Chapter 53: Karen and Elfried
It's time for more from the gossip girls of Corona. I confess that I really enjoy writing these maids in the Castle. It gives more essence where we missed it.
In the upper floors, Diane and Sarah came out of the double door of one of the suites, taking a moment to stretch out after cleaning and dusting.
"Ah, sometimes I swear these rooms feels like they're growing." Diane moaned.
"Oh, I could really need a break soon." Sarah said, with a sigh. "My limbs are hurting all over!"
"You're starting to sound like you're at my age, and that's not a good sign. You don't see me complaining."
Sarah turned around to face an elder maid with small, round spectacles and light, brown hair with grey strokes that came out behind them. She gave Sarah a playful smile as she put down her bucket and did a little stretching on her hands.
"The sooner we hurry, the sooner will we finish."
"Ah, I guess you're right, Elfried." Sarah smiled sheepishly and turned to Diane. "How many rooms are left?"
"Five of the suites, and then we have Princess Rapunzel's room as well." The tall girl said as she picked up her bucket again and headed towards the next door.
"But the Princess isn't even here?" Sarah questioned as she picked up her own bucket and followed her.
"No, but they ordered that it needed to be cleaned, nevertheless. For all we know, she might return already tomorrow."
"I see." Sarah replied, but then she wrinkled her brows and looked at her friend again. "About that… you know there's allot of paint… not just by her painting table, but… all over the room. Should we… clean that too?"
"Uh-uh!" Diane said. "We removed something once, and apparently she got so upset that they told us to leave it in the future." Diane chuckled. "No matter how odd it may look."
Sarah chuckled. "Have you noticed what she's using to keep her paint brushes?" Sarah snickered. "It's an ale mug!"
"Well, it works for the purpose I suppose." Diane smiled at the thought. "It must come from that pub where she has those… odd friends." she chuckling. "Poor thing, I haven't seen her even try to make one normal friend, and that's sad for a girl that was isolated for eighteen years."
"She's got Cassandra, doesn't she? "Sarah asked. "I hear Rapunzel say she's her best friend all the time."
"Now remember that it's actually Cassandra's job to be her friend, so you can wonder how much friends they really are." Diane said and rolled her eyes.
"But Friedborg and Her Majesty are friends, aren't they?" Sarah asked.
"Yes, but that's different. Queen Arianna and Friedborg goes a long way back, they knew eachother before Her Majesty even came to Corona. And normally the title of a lady-in-waiting isn't' a job that goes to just anyone. Cassandra I heard got the job only because the Captain practically begged Her Majesty to give her a try."
"Why am I not surprised." Sarah chuckled. "Have you noticed that ever since she became a lady-in-waiting, she's started to think she can boss everyone around?"
"I know. Like she wasn't bossy enough already. Have you noticed how Pete and Stan literally follows her every command like she was her father? I think it looks like she's bossing the Princess around as well."
"Oh dear… That's gonna look well when she becomes Queen! Don't you agree, Elfried?" Sarah said giggling and turned around. But then both girls noticed the sad expression on their elder friend's face, and both stopped laughing. For a moment the two expressed guilty looks.
"Oh Elfried…" Sarah begun.
"Elfried, I'm sorry. I… I forgot…" Diane begun, then failed to come up with more to say.
Elfried suddenly snapped out of her own thoughts and looked up, forcing a smile up as she too picked up her bucket. "Oh, don't worry. I'm…"
"Elfried?"
All three forgot the conversation and looked back to find young Karen running towards them. She stopped and caught her breath a moment before turning to the elder maid. "Glad I found you… The King… wants to see you!"
"Oh?" Elfried forgot what they had been talking about and blinked questioning at her. "What for?"
Karen coughed and straightened up. "Something that happened at the Science Expo last year."
"The science ex… OH!" Elfried's eyes widened and gave a shocked gasp. She was about to drop her bucket in her distraction, and quickly put it down before it fell on the floor and spilled water.
Diane and Sarah exchanged looks and walked to each side of her. "Is something the matter, Elfried?" Diane said, touching her shoulder.
