Entangled Hearts: A Tale of Twisted Affection

Checking the room key number, Elara's gaze flickered over the numbers. "seventy five," she read aloud. She furrowed her brow, confused. Does this mean there are fifty-five maids here? That can't be possible, can it? She thought, still trying to wrap her mind around the immense size of the castle. The corridors stretched endlessly before her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking through a maze of rooms, halls, and winding staircases.

Considering the size of this castle, it could easily house an entire town. How does anyone find their way around this place? she wondered. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of walking, she arrived at her designated room, number seventy-five.

With a deep breath, Elara steadied herself and opened the door. As soon as she stepped inside, her jaw dropped. The room before her was so much larger than she had expected. She had imagined something small and humble, but this room was far from that.

Two beds sat opposite one another, confirming her suspicion that she would be sharing the space with someone else. However, despite the presence of the second bed, the room felt vast, almost luxurious. The room was neatly arranged, everything in its place, the floors polished to a gleam, and the air smelled faintly of lavender. It was as if someone had meticulously prepared the room for her arrival.

She stood there for a moment, wide-eyed, taking it all in. This room was cleaner and more spacious than any place she had ever lived in. Elara quickly shook her head and snapped herself out of her awe. Focus, Elara, she reminded herself. She quickly unpacked her things, carefully folding and placing them in the available drawers and wardrobe.

As she finished, something nagged at her mind. I haven't been assigned to a department yet, she realized. She stood still for a moment, unsure of what to do next.

Not wanting to waste any time, Elara decided to find the head maid to get clarity on her duties. As if by fate, she spotted Mika walking down the hall just as she was about to step out of her room. With a quick bow of respect, Elara called out, "Ma'am, I would like to know where I'll be assigned."

Mika paused, raising an eyebrow before nodding. "Follow me," she instructed.

Elara hurried after her, her mind racing with questions. What would she be doing? What was expected of her? They walked in silence for a few moments before they reached the head maid's office. Mika opened the door and gestured for Elara to enter.

Once inside, Elara sat across from Mika, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.

Mika shuffled through some papers, her focus steady before she looked up. "Elise, right?" she asked, her tone casual.

Elara's eyes widened. "No, ma'am," she corrected quickly. "It's Elara, but you can simply call me Ela."

Mika smiled faintly and nodded. "Ah, my mistake. Well, Elara, you'll be working for His Majesty."

At the mention of His Majesty, Elara's heart skipped a beat. Her eyes widened in disbelief, and she repeated the words almost to herself. "The King?"

"Yes," Mika confirmed, her tone steady. "I know it sounds daunting, but don't worry. It's not as difficult as it seems. The truth is, the maids who serve His Majesty are all older now—some are even quite elderly, like myself." She gave a wry smile. "I may not be ancient, but I'm certainly not young."

Elara's mind was whirling, processing the words. "But I thought you had to serve the castle for ten years before you could serve His Majesty?" she asked, confusion in her voice.

"That was the rule," Mika agreed. "But things are changing. The main maid, along with others, feels it's time to bring in younger maids. The older women who have served His Majesty for so long have expressed that it's time for a shift. It's no longer just about experience, but about new energy. They believe young people should serve Him now."

Elara nodded slowly, still in shock. I'm really going to serve His Majesty. Me...

Mika saw the hesitation in Elara's eyes and gave her a reassuring look. "Don't worry, Elara. You may not even see His Majesty all that much. His personal space is off-limits for the most part. You're not allowed to clean in his room unless he's not there, and you certainly won't be going near his chambers when he's inside. If he's in his study or meeting with others, that's when you'll have the chance to do your work."

Elara took a breath, relieved by this, but still overwhelmed by the idea of serving someone so important.

"There are five primary roles for those who serve His Majesty," Mika continued. "The first is the food server, followed by the room cleaner, stylist, bath dresser—who arranges his bath and bath tub—and lastly, the cook. You, Elara, will be working as his food server. You'll be bringing His Majesty his meals."

Elara's heart raced. She was being assigned to serve the King's food. *Serving His Majesty's food?!

Mika nodded, sensing her unease. "I know it sounds like a lot, but it's an important job. Don't worry about anything else for now. We'll make further improvements and adjustments as we go, but that's your role for now."

Elara nodded, her mind buzzing. I can do this. I can handle it.

"One more thing," Mika said, her voice softening. "You'll need to move to a different room. You'll be staying in the King's building, where I live. You'll be on my floor, which is the lowest floor. His Majesty will be on the second floor, but that doesn't matter much. You should pack your things and be ready to move by the time His Majesty arrives. He's expected soon, and he dislikes noise. We have strict rules about it. Your duties start tomorrow, so you need to be prepared."

Elara's head spun as she processed the information. I'm really going to live in the King's building? And work for His Majesty?!

"I understand," Elara said quietly, her voice steady but her heart thundering in her chest. The magnitude of her situation was starting to sink in.

Mika smiled at her, though it was a small, almost distant smile. "You'll do fine, Elara. Just stay focused and do your best. We all start somewhere. Just keep your head down, do your duties, and you'll be fine."

Elara stood up, nodding. His Majesty. The thought echoed in her mind as she left the office, feeling the weight of what was to come. She had been chosen to serve the most important man in the castle, His Majesty. And she would not fail him.

As she made her way back to her room, her hands shook slightly. I'm really going to work for him. Tomorrow...