Chapter 3

• I froze, I was not taken to the common prison down in the lower town, no I was thrown into the palace prison. Now I am very frightened, I have no idea what I could have done to be brought here and according to what I have heard before these places are where the notorious criminals in the kingdom are kept.
• I only just wanted to steal jewellery and how did the royal guards even show up there and why exactly did he even ask them to arrest me, he could have just warned me and let me off.
• I just hope he comes here to let me out soon, I have absolutely no idea what is going on right now and my head aches. I was led in through the entrance and brought to a cell there, I stood and gaped before I was pushed in a very polite way into the prison.
• I was still in awe when my ear picked up the sound of gates being locked outside, now this place was very clean and not just that, I was the only one in here and they gave me my own chamber pot which was very funny.
• Now I have been in the streets for a while and even though everyone tries to be master of their own craft there are sometimes where you just could not escape and I have had some of those days where I was caught and kept in prison.
• The first time was very horrible because I had to stay awake all through, the smell also was terrible and caused me to feel nauseated and also vomiting my lungs out. I remembered hearing voices of ridicules and being laughed at. But ever since then I learnt to adapt like always and to be more careful as to avoid being sent to that horrible place.
• Even though I have a feeling that the rumours regarding the palace prison might be false, this place looks really neat and I could just relax before I get to be released again. I felt a bit sad for Erin since I would not be able to go over to their home to help them with the herbs.
• “Wake up.” I heard as I stood from the bed provided here in the prison, I had no idea when I fell asleep but it was a deep one because I did not care about anyone trying to violate me in my sleep or who wants to steal my stuff.
• “Awake yet?” I heard again, I turned to see a maid standing outside my cell and it was the brunette girl I met before in the market. I thought she was a noble’s mistress maid, not that she would be working in the palace.
• “Hmm hello?” I answered in a very humiliating way, I felt my face heat up and I knew I was blushing. I never noticed it in the market but she was a beauty herself.
• The brunette was a young woman, probably in her early twenties. She had long, dark hair that flowed down her back in loose waves. Her eyes were a deep brown, and her skin was smooth and unblemished. She was dressed in a simple, plain dress, but it was clean and well-maintained.
• She walked into the prison cell with a tray of food in her hands. She had a kind and gentle demeanour, and her smile was warm and genuine. She approached me, who was sitting on the floor, and knelt down beside me.
• "I've brought you some food," she said, as she placed the tray in front of me. The food looked and smelled delicious, and my stomach growled in response.
• “Your lunch.” She said again when she noticed I had not replied to her, her smile made me flutter for a moment which made my gaze drop down to her hands to see her carrying a tray with two bowls inside. She dropped them then turned around and left.
• "Thank you," I said, as I reached for the bread and porridge.
• "It's my pleasure," she said, with a smile.
• As she stood up to leave, I couldn't help but notice the way she carried herself. She held her head high and her back straight, with a sense of grace and poise that was uncommon among the lower-class servants. I wondered who she was, and where she came from, but I knew I would probably never find out.
• "Thank you again," I said, as she walked towards the door.
• "You're welcome," she said, with one last smile before she left.
• As the door closed behind her, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards her. Even in my circumstances, her small act of kindness had brightened my day and lifted my spirits.
• I hurriedly reached out to the tray, I mean I was starving and I have only had one apple since the rising of the sun. I recollected that she said lunch so that means that it is noon already and just then the smell of the food entered my nostrils. I looked into the bowl to see porridge and without wasting any second I ate it all.
• I remembered when I was still very green and had just been out of the orphanage, I wanted to find a decent woke so that I would be able to fit well into the society, I could remember it clearly after I finished packing and I had to go to the Stepmother’s room which is what the children calls her when she is not around to hear. They had always loved the Cinderella story which to me seemed like a faraway wish of someone who was waiting for a man to rescue her.
• “Alice, I heard and could clearly see that you do not wish to marry? Why might I ask child?”. She asked me as soon as I sat down in her office.
• “I just clocked 16 and I would like to make decisions for myself and not just try to sell myself out before having a taste of freedom mother.” I responded looking directly into her eyes.
• “Child, the world is not as you think, why would commitment scare you? Marriage does not limit your freedom.” She advised me again.
• “I know nothing but this orphanage and church, I know nothing except that which was taught to us, I want to make my own decisions and explore the world and besides must I be married to a man?” I responded.
• She looked at me again and shook her head, then she adjusted her short glasses and stared down at the document on her desk.
• “Are you standing on your decision?” She asked me again and I nodded.
• “You have not seen the world my dear child, and I could only pray that you do not see the bad aspect of it.” She said to me softly, I looked into her eyes and I saw pity, was it pitiful for her to think I could not handle myself.
• “I will write to you when I settle down, Mother.” I replied to her, she nodded and handed me a document.
• And I knew that meant that I was no longer one of them in the orphanage. I stood up and with shaky feet walked myself out of the building.
• I jolted back to now and saw a guard standing outside my cell. I needed to know how long I was to be kept here, I had been arrested before and before dinner I had been let off with a warning never to do that again more time than I could count. I felt that since this was the palace prison then maybe it was a bit different.
• “Excuse me sir, how long am I to be kept here?” I asked gingerly, he looked at me and just left. Okay that was rude, curtesy demanded that he at least give me a respond.
• I stayed in my cell and like it was nightfall, I also noticed that hardly any guards came down here, maybe because the majority would not try to escape since it is the palace prison after all.
