Chapter 2 Just A Palace Maid

• 2 hours earlier...
• The Verilian palace is nothing short of a fairytale. The high towers and walls are made of shining white stone and the windows that pepper the building are made of the finest glass that sparkles when the sun hits it. The castle intimidates me. It makes me feel small every time I approach it. I flash my staff badge at the security guard in the back entrance and smooth out my uniform. I check that my blonde hair is perfectly in place in a nearby mirror as he waves me down the hall. I'm an American in every sense of the word and my blonde hair and blues eyes look out of place from the brown haired brown eyed fellow maids and staff and everyone knew it.
• I anxiously smooth the black apron over my thighs once again and walk down the spectacular hallway, pushing my cleaning cart. My black mary-janes touch the clean white carpet as I try my best to avoid damaging the expensive paintings and artifacts when I begin to dust and clean them. The wheel snags on the carpet a little and I mutter a curse and continue to push it along.
• I don't hate this job, but it isn't my preference. I miss America and I miss the life I had back home. I never expected to be a maid in the Verilian palace but things don't always go as expected do they? My friend Aline called me up on the phone and offered a job. Her mother was no longer able to keep up with the cleaning duties and needed help. I hadn't seen Aline in ten years, not since she was my parents' exchange student, but I jumped at the idea. I wanted to see the world and my secretary job in America wasn't giving me what I wanted in life.
• That was two months ago. The job paid well and I was able to travel to nearby countries as well as spend time with my closest friend so it was a positive experience. I've become close to Aline and now I consider her my best friend. I didn't have many real friends back in New York. My phone buzzes silently in my pocket. I look around, making sure the coast is clear, before taking it out of my apron and checking it.
• Aline: Want to drink? Tonight?
• I giggle silently. Aline's English isn't great, but then again, neither is my Verilian.
• Me: Sure. 8? :)
• We both get off shift at seven. My phone screen buzzes again with her answer.
• Aline: Sure. Happy as an oyster!
• She tries. She really does. And I love her for it. Instead of correcting the misuse of her phrase, I send a simple smiley face back and put my phone back in the front pocket of my apron. Drinks would be fun. I can take my mind off everything and kick back. I can't wait.
• I think back to my home and my parents. I miss them dearly and I wonder what they're up to. The time zone is different and I'm sure they are still asleep. 7 am here is 2 am there. My mother is always worried and she is especially wary of my globetrotting. She is always calling to check up on me, making sure I'm alright and safe. She freaked out when I told her I was leaving for Verilia alone. She wanted to come with me.
• "Oh honey, you can't go by yourself. It's not safe." My mother's honey brown eyes were filled with kindness and worry. "Maybe I can go with you? Or what about your father?"
• I shook my head. "No Mom. I want to do this. I'm 25. It's time for me to see the world!" I smiled, excitement flowing through my veins. "Besides, you have Max to take care of. He's still in high school. I will be fine."
• Tears welled up in her eyes. "Ok. Just promise me you'll be safe." She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into a warm hug.
• "And call. Call all the time. I need to make sure my little girl is ok." My dad sounded sad and I opened my arms, letting him into the hug. I would miss them both dearly but I knew I had to do this.
• The next day I was on a plane out of Boston, heading toward Verilia.
• I continue to push my cart down the hall until I enter the West Wing. The West Wing is always empty and I take solace in cleaning it. I don't have to plaster on a fake smile as I clean, bowing and curtsying as nobles pass. "Good morning my lord... good afternoon my lady..." blah blah. That is the only thing I hate about my job. I find it exceedingly difficult to remain polite and quiet around people that constantly look down their noses at me all because I'm different. I don't know if it's because I'm a maid or because I am an obvious American but it doesn't matter. They always make me feel small and unimportant.
• Which, I guess, compared to them I am.
• I begin to enter and clean the rooms as I go. The West Wing has about five rooms and I start at the front of the hall and clean as I go. I dust the shelves, paintings, chandeliers, and vacuum the carpets and scrub the bathroom floors. This is by far the best part of my job. Peace and quiet, and the rooms and suites are never lived in so they are easy to maintain.
• The suites are the epitome of luxury with velvet curtains, plush comforters over the large beds and elegant furnishings and light fixtures. I especially fell in love with the crystal chandeliers. I was mesmerized by the crystals and the way rainbows danced on the carpets when the light hit them just the right way when I first entered the suite on the first day. There is no doubt that the palace is opulent and beautiful and I love being able to see the intimate parts of it as a maid.
• I hum and quietly sing to myself as I continue to clean. I make my way to the final suite and open the door.
• Fast forward through the most embarrassing moment of my adult life...