Chapter 2

"Wake up" the chief maid called out passing around the servant quarters.

"The castle should be in it's best shape before the arrival of the royals from Oryn"

Bustling could be heard as people walked to there various station all working on their set of work to make sure only the best would be seen by the coming royals.

The woman wakes up by the bustling and rushing, her duties pressing upon her as soon as she opens her eyes. She moves swiftly through the corridors to the princess's chambers, her steps quiet and practiced. Inside, she assists the princess with her morning routine, drawing her bath, selecting the finest royal garments, and carefully helping her dress.

"Why is your face always covered?" the princess asks, her gaze fixed on the woman's reflection in the mirror.

Her breath hitches as she tries to come up with an excuse. "I have an ugly scar across my face, my princess, and must keep it hidden." She answered swallowing a gulp hopefully the princess won't notice the lie .

The princess looks at her with distaste and disapproval. "A woman's face is the most important part of her body," she remarks coldly.

Once the princess is ready, they walk towards the entrance, where a red carpet is laid out, awaiting their guests. The king stands tall and strong at the forefront, exuding authority, while the queen stands a few feet behind, her head bowed in respect to the visitors. The princess positions herself a few feet back with her maid behind her, now dressed in a royal servant's cloak, both heads bowed.

The guards announce in a loud voice the arrival of the people of Kingdom Oryn. The king steps forward to greet the royals, his demeanor regal and welcoming, while the queen graciously receives gifts from them.

The grand doors of the royal chariot swung open, revealing the prince standing tall and composed at the entrance. The air was filled with anticipation, and every eye turned towards the newcomer. His arrival had been the talk of the kingdom for days, and now, finally, he was here.

Dressed in an exquisite ensemble of deep royal blue and gold, the prince exuded an air of nobility and confidence. His eyes, a striking shade of dark brown, scanned the room briefly before settling on the king and queen standing at the far end of the door ready to welcome him in the kingdom. The woman standing nearby couldn't help but catch a glimpse of his handsomeness, her breath momentarily taken away by his striking features and regal bearing. His dark hair was perfectly groomed, and a slight smile played on his lips, hinting at a charm that could easily captivate any heart.

As he approached the king and queen, the place fell silent. He bowed down to the King his hands touching his feet a sign of respect.

"drop the formality my son" touching the base of his head

He stepped forward bowing his head to the queen, and directing his guards to bring forward the gifts he bought.

"Your Majesty," the prince began, his voice steady and respectful. "I bring you gifts from my kingdom, and a message of goodwill .

The chief advisor of Oryn stepped forward his tall frame towing the king ,but like the prince he too bowed down in respect to the King.

"A letter from the king of Oryn, showing his regards "he called handing the king the letter.

The king opened the letter and scanned its contents, a satisfied smile forming on his face. "We welcome you to our kingdom, Prince Leonardo," he said warmly. "Your gifts and your presence are greatly appreciated."

Turning to the queen, Prince Leonardo offered a smaller, intricately designed box. "For you, Your Majesty," he said, bowing once more. "I apologize for coming alone. My father's duties kept him from making this journey himself."

The queen accepted the box with a gracious smile. "Your presence is more than enough, Prince Leonardo" she replied. "We are honored to have you here." And you are not alone, you have your advisor with you .

As the formalities concluded, Prince Leonardo and his advisor Asher were led to the grand dining hall for the royal dinner. The room buzzed with excitement and curiosity. Servants whispered among themselves, unable to contain their excitement at catching a glimpse of the handsome prince. Their giggles and murmurs filled the air, adding to the lively atmosphere.

The long dining table was adorned with the finest linens, crystal goblets, and an array of delectable dishes. Prince Leonardo took his seat opposite the Princess, who had been observing him with quiet interest. She was a vision of grace and beauty, her eyes reflecting the curiosity that mirrored his own.

With a charming smile, Prince Leonardo greeted her. "Princess Samantha, it is a pleasure to finally meet you."

Princess Samantha returned his smile with a delicate half-smile of her own, her eyes meeting his with a mixture of shyness and intrigue. "The pleasure is mine, Prince Leonardo. We have heard much about you and your kingdom."

Throughout the dinner, the two exchanged polite conversation, their words laced with a subtle tension that hinted at a deeper connection. Prince Leonardo's charm and eloquence did not go unnoticed by Samantha, and she found herself drawn to his presence.

As the evening progressed, the initial formalities gave way to a more relaxed atmosphere. Laughter and music filled the hall, and the prince and princess found themselves engaged in a more animated conversation, discovering shared interests and dreams. The servants continued to steal glances at the handsome prince, their excitement undiminished.

By the end of the evening, as the guests began to disperse, Prince Leon and Princess Samantha shared a moment alone in the grand hall. The flickering candlelight cast a warm glow on their faces, and for a brief moment, the world outside seemed to fade away.

"Thank you for a wonderful evening, Princess Samantha," Prince Leonardo said softly, his eyes locked onto hers.

"It was indeed a memorable night," Samantha replied, her heart fluttering. "I look forward to getting to know you better, Prince Leonardo."

A shy smile was present in the princess face after the encounter with the prince,she walked with pride and grace to her chambers with her servant following close behind, seeing the bashful woman .

She set her a bath and help her get out of the royal garments , leaving the princess in the bath she went towards her wardrobe setting her night gown thinking to herself how both Royals would look good together.

After Samantha's bath she found her servant lost in thoughts her frame stalled near the bed.

"That's why you need a pretty face,men like the prince won't go for plain looking women like you or other servants in the quarter,you should remember that" she said taking her night gown from the bed.