• And like that I spent two days here, I already am feeling scared and also frustrated, and as usual the brunette will always come to bring to me my meals which should I say were delicious and I was able to sleep well without being scared of anything happening.
• I am living comfortably but like I said earlier it is still a prison and no matter what I should most definitely not even try to feel comfortable in a damn cell. I saw two guards who came in and stood in front of my cell. I guess it’s time for my meal again.
• I turned and looked at the position of my shadows and realised that it was not yet time for my meal and it remained two hours to the time now before my meal was meant to be delivered. I looked at the guards and opened my mouth to ask them but I shut it back up knowing that they would not dignify me with a response, I saw the brunette walk up and nodded to one of the guards.
• The guard stepped up and unlocked my cell, I started feeling a sense of loss and I also felt happiness. I guess these emotions are clashing so much that it must have showed on my face because the brunette was looking at me with a raised eyebrow.
• “Come with me.” She said as she turned and walked out, my legs felt a bit stiff for not having walked much these past days but I composed myself and followed her. I was feeling excited to finally be released but I would not lie because I am feeling a sense of loss because I was able to sleep comfortably and eat three square meals which was a miracle on its own.
• If I were to be in the streets at most I would have to steal some fruits to eat or to go get some stale food from those who are kind hearted enough to give. Still I value my freedom, the very main reason why I left the orphanage.
• “Take her and wash her up.” Wait, what? I looked around and saw that we seemed to be in front of a big chamber and three other ladies were right in front of me looking at me with some weirded out eye. I wanted to speak but was not given the chance to before I was held and dragged into the bath chamber.
• These ladies look thin but their strength does not match their body. I was scrubbed by the ladies and washed and peeled and cooked I think. I felt my body turning pink from being scrubbed raw, also my hair combed and all dirt removed from my body.
• I am still confused, having no idea what exactly it is that is going on because what brought about all these is because I tried to steal a simple necklace from a commoner? I mean I loved the three meals for the past two days and now I’m being washed up.
• Few hours later I was done, the ladies squeezed me into a clean dress and not only was it decent but it was also new, my hair was dried and packed to the back like the ones they had on their head. I saw one of them nod and stare down at me almost in awe, she reached her hand wanting to touch my hair but stopped.
• I knew they were curious about what merchant I brought my hair product from to make my hair that vibrant red, they even made the water for my hair hotter with the aim of washing away whatever product I might have used on it but after two trials they let it be.
• I was sent out of the room and I saw that brunette was waiting for me all along, her eyes also swept through me and she seemed a bit shocked before she regained her normal indifferent eye and a small smile and turned again, guess I am meant to follow her.
• We walked through different turns and corners and we never slowed down for a few minutes, I could not help but be a bit grateful that I already ate before they started this little exhibition of theirs.
• “Might I ask where we are going?” I threw the question in the air hoping one of them would at least give me a reply. Alas, that was wishful thinking and there was nothing I could do about it.
• I kept shut, felt my face burned from the ignored attitude of them to me. After a while I stopped and I looked up to see a bright gold door, my chest made sure I felt it drumming because I knew that only one place would have that door and that was the entrance to the throne room.
• I was feeling so terrified that the beauty of the door and the floor was at the back of my mind, my body felt tired all of a sudden and I was imagining the worst case scenario.
• I opened my mouth to speak but the door opened and I was led inside, I have no idea how a single attempted jewellery theft would make me have an audience with the King. I was stopped and I kept my head lowered, already envisioning my head on a chopping block, an involuntary shudder washed through my body and only by sheer luck was I able to still remain standing.
• “You are in the presence of the King and Queen.” I heard a eunuch and I guess that was my cue as I curtsied to the best of my ability, I was not as fluid as I was before because it’s been a while I forgot that part of me to embrace a new part.
• “Rise child.” I heard a feminine voice and I guess that was the queen.
• “Why do you steal?” Another voice asked me but this one sounded stern and with authority, I knew that was the king and the question I had no way of knowing the right answer.
• “To survive.” I blurted out the first thing that came to my mouth, I stiffened in fear because of what I said.
• “To survive? What happened to decent work.” The Queen asked me.
• “I was not able to get any as I was sent out of the orphanage after reaching 16 summers.” I replied honestly, still keeping my head bowed.
• “How old were you when you were sent to the orphanage.” She asked me
• “All my life your highness, I was not up to a summer when I was left at its doors.” I responded
• “So you have no relatives?” I heard the King ask. I heard a faint ‘She looks so familiar’
• “None, your majesty.” I honestly reply
• “Oh, I see. Would you love to work as a maid in the palace?” She asked me suddenly and I was sent into another round of shock. The past two days flashed through my mind, and I knew that leaving would mean that I have to go back to finding what next I am to steal so I could eat.
• “Really?” I was shocked and felt my throat becoming tighter. I knew it was rude to ask for confirmation as to why the Queen of a kingdom would lie.
• “Of course, child.” She replied and I could hear the laughter in her voice.
• “Then I would be honoured.” I gave out my response because anything was better than being thrusted back into the streets.
• “Then it is settled. Meredith, take her to the head maid and have her assign the necessary duties to her.” The Queen said.
• I was so happy, I raised my head to say a massive thank you to her, my mind went into a state of shock. I mean why does the person near the King have a resemblance to the one I tried to rob in the market? And if he is, why is he here?