Keith Part 2
"Servants?" I repeated what he said in disbelief.
"Yes! This is perfect!" Prince Keith said with such a smile on his face. "This will be the way you will be able to pay that expensive vase that you broke!" he laughed.
"Dang it Aunty! You are such a hypocrite!" Naruki shouted, making everyone silent. "You always tell us that if we do something bad, we apologize and take responsibility for our actions! But you ran away without an apology and didn't even bother taking any responsibility!"
"Wow, you are a terrible adult Aunty." Haruka backed him up and Kai shook his head in disappointment.
"Hey, in my defense, I did apologize...in a form of a note." I retorted. "With my email, number, and an apology."
"Actually Aunty, that means nothing since it wasn't in person." said Haruka. "It's just plain rude really."
"What a shame." Naru tsked.
"An embarrassment." Haru said covering her eyes.
"You kids…" I felt bad for myself more now. These kids are smart when they want to be.
"How unfortunate!" I heard Keith's loud voice echo around us. "Such a bad excuse for an adult! Discipline will help you."
"You're also a bad adult too baldy!" Naru yelled making the prince freeze in place. "You're making children work! That's child slavery!"
"It's a felony sir!" said Haru. The maids and the butler, Luke, stifled their laughs as the Prince tried to say something but was completely stuttering his words. Then finally he gained back his composure and had angry expression.
"Looks like your children need to be disciplined as well!" the prince shouted in a terrifying voice making everyone stop giggling.
"Luke! Gets these commoners ready for the party tonight! I want them to be prepared to serve our guests!" the prince ordered and Luke fearfully pushes us into the castle.
…..
"Starting today I will be teaching you the basics." Luke tried to stand tall in front of us after all of us put on gawky maid-butler outfits. I look like a rejected french maid. The kids are enjoying by the way Haru is playing with the skirt and the boys are acting as butlers.
"Yo Luke, what about the living situation? My jobs?" I asked.
"It's Sir Luke to you missy! To answer your question, I called your jobs and said that you quit and your stuff from your apartment will be here soon." He answered sternly. "You and your daughter will share a room together and your sons will share a room."
"Woah, wait a minute, you think these kids are my 'kids'." I said, getting flustered. "They-"
"Silence!" Luke cut me off. "Your kids will not work tonight but you will. Maria, take these kids away to their rooms and prepare them for tomorrow!" he snapped his fingers. The maid "Marie" rolled her eyes at him and gently took the kids away. After they left, Luke forced me down into a chair and quickly teaches me about serving and maid behavior so fast my head was spinning by the time the party started.
….
"Maid, champagne!" an old man called to me. I put on the most fakest smile I could muster and served him his drink. "You are so pretty!" he said with a red face. I nodded awkwardly and then he slaps me on my butt. "Keep up the good work darling!" he laughed. I laughed with him too as I faced him but when I turned away, I must had the most scariest scowl on my face as I saw some of the people back away from me.
"Do not scowl." Luke said to me as he passed by me. 'Rot in a hole.' I thought as I pass through the crowd.
"Break time new maid lady!" someone said to me when I went into the kitchen. I quickly stepped out and got away from the party as far I could be allowed since I had to go back there anyway. I came into a small garden in the middle of the castle. There was a four-way path made of stones and lots of flowers and medium size trees. I came across a bench and decide to rest there. As I sat, I looked up and watched the stars glitter above me.
"Excuse me." I heard a soft gentle voice next to me. I looked over and see a girl about 10 or older standing there in a pinkish, puffy dress with a soft smile on her voice. "Is this seat taken?" she asked politely.
"No, go ahead." I said and looked back at the stars.
"Lovely night we are having." said the girl. "Oh, my name is Cathy be the way." she sticks her hand out to me for a handshake.
"Marika." I shook her hand with a suspicious look. 'She's not going to take my money is she? Why else she would be talking to me" Or she's trying to make fun of me! She looks rich…' I thought as I looked at her.
"I'm sorry! Do you find me odd? Did I say something weird again? Oh man!" Cathy started to freak out.
"OH no, no, no!" I said, trying to calm her down. "I'm just surprised that someone has talked to me without the sexual harassment."
"I'm guessing you met Sir Walter Greenland Abernathy Wilkens the….Seventh?" She said as she counted with her fingers.
"That his name?" I said in disbelief. "His parents must hate or something to name him like that." I scuffed and Cathy laughed.
"Yeah, he's known to harass pretty girls. That's why he is divorce. Around, maybe, five times, but with a side of MANY mistresses so I don't think he really cares."
"Holy...how!? He's like 80 years old and has a greasy bald spot. Just...how!?" I shouted and she laughed so hard that she couldn't breath. We continued to talk for a while until I realized that I had to go back.
"It was nice meeting you Marika!" Cathy bowed her head.
"No, pleasure was mine. It's nice that a girl your age is so well-mannered. It was an honor." I said at the bottom of my heart. Haruka has manners too, but since she's surrounded by boys and I'm not around much, it's kind of hard for her to use it.
"May I talk to you again sometime?" Cathy asked. "I don't talk to many people so it's hard to make friends."
"Yeah just ask for me anytime since I am forced to be a maid here. Might as well have a friend." I smiled. I waved goodbye and ran all the way back to the party.
