The next morning i was standing in a semicircle with a few other girls. All the new hires. Ms Clouse clapped her hands signaling the starting of the meeting. First thing she did was give us a uniform with one spare. We should wash the uniforms at the laundry facilities. She went over meal times. And that we should keep our rooms neat and tidy. She gave us each a map of the palace. It was great because i was sure i was going to get lost.

       Then she went over jobs. "Your roomates are your partners. They have been here longer and can help show you the ropes. Each of you will have a basket of things you'll need to clean things. Keep it well stocked." My job was to clean the library. Then clean the formal living room. And then finish helping Winnie clean the rooms. She explained what each job entailed so we wouldn't miss anything. 

                "And above all else. Keep to yourselves. If a royal family member enters a room you are cleaning, leave and return to it at a later time." She said. "And whatever you do, don't speak to them!" She said. She went over a few other things from the job, handed us a manual with commonly asked questions and let us go. I'd read the whole thing later. I was a rule follower and i liked to be good at my job.

       We quickly headed to the kitchen for breakfast. I was excited to start the new job. I felt like this would be good. I didn't know a lot of things yet though. Like were we allowed to leave the palace? How did we get places? What did we do in our free time? Hopefully the book would answer all of my questions.

     I found a seat next to Winnie. Breakfast was delicious. The royal chef cooked it. It was the same thing every day though. Grits and oatmeal with a fruit bar. We could make smoothies with it as well. Toast eggs and bacon. Sausage and pancakes as well. But i feel like i could never eat the same thing every day. I saw into the kitchen the food being made for the royal family it looked fancy and really good.

        "So how's your first day going so far?" Asked Winnie. "Well i put on this uniform and it's a little to small. They have to order me a bigger size." I sighed. "What?" She asked confused. "Yea, i'm tall. So it's a little short. And i have more going on up here than this uniform really allows." I said. "Oh don't be embarrassed my first uniform swallowed me whole! It kept falling off! So i was trying to dust while keep this thing up. It's seriously par for the course." She said.

        "I guess so. I just have more questions than answers at this moment." I said sighing. "Such as?" "Well are we allowed to leave?" I asked. "Yes but we have a strict curfew. You have to show your i.d. at the servants entrance when leaving and entering. You must be back my nine. Even on weekends cause you know we don't get weekends off." She said.

          "What if we need time off? How does that work?" I asked. "Well then they will find somebody to fill in for you. Then you can have those many days off and leave if you need. How do we go places?" I asked. She shrugged. "You just call a taxi. Most of them take your card these days so you don't need cash or whatever. Oh and this may seem like a dumb thing to need to say but you can't wear your maids uniform off sight." She said. "Oh, that makes sense. What about our free time if we don't leave the palace?" I asked. "Well then we just hang out in our rooms. There is a small room at the end of the hall between the boys wing and ours that we can hang out in. It has couches and stuff so we can mingle with the boys. Speaking of boys..." She said.

       "What?" I asked. "I don't want to alarm you, but...Carter is watching you." She said. "Carter?" I asked. "You know blonde guy, preppy all around and has those delicious dimples." I laughed. "I know who he is. I'm just surprised he's looking at me." I said. She shrugged. "Why? You're cute, and i think that uniform is working for you." She giggled. I didn't understand at all. She was this beautiful Goddess i mean she couldn't seriously be a model. "What about you?" I asked. "Oh, i don't have a boyfriend. Dating the footmen is kind of frowned upon. They didn't come right out and say we couldn't date them but they do discourage it." She said.

          "Gotcha." I finished my toast and bacon because it was time to get to work. I pulled the folded up map out of my pocket. The first place i was supposed to clean was the Library. My crate was already stocked. Which would make replacing the cleaning supplies easier later. I followed the directions to the library and then pushed open the huge wooden door.

         The library was beautiful. It had large wooden tables with gorgeous ornate wooden chairs. High backed with a delicious purple velvet. The tall windows were stained glass and let it ample amounts of lighting. The  colors were vibrant against the dark wood walls. The bookshelves were lined with tons of leather bound books. There were stacks of books on the tables that royal family members had borrowed. 

             I was supposed to return each book to its correct location. That in itself took a bit because i wasn't entirely sure how the books were set up. When i was finished i was supposed to dust everything. Wipe down the tables and then clean the floors. Easy enough. I came out from behind the bookshelf and stopped in my tracks. A royal. I was supposed to leave. We had been briefed on everybody that would frequent the palace. It was a lot. I knew King Grifold And Queen Layla. There one and only son and heir to the throne Prince Cedric who was the Royal that just entered the library.

