Doris POV
The library was peaceful; not many bothered me here because they didn’t share the same love for books as I did. I often worked here alone and mainly on delivery days because I was the best at organizing the books.
Not many servants knew how to read due to a lack of education. However, as a child, before I was brought to the House Arnold Palace, I was homeschooled. I was taught reading and writing and from there I grew my passion. My dream, once I gain freedom, is to become a writer and write about all the things that I see as I travel the world.
Of course, I had never told anyone of that dream except for Beth.
I got my passion for reading and writing from my mother. She was the one who homeschooled me and grew my passions. She also had a love for books and only wanted bigger and better things for me. Once she passed away, I was taken to the palace to work as a slave.
I thought I would never see outside the palace gates again, but I heard that if we do well in due time, the King will sign the amnesty that will grant us freedom. But we must abide by the rules and keep our heads down in the meantime, or we can kiss our chances of freedom goodbye.
I had to get this amnesty signed and get my freedom; for myself and for my mother. I wanted to make her proud and fulfill the goals she was never able to accomplish.
The boxes of books sat on the library desk as they often did when I arrived for my shift. The box was heavy, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle. I got to work right away to put the books away and organize the shelves.
The smell of the books always brought me back to when I first opened a book in the small home in the village, I was born. My face lit up as I looked around at the colorful images on each page and my mother read the words to me.
She died when I was 14 and I think about her every day. I miss her terribly.
The first thing I was going to do once I got granted freedom was to visit that village again and see the home, I grew up in.
“Anyone working today?” A familiar voice boomed through the library making me nearly jump out of my skin.
I jumped to my feet and hit my head off a low-hanging shelf; I held onto my head and winced at the pain as I made myself known to the visitor.
I could hear his laughter as I walked out of the book aisle.
Crown Prince Martin.
I was relieved that it was him and not Prince William. Prince Martin was my most frequent visitor because he shared my passion for books. He was the only Prince that came to visit the library. I wouldn’t exactly call us friends, but he had become someone that I felt comfortable enough to talk to about literature.
“I’m sorry,” Martin chuckled as he approached me.
Like William, Martin was a tall man and nicely built. But unlike William, Martin proved to be much kinder and gentler.
“I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said as he rubbed the tender spot on my head that I had hit off the shelf.
I smiled up at him.
“It’s okay, your majesty,” I said, bowing my head slightly at him. “We just got a new collection of books if you are interested. I placed them in the first aisle,” I told him, pointing to the aisle I just come from.
His smile widened.
“I’ll go check them out,” he said as he made his way towards the aisle.
I followed him so I could direct him to where I placed the newest books; he gazed at the books briefly before glancing in my direction.
“Doris?” He asked, I realized he was staring at me.
I couldn’t read the expression on his face, but it seemed as if he needed to speak about something important.
“Yes, your majesty?” I answered, gazing up at him.
“I heard that my brother, William, was seeking the maid that he marked last night. Is that true?” He asked.
I frowned; the entire palace had heard about that. it was practically a witch hunt.
“Yes,” I answered. “He was.”
“And?” He asked, almost nervously.
I tilted my head to the side, not sure what he was asking.
“Did he end up finding her?” He asked.
Oh.
“Yes, your majesty,” I told him, feeling my features reddening.
“And was it you?” He asked, he was now gazing at my neck.
I shifted my hair to cover the spot that William had marked, and I looked away from Martin’s piercing gaze.
“No,” I answered, trying to keep my tone as even as possible. I couldn’t let him see me stressed. Why was he asking me such questions anyway? Why did it matter if it was me? “It was Melody Harford. The head maid. Well, I guess now she’s Lady Melody.” I tried to keep the bitterness from my tone but I’m sure he could see it on my face.
He sighed; almost like he was relieved.
He chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck with the palm of his hand, sheepishly.
“Oh good,” he breathed, catching my eyes. “For a moment, I thought he was going to take you away from me.”
I felt my breath getting caught in my throat as he continued staring down at me; the heat rising into my cheeks. For a moment, there wasn’t enough hair to breathe in this room and I wasn’t sure what to say or do at this moment.
His eyes poured into me with such intensity that I almost forgot where I was.
“Doris…” he said my name as he had never spoken it before. I opened my mouth to respond, but no words were coming out, so I closed it immediately. “I’m glad you aren’t going anywhere.”
What did that mean?
Does he mean he doesn’t ever want me to get out of this palace and gain my freedom? Did he mean he didn’t want me to become a lady of the palace?
I stared at him puzzled for a few moments until the sounds of heels clicking against the wooden floors startled us.
We turned in time to see Lady Grace strolling towards us, elegant as always. Her hair was wrapped up in a blonde bun with flowers entwined around her curls, matching the pink gown that hugged the curves of her body perfectly. Her breasts were largely in front of her, with cleavage that would make any man fall to his knees.
It was rumored around the maid’s unit that she once had an affair with Prince William. It didn’t surprise me considering she was the most elegant and beautiful woman in the kingdom. She was exactly the kind of woman that William would go after.
Her beauty alone could get her anything that she wanted, and at this moment, she wanted her husband, Prince Martin.
“Darling, are you almost ready to go?” She asked, staring between the two of us curiously.
I still felt red in the face and turned away to keep my face hidden. Thankfully, Martin didn’t seem out of the ordinary. He picked a book off the shelf and waved it for her to see.
“Almost,” he answered. “I just need to check this out.”
“One of my favorites,” I said, looking at the book he was holding up. “Very innovative. You’ll enjoy it!”
He began walking towards the front of the library to the main desk; I knew that was my cue to follow him and check the book out for him, so I trailed closely behind him.
As I stamped the inside of the book with the date and wrote down the return date in the book and my files, I tried to maintain a normal composure.
I couldn’t look at Prince Martin or Lady Grace in the eyes.
Not that anything had happened. At least not anything I could explain. I wasn’t sure what happened and why Martin was acting the way he was. But I wasn’t about to ask him. I wouldn’t dare ask him; especially not in front of Lady Grace.
She stood in the doorway, waiting patiently for me to finish. I handed Martin the book and met his eyes briefly. I gave him a small smile and he returned it. He held my eyes for a moment more before his voice rang through my ears like a bird’s melody.
“I’m really glad you’re here, Doris,” he said, low enough for only me to hear.
I felt my cheeks flush again as he turned and made his way out of the library with Lady Grace by his side.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts over what had just happened as I went back towards the aisle I was originally in, putting the newest books away. But I stopped in my tracks when I heard a voice coming from the doorway.
“Was that Prince Martin?” William asked.