'll be something else).
Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy
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