Galinda excused herself from supper early. She missed Miss Clutch too much to eat. Her father had dismissed her lady's maid last Tuesday morning and Miss Clutch was gone by that afternoon. She didn't even say goodbye to Galinda. The Princess' mind shifted to the detestable things the servants whispered about Miss Clutch. How Galinda despised them. Their sturdy bodies, their rude speech, their utter lack of decorum. Just the other morning, that pigheaded Nanny had called Miss Clutch a pervert. They didn't understand Miss Clutch at all. She wasn't depraved. She had never done anything untoward to Galinda. She had never done anything but read to her.

Galinda couldn't read, no Gillikinese woman could, except for Miss Clutch. They weren't allowed. It was said that reading corrupted the female faculties. If reading corrupted, Galinda decided she would happily become a debauchee, for Miss Clutch could spin worlds with the words that she read from those story books. The verses poured from her mouth like honey.

No, it wasn't her lady's maid who had been distasteful, rather it had been her father. She couldn't get the image of him and Miss Clutch out of her head. In the library where her Miss Clutch had read to her, by their fireplace, her father had strewn her lady's maid over the sofa, pulled her dress over her waist, revealing her bare bottom, loosened his pants and-Galinda cringed. How long had her father been doing those things to Miss Clutch? How she loathed him!

To make it worse he had blamed Galinda. None of the servants knew about his conduct when he dismissed her old lady's maid, instead he told them Miss Clutch had attempted to engage Galinda in unseemly activities. If that was to be the official story, then Galinda would play the part. Especially for that disgusting Elphaba. How could her father be as heartless as to replace her beautiful Miss Clutch with that grasshopper?! It was unforgivable! But, thankfully not permanent. Galinda would see to it that that ugly vegetable resigned before summer.

As the Princess came upon her room, she heard the voice of Nanny and her new lady's maid from the slightly open doorway.

"You'll be fine," Nanny said. "The Princess will come up after supper in another hour. Gillikinese fashion is different than Munchkinland's, but it's not too difficult. While the Princess is dining, you will turn down her bed, lay out a fresh chemise for her and clean her hairbrush. When she comes up, you will first remove her jewelry, then her gloves, her gown, her kirtle, her petticoat, and lastly her corset, a tight-fitting Gillikinese stay. After you've finished, ask if she needs anything more. If she doesn't, you're free to retire for the evening, until 7 o' clock the following morrow. She'll want a bath in about a few days."

Elphaba snorted.

"Pardon?" Nanny asked.

"I'm grateful for your help, Nanny. It's just for all the sophistication that the Gillikinese boast of, I find it absurd that their women are too lazy to even bathe and dress themselves," Elphaba said.

Nanny chuckled and Galinda's chest sizzled. How dare that hatchet-faced green bean call her lazy! How dare she refer to her at all!

Galinda threw open the door and glared at a shocked Nanny who gasped before bowing her head and an Elphaba whose cheeks darkened as she tucked her chin.

"Your Royal Highness-" the older servant started.

"Nanny, leave us," Galinda ordered.

"I was just showing Miss Thropp how to-"

"Say another word and you'll have to find another household to flap your gums at!"

The old woman shut her mouth, nodded, and maneuvered past the Princess who stood motionless in the doorway.

"What did you call me?" Galinda hissed, walking up to the stiff Munchkinlander. "Lazy, am I?"

"My apologies, Your Royal Highness, I spoke out of turn," Elphaba said, her eyes fettered to her feet.

"You disgusting fungus! If you ever say such slanderous things against me or any Gillikinese noblewoman, I'll have your tongue pierced and your mouth bridled for a month! Do you understand me?!" Galinda asked, grabbing Elphaba's apron and wrenching. The Munchkinlander's lurched forward, her body pursing at the sudden contact.

"Yes, Your Royal Highness," she croaked with Galinda's lips so close, the princess' breath slipped into her mouth.

"Good," Galinda said. "Now what do you think would be a fair punishment for your offense?"

Still looking down, the Munchkinlander only swallowed.

"Nothing to say?" the Princess asked. Elphaba kept quiet. "How about forgoing two weeks wages?"

Elphaba's head shot up.

"Please, Your Royal Highness, anything, but that!"

Galinda's eyebrow raised. So the green bean needed the money. What would she have to spend it on? As soon as the question entered Galinda's mind it left. Galinda had said the first idea that came to her, but she would have much rather preferred to see Elphaba physically suffer, letting her serve as an outward reminder of the general inferiority of the Munchkinland people.

"Fine, you shall go without meals for a week," Galinda said.

Elphaba's mouth dropped.

