Chapter Text
Four years ago, I was Iris Harmonia, youngest daughter of King Wymond and Queen Gemma of Vrelia, Fifth Princess, and eighth in line for the throne.
Now, I am Helaina Stoot. A maid.
How I ended up as a maid is all thanks to my eldest brother Ignus. Four years ago he killed our mother and father and seized the kingdom with his tyrant allies and army, the second oldest, Barclay, at his side.
I didn’t know Ignus very much. He was much older than I was, and was already moved out of the castle by the time I could form strong memories of him.
According to my sisters though, Ignus has never been one of the best people. They told me of his violent tendencies towards the castle staff, and how he felt that everything belonged to him- all he had to do was say that he wanted it. His behavior became so unpleasant, Father had kicked him out of the palace and practically disowned him.
Ignus also had an ill attraction to the eldest of us sisters, Emmalina. It started when they were children, and it only escalated the older he got. When Emmalina was introduced to Vrelia society, rumor had it he kidnapped and tortured her suitors, threatening their lives to keep them away from her.
Barclay’s loyalty to Ignus had come as a surprise to everyone. He was the polar opposite from our brother. He was a quiet man, kept to himself, but was the one to go to for advice or protection. He was a gentle soul, and even adopted a young boy when he caught him sneaking into one of our smaller palaces that he called his home instead of casting him away- or worse.
Barclay was always at the palace, having been Father’s right hand man after he deemed Ignus unfit to rule the country. He was preparing him for the eventuality of him taking the throne. Barclay’s adoptive son never strayed too far away.
Emmalina, First Princess and third in line for the throne, was gentle, kind, and always made sure that everyone’s needs were met. She was skilled at noticing people’s strengths and weaknesses and knowing how to use them. She was persuasive, but always made sure that her voice was used for good. I could see her on the throne, ruling with a fair hand to all and a kind heart to match.
She was the only one out of us to have not been able to escape. Ignus had seized her home at the same time as capturing the palace, and Cecilia’s message had not reached her in time. Her husband’s beautiful manor was now a gilded prison.
After Ignus was banished from the castle, Emmalina was finally able to find her perfect suitor. A handsome young duke that became a part of our father’s court after his own father died. It was a whirlwind romance, both of them falling swiftly in love with the other.
They had three children together. It was unfortunate that their love story came to a tragic end when my sister’s husband died in a riding accident.
Amelia, Second Princess, and Alaric, Third Prince, twins and fourth and fifth in line for the throne, were great warriors. They had both taken great interest in the workings of the military and had worked closely with the soldiers of our kingdom before the seizure. I’m sure they were still in Vrelia, gathering their own resistance somewhere. If anyone were to challenge Ignus’ reign and be head of the charge, it would be the two of them.
Cecilia, Third Princess, and sixth in line, was definitely the most intuitive of us. If it wasn’t for her insight and her ability to see into the future, I don’t think any of us would have made it out alive, or at least on our own accords. She predicted Ignus’ and Barclay’s schemes and warned the rest of us, giving us the head start that we needed. She had always loved the villages of Tanbarun and I was sure that she was settled somewhere there. Maybe she had somehow taken refuge with Tanbarun’s king, he could really utilize the gift that she had been given.
Vera, Fourth Princess and seventh in line, was probably hiding away in a library. She was always comforted by the presence of books and always had the urge to further her education and knowledge. I’m sure she would become a rather skilled researcher if it ever came to her needing a job. I had also thought that she would be a great royal advisor if any of our older sisters, or Alaric, took the throne. She was madly skilled in politics, even if she weren’t the greatest leader.
I was kind of a combination of everyone. Maybe it came with being the youngest- instead of being your own person, you took on qualities of those who were born before you.
When I first fled my kingdom, Clarines was the only place I thought of going. Our visits to the peaceful kingdom shaped a good portion of my childhood and it was the only other place I felt safe and at peace.
I had originally planned to ask for assistance from the Queen, but I had thought against it, not wanting this peaceful place to be tarnished by my brothers’ hands.
So instead, I changed my identity, built a background for myself, and found a job within the Wistal palace where the second prince called home.
It took some time to get used to such a simpler title. There was nothing attached to the name, no titles that I had to remember for myself. It’s funny how I used to think that this side of life would come with less pressures and expectations. But I have found just the opposite.
The simpler life came with its own challenges, its own pressures and expectations- ones that seemed more survival in nature. They were, in a sense, more personal.
*~*
I stood in front of the modest sized mirror as I worked the brown strands of my hair into a perfect bun. It had to be tight enough so that the hair wouldn’t fall out while I was working and I mused how much I took for granted someone else doing something like this for me.
