The Crown

Chapter Four

The room was bigger than her old room, and Beatrice felt joy fill her. She was happy she no longer had to share a room with her brother, and that there was actual space to move around. She had her own dresser and closet now. She opened the mirrored closet and found nothing but aprons and brown dresses. Her joy slightly dropped, the realization dawning upon her that she was only here to clean and get paid, and definitely not here to have fun.

"The old servant, Nita, lived right across from me. So now, you take her room! Ah, isn't that perfect?" Christina squealed.

"It's perfect, Christina," Beatrice repeated and gave her a quick hug. 

"You must be exhausted," she said softly, stroking her arm. "The adjustment period hurts the most, but I'm always across the hall whenever you need me."

"Thank you, Christina," she said warmly. 

Christina laughed and patted the mattress. "I won't prefix how comfortable the beds are here. Nothing like the village, that's certain," she sighed and pressed a kiss to her temple. "I know coming here was not really a choice, but I'm glad you're here."

"I think I am, too," Beatrice admitted, surprised at her own words.

Christina chuckled as she stood and opened the door. She paused and looked back, a smile on her face. "Who knows? Perhaps someone else will soon be glad you're here."

Beatrice laughed and rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "I think the castle has fed you too many fairy tales, Christina. I'm only here to do my job."

Her best friend laughed once more and closed the door behind her. Beatrice sighed and looked wearily at the bed in the center of the room. She slowly approached it, reaching out to touch the cover atop. 

Merely the touch of the soft fabric sent surprise through her veins. I don't believe I've ever felt such a soft fabric in my life!  A laugh escaped past her lips as she slowly sat down, her eyes closing at the fabric surrounding her thighs and fingers. 

Not being able to further contain her excitement, she quickly collapsed down on the cover, laughing gleefully. She spread her arms and legs to their extremities, feeling the bed up and down. She rolled over and implanted her face in her new pillow, squealing in excitement.

"I must write a letter home," she said quickly, standing from the bed and sitting at her new desk. "A desk... I don't believe my entire home even has one! Let alone a personal bureau."

Beatrice lifted a sheet of paper from the drawer and set it on the wooden desk. She took a pen, admiring the beauty of how the ink wrote on the paper. She raised it to her eyesight and turned it around, smiling at the emblem written across. A crown. 

"How fancy," she teased, setting the pen down on the paper. 

She composed the first draft on all the events that had occurred that afternoon; the carriage ride, the mysterious rumors of her new employer, her first interaction with the prince and a princess, and her reconciliation with Christina. As she read over her words, Beatrice faltered at how much guilt arose in her. It's almost as if I'm bragging to them - I can't send this.

She crumbled the letter and tossed it in the bin. The action surprised her; they had such a limited supply of paper in their family home that the first draft was the only draft. I shouldn't give in to wasting, even if the supply is incredibly larger than what I'm used to. This is the behavior of spoiled people, she reminded herself.

Dear Family,

The castle is as grand as the stories tell of it. I was able to reunite with Christina, who showed me around this new place I will reside in. I have my own private bedroom, right across from her.