"Shall we make it two weeks?" Galinda asked. Elphaba shook her head, her shoulders straightening, her mouth closing.

"Well, what do we say, now?" the Princess asked.

Elphaba's frame tautened.

"Aren't you going to thank me for being so lenient on you."

Elphaba's jaw clenched. Galinda smiled with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness," Elphaba said.

Galinda grinned and said,

"Very well then. I suppose you're ready to undress me now. You may start with my necklace." The Princess wore a white gold chain on which hung a rose-cut ruby, the size of a woman's fist that came to the top of her breasts.

"Yes, Your Royal Highness," Elphaba said and circled behind the Princess. With shaking hands, covered in grey scratchy wool gloves, the Munchkinlander reached out for Galinda's necklace. The bulky fabric made it impossible for Elphaba to hold onto the necklace for long. The gold chain kept slipping between her fingers right when she was about to unhinge it. Galinda sighed.

"So in addition to being hideous, am I to find you clumsy as well?" Galinda asked.

"Only when my hands are hairier than a sheep, Your Royal Highness" Elphaba said, trying again to work the latch.

"Complaints won't make your shortcomings any more bearable. Not to mention, you are the cause of your own misery. We wouldn't need to glove you, if you weren't so ugly!" Ow! Had that clumsy Munchkinlander jerked her necklace just now on purpose? "Be careful, you clod!" Galinda added.

"Yes, Your-Royal-Highness," Elphaba said in measured syllables.

Galinda rolled her eyes and waited as Elphaba fumbled some more. When Miss Clutch had undressed her, Galinda's room would be flooded with the smell of Miss Clutch's lavender and cinnamon perfume. The green magyr monster smelt like pogostemon cablin oil. Her movements and sounds lacked any sort of feminine grace. Her Munchkinland accent, with its heavy velarized 'l' and crisp 'k' sounds gave the Princess a sharp pain between her eyes. Galinda shut her eyes and imagined Miss Clutch. How her heart had sped up at Miss Clutch's gentle smiles and tender whispers, her warm silky fingers at her neck, pressing up her stomach, tracing her arms.

"Oouuu!" Galinda gasped as her heavy ruby necklace fell from her neck between her breasts. She spun around with one hand coming up to bosom. Elphaba's eyes were large, her shoulders squinching.

"Forgive me, Your Royal Highness!"

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Galinda shouted.

"No! It slipped from my hands, I didn't—"

SLAP!

"Next time your hand slips, remember mine will too!" the Princess said.

Elphaba's hand rose to her stinging cheek, where a blueish-green blotch was forming, her eyes wide and damp. Galinda pulled the necklace out of her garment. Elphaba stood still, her jaw rigid.

"Well, hurry now, you clumsy vegetable! I'd like to go to bed before midnight."

The Munchkinlander exhaled slowly. She took the necklace from the Princess and set it down before removing Galinda's gloves and hair jewels. As Galinda shook out her locks, the aroma from the flowers she used to fragrance them filled the air. Elphaba breathed in the scents. At the sound of her breath, Galinda turned her neck but the Munchkinlander had already turned away and was walking toward Galinda's vanity to set down her hair ornaments.

When Elphaba turned around, straightened herself, smoothed her apron, and inhaled deeply, Galinda remembered how her lady's maid's stared at her in the ballroom. Galinda knew that look. She had seen it on men many times. She was so used to it, she hadn't given it a second thought, but looking at the anxious Munchkinlander and realizing that only her garments were left for removing, she smiled. If that creature had those feelings for her, perhaps she could use them against her.

Elphaba, now only a few inches in front of her, reached forward with trembling hands to undo the first button at the top of Galinda's bust. The Princess arched her chest forward and watched her lady's maid inhale sharply.

"What are you waiting for?" Galinda asked smirking.

Elphaba straightened and grasped the button in her woolly fingers. The prickly fibers from the gloves tickled the top of Galinda's exposed breasts. Galinda's stomach dropped at the sensation. She fidgeted her shoulders to get rid of it but instead she pulled the button from Elphaba's fingers. The Munchkinlander reached for the button again, but still couldn't loose it before it slipped from her hands - again and again. Galinda rolled her eyes, trying to push away the mounting tingles. Elphaba swallowed before she grabbed the button a sixth time, but to no avail.

"Don't you know how to unbutton a gown?" Galinda asked, smacking Elphaba's hands away. "Will you make me show you, you clumsy fool?" Galinda asked and grabbed the front of Elphaba's dress, pulling the lanky woman toward her in a stumble before she unbuttoned Elphaba's first button.

"Your Royal Highness!" Elphaba peeped.