When the bun was sufficiently secured against the top of my head, I slipped out of my night garments and I started to put on my uniform.
The maid uniform was a brown reddish color, minus the black on the shoulders. A golden trim separated the two and continued in other parts of the uniform. I double checked in the mirror to make sure that the black buttons were fastened correctly against my lower spine before I secured my apron against the skirt.
I turned then grabbed the black and gold headband that I was supposed to pin in my hair.
When I was finished, I brought my hands together and bowed my head, praying for protection from my parents. In Vrelia, we didn’t believe in gods, instead we believed that our ancestors watched over and kept us safe.
I stepped out of my room and found the hallway right outside crowded with groups of whispering maids. From the sounds of things, they were talking about the same thing- or someone.
“Helaina!” My closest friend, Sofia, yelled as she ran and jumped on me, wrapping her thin arms around my neck.
“What’s with all the talking this morning?” I asked her without saying hello.
“Oh, I guess you haven’t heard since you work in the medical buildings. There is a woman that keeps visiting the prince” She said, slipping off of me.
“A woman?” I asked.
Sofia was a mousy woman who looked as though she could collapse under a single breeze. Freckles dotted against her nose and her thick hair was trying to rebel against her own bun. Her looks were deceiving, however, for she was dependable and strong.
“The whole castle is abuzz about it. Her name is Shirayuki and she has expressed permission by the prince himself to enter the grounds.”
Maybe I should have been surprised, but I wasn’t at all, considering who Zen was as a person.
“Interesting” I said.
In my previous life, the Second Prince of Clarines, Zen, and I were close friends. Our visits with each other were always filled with happiness and laughter- his hand looped around mine as we ran away together. We never went far, just into the woods that surrounded the Wistal Palace or the secret passage ways of Swan’s Palace (the name of my castle home).
He was part of the reason I hold Clarines so fondly in my heart.
The other part was the country of Clarines itself. It’s been a place of peace for a long time. Everyone you met there was kind and always helped each other in their times of need.
Just how Vrelia used to be before my brother took over.
When I was thirteen, I realized that there were deeper implications of Zen and I’s friendship. I stumbled accidentally into a conversation between Zen’s brother and a newly hired attending; them talking about how Zen’s family hoped that we would bloom into something more. They wanted us to court and eventually wed, solidifying good relations between the two kingdoms.
I’m sure that if I had come of age in my previous life, our marriage would have been set in stone. I’m sure I would’ve told myself that I wouldn’t have minded being Zen’s wife, for he was kind and he would have treated me well. The only problem would be trying to keep him from putting himself in unnecessary danger.
“I’ve seen her myself.” Sofia said, pulling me into the present. “She has bright red hair, isn’t that a curious color for hair?”
“It is.” I said as we started to walk down the hall to the awaiting stairs.
“Apparently, he personally escorted her up to the ports so that she could catch a boat to the mountains. Isn’t that sweet? One of his attendings almost lost it when they found out too” She giggled.
“Probably Mitsuhide” I said under my breath.
“What did you say?” Sofia asked, catching me speaking but not quite hearing what I said.
“Oh nothing, I was just sneezing” We walked into the dining room, the smell of fresh bread and stew filled our nostrils as we entered.
In the maid’s quarters, there were three long tables in the dining room. We each took turns cleaning it up and cooking our meals. I tried to avoid cooking as much as I could though- since I wasn’t very good at it.
Sofia talked about Zen and Shirayuki all throughout breakfast and the trek to the palace. She worked within the main palace, whereas I worked in the medical buildings.
We stopped when we reached the hill that contained the herb garden.
“You have a good day, okay?” Sofia said, smiling at me.
“You too” I smiled back. “I’ll see you at lunch?”
“No, I’m having lunch an hour later today, you probably won’t see me until the sun is down and the night sky is alight with stars” She gestured towards the vast blue above our heads, a single cloud passing by soundlessly as she did.
“That’s too bad,” I said, popping my bottom lip out a little in a pout.
“I know, but tomorrow’s our day off and I’m planning on visiting my brother and his family, do you want to come with me?” She asked, her brown eyes sparkling in excitement.
Sofia’s brother and his family were the only living relatives she had. She visited them almost every day off.
“I wanted to walk around the markets tomorrow” I told her.
“We can do that with the kids! I’m sure Agnella wouldn’t mind a little break from the rascals”
“I bet you’re right,” I grinned. “And I love Agnella’s cooking, '' I added.
“She is the best! I’m sure the Prince is missing it” Sofia said.
Sofia’s brother, Finnan, and Agnella met when they both worked in the castle. Agnella was a cook while Finnan was a soldier. He still made his rounds in the halls, but Agnella was now a full time mother. They lived in a small home not too far from the palace.
