"Eleanor." A voice cooed at me through the darkness. My mind was in the state between sleep and awake and it seemed to be slipping back to the sleeping side.

A violent shake tore my mind away from that place and yanked me into conciusness.

A groan left my mouth as my eyes shot open and blurred shapes began to dance in front of them. After a moment of fuzziness the shapes formed together into Lux's face.

She was standing over me, her hand on my shoulder.

"Are you awake?" She asked.

"Mhm." I nodded tiredly.

"Good, because it's time to get ready. It's your first day." She smiled meekly.

I groaned again and she gave me an aplogetic glance before taking my hand and pulling me up out of the bed.

"Now go brush your hair and teeth while I get your clothes." She prodded me along and I stumbled my way across the expanse of a room to the bathroom.

Remembering where the hair brush was from last night I ran it through my hair and then brushed my teeth.

I walked back out into the room and made my way towards the closet where Lux was laying out clothes on a blue circular chair in the middle of closet.

I approached the chair, glancing at what she had selected. I noticed black jeans like yesterday and a white tank top with thin straps. Next to that was a light blue and white checkered long sleeved shirt.

We didn't say anything as I began to change. Lux went over to the vanity in the closet and began to pull out a comb and some different bottles.

I pulled the blue and white shirt over my tank top and yanked on the boots I had worn yesterday.

After I was dressed I joined Lux at the vanity where I sat down on the stool as she did my hair the same way as she had done the previous day.

Once the little braid was pinned into place she spritzed me with a rose scented perfume.

"Okay, Shay should be outside now waiting." Lux said as I stood up from the plush stool.

"Thank you." I said to her as I left the room and reluctanly made my way to the hallway.

Just as Lux had said, Shay was leaning against the wall next to the door when I entered the hall.

"Good morning." He greeted sternly.

I nodded back at him.

Shay pushed himself off the wall and began to stride down the hallway. I followed suit, my arms folded tightly over my stomach.

"Are you giving me the silent treatment now?" Shay's voice said a little less stony.

I shurgged.

Honestly I didnt know. Yesterday morning and the night before he had been so friendly to me. Serious still but friendly. Though it was like he flipped a switch at dinner. He was rude and quite scary.

Just like the King, Shay had become another person. It seemed to me as if everyone here had two sides to them and it was only a matter of time before I figured them all out.

"I've been here what- maybe three, four days, and I dont know who's fake and who's real." I said finally.

Shay said nothing next to me but nodded his head once.

"Eleanor I can assure you I am very real but you must understand that I had to do what I was ordered. Sometimes Eleanor, even when we dont agree with things, it's better to keep our mouths shut and carry on." His voice held onto the more peacful tone.

Had he just admitted to me that he felt what Michael and the King had done was wrong?

I decided not to ask but pursed my lips instead.

"I forgive you." I sighed. "Just give me warning when you are about to shift into Minder Captain mode." I did air quotes around the last three words.

Shay chuckled quietly. "Yes."

I looked away from him, an almost smirk on my face. We had arrived at the King's chambers.

Doing as I was instructed last night, I scanned my I.D. card under the scanner and listened as a click sounded. I opened the door and let myself into his living quarters.

A maid was standing at attention near the door and so was a man in a tuxedo, a butler I assumed. Shay and I both stood in the entryway.

Moments later voices were heard coming closer to us and the two bodies turned the corner approaching us. King Blakesley and Michael.

King Blakesley was listening intentley as Michael read from a clipboard. The King nodded along until he glanced up, noticing mine and Shay's presence.

A dashing smile crossed his face and he widened his arms in welcome.

"Ah, Eleanor, good morning." He beamed at me.

I thought about correcting him on my name but decided against it, wanting to start the morning with him on a good note. Instead I just nodded in acknowledgement.

"Michael, we will finish this later, thank you." The king dismissed Michael and Michael shot me a glare on his way out. Shay gave me one quick nod in farwell and followed after Michael.

I shrugged it off.

"Now, I have written down a lists of tasks I wish for you to complete before dinner." The King handed me a small piece of paper. "Do not be late for dinner either." He almost smirked.

I raised an eyebrow in confusion, why was he smirking like that?

A question was about to slip off my tongue but before it had the chance King Blakesley whisked out the door, leaving me alone in the hallway.

"What?" I said in a high pitched, breathy voice.

The list in my hand was coverered in scrolly font and I began to read.

Retrieve laundry from basement. Water the flowers on the terrace. Take the stack of papers on the desk to the ballroom. See Lidah.

I let out an exasperated sigh.

How was I supposed to know whee any of this was?

I decided to go down the list and just figure it out.

I needed to get the laundry from the basement.

I left his room and began to walk down the hallway. I remebered when Shay gave me my tour yestrday that we went down a staircase into the servants quarters there were laundry baskets down there.

Making that my destination I followed the maze of halls to the mainroom, up the grand staircase, and past the dining room and down a flight of stairs to the kitchen. As I passed the long glass viewing window I saw Charlie and the female chef from yesterday cutting vegetables at a table. They looked up and waved at me as I walked and I gave a small smile that just barely showed my dimple and gave a small wave back.

Once past the kitchen I went down the hall until I heard voices and saw servants hustling about.

Some were pushing carts around while others carried boxes and baskets.

I didnt know who to ask for the laundry.

