I slowly get used to the life of a maid in the following days – Alba give me my tasks in the morning, and either independently, or with the company of other maids, I work through the day. None of my chores afford me the opportunity to catch another glimpse of the princess, much to my dismay, and I know I cannot rely on Maria's kindness a second time. Instead, I follow instructions, work diligently, and pray that Alba will allow me to pass the probationary period as quickly as possible.

An exact week after beginning my maid duties at Esterpool, I arrive back to the maid's living quarters after the sun has set. Sweat clings onto the fabric of my gown, and my body aches from the physical labor of my chores. I think embarrassingly how bending and twisting has made me more sore than any sparring session with Kiana. I suppose that is why she is the one in Magewell, and not me.

When I return to my room, I am relieved to see that Maria has not yet returned, no doubt finishing her last chores of the day. I turn on the lamp to bring some brightness into the room and climb up the rickety ladder of the bunk bed. My body instantly collapses into the mattress, as hard and uncomfortable as it is. I cradle my legs to my body as exhaustion takes over, and I think how easy it would be to fall asleep right here, still in my maid uniform, before I've even had a chance to bathe for the evening.

Staring through the bars of my bed railing, I notice a sealed envelope on the dresser where I keep my belongings. I sit up and descend the ladder, retrieving the envelope from the dresser's surface. My stomach drops. The letter is addressed to me, and though the sender is an unfamiliar name – Elsie Holland – the handwriting is no doubt my mother's. I debate reading the contents of the letter the following morning when I am more alert, but I know I will be plagued by curiosity all night if I don't read its contents immediately. I exit my room, beginning to scour the living area for a letter opener. Zofia is seated on a nearby couch, sewing by the fireplace.

"Are you all right, Fe?" she asks when she sees me lingering around.

"Do we have a letter opener by chance?" I wonder.

"Oh. That's right. The mail came today. Maria placed a letter for you in your room."

I bite back my tongue to thank her for stating the obvious. "Yes. I've found the letter. Do we have an opener? I don't want to disrupt the contents," I say.

"Oh? A letter from your lover back home?" Zofia asks teasingly.

I roll my eyes, intent on tearing the room upside down if Zofia does not give me the answer I am looking for. Thankfully, she does not beat around the bush much longer.

"It's the third or second drawer on the right side of the kitchen," Zofia says at last. "Maria sometimes moves it around."

I nod and retrieve the opener in the place described. I think that perhaps Zofia does not despise me as much as I previously conceived given her honesty. However, I figure she most likely does not want me to linger in her company much longer, so I do not test the waters.

"Thank you," I say simply to her. With the letter in one hand and opener in the other, I make my way back to my room.

"I hope the letter is as romantic as you wished!" Zofia shouts. Her words echo down the hall, but I ignore them and quickly make my way to my room, hoping to read the letter in its entirety before Maria arrives home. My hands shake as I remove the letter from the envelope. I take a deep breath before slowly unfurling the piece of parchment, and my eyes scan the letter under the lamplight:

Dearest Fe,

How is Esterpool? I am still thrilled to know that you are serving Princess Asteria. The service you performed for my grandparents when they were still living was always above and beyond. I am sure they would be overjoyed to know that you are continuing your maid profession in such an important role.

Truly though, the reason I write is that I am worried. I have not heard from you since you began your new role, though you promised to write me. My other Landiani friend, Haukea, who now serves as a soldier in Magewell, has still managed to send me a letter despite her busy schedule.

I would be happy to visit you if writing does not suit you. If I do not hear from you in the next week's time, I will plan to travel to Esterpool to see you. After all, there is so much to catch up on, I am sure.

Please return my letter soon!

Best wishes,

Elsie Holland

I fold the letter away slowly. While the contents were kept vague and brief in case of mail tampering, my mother's annoyance shines clearly through the wording. I have no doubt that Kiana is already writing her, though I am certain she has not had to face as many obstacles as I have. I ponder how I will respond when so far I have not even made contact with the princess.