“I’m sure.” I agreed with a smile.
When we said our goodbyes, I turned to start ascending the stone steps that were at my side. It cut right through the herb gardens that lead to the medical buildings. I’ve always enjoyed using them since the herb garden was usually so peaceful.
As I walked, I took in the herbs that hugged the edges of the stones. Their different colors created an earthly rainbow and their scents sweetened the air around me. Each of them had healing capabilities and were tended carefully by the herbalists. I knew a few of them by sight, silently listing their properties before I moved on.
One of the benefits of working in the medical buildings is that you pick up a few things. Not only could you listen in while working, but a few of the herbalists loved to answer questions you gave them.
Even the chief court herbalist would take the time to teach me. Every time she found me curious about something, she would save some time for me at the end of the day. She was the reason I knew my way around bandages and different types of salves for different types of injuries.
Once I reached the very top of the hill, I immediately made my way inside. The lobby was empty and quiet, the smell of cleaned wood scratching my nose. I had always found it interesting how the smell of the different herbs never touched this space, especially when the offices were just in the hallway.
Maybe it had to do with my work as a maid.
I walked through the empty space and into the hallway that led to the common area for the herbalists in the very back
The common area had a large table directly in the center and bookshelves that were filled to the brim with books hugged the walls. Vials and jars filled with different concoctions and various herbs littered the room, balancing on stacks of books and other pieces of furniture that were laid about the room.
“Good morning Ryuu!” I greeted the twelve year old boy that was crouched under the long table. Papers were scattered around him and he was focusing on a book that was open in front of him.
“Good morning” He said, barely acknowledging my existence and not looking up from his reading.
Even though Ryuu was only twelve, he was a genius where it came to herbs. It was amazing that he was already working as a court herbalist at his age, even though a lot of clients that came in tried to avoid being treated by him. His expertise was poison, and somehow this caused everyone to believe that he was going to poison them, rather than help them.
I made my way to a small closet and opened the door, taking out the bucket and a rag from within.
“Helaina?” Ryuu said from his spot. “Please don’t go in my office”
“I won’t” I promised like I always did.
I hummed as I worked, first working with a butler to clean the windows, then with another maid to dust off the furniture until they sparkled, stripped down the infirmary and replaced the linens with fresh ones. Sometimes my humming was interrupted by small talk I didn’t mind having with the butler and the other maid.
I always save cleaning the floors for last. It took the most time since I had to do so on my hands and knees. That was what I was doing in the lobby when a butler and a maid rushed in. The butler was holding a cloth to his arm, the maid fussing worriedly.
“What happened?” I asked, abandoning my rag and bucket as I got to my feet.
“He was putting wood in the fireplace and accidentally cut himself on one of the stones” The maid answered as she ushered the butler to sit down.
“So he needs to be bandaged up?” I questioned. “Is it deep?”
“No” The butler said. “It’s barely a scratch. It’s probably stopped bleeding by now”
“Still…” I said. “Let me get one of the court herbalists.”
I went down the hallway and started to knock on doors, waiting for someone to open one of them, or tell me to come in, but no one did.
“They’re all out in the gardens” Ryuu said, still in his place under the table.
“Even the chief?”
“Even the chief.”
I worried my lip. I knew I couldn’t ask Ryuu to tend to the wound, they were just going to freak out.
“There’s someone out in the lobby with a cut. It’s not very deep, but it’s pretty long. Do you have bandages and a disinfectant salve?” I asked him.
“Yeah” He got up and went into his office. He had to stand on his chair to open a drawer above his desk, but once he had, he pulled a small jar from it and handed it to me. “You only need a small amount. Have him apply it every morning with fresh bandages for three days” He told me as he placed bandages in my other hand.
“Thanks Ryuu” I said, stepping back into the lobby.
“All of the court herbalists are doing other things, but I know how to bandage.” I responded to the two confused looks the maid and butler were giving me.
“This salve will also help keep it from getting infected” I stated after I had cleaned the wound and started to apply the green paste onto the butler’s skin. He scrunched up his nose at the smell. “I know it doesn’t smell that great, but it’s better than risking infection. The herbalist I consulted said you should change the bandages every morning for three days, and apply a very small amount of this as you do.”
“Thank you” The butler said once I finished securing the bandage.
“Who knew a maid would know so much about applying a bandage?” The maid said, amazed. “Are you planning to become an herbalist yourself?”
“Oh no.” I said, waving the notion away. “You just pick up a few things working here so long” Besides, being a court herbalist raises my chances of coming face-to-face with Zen. I can’t risk that chance.