I stood awkwardly out of the way of the workers, watching them.

I was about to go ask a girl carrying a stack of towels when a mop of blondeish-brown curls caught my attention.

"Alfie!" I called and several heads around me shot up at my sudden vocal outburst. Alfie looked up as well, smiling when he saw me and walking over to me.

"Hey El!" He gave a grin.

"Hey." I half smiled back.

"What are you doing down here?" He asked.

"Um I need to get the King's laundry...but I dont know where to go." I admitted.

"Oh well, we can go ask." He nodded towards where an older woman with a cart was standing. I followed him along, my arms still across my stomach tightly.

"Excuse me." Alfie called at her and she turned around.

"Yes?" She said in a maternal manner. Her eyes were light blue and suited her dark complection well.

"I'm looking for the King's laundry to take up to his room?" I asked quietly.

"Sure dear, right this way." She smiled and walked to a samll room.

Aflie and I shared a glance at each other before following her.

The woman walked into a small closet where a cart was placed in the middle, piled high with clothes.

"I'm assuming you must be His Majesty's new servant?" She asked.

"Yes." I half smiled again.

"Well, it's lovely to meet you dear...?" She trailed off not knowing my name.

"El." I filled in.

"It's lovely to meet you El." She smiled. "Well here are His Majesty's clothes." She gestured to the cart with her slightly wrinkled hands.

"Thank you." I smiled at her and took the cart handle, rolling it out.

I rolled the cart a few feet down the hall.

"Thanks for the help." I said to Alfie.

"No problem." He waved it aside. "Is this your first official day or something?"

"Is is that obvious?" I grimaced.

"Yes." Alfie chuckled.

I shook my head as a little laugh escaped me.

"Great. Well I guess i'll take these back to his room. See you later Alfie." I sighed.

"See ya' El." He waved and walked down the servants hall.

I turned back and began the journey back to the King's chambers.

The cart was light despite the amount of clothes it held and was easy to manuver, which was great for me since there were so many corners.

I was doing just fine until I reached the stairs. There was no way I was going to be able to get this cart up a flight of stairs.

The thought of turning back was sounding like a great idea until I noticed two shiny, metal doors to my right. A lift.

Internally cursing myself for my lack of observation skills, I rolled the cart over and pressed the sliver button. A few moments later the doors slid open and I rolled cart inside, pressing the button for the next floor.

The ride was short and I arrived on the next floor in seconds.

I rolled the cart back to The King's chambers and let myself in again, setting the cart by the door.

"Next, water the plants on the terrace." I read aloud to myself from the list.

I ventured further into the room and walked into a lounge room bigger than the room I had. A chandelier the size of my bed hung from the ceiling. The walls were painted cream with red accents everywhere. The wooden floors were stained black but a white fur rug was placed in the center. Two red sofas rested in the center of the room with a short, circular, black cofee table between them.

Beyond the lounge room was a floor to ceiling window that followed the length of the wall. Outside I could see a balcony. That must be the terrace.

I made way to the door that led out to the terrace and let myself outside.

It was beautiful.

Several pots of pink roses lined the side of the balcony and ivy grew in think vines up the side of the walls and over the white, stone railing.

A red watering can hid in the corner and I picked it up and much to my luck it had water in it.

I watered the roses, admiring the pink petals that looked so delicate. They looked so well cared for it made me smile a little.

When I was done watering the roses I put the watering can back where I found it and went back inside.

The next task on my list was to take the stack of papers on the desk to the ballroom.

Now where was the desk.

I tapped a finger to my lip as I looked around the room trying to find it. Past the lounge room and across from the dining room was a set of French doors. One of the doors was slightly ajar revealing what looked like bookcases.

An office?

I made my way to the doors and crept inside.

Bookcases lined the walls and a black polished desk rested in the middle of the room. The floors were white marble and a cherry red rug was under the desk.

Even the office matched the theme of the lounge room.

I shook my head I walked closer to the desk. Several stacks of papers and files were assembled on the desk.

The note said to take "the" stack, which one was I supposed to take?

With closer inspection of the desk I tried to identify the papers I was supposed to take. One seemed to be of Minder's operations and I could see Shay's name on the top paper. Another one said "Closed File" on top and I didn't touch it out of my best interest and another few stacks were just random lists and instructions that I didn't understand.

I sighed out of frustration and grabbed the stack closest to the edge of the desk. If he wanted the proper stack delivered to the ballroom then he should have been more specific.

Rolling my eyes I tromped from the office and out of his chambers and all the way to the main room. I had seen the doors to the ballroom when I first entered the Castle a few days ago. It was to the left through a set of wide french doors.

The ballroom was massive like everything else in the castle. The light salmon pink colored walls were covered in fleur-de-lis designs. The white marble floor was so polished I could see my reflection.

Two staircases wound up the walls to a balcony that met in the middle and overlooked the ballroom, just like the main room.

But what really took my breath away was the chandelier bigger than any I had ever seen. It's radiance gleamed and sparkled over the whole room.

Despite the grandeur of the room it was completely empty and eerie. I noticed a tall, circular bar table by the wall and went to place the stack of papers there.

I said a silent prayer of hope that these were the correct papers and then turned to leave.

I had only taken a step when I noticed someone standing by the door with their arms crossed over their chest casually.

Theo.