When I got there, I was scolded by Luke for being late and was put on trash duty for the rest of the night.
…
The next day was hell. I was cleaning every inch of the palace. The kids were cleaning the kitchen while I cleaned the many bedrooms this place has to offer.
"Well isn't it the commoner!" the prince's voice boomed in the hall. I sighed and turned and bowed to him.
"Good day Your Highness." I said in a fake happy voice.
"You missed a spot." he said, checking the table next to me. His finger was covered in dust and then he blew it into my face. "Do a better job will you."
"I don't know. I want a raise first." I said.
"You just started! Like hell I would give you a raise! What gave you the right to ask that!" he shouted at me.
"Don't get your underwear in a bundle. It's not like I'm asking you to start war." I said nonchalantly. "You should really keep your voice down though. You're scaring the children." then I started to walk away.
"Hey, what children!?" I heard his footsteps speeding up to me.
"Honey!" I heard a girl's voice behind us. I looked over and see a beautiful, familiar woman in a red dress running towards the Prince. Then she wraps her arms around him in a hug and snuggled her face into his back. "I found you. Who's this?" she asked, getting very protective all of a sudden.
"She's the new maid." he groaned.
"Aren't you that actress? Laura something?" I asked. She was from that one movie that Haruka loves very much. The Beating Heart wasn't it?
"Oh I love a fan!" she smiled but it seemed forced in my opinion.
"Oh I'm not a fan." I said. "My niece is though. She loves that movie The Beating Heart. She watches it like all the time."
"I see…" I could see her cringe a little bit still kept her composure. Did she not like that answer?
"Well excuse me, I need to go back to work so….bye." I quickly turned away and rushed down the hall.
"Hey! Clean the table!" the Prince shouted.
"Do it yourself!" I shouted back as I turned the corner.
…
"You are very disrespectful do you know that!?" Luke scolded.
"Yes, yes I am." I said bluntly making his face red with rage. "That's it tomorrow you are cleaning the guest restrooms!" he shouted.
"Oh dear…." I heard one maid whispered.
"She got the worse job…" another whispered.
"You are not a very good example to show to your children! Your son is already ashamed!" Luke shouted.
"Their not my kids. They are my niece and nephews. I am their guardian. Don't you hear them say 'aunty'?"
"I thought they were showing disrespect." he freaked out a bit.
I groaned and dragged myself back to my room. Before I went in, I saw a balcony nearby and decided to take a seat. I sat down and looked up at the stars.
Oscar used to tell me stories when I was young. There were so many stories he used to tell me. I wonder if he get told his kids?
"Aunty?" I heard Haru's voice call me. I turn my head a bit and see her with tears in her eyes, grabbing her dress tightly. I quickly sat up and call her over. She came to me slowly and she wobbled a little bit. When she came to me, I lifted her into my arms and put her on my lap with arms still around her.
"What's wrong Haru? Did you have a bad dream again?" I asked her gently. She shook her head and rubbed her eyes.
"I miss Frizzy." she said sleepily. "I can't sleep without him."
"Frizzy will arrive here soon okay. Just be a little more patient please." I said putting my forehead against hers.
"It's hard for me to sleep without him by my side." she cried.
"How about for the mean time I tell you a story that your dad used to tell me?" I said and she quickly nodded. "Well you see that constellation over there," I pointed at the swan constellation. "A very long time ago there was a beautiful princess…" I started. This was a favorite of mine growing up. It was about a princess who fell in love with a prince but she was cursed by a witch who also loved the Prince. She was cursed to turn into a swan. With a few twist and turns, the princess broke the curse and married the Prince and lived happily ever after.
"I like that story." Haru said sleepily.
"You're still awake sweetheart?"
"Can't you sing me a song Instead? You are a good singer Aunty." she asked. I haven't sung in a while. That last time I sang was at...Oscar's funeral.
"Well I don't know." I said.
"Please?" she begged. I sighed and gave into her request.
"I think the universe is on my side…" I started to sing Bright by Echosmith to her. It was a soothing song so I thought this will get her to sleep. As I sang, I felt my throat dry up and then something stopped me from singing.
…..
"You are such a great singer!" Oscar said to me after I sang a lullaby. "Broadway could use someone like you. I know you like those corny musicals."
"You think so?" I asked.
"I know so." he smiled and then tickled me.
…
"Aunty? You okay?" Haru's voice brought me back.
"Eta? Oh….sorry Haru, I didn't mean to stop." I apologized.
"Aunty, you were going to be in Broadway weren't you?" she asked. "Why didn't you? Was it because of us?"
"No, of course not." I said feeling tears build up. "Why do you think that?"
"You haven't been actually happy since Daddy died." she said.
"Sweetheart, I am happy. I am very happy to be spending time and taking care of the three of you. I would give up anything to be with you guys." I said hugging her.
"Can I sleep with you tonight? I know I'm too old for that but...I really want too."
"Of course you can. It might be a little tight and...I might….snuggle you to death!" I said hugging her tightly and getting up from my seat and spinned her around. She laughed and hugged me back.
"I love you, Aunty." she said.
"I love you too." I said as I walked back to our room. While I walked, I didn't know that someone was watching the whole time that we spent together in the balcony.
