Cake

I fell back into the routine of my days when Queen Bria came back. On other evenings, I was so exhausted that it felt like climbing a mountain only to walk to Prince Jase's quarters. One such evening, I walked slowly and deliberately into his room, putting down a tray and letting out a soft sigh. With a whisper as quiet as a shadow, I said, "Here, sir, I've brought some tea."

His face softened as he looked up from his desk. "I'm grateful. Sit down, please. We'll get started soon. He had spent weeks helping me understand the enigmas of science, a subject I only vaguely understood, and I treasured his patience as a gift. I sat down in a chair and poured him a cup of tea, my fingers shaking as I did so. However, my hand stumbled as I reached for him, and the cup fell out of my grasp. Tea splashed in erratic rivulets as it broke against the table. The cloth darkened as Prince Jase tried to save his papers, but his shirt took the brunt of the leak. "Oh!" I let out a startled gasp. "Sir, I sincerely apologize! Please pardon me!

My cheeks burning with shame, I scurried to get a rag and cleaned at the mess in a desperate hurry. The shattered cup fell onto the tray with the soaked cloth; I grabbed it by the chest and ran out of the room. Would he want me to come back tonight? I wondered as I made my way through the dark hallways. My curiosity pulled harder than my doubts, and so I went back.

I was amazed that he heard me knock on his door because it was so soft. With a firm voice, he called, "Come in."

With doubt in my voice, I entered. I sincerely apologize for the tea, sir. Do you still want me to attend the class?

He dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "Ignore the tea. Furthermore, I do not want you to remain. I nodded and turned to go, though my shoulders drooped. Then he grew softer. I can tell you're exhausted, Camryn, therefore I don't want you to stay. Get some rest. Tomorrow, we'll carry on.

I felt a sudden, warm sense of relief. "Thank you, sir. Good night. With a silent awareness sinking into my heart, I sank into a curtsey and pulled away: Prince Jase was not just courteous, he was kind.

A week later, Queen Bria announced a ball with a voice that echoed through the hall. I was left to secure her dress once more, and I felt a knot of dread in my stomach. What if it didn't appeal to her? She frequently used a sharp hand to express her disapproval; in three years, she had hit me six times, which I thought was fortunate given that some of the other maids had suffered as many hits in a single year. However, the fear persisted, a shadow I was unable to overcome.

Duty, however, drove me on. Knuckles tapping lightly on the door, I walked over to her quarters and entered. With a respectful tone, I said, "Queen Bria, I've come to ask what you'd like the dress to look like."

She turned with a contemplative look. "The gown? We shall see. She went to her closet, pulled out a gown, and raised it in the air. "This color is what I want." She pulled out two more and purposefully held them out. She lifted one and said, "The sash should be this color, and the jewelry this shade," pointing to the other. "Don't you think they'll create a beautiful tapestry of colors together?" She didn't wait for me to respond. Find matching gloves and ask the dressmaker for her opinion on the shoes. Do you get it?

"Yes, Queen Bria."

"Oh, and make Prince Jase's clothes too."

"Queen Bria, what colors would you like for him?"

Her eyes flickered with impatience as she moaned. "Ask him! Inform him of my options and let him decide what he wants, but make sure it doesn't drastically conflict with either King Ryn's or my selections. Recognize?

"Yes, Queen Bria."

"Then leave!" Like a whip, her command snapped. I gave a quick curtsy and left.

I went to Prince Jase's room, and when I knocked, he greeted me with a sharp "Come in!"

Standing just within the threshold, I said, "Sir, Queen Bria would like to know what color you would like your ball attire to be."

He rubbed his temples and moaned. "You have a choice."

Startled, I blinked. "What?"

“You have a choice,” I said.

But I couldn't possible, sir! I have no idea—

He leaned back and said, "Look, what colors is Queen Bria wearing?"

"She has selected a gold dress, brown sash, red jewelry, and some sort of colored shoes."

He gave a nod. "All right, then I'll wear brown clothes."

"Yes, sir."

"Are you on your way to the dressmaker right now?"

"Yes, sir. Are you in need of anything? Getting up from the table, he walked over to his desk.

Yes, in fact. Prior to organizing your upcoming lessons, I must ascertain your current situation.

"Sir, what do you mean?"

"I would have you ready for advanced coursework if you were twelve, which I doubt. I would prepare you for the demands of college if you were eighteen, but since you're a girl, you probably won't go.

"I understand. Sir, I'm seventeen. I've finished my elementary education, but nothing more. Reading, writing, history, and basic math were the subjects I learnt at my previous school, which was a home-taught school for girls. I believe you were previously aware of that.

His face flashed with surprise as he glanced at me. "You're seventeen years old?"

"Yes, sir."

"How long have you worked here as a maid?" He had seen me every day since I arrived, but he still seemed to be unable to laugh. Maybe he was too preoccupied with his academics to notice me until recently. I suppressed the sound and substituted a little smile.

"Sir, since I was fourteen."

"Oh. I was unaware.

"I have been serving you daily for the past three years, sir. You can't remember a single one?

He gave a shrug. "I recall stuff like tea being brought. You see, I've been so focused on my studies that I frequently didn't give much thought to who came and departed. It's partly, I believe, why Queen Bria— He came to a sudden stop. "It doesn't matter. I'll get your course ready. Farewell.