Royal

“Send them in!” The loud booming voice of our master came from the other side of the large wooden door. We all walked in to the large and grand reception room on the left side of the palace. Yeah that’s right palace. Our master, a medium height man who had a well-fed gut, started from left to right as he inspected our uniforms and presentation; taking longer than normal. I glanced sideways to make sure everyone was still in line, feeling like a responsible adult for the others. Who are we? We are King Henry’s PR projects, the little group that allowed him to gain back his respect when he lost it when he first was coroneted. We were all orphans who he took in, telling the world he would teach us to grow educated and give us a better start in life. That better start in life is being locked behind the closed gates of the palace and having us work for him because he has no funds to pay actual experienced staff. “Girls I have had to come to a difficult decision and it involves you all. I have to protect my kingdom at any costs and the neighbouring kingdom has been patient in waiting for the repayments of some loans, however, they can wait no longer and so two of their princes have come here and whoever they choose will be leaving with them to work for them. You will be there’s.” He told us all as the younger ones started to whisper to each other.
“Silence!” He shouted, his face reddening with anger, which caused them to look at him with fear. “Any orders they give you in this room you will follow.” He snapped as he walked over to the door. I looked down the line at the girls and smiled at them all trying to calm them down. It worked slightly, in the sense that they had stopped crying but soft sobs could still be heard. I knew how this was going to go, I’d gone through it once before after all.

The king turned the handle and in walked the two strangers causing us all to bow our heads and drop into the familiar courtesy stance. “Raise your eyes from the floor ladies.” A strong voice, not belonging to our disgraced king spoke out as we all did. The first was a taller guy with a dark brown grown out pixie cut. He wore suit trousers, a white shirt and a waistcoat that fitted him perfectly. I recognised him from somewhere and it wasn’t through serving him when he visited. I tried my hardest not to squint or bite my lip, something I did when I was nervous or in deep concentration. The second prince was a shorter, slim guy who wore a black suit trousers and a black shirt, he had black hair and tattooed hands. Not something you see in a prince usually. I stared straight ahead to avoid looking at the girls at the side of me. We were made to stand age order so I of course was at the end of the line, being 22 and the oldest of us all. They studied us for a moment from their positon, the shorter one branching out slightly and stood directly in my eye line causing me to quickly divert my eyes so that I didn’t look him directly in the eyes, a big no no from our master. He walked over to me, my eyes still downcast, but I could feel his eyes all over me as he decided his option.
“Eyes up sweetheart.” He whispered to me leaning in slightly, my bright blue eyes flickering up to meet his hazel ones and for a moment I caught my breath. He offered me a smile before moving away and turning to King Henry. “I have made my decision. The young lady on the end.” He spoke with his back to me so I couldn’t see his face but I could see the disappointment on the king’s face.
“Very well. You girl pack your stuff you are to be ready by the time the prince’s men come to collect you.” King Henry spoke sharply as I cast my eyes back down to the floor. “Dismissed.” He spoke sharply as we all made our way out. The door hadn’t even closed and the youngest girl was crying and holding onto my leg tightly.

Frank’s P.O.V.

We heard the little girl who was on the end crying, she must have been not much older than 3 or 4. “It’s going to be ok Harley. Everything is going to be ok.” I heard the softest voice come out from the door, that faded with every step she took away from the door. We sorted out finalities before Gerard and I grabbed our stuff that we were leaving with. This wasn’t the first time that we had been here and retrieved one of King Henry’s servant girls, the last one about 6 months ago where Gerard had made the decision. “Thomas go fetch the young lady please.” Gerard looked over at one of our men as I raised my hand to stop him.
“I will fetch her.” I informed them as they all looked slightly shocked. “Which direction?” I looked over at the King that I could not stand. He pointed out the direction and I started down the corridor before anything else could be spoken. I reached the servant chambers and the door was slightly ajar meaning I could see slightly and hear whilst still being in the shadows. I saw our chosen girl sitting on the edge of a bed with the youngest sat on her knee as she stroked her back soothingly. “Harley remember when Ivy and I told you about Peter Pan? What did we tell you?” She asked quietly as the young girl held her hand tightly.
“He’s always watching over us all.” The girl mumbled as the older girl smiled.
“And I’m always here. When you want to talk go to the window and say my name 3 times. I’ll be listening.” She smiled down at the younger girl who hugged her tightly.
“When I get days off I’ll come visit and sneak you some ice cream from the kitchen yeah?” I noticed her fingers cross behind the little girls back, indicating that she didn’t anticipate having the chance to come back. I felt a twinge of sadness about splitting her up from the others but the others were just too young for our needs. I decided to knock on the door hearing enough of the young girl’s sobs. Getting it over with would be easier for everyone. I noticed another girl coming over to answer the door as she took a sharp intake of breath, not expecting the prince and curtseying; her eyes down. What was with these girls keeping their eyes down?
“Are you ready miss?” I asked as blue eyes looked up over to me nodding slightly.
“Yes your highness.” And those were the first words she ever spoke to me.