            He took a seat he opened a book that he had brought with him. Crap. I was supposed to leave. But how was i going to sneak out without being seen. I took a tentative step out from behind the bookcase. Maybe i could just sneak out? The old wooden floors creaked when i took a step. I shut my eyes. Maybe he wouldn't see me? 

            "Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't realize anyone else was in here." He looked at me. I didn't say anything. "Um, are you alright there?" He asked. I wasn't speaking because i was told not not. But not speaking just seemed rude even to him. "Yes, no everything is alright i'm sorry. It's my first day and i'm just trying to do a good job." I said.

            "Well you put the books up far faster than the last maid if that makes you feel any better." He said grinning. Did it make me feel better? No not really. But his beautiful smile didn't hurt. Lady Esmeralda was a lucky lady indeed. "Oh, well thank you. I'm sorry. I don't mean to be in your way." I said. "Nonsense. You aren't in my way at all. It looks like i'm in your way. Shall i go?" He asked. "No, no i should go. I was told to go." I said.

             "I'll let you in on a little secret." He said. "Nobody really comes in here but me. "It gets dreadfully lonely. Tell you what, you keep on cleaning and we'll both stay." "Are you sure?" I asked. Was he allowed to do that? Oh he was the prince, of course he was. "I'm sure." He said. So i started wiping down the tables. When i got to his he lifted his book. 

           "So how do you like working here?" He asked. "Well so far i'm liking it." I said. "What would you rather be doing?" He asked. "Rather be doing?" I asked. He grinned. "Come on, nobody wants to clean up after spoiled royals. Well it's certainly not there first choice." He said.

            "You are right. I wanted to go into international relations." I said. "Woah, that's a big degree." He said. "It is, but i just felt led to do it." I said. "So are you finished with school or?" He trailed off. "I am not, things happened and i had to drop out for the time being." I said. I got out the mop i was supposed to use. It had a flat pad. The cleaning stuff was supposed to shine up the floors beautifully but what did i know.

          "I'm so sorry to hear that. I do so hope you will be able to continue your degree at some point." He said. "Me too, perhaps while i'm here i can enroll in some online classes." I said. "I always thought i'd like to give college a whirl but i don't suppose there is much point as i shall take over for my father soon." He said.

          "Can i ask you something?" I asked. "Sure, i asked you something it's the least you can do." "I'm told you're going to marry Lady Esmeralda. Are you ready to do that?" I asked. He chuckled. "Who i marry is up to me. My family thinks she will make an excellent Queen one day. So yes they are pushing for that but...never mind." He said shaking his head. "No, no what is it?" I asked.

          "Well it's just that i'm not at liberty to discuss this with you." "Oh because i'm a maid no, you are so right. I overstepped. I am sorry." He put his hand up to stop me. "It's me, i started it. I just feel like i can talk to you." He said. I understood it i truly did.

            "I am just not sure that she is the one i want to marry just yet. I am torn between my country and my want of love." He said. "You do not love her." I said. "No, not yet. And i'm not saying i couldn't one day it's just right now i feel like i could love...somebody else. She's nice i suppose i just don't know if her and i are a match." He finally admitted. "Well your secret is safe with me and just for the record. You should go for love. It's beautiful. Someone you love with everything you have would do anything for you. And you can trust them with everything. You can laugh with them and just be comfortable and you just know in your heart that it's right." I sighed dreamily. 

              "Have you been in love?" He asked. "No not yet i'm afraid but it sounds so magical i cannot wait to be in love. I've seen my grandparents in love so i know it exist." "And your parents?" He asked.

              "My mother died when i was quite young." I said. "Oh i am so sorry." He frowned. "It's okay, i hear she was a wonderful person." I said. What did you say to that? I guess just it's okay. I finished up the mopping and i was done. "I...uh it was nice talking with you." I said turning to go. "Wait a moment. What is your name?" He asked. "Oh, uh it's Alex." I said. "Nice to meet you Alex." He said. I curtsied as i was taught to do. I hadn't thought to do it earlier because i was trying to hide.

          I made quick work of the living quarters and then went to find Winnie. She only had a few rooms left. We made quick work and then went to find lunch in the kitchen. "How was your first day?" She asked. "Good!" I didn't tell her about meeting Prince Cedric because i didn't want to get into trouble. Not that she would tell on me, she seemed nice. But we only just met. "I think you're gonna like it here." She smiled at me.