"Am sorry princess Samantha I wasn't there to take you from your bath"

"You are dismissed you can go pounder on what your little head dims important" she said, turning around.

"am sorry princess" she said

" You can leave" Samantha demanded.

With hurried steps she made her way towards the door, as she was walking on the hallway the moonlight shine bright from the grand window, her feet carried her towards the light.

"Remember Maya even in darkest night the lights shines, I will always be with you in spirit to guide you and help you, you shouldn't forgetting it my daughter"

I let out a sigh, lost in the bittersweet memory. My feet carry me towards the garden, where the night blooms are in full glory, their sweet scent mingling with the night air. As I walk, my mind wanders, and I don't notice the uneven path beneath my feet. Suddenly, I trip and fall to the ground, the impact knocking my veil loose. Before I can gather myself, a hand appears in front of me.

"Are you alright?" a deep voice asks. I look up to see a tall figure standing over me, his face obscured by the shadows. His hand is strong and steady as he helps me to my feet.

"Samantha," he says, a note of concern in his voice, "what are you doing out at this time of night?"

My heart skips a beat as I realize the prince has mistaken me for the princess. Panic flares for a moment, but then I calm myself. This is my chance to avoid suspicion.

"I… I just needed some fresh air," I say, trying to mimic Samantha's voice and mannerisms. I hope he doesn't notice the tremor in my voice.

He studies me for a moment, his expression unreadable in the dim light. "You should be more careful," he says finally, his tone softening. "It's not safe to wander around alone at night."

I nod, keeping my head bowed to hide my face. "Thank you for your concern," I say quietly. "I'll be more careful."

He watches me for a moment longer before stepping back. "Good. Now, let's get you back inside.

He starts talking about the upcoming festival, asking if I'm excited about the preparations. I respond with short, vague answers, praying he doesn't notice anything unusual. My eyes scan the ground, and I spot my veil nearby. Slowly, I edge closer to it.

"Are you sure you're alright?" he asks, his voice filled with genuine concern.

"Yes, just a bit tired," I say softly. "Thank you for checking on me."

As he continues to speak, I discreetly reach down and grab my veil, hiding it behind my back. "I should probably head back inside," I say, hoping to end the conversation.

He nods. "Let me walk you back to your room."

"Thank you," I say, relieved that he's willing to accompany me but also anxious about maintaining my disguise. As we walk, I can't help but feel a mix of fear and despair.

We reach the hallways leading to the princess chambers I halt my steps, bowing for the prince I mutter a goodbye and am safe here bolting through the hallways not waiting for his reply.

I put back the veil after maintaining a safe distance from the prince, my heart races of the possibility of what would happen to me or my brother if the King ever finds out about this.

Maya reached the safety of the servant quarters, her breath hitching as she leaned against the door. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat a reminder of how narrowly she had escaped discovery. She sighed in relief, the tension draining from her body. Exhaustion overwhelmed her, and she stumbled to her small bed, falling into a deep, dreamless sleep almost instantly.

Morning sunlight filtered through the small, dusty window of the servant quarters, casting a warm glow over Maya's sleeping form. She stirred, the events of the previous night a hazy memory as she blinked awake. The urgency of her duties pressed on her mind, and she quickly rose, splashing her face with cold water from a basin to chase away the remnants of sleep. The princess would be expecting her soon.

Maya hurried through the corridors, her feet moving swiftly yet silently over the stone floors. She found the princess in her chambers, looking as poised and regal as ever. The princess glanced at her, a flicker of worry in her eyes quickly masked by her usual calm demeanor.

"Good morning, Your Highness," Maya said, bowing deeply.

"Good morning," the princess replied, her voice steady. "We have much to do today. Let us begin."

The morning passed in a flurry of activity, with Maya attending to the princess's every need, helping her dress, and arranging her hair. The princess seemed distracted, her mind elsewhere, but Maya knew better than to ask questions. It was not her place.

Meanwhile, in another part of the palace, the prince was brooding. The events of the previous night nagged at him, the image of the cloaked figure fresh in his mind. He had been certain it was the princess, but her explanation had seemed plausible enough. Still, something didn't sit right with him.

As fate would have it, their paths crossed again that afternoon. The prince found the princess in the garden, the sun casting dappled shadows through the trees.

"Good afternoon, Samantha," he greeted, his tone casual but his eyes keen.

"Good afternoon, prince Leonardo," the princess replied, her voice composed. She turned to face him, her expression calm.

The prince studied her, searching for any sign of deception. "What were you doing outside so late last night?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

The princess's heart skipped a beat, but she maintained her composure. "I went to admire the beautiful moonlight," she said smoothly. "It was such a lovely night."

The prince raised an eyebrow, sensing the lie but unable to prove it. His gaze shifted to the cloak she wore, a rich fabric that reminded him of the one he had seen the previous night. He frowned, the similarity nagging at him.

"That cloak," he began, choosing his words carefully, "it looks quite similar to the one I saw last night." He said pointing to the servant cloak

The princess's pulse quickened, but she met his gaze steadily. "I suppose it does," she replied, her voice even. "But many of my garments are similar to those who work here. Perhaps you were mistaken."

The prince nodded slowly, his doubts lingering but his suspicions unconfirmed. He did not want to believe the princess would deceive him, yet the nagging feeling remained.

Maya, standing a respectful distance away, felt a surge of relief. The prince had not uncovered the truth. She busied herself with tending to the flowers, her hands steady even as her heart raced.

The prince eventually dismissed the thought, convincing himself that he had been mistaken. After all, it was not uncommon for the royal family to have similar garment to those of their workers. He turned to leave, his mind already shifting to other matters.