Chapter Three

     Juliette placed the comb on her bed as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.

Her curly golden hair cascaded down her waist, its color accentuating the rosy blush of her cheeks.

It's been three days since she moved into the castle and she couldn't help but miss her old farm house. Her aunt was very kind to her to offer her a room inside the castle. She was also thankful for Prince Maximus's permission since her aunt had told her that hadn't it been for him, she wouldn't have been able to reside there.

Juliette sighed. She wondered what had her aunt done to the prince. She knew that no one has ever entered the castle's boundaries without owing him something. She tried offering her aunt help with the maid work, but her aunt insisted that she needs some rest.

She put the comb inside her small drawer and then tied her hair with a pink ribbon. She then took the apron that hung behind the door and tied it firmly around her waist.

Ever since she has arrived, her aunt's friend, Meredith, had shown her around the maids building. There were at least two thousand maids working inside the gigantic building and it was so hard not to get lost inside. Her favorite place, the kitchen, was as thrice as big as her farm house and she found herself lingering there and helping the chef–whom she made acquaintance with thanks to Meredith– every time her aunt headed for her work.

She closed her eyes as she allowed the sweet aroma of bakeries welcome her senses.

"Juliette!" She smiled as she heard Gregg's friendly salute. He's been her only friend since her stay.

"I see you've come early," he grinned, his dimples deepening with his smile. Gregg was a handsome man- for a chef. When people spoke of a chef, she imaged a burly stout man with a giant mustache so when a tall good looking man with auburn hair introduced himself as the chef, she couldn't help but gap a little. She felt a faint blush taint her cheeks as she remembered her embarrassing moment.

"Aunt Mabel left early," She said softly, her eyes avoiding meeting his. "So I thought of helping you since I have nothing else to do." Gregg could never miss the overwhelming shyness Juliette had, so he spoke to her very delicately as she seemed as fragile as a little rose.

"Allow me to serve you today." He winked. She was red all over. His smile widened. "I've made éclairs." He mentioned for her to wait as she looked at him questionably, and disappeared in the back of the kitchen.

Juliette fumbled with her apron as she waited for Gregg to return. Living inside her modest farm house has made her excluded from the world. She wasn't aware of many things, and she felt a bit naive when Gregg would talk to her about all kind of things. He had introduced her to many new meals and desserts and he even taught her how to make butter biscuits on the very first day of their meeting.

"For you, m'lady." He placed the plate on the counter in front of her. She felt her cheeks burn again as she examined the small desert in front of her. "That's–that's éclait?"

"Éclair." He chuckled. "It's a very famous french dessert, and it was the late King's favourite." He continued, whipping flour off his hands with a small towel.

"What's your favourite?" She asked wanting the change the subject. She took one and turned it over, gazing at the chocolate at the bottom.

"Ah, now that's a hard question." He placed his hand beneath his chin and pretended to be deep in thought. She giggled a bit as he hummed.

"I'd say, petits four. They're kinda like, butter biscuits but better. You'll see, I'll make them for you one day. Take a bite now, won't you?" And so she did. She gasped a bit as the cream inside melted in her mouth.

"Oh Gregg, it's lovely." He curtsied for her in amusement.

"Anything for little Juliette."

"Thank you, Gregg." She answered shyly as he dismissed a cook asking for an ingredient. She swallowed another bite.

"Now we only need to find your favorite dessert."  She gestured to her plate.

"I think I've already found mine!" He shook his head.

"Now, now don't be so hasty. There's still so many kinds of desserts that I'm going to show you,"  He inclined his head as he remembered her mention of loving baking when they first met. "And teach you." He went on as he grabbed the huge bowl he left aside on her entering the kitchen and started mixing the batter.

"What about the prince?" She found herself asking.

"What about he?" he answered, his eyes never leaving the bowl.

"What's his favorite dessert?" 

"As much as I know," He shook the bowl and added another portion of flour to the mixture. "The head of his enemies -or whoever defies him really- on a silver plate." She let out a gasp at his reply. He glanced at her direction in amusement and mentioned that he's joking. She didn't know why she had a feeling he wasn't.

Just as she was about to comment, a man with expensive looking clothing entered the kitchen. The kitchen–which was buzzing with noise– went deadly silent within minutes. Terrified and sensing something is wrong, Juliette straightened her posture and stared at the angry looking man.

"May I know what is taking very long to finish the King's feast?! King Maximus' guests have been waiting for half an hour! " He bellowed, his face red and furious. Juliette flinched.

The man seemed to be at least fifty years old, Juliette calculated. He was short and bald, and a large dark mustache that matched his thick eyebrows made him look scary as ever.

"I thought you said you need it to be done at noon. It is 10 o'clock." The man flared his nose at Gregg's response.

"Don't talk back to me, boy. I'll bring you back to that filthy place where you cam–"

"We can serve them a modest temporary breakfast while we finish the feast." The cook that talked to Gregg earlier suggested. The man took a few seconds to reply as he considered the cook's offer.

"Temporary breakfast...hum..Alright." He grunted as he eyed the large trays of sweets placed on a wooden table. "Take this towards the dining hall right this moment. You would be all lucky if the King doesn't dismiss you for good today. Lazy, lazy workers." He mumbled the last bit to himself. The sound of shuffling was heard as all the female maids started holding the trays.

"And you, girly over there. What do you think you're doing?!" She jumped as his malicious eyes settled on her. "Go hold a tray like the rest of the maids!" He ordered as he took a sweet from a maids tray and took a bite. She flushed in embarrassment.

"You all would have been dead haven't I intervened." He spoke proudly. She realized she hated this man.

"Go!" He mentioned at the trays as he yelled at her.

Gregg gave her a sympathetic look as she looked at him a final glance. She understood. There was nothing he could do.

She looked down nervously and moved towards the sea of maids and grabbed a tray big enough to hold with both of her hands. Her hands trembled and anxiety started to built inside of her as she followed the maids in front of her.

She looked down at the tray, her reflection somewhat visible in between the small spaces dividing the sweets. Light flicked across the tray and she thought for a second of Gregg's comment.

Maybe Prin– King Maximus does like having his enemies heads served as desert.

Maybe he preferred them to be on silver trays instead of plates.

She was heading for her death, she feared.

. . . . .

Hello my loves,
I've missed you !
What do you think will happen with innocent Juliette in the next chapter?
Please let me know what you think through the comments (they are highly important to me) and mostly importantly vote! (Please, please, please!) I'd really appreciate it! As it makes me motivated to continue!
I love you all ♥
Take care,
–Theladyandthefox