Snowflakes
Claudia stopped and checked her surroundings. Of course. Just as she had feared, she had gotten lost in her thoughts and had actually ended up getting lost.
She looked around her, trying to see if she recognized anything. Unfortunately, she didn't see anything that told her of her current location in the town.
She sighed, but quickly jerked her head up, alert. Two tough looking Pokemon were walking her way. They seemed like their only intent was to mug her, a stupid servant who had wandered into thug territory carrying weeks' worth of food.
Luckily, a voice from behind her saved her from having to break a few bones.
"Oh, Claudia! Is that you!? Oh, over here, darling!"
Claudia spun around to look at the owner of the feminine voice she had heard. A Frostlass was quickly approaching her, an almost lustful glint in her eyes.
Claudia recognized her as Lady Glacia, the royal fortune teller. She was an...interesting sort. She didn't fear Claudia. In fact, she frequently sought Claudia out, purposefully asking for her services so that she could fuss over her and treat her like a child. She just loved talking to Claudia about all sorts of gossip (none of which Claudia actually cared about), make her try on all sorts of beautiful, foreign dresses that she had acquired on her travels (all of which Claudia thought didn't suit her), and generally turn her into a little plaything, amused as much as a little girl playing with a doll.
Claudia didn't mind being treated in such a fashion. Despite Lady Glacia's...eccentricities, she was a very caring person, and took great interest in Claudia's life, often reassuring Claudia that she was always there for her, and that she should talk to her if she ever had any problems. Claudia never took her up on her offers.
Lady Glacia stopped in front of Claudia and wrapped her in her arms, squeezing her to her chest.
"Oh, it's so good to see you again, darling! My, my, my, you look as cute today as usual!"
"Lady Glacia, I saw you just last night." the Mawile said calmly, a slight note of exasperation in her voice. The older woman released her and held her at arms length, smiling and taking in the girl before her.
"Oh, I know, darling. But why in the world are you all the way out here? This area is so uncouth and dangerous. Definitely NOT the place for my dear little Claudia."
"I was on my way back from buying the bread we needed for the princess' Christmas party. Although, I seemed to have gotten lost trying to find my way back..." Claudia didn't want to tell her about the memory that had caused her to get lost in the first place.
Lady Glacia waved her arm dismissively and took Claudia's arm in hers, dragging the girl away. "No, no, no. I will NOT have you here. It is simply too rugged for a fragile girl like you! Why, the only reason I was here in the first place was to buy a perfume from a lady I know here. But I wouldn't think of staying here a moment longer, which is why I'll take you back to the castle at once."
Claudia refrained from telling her that she wasn't fragile and could take care of herself. Lady Glacia was very hard-headed and rarely listened to anyone once she had her mind set on something, in this case thinking of Claudia as a frail child. She let the woman drag her away, grateful for the lucky encounter, but still allowing a small part of her to quietly nag in the back of her mind about being independent and finding her own way back.
As they walked, Lady Glacia chattered non-stop.
"Oh, that reminds me! I have a new dress for you to try on when we get back! I bought it from an odd weaver in the Unova region. Strange place, but such wonderful culture! Oh, one day I need to bring you along with me..."
Claudia only half listened, nodding every so often. Lady Glacia was always gallivanting off to new, exotic places. She claimed that travel helped her to see visions of the future, and, because of the importance of her job, the princess often provided her with the means of travel. However, Lady Glacia personally admitted to Claudia that it didn't really help her at all, and it was all just a sham to allow her to take as many vacations as she wanted.
However, despite this, Lady Glacia was very serious about her work. She often predicted terrible events like floods and crimes and reported them to the royal council, who took measures to ensure that the events would never take place. She was highly respected and treated very well at the castle, with almost as many privileges and servants at her call as the princess herself.
Before she knew it, they were entering the front gates of the castle.
It was truly a splendid building. Visible from nearly every part of the town, it stood in the center, watching over it like a sentinel. The princess, a myriad of servants, and plenty of guards resided there, each playing their own role in making the kingdom run smoothly.
However, nothing is without flaw, and Princess Felicia Colvoy's kingdom was no exception. She tried her hardest to keep things under control, but crime was at an all time high, and relations with a nearby kingdom weren't exactly the best.
Once the guards had let the two females in, Lady Glacia whisked Claudia up a grand staircase and pulled her down a long hall decorated with a red carpet and exquisite paintings of royals that Claudia thought looked ridiculous in their fancy outfits and silly poses.
They reached Lady Glacia's room and the Frostlass threw the door open, giddily urging Claudia in as well.
Lady Glacia's room was quite interesting.
It was decorated with various items that she had collected on her travels. Oil paintings of beautiful landscapes adorned the wall, and carpets with intricate designs were laid almost haphazardly on the floor, covering every inch. On the small table by her mirror were vials of makeup and beauty creams, many of which were remedies made by women in foreign countries, old recipes that claimed to prolong youth. A canopied bed with luxurious purple sheets was placed against one wall.
It was then that the Mawile remembered the food that she was to deliver.
"Lady Glacia, I apologize, but I fear that we must save this for a later time." Claudia said formally, bowing slightly. "I must deliver these packages. Madame Greta would have my head if I was even slightly late."
