CHAPTER 4

• 〽️ PRINCESS HANA 〽️
• #the_next_day
• It was morning already, I woke up feeling streets out due to yesterday’s party. It was until dawn I came to rest.
• I pressed the bell that was next to my bed and waited for my maids to come in.
• After few minutes, the ten of them rushed in. I think it’s high time I discarded some of the old ones.
• And ones they are discarded, they are turned to the palace slaves. They sweep and keep the palace clean.
• “Good morning my Princess.” They greeted bowing their heads.
• I stood up and they reached for my robe and began to get it off. The new ones reluctantly joined not knowing exactly what to do.
• But since they seemed wise they followed their leads. Some went to the bathroom to prepare my bath.
• Some had towels in their hands and some were at my closet looking for a new apparel for me today.
• Mei, Vanna and Akira helped my clothes off by loosing the rope at the back. I allowed them do it and as soon as the cloth was off, I stepped out of it leaving me naked.
• They stepped back and bowed their head. I looked at them and sighed.
• “You led me to the bathtub. Just two of you.” I said raising up my hand and waiting for any two of them to take it.
• Finally Akira and Venna took my hand and led me to the bathtub which was already prepared by the older maids.
• They helped me in the large bath tub and I laid in it. Two of my old man, Clara and Maureen climbed into the tub with me and began to scrub my body with the foam.
• The rest of them stood back with their head bowed. 
• “I will be discarding some of you today. Since new ones have joined you.” I said with my eyes shut and I began to hear murmurings.
• I opened my eyes and everywhere went silent again. I kept ruminating on those I was going to discard and then only two names came to my head.
• Annisa and Indah, the eldest of my maids. I picked them the second year of father’s quest for power which was three years ago.
• After they were done with bathing me, I stood up and stepped out of the bath tub. They wrapped the towel around me and held my hand to the room.
• I stood in front of the mirror and they began to clean the water off my body.
• “So I have decided who I am going to discard two of you, which happens to be the oldest of the maids.
• “Annisa and Indah. You are hereby released from being my maids.” I said and I saw sadness on their faces.
• They knew very well that once they were released they would be thrown into the palace to be general maids.
• Until it’s In father’s wish to let them go finally, and only the heavens knows when that would happen.
• The rest of the maids collected my garment and stuffs from them and they walked out of the chamber In tears. 
• I knew Mei and her two friends won’t know what is going on. But I leave it into the hands of Nikita to do the explanation.
• The rest began to dress me up when the door opened and I saw mother walk in. I saw her through the mirror.
• “Excuse us.” She said and all my maids bowee their heads walking out of my chamber.
• “What’s going on Mother?” I asked as I saw her smiling as she approached me.
• “Princess Katika is arriving soon.” She said and I smriked.
• “And what’s so exciting about that? You should be saying that to Niran not me.” I said and she exhaled.
• “I am here to tell you to be at your best behavior when she is here. I know you don’t like her, but you need to act nice.” She said and I looked at her.
• “Mother I will act nice when I see she is worth it. She is just too proud for my liking.” I said and she held my hand.
• “Katika is your brother’s wife to be. You can’t be mean toward here.” She said and I faced the mirror.
• “I will try.” I said looking at myself.
• “You should get a new apparel today. It’s a lovely day, so you won’t be wearing that.” She said and I nodded.
• “I am not wearing a new apparel to impress Katika, I am wearing it because you asked me to.” I said and she smiled nodding.
• “Thank you Hana. I will leave you to prepare now.” She said walking out of the room. 
• And as soon as she was out, the maids came back into the room.
• “Change of plans. A new apparel.” I said and they bowed going to my closet to get it.
• I looked at the Akira and Venna through the mirror and I saw how silent they were. They were nothing like Mei.
• “Is this how you two are or you are acting this way in front of me?” I asked and they looked at me.
• “We don’t understand you my Princess.” Vanna said with her head bowed and Akira did the same afterwards.
• “Are you two always this quiet?” I asked and they both nodded.
• I took a last stare at both of them before facing the mirror again. They finally clothed me with the fine linen mother picked for me and I was ready to go.
• I just hope Katika doesn’t step on my toes, cos it won’t be funny at all.
• “You can go now.” I said and they all left the chamber. 
• I walked to the door and asked one of the guards in.
• “My princess.” He said bowing his head.
• “Call me Aaron. I need him here now!” I said and he nodded. He walked out of the chamber and I walked back to the mirror lifting up my clothes.
• I looked at myself in the mirror once more, satisfied with the natural looks I had on.
• ⭕ AKIRA ⭕
• “She seems nice to me.” I said as three of us hit the hallway to our room.
• “I like her too. I never expected the princess to be that kind.” Venna added.
• “I guess you two are missing the part where she discarded two ladies, though I don’t know the meaning, I know it’s nothing good for sure, because they left the chamber crying. So sorry if you hear a different compliment from me, but I will say they are all the same. Unmerciful egocentric people.” Mei said and Vanna placed her hand on her mouth.
• “Mei you would get yourself killed with this mouth of yours.” Vanna said while I just stared at both of them.
• “You can keep complimenting anyone you want to, while I keep looking for a way to get us out of here.” She said walking ahead of both of us and Vanna looked at me.
• “I hope she wouldn’t get herself killed.” She said and I heaved.
• “I hope so too. We just need to keep talking to her. She is still our friend.” I said and she nodded. 
• Just then, I sighted Ma’am Nikita from afar talking to a young looking man. I stared at them Wondering who the young man was.
• “That is Aaron. Nikita’s son.” A lady said from behind and Vanna and I looked back in haste.
• “Nikita has a son?” Vanna asked and the lady nodded.
• “I am Kay.” She said and we smiled.
• “I am Vanna and this is Akira.” Vanna said and she nodded.
• “I know you. The quiet maids of Princess Hana.” She said and we both arced our brows.
• “I am one of the maids of Queen Amber.” She said and we both nodded smiling.
• “Nice meeting you.” We both chorused and she smiled too.
• “I should go now. I can’t keep the Queen waiting.” She said and we made way for her.
• We looked at her as she walked away and then we saw Aaron and Ma’am Nikita coming towards our way.
• “It looks like you girls want to talk to me.” She said smiling and we nodded. 
• I looked at Aaron and he stared back at me too. He looked handsome and had this cute little eyes.
• “Hey.” He said to me and I smiled softly. 
• “Hi.” I said and Ma’am Nikita cut the conversation with her cough.
• “We should discuss now.” She said and we began to walk away from Aaron when the thick voice of a man stopped us.
• We looked back and then I saw a familiar guard. It was the guard from Princess Hana’s chamber.
• “Aaron the Princess seeks your attention immediately.” He said and I saw fear on Ma’am Nikita’s face.
• “Why did he do?” She asked fearfully but the guard said no word.
• “I will be fine. Go on with them, I will be back soon.” He said to her and she nodded after hesitating for some seconds.
• He followed the guard and we stared at them till they were out of sight. 
• “What does Princess Hana want with Aaron?” 
• TBC….
• Mei please don’t get yourself killed
• And Aaron?? In Hana’s Chamber??
• What else can possibly go wrong????