༄𝑰𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂
                𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆༄

~•Anonymous

It had been seven years since I saw Harry last.

I was currently nineteen and Peter had grown into a fine young man and we the servants have been very busy lately as the Duke and Duchess held different balls and soirée for Peter to find a wife.

I was still not allowed into the royal quarters which meant I wasn't even allowed to see the ball, if I was ever caught I would be sold.

Since the incident thirteen years ago I had not neared that place for fear of being disposed of.

I was now a kitchen maid since I couldn't talk and according to Bertha, I was only useful for cooking though I believed myself a decent cleaner.

Bertha was the new head maid.

Penny had retired three years ago I still missed her But I was glad she was allowed to rest.

"Quick Elaine the guest are arriving" one of the maids informed me and I nodded and began to dice more vegetables.

Another ball was being held today and even if I didn't get to see it I got information of everything that happened through the kitchen gossip.

Every time a ball was held I couldn't leave the kitchen because of the immense amount of work.

The other maids walked in and out serving the food.

"All the noblemen present are quite handsome" one maid squealed and I smiled.

"I think I might try to seduce one and become a lady" another maid said and the others with her laughed.

"You're not pretty enough to attract any of the noble men for they are searching for a beautiful lady with a nice stature, poised and elegant behaviour so I have a better chance" another maid said and they kept bickering about it.

"If you have nothing else to do at least feed the noblemen you so ever desire!" Bertha shouted and they all scattered.

"And you Elaine go serve, the guest are many" Bertha said and I froze and shook my head.

"Are you refusing my order?" She asked and I shook my head vigorously.

"Bertha you know Elaine isn't allowed into the royal quarters" another maid said and Bertha scoffed.

"That was years ago" Bertha said.

"Now Elaine I do not want to repeat myself" She glared at me and I bowed and took a tray filled with glasses of wine.

"Do you think the Duchess would notice her?" A maid in the kitchen asked.

"Even if she does not the dumb fool would cause a scene among the rich when they realize she cannot speak and the Duke would throw her out" Bertha said and I sighed before leaving the wall.

I knew they would talk about me as soon as I left. I carried the tray shaking in fear as I neared the royal quarters. Swallowing hard I went in heading for the hall avoiding every royal I saw.

Thankfully I was able to enter the hall without bumping into anyone and I walked around holding the tray while people who needed grabbed a glass.

As I was going around the hall I noticed a man and woman talking without drinks in their hands and headed over to them.

The woman reached her hand and took a glass then the man.

"Thank you" he said and I froze why did that voice sound familiar?

"You don't have to thank them sir Harry they are just measly servants it's their job" the lady said and at the name, I looked up at the man who was laughing at what the woman had just said.

It was indeed Harry, he had grown and become more manly and handsome but had the same smile. I was so stunned that forgot I was holding a tray until it crashed to the ground and all the glasses shattered I immediately ran out of the hall before he could see me.

When I was sure I was safe I held my chest as my heart was pounding.

Harry

Where has he been all these years?

Tears welled up in my eyes and I held them back then ran towards the garden going to the rose Bush.

my place of comfort.

I was glad he was okay he seemed to be doing well and had grown a lot.

I smiled in admiration.

Harry.

"I had a feeling you would be here" I heard a voice and froze I didn't want to turn around I shut my eyes.

"You don't want to see me?" He asked and I tried to calm down my racing heart.

"It's been years you've grown" he sighed and I finally turned to face him looking at him before looking down.

"But I guess you haven't really changed" he chuckled and I looked away.

"Did you think I wouldn't know it was you which other servants would drop a tray and run away without thinking of the consequences" he chuckled and I looked at him with widened eyes and tears.

"Don't worry nobody saw you so you're not in trouble" he said and I nodded.

I used my hands to do sign language.

He had thought me how to when we were still younger.

'Where have you been?'  That was what I asked and he sighed.

"War" he replied and my eyes widened.

"As a Knight, it is my duty to go to war it was a brutal time but I'm glad it's over" he smiled.

'War! Are you hurt anywhere I've heard that people die in war'

"Yes you are correct but you should know I won't go down so easily" he smiled and I returned it.

"Elaine" he sighed.

"There's something I have to tell you" he said and I nodded still smiling.

"While I was away at war my parents prepared a wife for me and I am to marry in a few months" he explained and I frowned but almost immediately smiled.

