A Test Of Fortitude
1187 Words
I have been thinking the whole night, yet I haven't figured out where I would go if Princess Lyna gets selected to become the wife of the Angel Kings and I get fired. Her father would be glad to banish me if I return to Silverthorn, that or he would turn me into a slave of his pack.
Maybe I should plead my case with the angel kings. So far I have met two and they were extremely rude. But I have endured rudeness before.
Are servants even allowed to write letters to them like princesses? I will have to ask my only friend Margret.
Lisa and Helen hold towels ready as a naked Princess Lyna emerges from the basin full of warm water and aromatic herbs.
Passing yesterday's test of loyalty seems to have revived her confidence. She stands in an elegant posture as Helen and Lisa wrap towels around her wet body and hair.
I grab a rug wipe all the water that has spilled on the floor while Helen and Lisa help the Princess dry her hair, oil her smooth skin and choose the best gown to wear.
Today is the first day of the full moon and a great feast has been prepared in celebration, Lyna must look most ravishing.
Helen carefully arranges several hair brushes, oils and pins to be used to style Lyna's hair. Lisa takes out two flowing dresses decorated with expensive pearls from the closet and holds them up for the princess to see.
Someone knocks on the door just as princess Lyna raises her hand to point at the dress she would like to wear.
"That might be Lady Doria." She gasps anxiously. "Hurry, let her in." She orders and I rush to open the door.
Lady Doria saunters into the room followed by a young servant girl carrying an old and wrinkled servant's uniform. We all bow our heads slightly in respect as Lady Doria halts at the centre of the room.
"Good morning, your highness Princess Lyna." Lady Doria greets.
Princess Lyna, still wearing nothing but the towels wrapped around her body, forges a smile. "Good morning M'lady."
"Silvia and I came to prepare you for today's test. I trust that you're still eager to prove your virtues to the angel kings, right?" She says and Lyna vigorously nods her head.
"Yes, I will prove that I am the best of all royal women. I will be a perfect wife for the great kings." She affirms.
Lady Doria appears pleased by the response. "I am assuming that you're aware of today's banquet. All the governors of our kingdom and friends of our kings are invited. You are allowed to attend so that your next virtue can be tested." She informs and Lyna appears more delighted than nervous.
"Will the angel Kings be there?" She inquires excitedly.
"They will attend the feast only later tonight. You're not allowed to approach them, not until your tests are over." Lady Doria answers.
She gestures at her servant girl who steps forward and holds out the wrinkled servant's uniform for Princess Lyna to take.
Lyna scowls, stepping back to put some space between herself and the servant.
"Take the uniform. You will dress like a servant today. You're expected to diligently serve the guests, wipe tables after they are done eating and keep your head bowed whenever one of our governors speaks to you." Lady Doria informs.
"What?!" Princess Lyna, Helen and Lisa gasps. I am not sure that the woman actually said what my ears heard either.
"I am a princess, how can you ask me to disgrace myself by acting like a pathetic servant?" Lyna asks hysterically.
"This is your today's test, I can only inform the council that you have declined to participate, which would be worse than failing." Lady Doria warns.
Princess Lyna gapes for a long moment, tears gathering in her eyes.
I can only imagine her pain. A Princess attending a great feast in servant's uniform is beyond humiliating. It will be even more embarassing if any of the guests recognises her. She will serve and bow respectfully to people beneath her royal status. It's unfair to make someone so refined to go through that. She doesn't have an option though.
"I cannot wear such a filthy thing! What if I get sick?" Lyna screams.
"The uniform was well cleaned and dried before being brought to you." Lady Doria assures. "Now hurry if you're coming with us. You must join our servants in the banquet hall before the first guests start arriving."
Princess Lyna hesitantly takes the uniform from the servant, appearing repulsed but desperate.
Lisa and Helen kindly takes the uniform from her hands and helps her put it on. It's ugly as expected. A tear falls from Princess Lyna's eyes when she glances at her reflection in the mirror.
"You're ready for the test now. Don't put anything extravagant on your hair, you must look and act like an actual servant." Lady Doria orders and the distressed princess grudgingly nods her head.
"My servant Silvia will put on one of your beautiful gowns and style her hair with golden beads. She will act like she is the princess of Silverthorn and will feast with the guests. You will act like her servant and tend to her every need. You should of course follow the orders of the other guests as well." Lady Doria states.
Princess Lyna shakes her head. "I . . .can't. My father will be so ashamed if he hears about it." She stutters in a pleading voice.
"He will be extremely proud if you get selected to marry the angel kings, think about that." Lady Doria replies encouragingly.
"Umm . . . sure." Lyna hesitantly accepts and Lady Doris's young servant girl gladly takes one of Lyna's exquisite dresses from Lisa.
"Help her put it on." Lady Doria orders our bewildered Princess. "You must act like her servant, remember?"
Lyna wears a disgusted look as she moves forward in her servant's uniform and tries to act like she is helping the girl put on the beautiful dress.
The servant girl excitedly slips on the dress without much help from Lyna, then moves to Lyna's full length mirror on the wall and smiles in exhilaration while staring at her reflection.
"Let's go. The first group of guests must have already entered the hall." Lady Doria urges and we all head out of the room. The servant in a princess's dress walks on the lead, looking eager to get to the banquet hall. Lyna follows in a slower pace, dreading every step towards our destination.
I no longer feel the desire to help her pass the tests, it doesn't benefit me in any way. I will in fact be fired unless I succeeded in pleading my case with the angel kings. If I am allowed the chance to do so, of course.
I brushed and styled my hair early today just so that I do not get into more trouble in case I run into one of the triplet angel kings.
- Writer
