CHAPTER TWO

"Hello, mother."

"Your Highness."

Queen Rosette, mother of Kai and Queen of Gardenia, smiled proudly as her son bowed to her in respect. It was just like yesterday when she pushed this fine young man out of her womb and now, he's all grown into a man. A bachelor which all princesses want to be with. A real eye-catch and a true leader. She has never been so proud of anyone as she's proud of her son. It's just so sad her husband won't get to witness his son climb on and take his rightful place as King.

"My children, come."

Even before Queen Rosette invited them in, Courtney was already lying flat on her mother's bed. Prince Kai walked further into his mother's chamber and took a seat on one of the Royal couches.

"I heard that you wanted to see me, mother?"

"Yes, come sit with me my son." Kai stood up from his sit and joined his mother on his bed. He sat and faced Queen Rosette,

"What is the matter?"

"Well, you know the kingdom's tradition, the throne can't be empty."

"I think we have talked about this before, mother. We agreed my coronation would hold in two months time."

"This is why I called you here. There's been a change of plan."

"Please, explain further. I don't understand."

"Courtney dear, please excuse us, darling."

"Mother, I just got here." Courtney whined, sitting up.

"I'm sorry."

Courtney got down from the bed and walked out of the Queen's chamber.

"I'm listening?"

"Well, you see... it's in the tradition. The throne shouldn't be vacant for more than a month and it's about three months now that no one has sat on the throne. So the elders and I have agreed that you'll be crowned King in two weeks time and also, your wedding will take place on the day of your coronation."

"Wait...all these are too much for me."

Kai stood up and breathed out. "Mother, I don't want to seem like I'm complaining a lot but coronation and wedding on the same day? Two weeks time? Mother, father died just two months ago. I haven't recovered from that yet and now you bring a sudden news of a coronation and wedding? Who in the world am I going to wed?"

"Your betrothed, of course. Or have you forgotten you already have a bride?"

"Yeah, a bride who I know nothing about. I don't even know how this ''bride'' looks like."

"I can assure you she's the finest in the land. The rarest there is."

"Mother, you don't understand me. This is...

"This is too much for you to handle, I know and I'm sorry. You weren't given time to learn all about these before death took your father away. I know all things are bulky for you now but I assure you things will get better. The reason why you need to quickly take your place as King is because of your father's family. Your father's family is filled with greedy people. All of them want your throne and if we don't do something about it, they might take it from you."

"I understand, mother."

"Thank you, my son."

"So um...what's this princess's name?"

"Her name is Princess Belle Christie Lucan the fifth."

"I didn't tell you to tell me her whole title. Princess Belle would have been okay."

"You know me, always extra."

"Princess Belle of where?"

"Princess Belle of Bassy."

====================

Anastasia finished doing the laundry two hours later. She is very exhausted. She didn't realize the clothes were that much until she started to wash them.

"Anna, you okay?" Ivory asked as Anna slumped beside her on her bed. Anastasia groaned and shook her head.

"I'm so tired."

*BANG!*

Was the sound of the door as someone barged in.

"You guys, just in. The rumours are true!" The invader said as she sat on one of the beds. She rubbed her hands together excited and Anna let out a "ugh!" Anna knows what the Invader was about to say was gossip and nothing more.

"What rumours?" Ivory asked.

"Prince Kai is betrothed to Princess Belle of Bassy and they're said to get married in two weeks time."

As soon as Anastasia heard that, she sat up immediately and all her sore joints seems to have vanished.

"What?"

"Yes. I just got updated by the guard in duty. I don't know who this princess is but I'm sure she's going to be as beautiful as the night's stars."

"Oh please! Lots of princesses have visited this palace and non of them has ever been more beautiful than Anastasia. Or am I wrong?" A ginger maid asked.

"You're not wrong but this one might be different."

"How I wish I can be as beautiful as Anna. She's got the looks and body. I wonder how she wasn't made a chamber maid or bed warmer."

Anastasia ignored the chattering of the girls and covered her whole body with a blanket. Anastasia has always been praised for her natural beauty. Back at her village, before she became a palace maid, many nobles and old men have asked for her hand in marriage but of course, she always declined thier offer. Sometimes, they try to force her into marrying them but Anna was not always having it.

Her beauty has brought nothing but tears to her back at her village. Girls hating her for no reason, dirty and shameful guys trying to marry her all because they want to have sex with her. She almost got raped once, thank God a good Samaritan came to her rescue. Imagine people thinking being a bed warmer is a good thing. Yuck!

"Yup! I knew it! Gossip and nothing else! Don't you folks have nothing else to do than to talk about what doesn't concern you at all?"

Anna smiled when she heard Madam Felicia's nagging voice. "Who's that under the blankets?"

"It's Anna, she's not feeling well." Ivory answered Madam Felicia. Madam Felicia was used to thier schemes so her guess was that they were tricking her. She tiptoed towards Anna and shoved the blanket off her.

"Not feeling well my foot."

Anna laughed as Madam Felicia pulled her off the bed. "Get up."

"But I'm tired."