I decide it is a matter for tomorrow and carefully tuck the letter underneath a pair of shirts in my clothes drawer. I pray that a good night's sleep will allow me to think of a response that will soothe my mother enough to discourage a visit.

I hear footsteps approaching down the hall, thankful that Maria returned home after I read the letter. I turn and open my mouth, ready to welcome her back, but Alba appears in my doorframe instead.

"A-Alba!" I stammer, quickly standing upright.

"Miss Fe, is now a good time?" she wonders.

"Y-Yes. I was finishing reading a letter, but I am no longer occupied," I say.

"Good," Alba says. She slowly closes the door behind her, and I gulp. Is it possible my identity has already been discovered? Did she get ahold of the letter before me? No, that would be impossible since the letter had been untampered and there were no contents that would draw suspicion. Perhaps she is dismissing me instead? The thoughts run anxiously through my head as I wait for Alba to speak. As always, her facial expression is lifeless, giving me no indication as to the nature of her visit.

"Miss Fe, congratulations. You have passed the probationary period," Alba announces.

I exhale in relief and grasp onto the dresser's corner behind me. "I did?"

Alba nods. "You have worked tenaciously this past week. Normally I would require another week of duties, but you have caught on well, and you've excelled in your solo duties. I think you would be a valuable addition to the princess's entourage."

"T-Thank you," I say. Suddenly, I am thrilled at the prospect of writing my mother. If she hears the good news, perhaps she will no longer have a reason to visit me. Perhaps she will even be proud.

"You are not retiring for the evening just yet, are you?" Alba asks.

"No," I respond.

"I would like you to meet the princess immediately," Alba says.

"A-Are you sure? I don't want to inconvenience Her Highness, especially if she is preparing for bed," I state.

"Once I shared with the princess that you would make a good fit, she demanded to meet you as soon as possible. You are still in uniform for the day, so I see no reason for us to wait. Follow me. I'll show you to the princess's quarters," Alba announces.

I nod and quickly follow behind her. As I pass through the main living area, I see Zofia and Arabelle, who has since arrived home, raise their eyebrows at me. They must assume that I am being scolded by Alba. How angered they will be to know that I have a permanent spot among them now.

The walk back to the main building of the estate is easy since I have memorized the path by now, but as we ascend the steps, Alba turns left for the very first time, into the west corridor of the estate. We head down a long hallway until we reach a pair of heavy wooden doors with golden doorknobs. From her pockets, Alba retrieves a key and slips it into the lock.

"Is the princess locked in this part of the estate?" I ask.

"It is purely precautionary," Alba responds as she opens the door to let me through. "The princess does not go anywhere, even inside this building, without a guard or maid to accompany her. I'll give you your own set of keys tomorrow."

I think how sad it is must be to be locked inside such a grand building, but I remember that I am the reason the corridor is being kept locked in the first place. Now is no time to feel pitiful toward a princess whose family I am going to destroy in a matter of months.

The hallway we walk down is more ornate than the rest of the building. The wallpaper is brighter, the carpet is cleaner, and royal artifacts line the halls, worth much more money than I am sure I will ever see in their lifetime. Alba gestures toward an open door on the left that makes way into a large bedroom.

"That is where I sleep," Alba states. "The head maid's sleeping quarters are directly across from the princess's so that I can be at her disposal whenever needed."

I nod, having known that Alba always resided in then main building, but never quite knowing exactly where. We turn a corner, and there is another grand set of cherry oak doors. This must be the princess's bedchambers. For some reason, my throat goes parched, and my palms begin to sweat as I think of how my first meeting with the princess will transpire. I have heard so many descriptions of her that I have no idea what to expect.

Alba knocks softly against the doors. "Princess? May I come in?"

"You may," comes a soft, feminine voice on the other side of the door. Her voice is smooth like silk. The tone is rather comforting.

