Livia worked exhaustively elongated hours at the palace of which Transexual's royal family vacated, and all for a pitiful pay. Although she was head of the domestics who worked there, she was treated no better than the rest of the servants. Most of the family and the other significant people who passed through the palace looked upon Livia like she was something unpleasant they had found plastered on the bottom of their shoe. Livia was usually a fiery character, and would argue her point until, as the Earthlings would say, the sun went down. But at work she had to bite her tongue, because speaking her mind with the higher uppers could land her in serious trouble.

It was the day before Magenta's fifth birthday, and she was polishing the the marble floor in one of the ballrooms, when the wide double doors burst open. One of the guards came marching down the steps toward her. Livia felt a little panicked, the guards never came unless it was important.

"Her Majesty requires you," The guard announced, "Now," He added sharply. He was quite a tall man, and heavily built. Livia was scared to defy him.

Livia tucked the cloth she had been using on the floor and tin of polish that had accompanied it in to front pocket of her apron which had been sewn on to the front of her uniform before standing up to follow the guard. He didn't speak as he lead her out of the ballroom and into the confusing labyrinth that was the hallways of the palace. Livia's stomach was twisting in to knots, it felt as if live snakes were slithering away inside of her. She racked her mind for something she could have done wrong in the past that might have upset the queen, but she came up blank.

She had never been inside the throne room before. Servants were only allowed inside if they had been invited by a member of the family, and since Livia had always strayed away from any form of trouble within the palace walls, she had never been summond by any of them. The guard opened the tall door, and ushered Livia inside. The room was extremely grand. The floors were made of glimmering marble with effervescent diamonds engraved in the middle of each tile. The walls were covered in silk wall paper patterned with actual spun gold.

"Livia," A manly voice spoke.

Livia looked up from where she had been admiring the floor. The queen was sat on her throne, which was placed on a platform blanketed by thick purple carpet. The queen was quite young for her role. She was stunning, with high cheek bones and a prominent face, and long thick curls of raven black hair. She was dressed in an extravagant jeweled green corset and a flowing net skirt that was a little see through. However, the queen managed to pull off the look with grace.

"Your majesty," Livia whispered, curtsying low on the ground.

"How are you, my dear?" The queen asked.

Livia was shocked, the queen was actually being amiable. This only further confused her. "I am very well, thank you," She replied warily.

"I'm glad," The queen smiled, "I have brought you here today to ask a favour."

"A favour, your majesty? From me?" Livia gasped.

The queen nodded. "Yes, Livia, from you. And I would prefer it if you didn't interrupt me again," She said. Livia blushed and curtsied again. The queen ignored this and went on, "You have a son, I believe? Around the same age of my own," She demanded to know.

"Yes, your majesty," Livia replied, wondering what the queen's intentions were.

"Frankie gets awfully lonely with no siblings to play with. He has a lot of needs, and it breaks my heart that I can not always be around to fulfil them for him," The queen took a pause, "I was wondering if you would bring your son to work with you every day, so that he can keep Frank company."

Livia had not been expecting anything like this. Her Riff Raff, a close friend of royalty? The queen was beginning to look impatient, so Livia spoke quickly, "You're majesty, it would be an honour. But are you sure? I hardly see my son as an appropriate choice for the prince."

"He is humble, and that is what Frank needs. My son is very spoilt, and sometimes I worry that his fortune and good looks will make him an unpleasant, conceited person to be around," The queen explained.

Livia didn't think it was worth risking her life to admit that she was not the only person to already think this about the prince.

"I have a daughter, too," Livia offered.

"Of what age?" The queen asked in interest.

"She will be five years old tomorrow," Livia declared.

The queen shook her head, "A young child will just irritate Frankie."

"As you wish then, your majesty. I shall bring Riff Raff tomorrow," She promised.

"Very good. Well, that is all. You can return to your duties now," The queen said, waving her hand to excuse her servant.

Livia, relieved now, turned to leave. But there was a question burning in her mind. Did she dare voice it? She slowly turned to face the queen, "Your majesty, forgive me for asking, but will Riff Raff receive payment for this job?" She asked timidly.

The queen's face was now etched with fury. "Certaintly not! How dare you even ask a thing? The utter cheek of it. Now, be gone with you, before I punish you like you deserve!" She roared.

Livia had forgotten how harsh the queen's temper could be. Blushing more now than ever, she skipped quickly from the room.