After we managed to tear the young girl away from blue eyes we were on our way and we had just reached our palace. One member of our staff came in and greeted us with a polite ‘sir’ and a nod of the head which was expected of all our staff. He took blue eyes bag before setting off down the hall to take it to her room. I noticed her look around the grand hall that we were stood in, taking in every slight detail as I just watched her intently. She was short with long dark blond hair that was scrapped up into a ponytail in the middle of her head. She was beautiful and I know that my decision to choose her shouldn’t have been based on that but I cannot honestly say that it wasn’t. “If you will follow me Miss I will go through everything you need to know.” I asked her as she turned her attention to me nodding slightly and following me off to the left side where my office was, eyes downcast.

I held the door open for her as she walked in and past me, I could practically feel the nerves radiating off her as she passed me. She stood in front of my desk, eyes still on the floor even when I scraped the chair along the floor in my clumsiness. “What is your name?” I asked her softly, scared any loud noises or sudden movements would scare her.
“Lily sir.” She spoke quietly, as I sighed. This girl had the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen and the floor was getting more attention off them then I was. I saw her glance up from under her lashes as I walked round the desk perching on the edge of it.
“Ok Lily. First things first no more looking down at the floor.” I told her as I gently brought my fingers under her chin to lift her head up to look at me. The flinch she did when my fingers moved closer to her didn’t go unmissed. I figured it was because I she was in a new environment with a new person. “How old are you?” I asked her softly, making sure to keep my hands gripping the side of the desk so she knew I wouldn’t move them.
“22 sir.” She responded, still with the quiet tone.
“How long have you worked for King Henry?” I asked again, this time she look nervous. “The truth Lily. Anything you say won’t go any further.” I assured her.
“I was one of his orphan girl’s sir. I served him since I was 10.” She bit her bottom lip as her training betrayed her for a moment. I knew since we brought the others from him that his orphan project wasn’t what it was made out to be. All I wanted was to take her in my arms and tell her it was all going to be ok but I knew I would probably scare her and that it would be un-prince like of me.
“You understand that this is your home now? That the rules may be different?” I asked her as she nodded. “Very well. First of all, no need to courtesy any of us, unless it is the King or Queen. Prince’s just require a bow of the head.” I bowed my head to show her smiling softly at her. “You don’t have to call me sir after every answer. Last time we were at your previous palace we hired another girl, I believe she is your friend?” I asked her as she nodded slightly. “Gerard and myself have agreed as you both have the same past, the similar age and are already friends you can share a chambers.” I noticed her smile, a genuine smile, and it made her even more beautiful. “Ivy is Gerard’s staff, however, you are mine. This means that you may not see as much of her during the day as you usually would, but, unless otherwise indicated the evenings are yours. As for leaving the grounds, you can go out for shopping and twice a month you have a free day, which is where you can go do what you wish, however, we require you to wear a device that shows us where you go.” I carried on, wishing I didn’t have to sound like a possessive weirdo. “We have had problems in the past involving staff trying to sell stories to the press. As much as I hate to say it, you belong to us and we will not run the risk any further.” I told her truthfully as I saw a frightened look on her face. “As you can probably tell we have a mixed house of staff, relationships between staff is forbidden in any way.” I paused for a moment to let everything settle in as I went to retrieve a file from the draw of my desk and walked round to hold it out to her. “This is a list of your duties and what is expected of you. You are dismissed from duties for the rest of the day to read over this.” I told her as she nodded her head once again. I waited a moment, just taking in her beauty before jumping into action and heading for the door, opening it slowly but she made no effort to move.
“Would you like me to show the young miss where her room is sir?” The same member of staff who greeted us offered as I shook my head at him.
“Lily if you would like to follow me?” I asked as she turned slowly and followed me out of the door.

Notes