ROYAL BLOOD 👑

Chapter 2: The Queen's Arrival

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The castle's corridors stretched out before Elara like a labyrinth of polished marble and flickering torches, each turn presenting a new challenge, each door a test of her mettle. With her heart pounding in anticipation, she stepped into her new role as a maid, determined to prove herself worthy of her position.

The days were long and filled with hard work, but Elara welcomed the tasks with open arms. From sweeping the grand hall to scrubbing the floors until they gleamed, she threw herself into her duties with a fervor born of determination. The coarse bristles of the broom scraped away not just dirt but doubts that had long plagued her mind, leaving behind a sense of purpose and pride.

But it was the task of cleaning the duvets by hand that truly tested Elara's resolve. Bent over the washbasin, her hands soaked and raw, she worked tirelessly to remove every speck of dirt and grime from the fabric. Despite the physical strain, she found solace in the repetitive motion, her mind drifting to thoughts of the future and the mysteries that awaited her within the castle's walls.

As the weeks passed, Elara found herself forming friendships with several of her fellow maids. They bonded over shared experiences and whispered secrets, finding comfort in each other's company amidst the hustle and bustle of castle life.

One afternoon, as they gathered in the servants' quarters to take a much-needed break, the conversation turned to the topic that had been on everyone's minds: the prince.

"I heard he's as handsome as a prince from a fairy tale," whispered Hannah, a fellow maid with rosy cheeks and bright eyes.

Elara chuckled softly, her fingers absently tracing the rim of her teacup. "And I heard he's as elusive as a ghost, never to be seen by mere mortals like us."

The other maids laughed, their voices mingling with the clinking of teacups and the crackling of the fire in the hearth. But beneath their laughter lay a sense of curiosity and longing, a desire to unravel the mysteries that surrounded their enigmatic master.

As the conversation continued, Elara couldn't help but feel a twinge of frustration mingled with her curiosity. Despite their weeks of hard work, not a single maid had come face to face with the prince. It was as if he existed only in rumors and whispers, a figure of myth rather than flesh and blood.

But as she glanced around at her companions, their faces alight with excitement and anticipation, Elara felt a glimmer of hope stir within her. Perhaps, she thought, the prince's elusive nature was simply a test—a challenge to separate the truly dedicated from the merely curious.

And then it happened—a collision of fate. One day, as Elara went about her duties, lost in the rhythm of her tasks, she felt a sudden impact that sent her stumbling forward. Shock rippled through her as she struggled to regain her balance, her heart pounding in her chest. But when she looked down, her eyes widened in surprise.

There, on the floor beside her, lay a little girl no more than five years old, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes as she trembled, unsure of what had just happened.

Elara's initial shock gave way to concern as she knelt down beside the girl, her own heart aching at the sight of her distress. "Hey there, it's okay," she said softly, reaching out to gently brush a stray lock of hair from the girl's face. "You're safe now. Can you tell me what happened?"

The girl sniffled, her bottom lip quivering as she tried to speak through her tears. "I-I was running," she managed to choke out, her voice barely a whisper. "I didn't see you. I'm sorry."

Elara's heart melted at the sight of the girl's tears, her own eyes brimming with sympathy. "It's alright, sweetie," she said, her voice gentle and reassuring. "Accidents happen. Let's get you up off the floor, okay?"