"This is how it's done," Galinda said and unbuttoned another one, exposing Elphaba's smooth collar bone and the top of her chest. A plain of green. Detestable and yet intriguing. Galinda's hands moved to the next button.

"Please!" Elphaba shrilled.

Galinda dropped her hands and said,

"Undress me properly or I'll continue my lesson."

Elphaba nodded as she struggled to re-button herself with her gloved fingers.

"What are you doing?!" the Princess asked.

"Closing my dress, Your Royal Highness," Elphaba answered, looking up.

"That wasn't what I ordered," Galinda said, glaring at her.

Elphaba's eyebrows rose.

"Leave it open. You can close it after you've finished undressing me," Galinda said.

Elphaba's cheeks darkened, her eyebrows furrowing, her hands frozen on her own dress. Galinda could see the Munchkinlander was struggling to decide how far she would would let Galinda torment her. The Princess smiled, begging her lady's maid to try her. That stupid vegetable had no idea how much she could make her suffer. Elphaba clenched her eyes shut. Galinda stared freely at her bare green chest. Seconds passed and finally the Munchkinlander swallowed. Opening her eyes, Elphaba released her dress, her stiff hands descending to her sides as she left herself exposed. Galinda grinned. What a heady thrill it was to bend that creature to her whims!

With her dress undone, Elphaba demonstrated a renewed determination, using the tips of her nails through the gloves to peel off Galinda's outer gown and kirtle. She worked in silence never meeting Galinda's eyes that traveled up and down her body. She unhooked Galinda's petticoat from her corset and it fell to the floor. She kneeled to pick it up.

The Princess pressed her hands down on the Munchkinlander's shoulders to balance herself as she stepped out of the garment. Galinda squeezed and Elphaba released a small gasp. Galinda closed her eyes and bit her lip. She kept the Muchkinlander on her knees several moments longer than necessary, feeling her shoulders. Thin, boney, and yet muscular, nothing like Miss Clutch's soft supple flesh. When Galinda removed her hands, Elphaba turned around as she stood up, hiding her flushed cheeks as she went to hang the petticoat.

Galinda watched Elphaba face her. Despite having undressed Galinda for the past fifteen minutes, seeing the Princess across the room in nothing but a long chemise and a tight corset with her breasts running over, Elphaba's mouth dropped open. She shut it immediately but Galinda's heart was already fluttering at the sight of the blush rising up Elphaba's cheeks. The more Galinda could force that foul creature to feel things, the sooner it would leave! She would show those stupid servants. If they thought she was a libidinous slut, she would be all that and more to this vegetable. She would show her selfish father. If he sought to conceal his immoral acts by ruining Miss Clutch's good character with accusations of a nonsensical depraved condition, then Galinda would make an honest man out of him. She would demonstrate just how much she had been affected by Miss Clutch's depravity after all.

Elphaba's loosened her corset from behind and the thick leather slackened around Galinda's hot skin and chemise. With each breath, she felt the leather move up and down against her breasts. She waited for Elphaba to face her, but the Munchkinlander kept fiddling with the laces.

"Whatever are you doing now?!" Galinda asked annoyed.

"Undressing you as you asked, Your Royal Highness," Elphaba said.

Galinda sighed.

"You won't be able to remove my corset from back there!"

"What do you mean-"

"Gillikinese corset's hook in the front, you fool! You loosen the laces in the back and then undo them in the front!"

Elphaba swallowed.

"My apologies. I've never had to remove one of these before," Elphaba said as she walked around.

"Yes, I don't imagine anyone with your frame would ever need a boned corset," Galinda said, staring straight at the Munchkinlander's modest breasts and Elphaba's cheeks turned a deep basil. Galinda pushed out her chest and said, "Well hurry along."

Elphaba's shaky hands landed on Galinda's garment. She slid the tips of her woolly fingers in between the leather corset and Galinda's breasts to get a proper grip, brushing the top of the Princess' aureolas. Galinda bit her lip to quell a gasp. She watched as Elphaba concentrated, her chocolate pupils dilating, her wire thin nose nearing her skin, her warm breath stroking Galinda's breasts. The Munchkinlander pressed her thumbs against Galinda's leather, pulling Galinda even closer, her fingers pressing ever downward until she unwittingly connected with Galinda's hardened teat. The Princess involuntarily shuddered, an undesired reaction of both pleasure and revulsion at the touch of her hawk-faced lady's maid. Moisture seeped between Galinda's legs and she felt angry at herself. Somehow those feelings made her feel like she was betraying Miss Clutch. She felt even angrier at Elphaba. Galinda was supposed to be in control; she wasn't suppose to feel anything from this green monster, not anything that she didn't plan! Elphaba finally wrested the hook free and removed the corset and moved to the Princess' armoire.

