Liora
The Maid Who Would Not Kneel
The Maid
Bright shades of orange poured through the valley of Eldoria, painting the sky with a beautiful mosaic of peace. The morning doves flutter quietly through the soon to be chaotic roads. She was the first to be awake compared to the rest of her village, Liora, rubbing her sore eyes and stretching her legs before sitting up in her old, creaky, mold smelling cot that she had outgrown years ago. With a slow, tired blink, she opens her eyes looking to her right through the small opening in her brick wall. She likes to pretend it is a beautiful arched window. The opening is just enough to see the bold, outstanding castle on the hill behind their sad, gloomy village. After a long yawn Liora slid out of her cot, her calloused, dirty feet hitting the cold stone of her house floor before stretching her arms high above her long brunette hair that hadn't been properly brushed in a long while. Liora looked around her tiny cottage of a house, and not the type of cozy ones, the old, falling apart ones with a rat problem. Her nose wrinkled in disgust as a rat scurried across her floor and under the wall, with a brief roll of her eyes and a huff of exhaustion she walked to the corner of her 80 square foot cottage to the makeshift kitchen she had put together herself. The kitchen included a wooden counter, a stovetop, a kettle, and one very hard loaf of bread. With a hard rip she tore off a piece of bread before chewing vigorously on the bread. Outside her cottage walls she heard the clanging of metal and the thud of hooves thundering from afar. The king's knights had left the castle for what Liora assumed was to patrol. After a long moment of Liora simply listening and occasionally staring at the unfilled rat hole, she got dressed out of her rags into somewhat better rags for work.
“What do you mean the gala is cancelled?” The prince’s ginger hair flicked angerly as he turned to look over his shoulder.
“I invited two other kingdoms, do you understand how irritating this is?” His voice boomed at the maid, her face twitching slightly every time he shouted. The prince sighed and dragged a large hard over his face with a quiet groan before locking eyes with the maid, a quiet intensity burning the blue deaths of them.
“Tell my mother I do not have time for her antics, this will happen.” He said firmly; frustration etched onto his sharp features before he waved his hand in the air dismissively.
“Off with you.” He said rudely before returning to paying too much attention to himself in the reflection of his stand-up mirror. With a quick nod, the maid, Liora, scurried quickly down the glorious castle halls drenched in gold statues and delicately stained glass. The castle halls were like a maze, though Liora knew them like the back of her hand. Within minutes she made it to the queen's quarters, almost out of breath from the walk. Liora softly knocked on the door, addressing herself, then opening the door and stepping in. The queen looked at Liora through her vanity mirror, even from a far Liora could feel the ice-cold gaze that resembled the prince’s. She held herself back from shivering and took a much-needed deep breath before speaking.
“Prince Rowan has sent a message” Liora said steadily, feeling very uneasy about the tension between the family. The queen subtly tilted her head in curiosity though her expression remained the same.
“Yes?” She says quietly, though the intensity in her eyes through the mirror spoke before she did. Liora swallowed hard, composing herself; she continued.
“In strictly the prince’s words. He does not have time for your antics, and that this gala will take place. He made it very clear.” Liora stood awkwardly in the silence the queen gave. The simple tick of her gold casted clock ticked quietly in the distance made her feel less uncomfortable. The queen looked lost in thought before her eyes snapped back up. She rose from her chair slowly, her silk gown flowing gently as she stepped around her chair to face Liora.
“Apologies that you have been trapped running around giving messages to my childish son. I will handle this matter personally.” She said gently, but the tense set in her shoulders and clenched jaw made it clear her plans were not the be messed with. Liora nodded once and stepped out of the queen's way before leaving the room herself. She stood in the grand hall watching the queen walk towards the princes' quarters with a now clear anger. She wasn’t sure why the royalty got worked up over small things; that wasn’t clear. For the rest of the day Liora relentlessly cleaned and served the royal family until sundown; her hands calloused from the endless scrubbing of floors.
A quiet admission
“Rowan, your father is far out of the kingdom. It is too dangerous to host this to two other kingdoms without him here.” The queen spoke calmly, but her eyes flashed with anger towards her son, her brow furrowing gently. Rowans' arms were crossed tightly, his hands in fists, and his jaw set tight.
“I have already ordered the orchestra and chefs! This is rather unfair, even for you.” The prince said bitterly, his tone dripping with venom. A nerve in the queen's eye seemed to twitch at the behavior her son was displaying.
“I have spoken, and I will be heard.” She said firmly, her eyes narrowing slightly as if daring her son to argue farther. The two seemed to exchange a look of irritation before the queen left the room and headed back towards her own.
“I have spoken.” The prince mocked in a high-pitched tone as he tightened his cufflinks aggressively with a flick of his wrist. He took a long moment staring at his reflection in the mirror, the gold lining of shelves in the back, divine windows, but the prince didn’t seem to be even slightly grateful for any of it. A quiet knock interrupts the prince’s sulking; he straightens up and turns to open his door. He swings open the door and looks down; the maid stood with her hands clasped behind her back.
“Is there anything I can help with before I return home?” Liora asks kindly, a gentle smile playing on her features. The prince simply gazed at her, his eyes drifting down her blue worn out dress momentarily before returning to her dark eyes. He swallowed once and calmed his racing heart.
“No.” he said firmly, his voice shaking very lightly. Liora’s smile faltered slightly; she nodded firmly.