The door opened once again, but this time a steady stream of the missing herbalists filtered into the room. None of them paid any of us mind until the chief walked in. She paused when she saw me perched on the small table in front of the butler, her long, red earrings shifting as she took in the scene before her. She eyed the bandages and the salve.
“Did something happen?” She asked.
“Just a cut. Nothing I couldn’t handle” I said, passing the salve to the butler. The three of us all got to our feet, the maid and butler moving to get closer to the door.
“We still have some work to do” The butler said before he and his maid friend slipped out.
“I was hoping that if anyone came in here, Ryuu would handle it” The chief said, shaking her head. “Though, you did a good job. It was wise to teach you how to bandage properly. We’ll have to make more salve though.”
“If I was shown how, I can help” I said.
“That’s kind of you, but that’s an herbalist’s job. You just continue helping by keeping everything clean”
I nodded and went back to my bucket of sudsy water.
*~*
I stood in front of the mirror like I did this morning, releasing my hair from its bun. I worked my hands through the strands as they resumed their length along my back. I had decided to grow out my hair in hopes that it would help with my disguise. The last time I was home, my hair hovered just above my shoulder blades.
I flinched as a sharp pain snapped through my upper back, the muscles sore from scrubbing the floors a good part of the day. It was the only thing that made me ache now, but I think that was because I only did it once or twice a week.
In my previous life, I never thought about how hard the staff worked around the clock to take care of the castle and my needs as a princess. A lot of the time they put our needs above their own, working through whatever pain so that we were satisfied.
Though… I was also never taught anything other than the life of a princess and I never really bothered to get to know anyone that served me.
I unbuttoned my uniform and quickly changed into my nightdress, taking in sharp breaths whenever the pain in my shoulder blades stabbed me.
Tomorrow I will have Sofia rub ointment to soothe the aching muscles. I gave myself the mental note.
I turned out the light of my room and I crawled into the small bed that hugged the right of the wall, staring up at the patch of moonlight that stretched along the ceiling above me.
In the quiet, I ran my fingers down the golden chain that was around my neck. Mother had pendants made for all of us girls of the familial crest, the only tie I had left of my home. At least, of the physical sense. As I did so, I thought of my sisters doing the exact same thing, wherever they were, connecting them somehow to me.
Then, a shadow sliced through the moonlight. If I hadn’t been looking up at the ceiling, I would have missed it.
What was that? I thought, throwing the thin blanket off of me and rushing to the paned glass across the room. I looked down from my second story window and spotted two men just below it.
Somehow during the building of my window, the glass hadn’t been set properly and there was an open gap between the windowsill and windowpane in the right hand corner. It allowed me to hear the conversation the two men were having.
“You’re late.” The older man said. The second man was crouched, almost as if he landed from a tall height.
Was it him I saw? I wondered.
“Apologies, Master.” The second man straightened and bowed slightly. “It took me a while to get away unseen” He placed his hand on his hip.
“Whatever, just give me your report” The older man turned slightly, allowing the moonlight to hit his face. I gasped. It was Lord Haruka! I could recognize his wrinkly face anywhere!
Even as a child I didn’t like Lord Haruka very much. He was a pretentious aristocrat that had nothing better to do than judge others he saw was beneath him. I’ve fantasized a few times where my knee could go every time he lectured me about ‘acting like a princess’. Naturally, I avoided him as much as I could in my new life, but ran into him when I had to fill in for a maid in the main building. He didn’t recognize me, I’m sure because of the maid uniform.
“The girl has visited the prince everyday this week, Master. His attendings have even summoned her themselves a few days ago” The unfamiliar man spoke. It bugged me that he wasn’t wearing a soldier’s uniform, and that they were having a secret meeting behind the maid’s quarters.
“She’s getting too close. No commoner has the right to just walk around the castle like she does. I have to put a stop to this before she threatens that fool of a second prince”
How about you stop judging people by their social class? I glared at the pretentious lord.
“Keep up your surveillance” Lord Haruka snapped to the other man before turning and walking away from him.
As soon as the Lord was out of sight, the man he left behind visibly relaxed, looking out into the trees that stretched beyond my window as he rubbed the back of his head.
Then he turned and caught my gaze.
At first I tried to tell myself that he hadn’t seen me-that maybe there was someone else he caught looking down at him. But a part of me knew that wasn’t true, that he did, in fact, see me. I could feel myself heat up at being caught, my heart pounding furiously as fear of what he might do.
What I didn’t expect was the grin to light up his face as he waved at me before one of his cat-like golden eyes disappeared in a wink and finger pressing against his lips.
He wanted me to keep his secret.