FAMILIAR VOICE

C5: FAMILIAR VOICE

Lying down on the wooden bed she relaxed, for a royal it would have been hard to cope but she had always mingled with commoners.

Closing her eyes her mind drifted back to those golden eyes, she shivered hearing a heavy thump she sat up searching for who it was only to realize it was her heart she face smacked herself.

She wasn't the type to fall for someone easily, she had met lots of handsome men but none was like him.

It wasn't about his looks, she just couldn't tell what it was that made her feel attracted to him.

After an hour of struggles she finally slept off as she curled into a ball on the bed with a duvet draped over her body.

Lucy felt a tap on her shoulder she whined snuggling closer to her pillow a smile on her face as she dreamt of her mother but the tap became numerous she grunted and slowly opened her eyes.

“Helene stop disturbing me please” she said immediately as she rubbed her eyes.

“Lily it's me Catherine not Helene” Catherine said helping her up, Lucy stared at her, she sighed her shoulders dropped, Helene wasn't with her.

“Lucy you have to take your bath, the newcomers will soon be presented before the king” Catherine said and Lucy sobered up immediately.

She stood up once, removing the duvet and went to the bathroom where its door was at the corner of the room.

It was a large wooden bathtub enough for three people but it was local, even though she was okay with the wooden bed, the bathtub at the inn was much better than this one when it comes to its quality.

Catherine noticing her reluctance tried to help her

“I know you might not be used to taking your bathe with others but then you will get used it besides it will be me,

you and the new maid and I think she would be a good workmate” Catherine said and Lucy's eyes went round.

“Will we all bathe together?” she asked and Catherine stared at her,

“Of course but if you're uncomfortable you can bathe alone but don't be late else you will be punished” she replied and Lucy nodded.

Catherine left her alone as she stepped out of the room.

Staring at the clean water she took off her dress and slipped into the bathtub she let out a deep breath.

The water felt refreshing as she splashed it on her skin feeling its lukewarm state, taking her bath she had many thoughts running on her head, these two months had been stressful for her.

Stepping out of the bathroom room with a towel she stepped into the room, ‘it seems the maids aren't given bathrobes’ she thought as she stared at the towel she tied awkwardly.

Catherine stared at her towel before shaking her head “you should fold the end under the other side tightly else it would fall off” Catherine said and Lucy nodded embarrassed.

“Here, wear this for today” she said, handing a blue dress similar to the one she was wearing to her, Lucy smiled collecting the dress.

“thanks Cathy” she said and Catherine smiled “you're welcome now be quick it's dusk, we have to assemble with the others” Catherine urged her.

Lucy wore the blue plain dress which showed her figure, she wasn't slender but she wasn't too thick either, Catherine's eyes were glued to her.

Lucy snapped her finger before her “are you alright, is the dress too bad, I think it shouldn't be this fitting” Lucy said trying to remove it.

“you're right it fits you, I was surprised to see that this dress fit you so well, but you can't change it,

the head maid is the one who gives out the dresses to the maids and you aren't allowed to change it” Catherine explained and Lucy sighed,then she would have to wear it.

remembering someone she but her lips “Catherine have you seen someone with a golden eye here” she asked and Catherine shook her head.

“I don't think and if there should be any it might be the king or his brother I guess.

when I was presented to the king he didn't bother to see us and I don't think he would today”

Catherine said with a shrug and Lucy shook her head,

‘If he is that beast or his brother then I don't need to feel this way’ she thought.

Walking through the hallway, her mind drifted back to the stranger as she passed the room where she had met him.

She couldn't help but wish that he wasn't her enemy or at least not her direct enemy, she pleaded inwardly as she walked beside Catherine.

They entered a huge hall, it was where she took dancing lessons with her mother, Lucy’s fist tightened.

to think that this place was now meant for gathering new maids made her blood boil Catherine noticing her mood touched her hand.

“Lucy are you alright” she whispered into Lucy's ears, she shook her head

“I'm good, I'm sorry for troubling you” she said and the girl nodded.

Joining the other maids, they were about thirty she tried to look at every one of them but couldn't find Helene her eyelids lowered as they tried to hide the tears within them she gently wiped it off by pretending there was something in her eyes.

“The king is here you all should bow” a soldier announced she found it difficult to do that but she didn't have a choice. Keeping straight back would only raise suspicion and she wouldn't risk that.

bowing her head rigidly she heard a powerful voice which held authority “you may rise”

the voice said but it sounded familiar looking up quickly she had two things in mind,

she wanted to see the monster who made her lose her home and parents but somewhere in her heart she wanted to know who that voice belonged to if it was his or not, her heart thrummed as she looked up.