Standing in only her see-through chemise, Galinda, cleared her throat, and said,

"I can't have you taking forever to get my clothes on and off. Practice with those gloves. For now, you will only undress me, send Nanny to me in the mornings. She will have to do your duties, plus her own, until you've improved."

"Yes, Your Royal Highness," Elphaba said. Turning to face the Princess, but keeping her eyes on the floor, she asked, "Will you be needing anything else?"

"No, you're dismissed for tonight," Galinda said and watched her lady's maid's spindly body cross the room, without any Gillikinese finesse, but with a grandeur all its own. Where ever did that thought come from? Galinda sighed as Elphaba closed the door behind her, relieved to have a moment alone to quiet her heartbeat.

The next morning, Nanny came as Galinda had instructed and dressed her in a red satin dress, her creamy white breasts brimming over the top. After, the Princess' morning was filled with devotions to the Unnamed God, a light breakfast, poetry recitation lessons, and ended with lunch with her favorite cousin Milla, a bare-faced but kind-hearted girl, with pale brown eyes and hay colored hair. Galinda had taken her under her wing, tutoring her in dance, poetry, and drawing while engaging in castle gossip.

"Shall we take a walk through the rose gardens?" Galinda asked Milla after their afternoon lessons.

"That sounds lovely."

The two young women chose to sit on a wide stone bench, amidst a circle of lofty red rose bushes, with winged monkey sculptures on both sides.

"Have you received any more letters from Sir Chuffrey?" Milla asked.

"None since he announced he would be returning to Paltos. Now that the war against Munckinland has ceased, he'll need to spend the winter settling his accounts before our wedding, but he'll come up here for a few weeks around Harvest Festival and Lurlinemas."

"Is he handsome, Galinda?"

"I saw him once at a palace ball a full seven years ago, twelve years of age at the time, I had to go to bed before any of the real festivities started. To be honest, it's hard to remember much about him, other than he smelled of sandalwood and myrrh. If the war hadn't gone on for four long years I would have already been married and a mother," Galinda said and, then changing her register, and pressing her shoulder against Milla's, added, "Instead I waste away in this castle, becoming as haggard as a spinster and my darling betrothed is sure to be all dried up by now."

Milla giggled and said, "Oh, Galinda, you're radiant as always. You don't look a day past 16 summers."

"Says my favorite cousin," Galinda chimed.

Milla smiled and asked,

"When will you have the wedding?"

"Father has yet to arrange it, but I imagine in May after the frost is over. And you, my dear cousin, any would be suitors?" Galinda asked and tickled Milla's side. Her cousin blushed and shook her head, a strange shy glimmer in her eyes.

"You're hiding something!" Galinda said.

"There's nobody, honestly, not a soul!" Milla said.

"Then what is it?"

"Well, there isn't anyone to speak of, but recently there's been a great migration of Munchkinlanders—" Milla started and Galinda suppressed a grimace. Did Milla have to mention the Munchkinlanders? It was such a pleasant morning without having to be reminded of her new lady's maid. "—quite charming. Do you think me strange?" What had her cousin said? Milla, strange?

"No, of course not, Milla. We each have our own way," Galinda chanced.

Milla leaned over and wrapped Galinda in a hug.

"Oh, I was so frightened you would think ill of me. I can't help but find Munchkinlander men so endearing, the shorter ones especially."

Munchkinlanders, endearing?! Galinda felt her stomach roll. Just then, a well built young peasant in a beige tunic that hung off his left shoulder revealing his muscular bronze chest, walked into their circle of roses, holding a billhook. Milla startled while Galinda raised her eyebrow at their guest. The peasant's dark black eyes widened with concern when he saw the women, and he bent down on one knee, and bowed his head.

"Pardon, your Royal Highnesses, I didn't mean to intrude. I was attending to the roses. If it pleases you, I shall continue," he said in a Munchkinland accent, waiting for Galinda's order. Galinda cringed at the sound of his voice, but looking over and finding her beloved cousin admiring the groundskeeper, she decided to keep the conversation pleasant.

"What's your name boy?"

"Shell, Shell Thropp, Your Royal Highness."

Galinda's eyes grew. "Any relation to Elphaba Thropp?" she asked.

The man glanced up, smiling, his eyes falling on Galinda's breasts before he swallowed hard, looked down and said, "She's my sister, Your Royal Highness."

