NIGHTS OF HALLOW

On the other side of the kingdom, inside the castle was Perdita inside the personal library of the King which Daemon had shown her after the King left the castle.

It was already the time of noon and the intensity at which the sun shone didn’t reduce nor did it increase more than it was in the early hours of the morning. It was just there, bringing heat and brightness to the people.

Perdita blew a tired sigh from her lips as she wiped the sweat on her forehead with her hand. She has been searching for books related to witch’s origin yet all she found were books related to other creatures.

Her shoulders slumped yet again as she closed another book that wasn’t what she was looking for. She sighed again for the umpteenth time. How many books were in here?! And how was Sthena able to get his hands on so many books he used to stock this library he tagged as his personal one? Was she going to spend the day just looking for the book?

Emily her handmaid, on the instructions of Sthena, stood at a corner without daring to look at the books which Perdita was bringing out. She could feel the frustration of her Lady from the way she wiped the stubborn sweat that formed on her forehead and her face each time.

The book she was looking for seemed to be very important to her. She wished to help her out but the King had given his order and she didn’t dare disobey.

To ease the tension and stress on Perdita’s shoulders, Emily suggested from where she stood, ”My Lady,” She called the attention of Perdita to which she answered with a hum.

”Would you mind some afternoon snack? To help you out and release the stress. My mother always told me that something sweet helps to calm one’s sour mood.” There was a small smile on her face when she remembered her lovely Mother.

Perdita’s hand paused mid-way to the top of the rack as her mind drifted to what Emily said. Mother. She repeated in her head. She didn’t even know what her mother looked like again. All she had were fragments of their moments together and those memories always appeared foggy in her head.

Perdita shook off the feeling with a shake of her head. She returned Emily’s smile as she replied, ”Of course, Emily. Some snacks will go a long way for me to ease the stress.”

”Alright, My Lady.” Emily beamed with a happy smile. Eager and happy to serve her Lady. ”May I ask what your favorite juice is, My Lady?” She probed, wanting to impress Perdita.

”Ehm...” Perdita put her hand under her chin in thought. She replied, ”I think it’s Orange. It’s Orange juice.”

”Okay, My Lady! I’ll be back soon.” Emily announced and hopped out of the library and headed towards the direction of the castle’s kitchen.

When Emily left, Perdita stared at the door through which she left. A smile tugged on her lips as she regarded Emily’s cheerfulness towards her. She has never had a friend before, not even a female friend. All her life she has been struggling to protect herself and her brother, and also protect their one secret that was no longer a secret as many now knew of their identity.

Experiencing this type of feeling of being cared for by another person, was sure another type of emotion that warmed her heart. This was why she had a tough time trusting Sthena or anyone else. She had a tough childhood where everyone appeared to be after them. But Sthena had proved in all the ways to be someone she could trust and lean on.

The mere thought sent arrows down her heart and the butterflies in her belly responded by flapping their tiny wings in her stomach.

Perdita shook her head to get rid of the thoughts in her head when she realized where they were heading. She went ahead to focus and search for the book she was looking for.

Emily’s footsteps were quick as she was in a haste to get back to her Lady and help ease her stress. On her way to the kitchen, she was stopped by the head of the maids, Theresa.

”Emily!” Theresa who was assigned the head of the maids called the maid she termed to be below her.

When it came to the maids and servants in the castle, it had the ranks at which every one of them did his or her task. How Theresa was the head of all other maids, so there was a head servant in charge of all other servants. In turn, there was the overall Head of the servants and maids who was in charge of assigning roles and work to these servants and maids.

The work of the head servant and head maid like Theresa did, was to make sure that those under them performed their duties to perfection. Any mistake from the maids or the servants, their heads would called upon. If it warranted a punishment, the head maid or servant would be punished and in turn, they would punish the person responsible for their punishment.

Emily stopped and gave a small bow to acknowledge the Head maid.

Theresa scoffed at the maid she found to be pitiful in her eyes. ”Where are you heading to?”

”To the kitchen.”

”And what could you be going there to do?” Theresa probed more. She didn’t like how Emily gave her a vague reply.

”To get Lady Perdita an afternoon snack. If you may excuse me, Head maid Theresa, My Lady wants me back in an instant.” Emily replied and raised her head to look at Theresa. This was something she hadn’t dared to do in the past. But now? The situation was different.

”How dare you!” Theresa raised her head to slap Emily because of the way she replied and stared at her. But midway, Theresa had to remind herself who Emily was serving and in a way, the rank of Emily could be higher than hers.

”You got lucky today I’m in a good mood.” Theresa seethed as she glared daggers at Emily who dared her with the look in her slightly brown eyes.

”Is that all, Headmaid Theresa?” Emily questioned already sick of standing near the arrogant maid who forgot that both of them were maids of the castle no matter the rank each of them carried.

”That is not all,” Theresa stated in a hard voice. ”Lady Rosamonda called for your presence in the tea room right now.”

”Send my apologies to Lady Rosamonda as I am currently busy with my assigned Lady. Perhaps, when I am done, I will answer her call. Or best, she can call another maid to attend to her.” Emily politely declined the call of Lady Rosamonda.

It was against the rules of the castle for a maid assigned to another to be called upon by another person when the maid was in the service of the rightful person assigned to him or her.

”If there is nothing more, I beg to be excused,” Emily stated with a grim expression on her face.

Theresa stared amusingly at Emily as though the girl had gone mad. She walked closer to Emily and whispered in her ear, ”Your naivety must have eaten your brain whole. You think you attained quite the height by your paltry promotion as her handmaid?”

”With all due respect, Handmaid Theresa, I’ll implore you to speak of My Lady with respect. Else I’ll have no choice but to report you to, His Majesty.” Emily threatened with a glare on her face sent to Theresa.

”Look whose wings have grown and are flapping sand into my eyes.” Theresa snickered. ”I won’t tell you twice. If you have little sense in that dumb brain of yours, you know who to follow. Your Lady whose stay in the castle isn’t guaranteed or Lady Rosamonda the wife of the late King and the Mother of the Prince and Princess? Your choice to make.”

Theresa left Emily standing in the hallway after she said those words. The young maid stood there for a while thinking about what the Head maid told her. After much contemplation, she made up her mind on whom to follow as she began to walk again, this time in a different direction.