'That's good I'm happy for you' I said and he groaned and sat on the grass and I joined him.

"I don't want to get married then again to someone I don't know" he grumbled and I smiled.

'Well it is your responsibility' I said and he scoffed.

"I don't even want to see her most of the women at the ball tried to court me even the servants!" He exclaimed shocked and I laughed though no sound came out.

'They were trying to seduce rich noble men' I replied with a smile and he laughed then almost immediately frowned.

"Elaine" he called and I turned towards him smiling.

"Forgive me" he said.

'For what' I asked but instead of replying he pressed his lips to mine and my eyes widened in shock but he didn't let up and I closed my eyes and reciprocated.

He pulls me closer to him claiming my lips and I'm flaming red. Suddenly regaining my senses I pushed him back.

"I hope you'll be able to forgive me for that" he apologised frowning and I just stared at him.

"Also Forgive me because I am to be married I only wanted you to know how I felt" he gave a small smile before standing up and I sat there frowning.

"Goodbye Elaine I had to see you before the night ends I don't know when next you'll see me but miss me as much as I'll miss you "he smiled then ran off.

I didn't know when I had begun to cry.

I might never see Harry again and he was getting married.

I should be happy for him but why am I feeling sad?

Even if that kiss meant he had taken a liking to me it could never work.

We were worlds apart and it was never allowed.

I wiped my tears and looked up at the sky.

Oh Mother if you are indeed watching over me, I pray for hope.

I picked myself up and hurried back into the kitchen, working twice as hard as earlier.

I wanted to get the day done with so I could rest.

"It turns out sir Harry has been dancing with only one lady and it seems he had his eyes on her since the beginning of the ball!" One of the maids said enjoying their gossip and I suddenly wasn't in the mood for them.

I wanted to leave the kitchen.

"It's true I also noticed and I hear he's to be married do you think that's his bethrowed?" Another maid asks and I clench the knife in my hands tight.

"It is possible she is very pretty and seems to come from a noble family" a maid said.

I was getting annoyed by their gossip and from their description, she was the woman I saw with Harry earlier tonight.

I was chopping the vegetables with anger until I accidentally chopped my hand and I screamed out in pain though no sound was heard.

I quickly rushed after the kitchen unfortunately bumping into Bertha.

"Where do you think you're going, Elaine?" She asked and I raised my bloody finger to her.

"Disgusting get out!" she shouted and I began to run towards the servants' quarters to look for Omla to help me dress the wound as I had been learning basic treatments from her but still didn't have the resources.

I soon reached her room to find the door open. I gave a small knock and entered only to find Omla pinned against the wall by one of the duke's royal guards.

I screamed and covered my mouth but it was pointless I began to run out of the room knocking something over only to hear the shattering noise behind me but I kept running until I reached a safe place and held my chest looking at my bloody finger.

Omla was in trouble what was he doing to her, she seemed to be scratching his back to escape but then they were both naked and making noises.

If Omla was in trouble she would have screamed. Yes, she would have.

Looking back at the scene I realised there wasn't any trouble but what were they doing naked with each other?

Ignoring it I rushed back to my room.

I poured water over the injury until the blood flow reduced, I sprinkled a little bit of salt which made me wince and wrapped it in a handkerchief and knotted it.

I was already feeling tired and Bertha wouldn't want to see me anymore.

I was woken up by the sound of shuffling only to see a figure looming over me.

Who was this and what were they doing in my room in the middle of the night?

I caught a faint image of what the person was holding.

It was a knife!
A knife!

I immediately grabbed the person's hand as they tried to stab me.

I pushed back momentarily groaning from the pain in my finger.

"Just die!" The person shouted and I realized it was a woman a maid at that.

She wanted me to die? Well, I wasn't surprised.

I tackled her pushing her unto the bed and fleeing the room.

Luckily I didn't hear her footsteps behind me.

I made it to the rose bush and hid behind the bush panting and wheezing.

If I went back to the servant quarters now, she'll find me.

So I slept outside beside the rose bush.

The next morning I woke up with the sun smiling at me.

I quickly stood up and began walking out of the garden when I heard a whistle and turned around.

It was Peter.

I walked over to him.

Peter loved to bully me whenever he found me he made sure to remind me that I was a nobody.

I reached him and bowed my head.

"Still dumb as ever huh?" He asked but I didn't reply even if I could I wouldn't have.