Just how many of these Thropps has infiltrated the castle since the war?! Galinda forced a smile and said,

"Why you two look nothing alike." Galinda looked over at her cousin to see her cheeks flushed and eyes wide with desire and said, "I believe my cousin would agree with me that you're quite handsome."

"Galinda!" Milla said embarrassed, bowing her head.

Shell, still on his knee, grinned up at her and Galinda's lip spasmed. How did a servant have the courage to smile at her like that? There was an irritating cheekiness to this Munckinlander that reminded her of his vegetable sister. "Anyway," Galinda continued, "my cousin and I were just leaving for supper."

"May I stand, Your Royal Highness?"

"Yes, as you were. You may continue with your pruning here," Galinda said and rose, with Milla standing up beside her. Shell jumped to his feet and dashed to a nearby rose bush. The women watched curiously as he cut off two, before returning to bow in front of the women. He offered a rose to them in each hand and quoted a Munchkinland poem,

"Red is the rose that in the Great Gillikin Forest grows. Fair is the lilac that in the Glikkus mountain stacks. Clear is the water that in Ovvels sells for a penny, but, from Ev to Quox, my princess is fairer than any."

Galinda's cheeks flushed at the corny poem. She was both annoyed at the servant's presumptuous behavior, especially in front of Milla, and also somewhat flattered that this handsome young man found her still attractive despite Galinda being beyond the customary marriageable age in Gillikin.

"Stand and let me properly thank you," she said, handing her rose to Milla. Her cousin covered her mouth to suppress her nervous giggles.

Shell stood, straightening his shoulders, his neck long, his hands behind his back, his mouth donning a proud smile, his eyes looking outward but not directly at the Princess. Galinda wanted to remove that smug smirk from his face. She came closer to him and watched Shell's breath shorten. She rested a gloved hand on his chest, her warm lacy palm on his plump sweaty muscle. His eyes grew, his face red as he tried to maintain his gallant pose. Galinda drew even closer and watched his adam's apple bob as he swallowed. She tilted her hips into his and felt the protruding curve below the belt of his tunic, a curve that began to swell as she pressed their loins together.

Galinda's heart beat faster. Shell's thin tunic, stopping at his brawny thighs, was the only thing that separated her from his genitals. She could easily slip her hand underneath it at any moment and he would be forced to keep his stance. Peasants could never touch royalty but royalty could do whatever they wanted to their attendants. Galinda however had no real desire to do anything that vulgar to a man, no matter how she was trying to live up to the servant's rumors of her, rather she covertly dug her nails into his pec flesh, pumping a muffled groan from the young man as she bounced on her tip toes, pecked his cheek, and then quickly retreated to her cousin's side. She took her cousin's hand and the two women watched the burly Munchkinlander stand there meekly, his tunic tenting and his breath ragged.

"Let us go now, Milla," Galinda said, satisfied that she reestablished her position over the man. Her cousin nodded and the two women raced through the rose bushes.

"Galinda, did you see how he responded when you only gave him a chaste parting kiss?" Milla said.

"Munchkinlander men can't help themselves. Like dogs, their bodies act on instinct, not reason," Galinda said.

"Oh, Galinda, you're terrible!" Milla said and the two giggled all the way back to the castle.

Once inside, they were readied for supper and sat at a long table, dressed with hams, lamb, purple yams, sourdough bread, glasses of cider, and silver candelabras. When the guests were all seated, Galinda's father ordered Crope to bring in the evening entertainment. A tall slender attendant, in a grey servant's dress, a black pointed hat with an attached opaque veil, was escorted to stand at the head of the table across from the Princess, directly behind Milla. Galinda raised a bite of yam to her mouth when the mysterious female servant began to sing. Her notes, both silky and serrated, scoured the bottom of Galinda's stomach and lined Galinda's arms with goosebumps. The melody was a most pleasurable vexation. Galinda lowered her fork. She could only listen as she pressed her thighs together, the singer's syllables entering her one after another.

The Princess was unaware that her father had been watching his daughter become enraptured. He leaned over and whispered in her ear,

"I'm glad to see you appreciating your new lady's maid." Galinda's eyes twitched at the revelation and her father continued,"In time I know you will forget all about Miss Clutch. Soon you'll see how edifying Elphaba will be for you."

Galinda clutched her thigh under the table with bruising intensity and said with the sweetest smile,

"Yes, Father. In time, I'm sure I'll find more ways than one for her to please me."


Dear Readers: Thank you for all the reviews, follows and favorites for the previous chapter! In this chapter you see the castle from Galinda's perspective. I would love to hear your impressions and thoughts about this chapter and this AU in general - whether it interests you, despite Galinda starting out quite different than the book. Thanks for reading!