"Oh, forget about that." Lady Glacia said, rummaging through a chest and tossing items that she wasn't seeking over her shoulder. "If that head maid even begins to scold you, I'll make sure to come up with an appropriate 'favor' for her. Something along the lines of cleaning the guard's lavatory. Now, go change out of that uniform. I absolutely MUST see you wearing this lovely dress!"
Claudia sighed, accepting defeat. It was pointless to argue with Lady Glacia at this point.
Claudia went behind a screen by one wall and started changing out of the maid uniform she was required to wear. She detested it. It was hot, too constricting, and constantly reminded her of her life of unending servitude, a life she had chosen over stealing and fighting for survival, but sometimes made her regret her decision. She was required to wear it, though, so she had to bear it.
As she changed, Lady Glacia spoke to her.
"So, how are you doing with that boy, Claudia?"
Claudia was confused at first, but she had an idea of who Lady Glacia was referring to. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, come now, dearie, you know who I mean! Your adorable little friend, Seth. Have you two become a couple yet?"
"L-lady Glacia, we're just friends!"
"Oh, are you now?"
"Y-yes! Nothing more..."
"Was that a hint of disappointment in your voice?"
"No!"
The Frostlass laughed and Claudia felt as if her cheeks couldn't grow any hotter. Lady Glacia loved to tease her about her relationship with Seth. The two were inseparable friends, but she loved making the two uncomfortable by calling them a couple. But Claudia's words were true. They were just friends. Nothing more.
"Dearie, I may not be the one who should be telling you this due to my past with breaking hearts, but I sense a special connection between you two. Whether it's love or not, I can't tell, but I know that you two care for each other deeply."
"Did your visions tell you that...?" Claudia muttered, a tad irritated.
She jumped when she felt Lady Glacia's hands on her back, helping her tuck the sash into her dress. "No. It's a woman's intuition." she whispered into the Mawile's ear.
Once Claudia was changed, she stepped out and let Lady Glacia examine her. The woman was delighted and squealing with joy, complimenting her on how pretty she looked.
"I bet that boy would be speechless if he were to see you now!"
'I bet he would.' Claudia thought bitterly. 'Right before he would laugh at how strange I look. Someone like me isn't meant to wear something like this.'
The dress she was wearing was quite different than the uniform she wore and the dresses that noble women in the region often wore, but it was beautiful. It was a soft pink with intricate designs of flowers on it. A purple sort of sash was wrapped around her waist, and she wondered how expensive the outfit must have been considering it was made from very high quality materials.
"It's called a kimono." Lady Glacia explained. "Although that one is used for the summer festivals in Unova, I couldn't help buying it the moment I laid eyes on it. I just knew it would suit you!"
Claudia wouldn't say she agreed with Lady Glacia about it suiting her. It was a lovely kimono, but she felt that it would look better on someone else, someone other than her. Of course, she said nothing, only nodded, accepting the Frostlass' comment.
When Lady Glacia was finished fawning over her (which took quite some time), she allowed Claudia to change back into her uniform and return to work. "Thank you for your kindness, Lady Glacia." Claudia gave her a small bow before retrieving her packages from where she had laid them.
"Oh, no need to be so formal, dear! Just call upon me if you ever have any trouble!"
Claudia nodded and the Frostlass held the door open for her. Claudia stepped out into the hall, dreading what she knew was to come next.
7Z7Z7Z7
Once Claudia reached the kitchen, she saw the sight that she had been expecting. Someone was yelling at a cook who was clearly aggravated, but was too afraid to speak up lest she nag him more.
Claudia placed the boxes she had been tasked to deliver on a table. As if sensing that a new victim had arrived, the woman turned to look at her, and the cook, seeing his his chance to escape, dashed away as quickly as he could. The woman approached her, a permanent scowl etched onto her face.
"You're late!"
Claudia nearly groaned at the shrill, ear-piercing voice of Madame Greta, the head of the maids at the castle. An elderly, wrinkly Raichu buried beneath pounds of makeup that did nothing to lessen her ugliness, she was despised by all the servants of the castle. When she wasn't lecturing some guard to death about their bad habits, she was nagging a maid about her imperfections, inefficiency, and overall uselessness. She was even known to yell at some royals, but never the princess. Even she didn't have the nerve. Whenever one could hear her annoyingly shrill voice telling someone off, they would also find the area evacuated of everyone but the her and the poor soul who had fallen victim to her attention. The servants often debated over who they feared more, the witch-maid with the cursed eyes, or the old hag who shrieked like a banshee at every imperfection.
Claudia bowed and said, "My apologies, Madame Greta. I was with Lady Glacia, and-"
Madame Greta scoffed and stuck her nose up. "Lady Glacia? Well! That isn't an excuse! Honestly, I don't know what that woman sees in you, but it's of no importance. I'll overlook it for now since I have another task for you. That is, if your lazy, useless self is competent enough to complete it."
Madame Greta turned away and Claudia resisted the urge to bash her head in with a nearby soup spoon. When she turned around again, she was holding a tray with a variety of foods on it out to her. "You are to take this to Lord Ferramore's quarters. Go and then come straight back, I don't want you dillydallying again! And for your sake, you'd better mind your manners!"
Greta turned away again to hassle some other maid and Claudia flashed her a very rude gesture, earning some snickers from those who had happened to catch it. When she passed by them, however, they quickly turned away and returned to their work, avoiding looking at her eyes. She was used to this, but sighed anyways, annoyed. Then she strode away to deliver the tray.
