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I open one eye to see her staring down at me. “Actually, now that I’m down here, I’m thinking a nap’s in order.”
She laughs. “For someone so obsessed with being the best maid, doing the best job, and rising in the ranks, you’re also completely insane.”
Beatrix doesn’t totally get it. Her mom and dad both work for the fae. She has the privilege of not needing this job, I don’t. She gets to use her money for clothes, entertainment, and to save for her life as an adult one day. I get to use it to keep my family fed and to buy my father’s potions. So, yeah, I take it seriously. But I also take the rare opportunities I’m given to make it fun too, since this is basically my life.
Her amused expression fades away. “If you take much longer, we won’t get the other rooms ready before the fae arrive. And if one of them has to wait for their room…”
They’ll be pissed, which will mean our boss, Alexi, will be pissed at us. “I’ll finish up and meet you there,” I tell her, climbing to my feet.
She grins, calling over her shoulder as she heads for the door. “Don’t take too long.”
“Oh!” My word stops her. “Did Alexi say anything to you about getting an advance on my pay?”
Her expression gentles. “She said no. Sorry.”
My gut clenches, but I try not to show how upsetting the news is. I was really depending on a different answer. I guess I’ll have to come up with a Plan Z. “Thanks.”
She looks like she might want to say something else, but then leaves.
Hurrying, I finish making the bed, then check over the room to make sure I’ve finished everything. Anything I see that needs to be straightened or dusted, I take care of. This is the final check. The moment to make sure that everything is presentable for the precious fae.
Otherwise, we’ll hear about it. Wealwaysdo.
My gaze sweeps over platter after platter of food set out for the prince’s return, and my stomach grumbles annoyingly. Unable to help myself, my thoughts go to my family. We’re always one day away from starving ever since my grandmother went blind and could no longer work as a tutor, resulting in the palace tossing her on her ass. Since then, I’ve spent my days cleaning for the spoiled royalty, but the money doesn’t go far.
They have all of these riches, but they pay pennies. Plus, there’s the whole lack of loyalty thing. We’re about as important as the things they scrub off their pretty shoes.
“And they care just as much about whether we’re starving our asses off.”
I let my hand slide along the table near the unlit fireplace. The one with a tray covered in different kinds of meat. The one covered in desserts. The one with fruits and vegetables piled high.
There’s more food in Prince Sulien’s room than we’ve had in our home in the past year.
“All this food for one person,” I grumble as I use a cloth from my apron to dust the statue of Prince Sulien’s father next to the spread of food. My father’s hunched-over body flashes in my mind. “And I don’t have enough money to buy us anything for dinner tonight.”
An unexpected thought enters my mind, and my heart starts racing. I look around. No one would even notice ifa littlebit of this food went missing.
I’ve never taken so much as a cracker from the royals. Cook always gave me and the other maids any extras after meals, and a bowl of the staff porridge made from leftovers from the day before, which is allowed as long as it doesn’t leave the castle, but I’d never actually taken something. Because up until recently, I always had enough to ensure my father and grandmother had food.
Up until I started paying for my father’s expensive treatments. Treatments I can’t take away from him, no matter what I have to do.
I’m many things, but I’d never consider myself a thief.
Reaching into my pocket, I double-check the spot my coins would be and find nothing. This is the first time my family will go hungry. I’ll be allowed something from Cook, but nothing to take home. Those are the rules.Can I really live with myself if my dad and my grandmother go hungry because I failed to provide for them?
Then, my dad would know how difficult it’s been to afford the potions he’s been using on his legs. The ones the fae healer said could bring back his ability to walk. He’d already gotten the feeling back in them. He’s already managed a few steps.
It’s just… so difficult.
Grandmother and father know things are tight, but I’ve hidden from them just how tight because the food is usually gone by payday, yet I always manage to get more. But if he knew we couldn’t eat because of them, he’d stop his treatments.
My stomach churns, and I quickly shove a stack of ham into the pocket of my apron. Maybe it’s wrong, but my family doesn’t deserve to starve. Not when there’s so much available right here.
And it’s not like I’ll suddenly start stealing gold and diamonds. A little meat. That’s all. Nothing really. Just enough to fill their bellies. It won’t even be missed.
“What’s the prince going to do with this, anyway? He’s not going to eat all of this. It’ll probably just sit here until it starts to spoil, and then we’ll have a chance at it.” I wipe my hands on the bib of my apron, then snatch a cloth off the table, using it to better conceal the meat.
“Dad hasn’t had any protein in…” I trail off, trying to actually remember. Shaking my head, I go back to the table and snatch another small handful.