“Have a good evening, sir!” She said cheerfully before walking away, leaving the prince standing in his doorway confused by his own emotions. Rowan found it hard not to slam his door, though he did shut it rather aggressively. He perched himself on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands lost in thought.
“What in god's name is wrong with me.” He whispered under his breath through his hands, unable to shake the thought of Liora in her bright blue dress and long wavy locks he hit himself across the face. His breath coming out in raged pants as he stood abruptly and paced in his room attempting to think of something else, anything else. Seconds, minutes, very long moments later Rowan hurled a cup across the room against the wall; shards exploded off the wall angerly flying to the floor in all directions. The prince sighed heavily while staring at his shaky hands. The only thing he could think of was her smile, her beautiful eyes, just her. The door swung open, hitting the wall, a guard.
“Prince Rowan, I heard something smash, is everything alright” The guard asked gruffly as he looked around the room for any potential threats. Rowan looked at him, his eyes flashing with anger. He needed to be mad at someone, something, and in the moment that guard was his only hope.
“Get out.” The prince said low, his rage practically clawing out of its cage. The guard seemed shocked almost.
“Sir, is everything alri-”
“I said get out damn it! Get out!” He said with a deafening shout, his voice carrying down the halls. With a quick nervous nod, the guard strode out, closing the door behind him, leaving the prince with his thoughts once more.
The king returns
Workers among the castle scurry to their places, controlled chaos erupted throughout the castle halls as maids and butlers prepared for the king's return. Liora, with her freshly pressed maid apron tended to the entrance, laying out elegant decor such as large hanging bouquets of wildflowers that complimented the grand chandelier that carried thousands of crystals and rubies that shone like their life depended on it. With a content sigh, the maid stepped back, brushing her hands down on her apron while gazing at her work.
“Perfect” she whispered as a small sensual smile played on her lips. From the corridor behind her Prince Rowan watched in silence, his gaze filled with what he hoped was the loath for Liora, but he could only deny what his heart desires for so long. With a violent shake of his head out of disappointment, he left without the maid noticing him in the first place.
Rowan
I couldn’t shake it, I couldn’t remove the image burned, engraved into my eyes of her beautiful eyes, her smile that she assumed nobody noticed, I noticed. Her perfect, imperfect teeth, the speckle of gold in her bright green eyes. Shut up Rowan; she is the maid, nothing more. Besides, I had Avery. The neighboring kingdoms Princess, beautiful Avery. She was no Liora, no; she lacked that fire in her eyes; she was quiet, but a sight to see indeed. Avery had long curly blonde hair for miles, her deep blue eyes could put you into a trance I will admit. Other than her striking traits, she lacked confidence, personality, everything Liora isn’t. Interrupted once again, because when am I not? A knock on the door shook me back into a sad reality.
“Sir, the King has returned. He wishes to speak with you, privately” Alexander, my main butler announced while a slight hint of worry tilted in the depths of his eyes raising confusion from me.
“Thank you Alexander.” I said gruffly, my mind obviously somewhere else regardless of if I tried or not. Alexander nodded and left the room, shutting the white panned door with a soft click. Brushing down my suit, I prepared to face whatever disappointments my father would like to discuss with me.
King, Charles
Pacing the room like a caged animal losing sanity anger boiled my blood, but I managed to remain at my stoic facade. Hearing inclining steps, my eyes flew across the room landing on Rowan. About time. Crossing the room with minimal steps, I strode toward Rowan, grabbing the collar of his undershirt and yanking him forward.
Rowan
My eyes widened fractionally as my father, furious as ever aggressively grabbed me.
“Was this you're doing?” He snarled, his face creased and contorted in uncontrollable anger. Not knowing what the old prune was blabbing about, I raised my hands in mock surrender.
“Father,” I said quietly “What are you talking about? Do explain.” My voice nearly shook but I held my breath to steady it. A nerve in the Kings forehead looked like it was about to erupt; he was very clearly clenching his teeth.
“The Gala” He spat through gritted teeth. Up close it was hard not to notice my father's distinguished wrinkles and grey hairs; he was aging, faster than most would be comfortable to admit.
“It was my mother's doing to cancel the Gala, quite unfortunate” A frown formed on my face as my father released my collar with a shove.
“She had no right; this is your only chance to marry Avery.” My father seemed to be lost in his internal war of thoughts and solutions. I cleared my throat, worry beginning to creep into my somber eyes. Quiet and immensely uncomfortable silence stretched out between us; tension felt louder than any siren or scream. My stomach sank, it was to soon it seemed. I couldn’t marry a girl I knew nothing about, it would be unfair to her, regardless if this is deemed normal. My fathers eyes searched mine, confusion and a hint of despair turmoiled in his auburn eyes, almost accusingly.
“You do not wish to marry.” He said as a matter of fact rather than a question, his shoulders tense threatening to give out. I was caught off guard by how he practically read my mind, although I’m not surprised.
“What makes you say that?” I played dumb, he saw right through me but I’m determined. If it wasn’t for my defensive tone maybe he would have been fooled eventually, but lucky for my father I’m an awful liar. The kings eyes narrowed as he hummed in disbelief.
“Please, reframe from trickery son. Filthy habit.” My fathers voice was merely above a whisper, his disappointed features struck a nerve. I wish I could change the way I feel, but only one girl makes my heart race like wild horses, I am yet to figure out what to do with how I feel but now is not the time, I can not risk ruining my chances at marriage.