Madam Felicia bent down and whispered into Anna's ear. "Rice cakes were prepared, you want or not?"

"I'm up! I'm very okay!"

"Yeah, that's what I thought."

Anna followed Madam Felicia to the kitchen and she got her own share of food. Madam Felicia always made sure Anna got the amount of food that would satisfy her. After eating, Anna rested for about five minutes before she began working again. She went to the stables to feed the horses of the knights and she also joined other workers to mow the lawn.

When she was done with all her chores, it was already late in the night. Anna can't sleep without showering so she took her cover cloth and made for the stream. It was only her there so she had enough space to herself. She showered and wore her almost worn-out night dress. She spread her cover cloth on a rock and wore her slippers.

Anna decided to go to the palace garden as she does every night before going to sleep. She got to the garden and she sat on the cool grass. She stared at her legs and sighed sadly at the sight of her worn-out slippers. She looked up and stared at the stars. She saw two stars close to eachother and she imagined them to be her parents.

"Mama, papa, how are you up there in the heavens?"

A tear slipped from her eyes and she sniffed.

"No, no crying." She wiped her face and looked down. She just can't help it. At daytime, she's the bubbly, funny and always happy Anna but at night, she lets out all her frustration.

"What are you doing here?"

Anna turned her head to the back in fear as she heard the voice ask. It was dark so she couldn't see who asked the question but she could tell the person was a man.

"Who...who is there?"

The man stepped into the moonlight and Anna chocked on her saliva. "Oh my God!"

She quickly got on her knees and bowed.

"I'm so sorry, my Prince. I deserved to be punished for being out in such an hour. I will gladly take your punishment."

"Punishing you would be adding to your misery because putting on a thin clothing in such a cold night is punishment on its own."

Anna didn't know what reply she would give.

"Look up."

"Look up? So I can die? Not a chance!" Anna said in her mind.

"Look up now or bear the consequence."

Anna lifted her head up and Prince Kai squinted his eyes. "It's you, the happy maid."

Anna didn't have any idea what he meant by "the happy maid." She just kept staring at him, praying she doesn't end up serving a brutal punishment for a week.

"Get up."

Slowly, Anastasia got off her knees and stood upright. Anna watched as he took off his robe. She never thought a person could take off a robe so majestically.

"Here, put this on."

Anna took her eyes away from the Prince's face, down to his stretched robe, then back to his face.

"I...I can't your Highness."

"Take this, this instant and lift your head up."

Anna gulped and reluctantly collected the robe from him. "Put it on, it's cold."

Anna put on the Kai's royal robe and she almost screamed when she felt the softness of the fabric. "I'm wearing the prince's night robe!"

She wanted to scream that out but she controlled herself.

Prince Kai sat down on the grass while Anna stood on a spot, contemplating on whether she should sit or remain standing.

"Aren't you tired of standing?" Kai asked, not taking a glance at her. Anna cleared her throat and took a seat, three feet away from Kai.

"Do you have some kind of disease?"

"I don't seem to understand your question, your highness."

"Well, you're sitting about four feet away from me so I can only assume that."

"No, I'm..I'm perfectly fine. I'll just...

Anna scooted a little bit closer and Kai chuckled. She was now closer but Courtney would still fit in the space between them.

"What you were doing the other time." Kai spoke.

"What, your highness?

"Okay, please stop with this constant ''your highness''. It's getting too much."

"But... you're a prince. I shouldn't call you by your name but your title. If I do that, I'll be punished."

"Will you still protest if I told you that wasn't a request but an order?"

"But, according to the law, a lowlife like me should not call a royal or Noble by...

"And do you also know that not following a royal's order is punishable? I don't think you study the book of laws well."

Anastasia sighed in defeat and nodded. Kai smirked and lied on the grass.

"The thing you were doing, talking to the stars. Why were you doing that?"

Anna looked up and smiled. "When my parents were alive, they always told me about the stars. They always said that the stars are our dead ancestors watching over us. That each time a person dies, he goes up to the sky as a star and watches over his or her loved one. I always found that fascinating when I was little but as I grew up, I began to lose belief in that story but then, when they died, I couldn't help but to believe in the story again."

"Hmm. So you come here every night, and talk to them?" Anna brought her head down and nodded.

"I guess you can say that."

Anna turned her head to the side and coincidentally, Kai also turned his head. Anna cleared her throat and looked away, trying not to make it awkward.

"I should head back now, your Highness."

Kai nodded and Anna took off his robe. He handed it over to Kai and said, "Thank you, for the robe. I didn't freeze to death tonight, thanks to you."

Seeing Anna's big smile, Kai couldn't help but to smile back. "You're welcome."

"Goodnight, your highness."

"Wait, I don't even know your name."

"Anastasia."

"Anastasia. Goodnight, Anastasia."

"Goodnight, your highness."

Anna bowed and walked away from the garden. As she went back to the maids quarters, she held her breath. She quietly entered into the room and went to her bed. She buried her face in her bed and screamed quietly. She just got to talk one on one with Prince Kai and she wore his robe too? Oh my gee!