"As you can see I am training to make yourself useful" he said and I nodded and stood beside him as he was shooting arrows towards a dart board far away.

"Do you see how I can never miss!" He praised himself then turned to me and I immediately looked down.

"At least pass me the arrows instead of standing there useless" he orders and I nodded and began to pass him the arrows.

He fired and fired then sighed laughing as he had gotten most of his arrows to meet the bull's eye.

I admit he had good aim.

"The mud seems to be attracted to my shoes do something about it" he said and continued shooting arrows.

Tearing a piece of my dress I began to clean the mud off the sole of his shoe.

He stepped on my hands a couple of times saying it was a mistake then laughing.

When I was done cleaning I returned to a standing position.

"Go get some apples and stand by the dart board" he ordered.

....

After the traumatising session with Peter Where he shoot arrows at the apples on my head almost hitting me a couple of times while I shook in fear.

I was in my room I had just rewrapped my wound but I still felt unsafe in the room.

Who had tried to kill me?
And I couldn't explain it to anyone and no one would believe me.

"What are you doing lying around!" I heard a shout and immediately stood up.

It was Bertha.

"Do you now think yourself a noble that you can lie around all day?" She asked and I vigorously shook my head.

I had just freshened up and I was still shaking a bit from earlier.

"Come let's go make you useful!" She pulled me...

Bertha made sure I was 'useful'. She worked me tirelessly until she was satisfied I was headed towards my room when I heard my name.

"The young master has requested some maids in the parlour and had specifically asked for you to join them?" She said looking me up and down with disgust.

Yes, every servant despised me.

I knew what this tradition was.

Peter would request for maids every night but the good thing was that he didn't choose who and the maids who wanted to seduce him will gladly go but this night he had specifically requested for me to go with the others.

I had a bad feeling about this.

I nodded and began to walk to the royal quarters.

"You might want to freshen up or the young master will be angry" she said before walking away.

After bathing and changing my clothes I headed over to the parlour.

The place stunk of liquor.

This was the place where Peter and his friends had 'fun' and the maids got to seduce any noble present.

From the aura of the men sitting in the room, I could tell they were all royals or nobles.

The maids were serving drinks while some sat on the thighs of the men feeding them grapes.

I heard a whistle and I already knew it was Peter. That was his way of calling me.

I headed over to him bowing my head slightly and when I looked up, I felt someone staring at me. Turning in that direction I saw it was Harry and I immediately looked away.

He was still around?

"Hey, you come here" one of the men with an unruly beard ordered patting his thigh for me to sit on. I swallowed hard scared.

Feeling tears welling up Peter pushed me towards the man and I headed over to him.

As I was about to sit on him I heard a voice.

"I want that one come here" the person said I turned around to see it was Harry and I smiled a little.

"Oh! Finally, sir Harry has decided to have some fun!" They cheered.

"I'm going to be married soon anyways why not" he replied and I froze.

Was Harry going to do anything to me? Was he going to defile me like these men do?

When I reached Harry, He pulled me unto his leg and sat up.

"What are you doing here?" He asked but I just looked down trying to hold back the tears.

"Did you seek to seduce some nobles?" He sounded angry and I shook my head.

"Hey, servant at least feed the man who desired you" one of the men there said and I turned to see the other maids feeding them grapes.

Grabbing a small bunch in front of the table I turned to Harry who still had his eyes on me.

Plucking one grape I pushed it towards his mouth but he didn't open his mouth until my hands touched his lips then he sucked my fingers in with the grapes and I gasped while he gave me a weary smile.

He kept up with this, at times bringing my hand himself to his lips when the grapes finished he frowned again.

"So what are you doing here?" He asked gritting his teeth and I flinched

Was he angry?
He had never been angry at me before but I had seen his bad temper.

I pointed my finger towards Peter.

He called me here.

I explained with sign language and he sighed.

"Come with me" he pulled me up.

"I'll leave you gentlemen to your fun, I prefer mine more private" Harry announced and they laughed.

"Still shy as always sir Harry" they laughed and he joined them before leading me out of the room.

"Go and never come to the parlour again you hear me? Even if you are sent for make up an excuse okay?" He asked grabbing my hands and I nodded.

"Good now go" he said ruffling my hair making me smile a bit and I left.

When I reached my room, I took a few blankets and headed towards to the rose Bush to sleep there in fear for my life.