Delicate Flower

Chapter Three ♡

Chapter Three

     Juliette placed the comb on her bed as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.

Her curly golden hair cascaded down her waist, its color accentuating the rosy blush of her cheeks.

It's been three days since she moved into the castle and she couldn't help but miss her old farm house. Her aunt was very kind to her to offer her a room inside the castle. She was also thankful for Prince Maximus's permission since her aunt had told her that hadn't it been for him, she wouldn't have been able to reside there.

Juliette sighed. She wondered what had her aunt done to the prince. She knew that no one has ever entered the castle's boundaries without owing him something. She tried offering her aunt help with the maid work, but her aunt insisted that she needs some rest.

She put the comb inside her small drawer and then tied her hair with a pink ribbon. She then took the apron that hung behind the door and tied it firmly around her waist.

Ever since she has arrived, her aunt's friend, Meredith, had shown her around the maids building. There were at least two thousand maids working inside the gigantic building and it was so hard not to get lost inside. Her favorite place, the kitchen, was as thrice as big as her farm house and she found herself lingering there and helping the chef–whom she made acquaintance with thanks to Meredith– every time her aunt headed for her work.

She closed her eyes as she allowed the sweet aroma of bakeries welcome her senses.

"Juliette!" She smiled as she heard Gregg's friendly salute. He's been her only friend since her stay.

"I see you've come early," he grinned, his dimples deepening with his smile. Gregg was a handsome man- for a chef. When people spoke of a chef, she imaged a burly stout man with a giant mustache so when a tall good looking man with auburn hair introduced himself as the chef, she couldn't help but gap a little. She felt a faint blush taint her cheeks as she remembered her embarrassing moment.

"Aunt Mabel left early," She said softly, her eyes avoiding meeting his. "So I thought of helping you since I have nothing else to do." Gregg could never miss the overwhelming shyness Juliette had, so he spoke to her very delicately as she seemed as fragile as a little rose.

"Allow me to serve you today." He winked. She was red all over. His smile widened. "I've made éclairs." He mentioned for her to wait as she looked at him questionably, and disappeared in the back of the kitchen.

Juliette fumbled with her apron as she waited for Gregg to return. Living inside her modest farm house has made her excluded from the world. She wasn't aware of many things, and she felt a bit naive when Gregg would talk to her about all kind of things. He had introduced her to many new meals and desserts and he even taught her how to make butter biscuits on the very first day of their meeting.

"For you, m'lady." He placed the plate on the counter in front of her. She felt her cheeks burn again as she examined the small desert in front of her. "That's–that's éclait?"

"Éclair." He chuckled. "It's a very famous french dessert, and it was the late King's favourite." He continued, whipping flour off his hands with a small towel.

"What's your favourite?" She asked wanting the change the subject. She took one and turned it over, gazing at the chocolate at the bottom.

"Ah, now that's a hard question." He placed his hand beneath his chin and pretended to be deep in thought. She giggled a bit as he hummed.