The elder maid was a bit lost in her own thoughts again and got startled by her touch, but she gave a short smile and shook her head. "I'm fine. But… I think I know what this is about." She turned down wo Karen. "It's about the boy, isn't' it?"
"M-hm!" Karen nodded.
"Is he angry?"
"No, not at all! But I think he's on his way."
"Hm…" Elfried got a strange look behind her spectacles for a moment, then a small smile appeared on her lips as she looked up and looked very determinant at sudden. "Better not keep His Majesty waiting then!" She turned to Karen and spoke. "Karen, can you fill in for me here in the meantime?"
"Sure!" Karen replied, happy that she didn't have to go back to her Aunt and the others by once.
"I'll be back, girls. Just stick to the schedule." Elfried smiled to them before she turned her heel and walked to the direction where Karen had come, leaving the two others rather confused.
"What was that about?" Diane asked.
"Yeah, what's going on?" Sarah turned to Karen.
"Uhm… It's complicated." The young maid replied.
"Hey, why don't you tell us while we start on the next room?" Diane said and smiled encouraging to the young maid as she grabbed the handle of the next door.
Karen smiled and grabbed Elfried's bucket and followed her. "You're not gonna believe it. It was yesterday, just after Prince Lars and the others arrived…" she started as she closed the door behind her.
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In the servants corridors, Pete and Stan was still following Princess Annabelle through the labyrinth of corners and stairs. They were walking together but stopped at every corner or turn of a corridor where it was likely to set up a trap.
"It's odd how much trouble a little Prince would cause, don't you agree, Stan?"
"You know, one would have thought it was Varian we were looking for."
"Although, it's better than peeling potaotes I suppose." Pete suddenly chuckled. "You know, it's a good thing he didn't know about these corridors, or he would have been lost forever."
"Stop chattering back there." Annabelle hissed.
"Sorry, Miss!" both guards replied.
"And who is this Varian you keep talking about?"
Stan froze, annoyed by himself for forgetting himself like that, but Pete didn't catch up that fast and spoke up. "Oh, he's someone we had to deal with yesterday. You have no idea of how much trouble he gave us! Tricked us with a pepper pot and made us chase him all over the Castle."
Pete didn't see it, as he was too busy looking at Annabelle, but Stan stopped and covered his face with both hands in frustration.
While Pete spoke, Annabelle stopped and turned back to listen to what he said, getting a curious look on her face. Then she stood still a moment, before she gave half a smile, and a chuckle escaped her lips. "Perhaps we should introduce him to my cousin. It sounds like he and Daniel actually would have made good friends."
Now it was Pete's turn to give a laugh. "I'm not so sure that's a good idea!"
"Oh? You think Daniel would be too much for him to handle?"
"Rather the opposite. Varian is way too dangerous for a young prince to interact with."
She gave a little smirk. "Oh really? I tell you…"
"WOAH-OPS-OUTCH!"
Both of them stopped when they heard Stan give a cry. Pete hurried to his friend, finding him with his face on the floor as in the start of the left corridor.
"Are you okay, Stan?"
"Owtch…. I think so. I tripped in something!" he said as Pete helped him up.
Annabelle came over to them, and kneeled down, letting her lamp shine on the floor. There she found another string attached to the wall, cut over by Stan stumbling over it. Then she rose up and walked to the next corridor, where a similar string was found tied across the door frame, untouched. "He's been busy today…" she said sarcastic.
Stan, who had gotten up again, put his helmet back on his head and huffed. "My, I would rather peel potatoes!"
"Hush! Did you hear that?" Pete asked.
They all went silent. For half a minute they stood silent and listened, and Stan was about to speak up when they suddenly heard the slight sound of snickering.
"I think it comes from there." Pete whispered.
The next moment they heard the sound of running feet further down. Pete looked at Annabelle as she rose, and she was very determinant when she spoke.
"Let's follow him! Quetly!"
Pete nodded and looked at Stan and gave him a silent hush with a finger on his lips before he followed Annabelle as she started walking. Stan stood a moment and gave a heavy sigh and followed with a dreary look on his face. "I think from tomorrow, I'll volunteer for stable duties."