Alba once more unlocks the door. This time, we enter the princess's bedroom. I step inside behind Alba, shocked by the magnitude of her bedchambers. The princess does not merely have a bedroom; there are multiple rooms connected together into one large living space. We enter into what appears to be a sitting area, filled with comfortable looking furniture, expensive vases, and beautiful portraits. I am willing to bet the adjacent rooms are her bedchamber and bathing area.

As I glance around at the décor of the living area, my eyes suddenly fall on the princess, who is seated gracefully on one of the couches. While I had gotten a glimpse of her a few days prior in the garden, my view through the window pales in comparison to meeting Princess Asteria in person. She is dressed for bed; her expensive gown is replaced with a silk purple nightgown, and her normally long, flowing hair is tied neatly into braids. Regardless, she still looks as beautiful as the day I first caught sight of her in the garden. Her blue eyes fixate on mine, and I grow quiet, suddenly unsure of what to say or do.

"Princess Asteria, this is your new maid, Fe. She is from Landiani and recently served in Magewell," Alba announces.

I am still frozen, staring at the princess. It is not until Alba clears her throat that I snap back into reality and curtsy toward the princess. "Princess Asteria, it is an honor to serve you," I say.

"Likewise, it is an honor to meet you," Asteria responds, dipping her head toward me. "I apologize that I am not dressed up properly. I appreciate you visiting me after your duties for the day."

"It is not an inconvenience at all," I say. "I have been looking forward to finally making your acquaintance."

"Alba has told me you have been working well in your duties. I am glad to have finally met you. I have heard so much about you already," Asteria says, which sends a warmth to my cheeks that I silently curse myself for. "What will she assist me with, Alba?"

"Only small duties for the time being," Alba responds. "We will cycle her through with the other maids. Of course, you are always welcome to call upon her at your leisure, Princess."

Asteria nods thoughtfully. "Has the adjustment been difficult, Fe? I know Esterpool is smaller than Magewell."

"Compared to my hometown of Otakoro, this is not small at all," I respond. "It is quite beautiful out here."

"I think so, too," Asteria replies. "Magewell was always too cramped for my liking anyway. It is much more peaceful in Esterpool, I've found."

I open my mouth, wanting to continue our conversation, but Alba interrupts me suddenly.

"Well, we do not want to keep you, Princess. Fe will be ready to serve you in the morning," Alba says.

Asteria nods and looks at me once more. "It was nice meeting you, Fe. I'll see you tomorrow."

I nod, curtsy once more to the princess, and exit the princess's quarters with Alba. As Alba accompanies me out of the west corridor, she speaks.

"Did you find the princess to your liking?" Alba asks.

I nod, as there would be no other appropriate response for me to share. The truth is that princess was nothing but pleasant in the brief time we interacted. I almost wish she had spoken to me as rudely as the other maids I live with, who seem not to care about my existence altogether. It would make my hatred toward her and her relatives more justified. However, I cannot deny her attentiveness towards me, which has not been very common in those who have greeted me in Esterpool thus far. I felt surprisingly welcome.

"I will give you your keys tomorrow. We'll adjust you slowly into the princess's routine," Alba explains. She halts at the doors separating the western corridor from the rest of the estate. "I hope you will serve the princess honorably, Fe. This is quite an important position," Alba says. Though there is no malice in her tone, her words almost feel like a warning.

"I shall," I say.

With that, we part, and I return to my quarters for the night. Maria is eager to hear that my probationary period is over, and we chat briefly over my excitement of finally being able to serve the princess before we both head to bed.

When I wake in the morning, the sun has barely risen. I tiptoe out of my bedroom while the other maids sleep and begin to compose a letter to my mother in the quiet of the kitchen. The contents are brief, but I do my best to assure her that I have only just met the princess and am only now beginning my mission.

Before Alba can come deliver my keys for the day, I slip the letter into the mailbox at the back entrance of the estate, hoping the contents will soothe my mother temporarily.