A head full of bouncy blonde curls made their way up the stairs, and into the royal quarters. She kneeled down, careful to keep her eyes on the carpet, finding shapes and patterns among the intricate weaving. She carefully placed the tray on the end table, and set about readying the tea with the right amounts of sugar. The cup on the right, which was filled with bizarre tea leaves that made the tea a strange turquoise blue, had to be made with almost double the amount of sweeteners as the green cup on the left. Fumbling slightly Annabeth adjusted the kettle, careful to not touch anything but the handle.
"Um… hello?" A startled voice called from the door behind her. Annabeth leaped to her feet, and curtsied clumsily to the man standing in front of her. She hates this, hates the embarrassment that always makes her feel like a lesser human being around these kinds of people.
"I'm sorry your highness, I didn't mean to intrude, I was just setting up for your tea with his majesty, the king." She explained, still staring at the ground to exude humility. Striding forward, Prince Percy of Seachester, snatched a pastry off the plate with a grin towards his bashful new maid. Each and every maid that was every assigned to him was like this dainty and innocent, like that would somehow be able to help her survive against Percy's antics. Every maid knew it was a challenge upon walking in, often regarded as a punishment as no maid ever moved on, the majority of them quit or were fired. Being a maid was a challenge, on a daily basis, and housekeeping was just the start of it, the title would more aptly be personal assistant. She had been tasked with keeping Percy out of trouble, making sure he actually showed up at his appointments, and most importantly telling Queen Amphitrite at the first sign of him causing mischief, especially if it involved a girl.
"You're not from Electria, are you?" He guessed, falling graceless on the velvet love seat, kicking his feet up on the coffee table. Annabeth flinched at the gesture. "What?" He asked, around the cookie in his mouth. Crumbs flew out of him mouth at awkward angles, and Annabeth can't help but feel a little sick.
"Nothing your highness." She lied, knowing already that housekeeping will be a hell of a lot harder on this one than any of the previous clients. He raised an eyebrow and leaned forward with a thoughtful expression on his face.
"You can tell me the truth, you know, I'm not a huge believer in formalities." He shrugged, and brushed his too long hair out of his eyes. It's a miracle Queen Amphitrite hadn't chopped it all off in his sleep. Annabeth fixed her gaze on the carpet once again. Meek and Humble Annabeth, you are meek and humble.
"Nothing, your highness, just… I know you've been in the stables all day and…" She trailed off, knowing it was not her place to criticize her superiors for putting their shoes on the coffee table, even if she would have to scrub the table clean the moment he leaves the room. The Prince's expression changed almost instantly. He immediately swept his feet off the table and dropped them on the ground with a thud.
"Sorry, I didn't even think about the fact that you'll have to clean it up after I leave." He apologized, kicking off his boots in the process, and placing them beside the door. Hmm, Annabeth had served for all lot of people over the last three years of being a maid, and almost every one of them had been stuck up pigs, it had been her silent opinion that all nobles were. "Are you new?" He wondered; tilting his head and shaking his hair out of his vision, he must do that a lot. A flash of bright green peeked through the dangling fringe as he grinned up at her, at ease and on top of the world, just like the prince he is.
"I've been working for the Seachester royal family for the last few years but I'm new to your party." She explained, standing and edging to the door. She had spent the last few years catering to various passing nobles (insert eye roll here), and she should be thrilled to get this 'promotion'.
"I'll never understand why I go through maids so quickly." Percy mused, and she couldn't help but let a snort escape at that utterly ridiculous comment. Her eyes widened and a blush rose on her cheeks when she realized that the Prince had heard. He picked his head and up raised an eyebrow.
"I'm sorry your highness… allergies," She lied, forcing a smile. He laughs jovially before relaxing into the couch.
"Relax, even I know how ridiculous that sounded, and I thought I told you that I hate formalities, call my Percy." He ordered, before popping another cookie into his mouth. Glancing down at his lean shape, she had to wonder how he could eat this much. He grinned when he caught her staring and she resolutely glanced away, focusing back on the carpet, the bright yellows and oranges every present in Electria. Personally, she was partial to the blues and greens of Seachester, but she grew up in one of the border towns, so she absorbed a bit of both cultures. Technically, she was from Seachester, but she traveled with her father a lot growing up, spending a lot of time migrating around through all three kingdom divisions. Cursing a little she tucked a stray curl behind her ear. Maids were never supposed to wear our hair loose, it wouldn't be proper, and even though she knew Percy would never care about something so frivolous, the Queen would. It's a wonder if he got any of Amphitrite's genes at all. Which may very well be the reason behind the vicious gossip in the court when the royals backs' were turned.
"Sure, Percy," She forced a smile, even though the word gets all jumbled in her mouth, scraping its way up her throat. Percy grinned at her before jumping to his feet and pulling his sneakers and coat on.
"See you…" He trailed off and cocked his head, realizing that he didn't know her name.
"Annabeth," She filled in, smiling a little once again before glancing down at her feet. Her ballet flats are really impractical for the lifestyle she lived, but it's another one of those ridiculous modesty and chastity things.
"See you around Annabeth," He grinned, before shrugging his coat on and starting out his door. "I have the feeling this is going to work out really well."
A/N: I have the next chapter ready to go, but I want to gauge the interest, so make sure you show it.