You had gotten back to your room and fell asleep, the night being surprisingly uneventful. Now, sunlight shone through a window by your bet, hitting your face in the right spot to make you stir.
Slowly you sat up and glanced around your room, waiting for your brain to start computing again. You stretched and let out a yawn as you stood up and walked towards the bathroom. You took a quick shower, blow-dried your hair, and changed into your uniform. Once again, you pulled your hair into a loose bun and walked back into your room, grabbing a pair of white flats that Florence had dropped off. Smoothing your skirt out one more time, you stepped into the hallway.
You quickly walked down the hallway and knocked on the princes door.
"Come in." You heard a muffled voice say, and you opened it and stepped inside.
"Ah, so she didn't forget her duties," Aiden said as he buttoned up light blue cotton shirt.
You shifted on your feet, staring at the ground, "Um, no...I didn't. I just was wondering where your equipment was."
You felt two hands rest on your shoulders and you turned around to see Connor smiling down at you, "How are you so awake this early in the morning?'
You raised your eyebrows, "I live in the village. I'm used to waking up early and helping my parents out."
Aiden cleared his throat, "Anyway. Our equipment's down in the laundry room. We wanted to make sure it was properly cleaned."
You nodded and turned to open the door.
"Oh, one more thing," Aiden called out, and you turned back to look at him, "Try a curtsy dear. Most of the maids here do them."
"Please (Y/n)?" Connor added, staring at you hopefully.
You bit the inside of your cheek and stared at them for a few moments before turning around and walking down the hallway to the laundry room. You opened the door and looked around a few seconds before locating a pile of clothes sitting on a counter. You stared at the two pairs of riding pants, belts, two helmets, and two pairs of ankle boots. It'd be difficult carrying them all up the stairs, even with them stacked on top of each other. Nevertheless, you stacked the boots on top of the clothing, fed your arms through the straps of the two helmets and picked the clothing up.
You struggled getting up the stairs and down the hall, but finally found yourself in front of the princes door. Having both you arms being used, you tapped the door with your foot and waited for one of the brothers to open it.
Connor opened the door and let out a laugh, "You actually managed to do it (Y/n)!"
You brushed past him and set the stuff down of the couch, "So you knew there would be that much stuff down there?" You asked coldly.
Aiden peeked out from the bedroom doorway, "You didn't know what we required in order to ride?"
You scoffed, "Of course not. I've never gotten on a horse in my entire life."
"Would you like that to change?" Connor was standing behind you again and you quickly stepped away and turned to him.
"No thank you. I'm your maid remember?"
You heard Aiden laugh from the other room and scowled. "Anyway, I'm going to go tell the stable boy to get your horses ready. Have fun... or fall off. Whatever causes you more pain."
You walked away, but Connor grabbed you by the waist, "Now (Y/n), that wasn't very nice was it?" He murmured.
You pulled at his arm, "Neither is laughing at people, or kidnapping for that matter."
Aiden came out of the room, "Who kidnapped somebody?"
"You kidnapped me!" You growled. "I don't want this job, and you guys are obviously having fun torturing me."
Connor furrowed his brow, "Torture? I'd say we've done nothing like that, wouldn't you agree brother?"
Aidens eyes glinted darkly, "No, we haven't done anything like that. Dear (Y/n), would you like us to torture you?"
You squirmed in Connors grip, "No, I'm fine."
Aiden walked over to stand in front of you, "Are you sure? Who knows, maybe you're a masochist. My brother and I didn't know you were like that (Y/n)."
Your cheeks reddened, "Its not like that," You snapped, "Now let me go so I can fulfill your stupid orders."
Slowly you felt Connors arm pull away from you and you hurriedly walked out of the room.
Aiden looked at Connor, "Touchy today, isn't she?"
You stomped down the hallway, past the throne room and out through the main hall. Stupid freaking princes, you thought, Looking down on me and making fun of me. I have half a mind to run away right now. You stuck your tongue out, pretending they were in front of you, before turning the corner and seeing the main entrance. Pushing the doors open, you felt a cool breeze push past you. It hadn't hit you until that moment that you hadn't been outside in two days, which differed greatly from when you were constantly outside in the village.
As if feeling a sudden burst of energy, you walked up to a guard who was walking by.
"Um, excuse me Sir?" You asked as you tapped him on the shoulder.
He turned to look at you, confused, "Yes?"
"Er- I was wondering if you could point me in the direction of the stable?"
He huffed and pointed to a small gravel path to the right of the main walkway before turning away.
"Thank you!" You called back as you ran down the path.
It didn't go for long, and soon you saw a beautiful stable appear in front of you. A few horses were out in a pen, grazing on grass, and you stopped to look at them for a moment.
"May I help you?" A timid voice asked and you turned to see a child that couldn't have been older than 12.
You stared at him for a moment before regaining your composure, "Yes. Are you the stable boy?"
He puffed out his chest and grinned, "The one and only ma'am! My names Reed!" He had beach blonde hair and dark blue eyes. He was wearing a white cotton shirt and grey pants, and you silently wondered why he didn't have the same color scheme as the rest of the castle.
You let out a small laugh and held out your hand, "Hello Reed, 'Im (Y/n)."
He shook it quite happily, "That's such a pretty name! Like a princess!"
You sighed thankfully, internally. The castle may be crazy and psychotic, but a child who worked there was still a child.
"Why thank you." You bent down so he was eye-level, "Do you like horses?'
His smile widened, "Mhm! They're really pretty! My dad used to work here, and Prince Aiden gave me the job of a stable boy! The horses are really fun to take care of and good company too!"
You nodded, understandingly. "Well listen I have a big boy job for you. Do you think you can handle it?"
He rolled on his feet and nodded his head eagerly.
"I need you," you poked him in the stomach, causing him to giggle, "To ready the princes horses. They're going out for a ride today."
His eyes lit up in excitement as he ran towards the stable. He stopped halfway and turned back to look at you, "Will you be joining them Miss?" He asked.
You smiled, stood up, and shook your head, "No Reed. I can't ride a horse."
He nodded understandingly and smiled again, "Well, come here someday and I'll teach you!" He disappeared into the stable and you let out another laugh.
"He seems to like you." Someone called out and you turned to see Connor and Aiden walking down the path. You shrugged and turned back to look at the horses in the pen.
"Our little pet isn't paying attention to us. How cruel." You heard Aiden say as he came over and stood on your right.
"I'm not your pet," You curtly stated and turned around to walk away. Instead, Aiden grabbed your arm.
"Stop walking away from us. Its very tiring to not be able to say more than one sentence before you stomp off." He sighed, still staring at the horses.
"Well maybe if you didn't insult me so much, you might be able to hold a conversation with me." You retorted as you pulled your arm away from him.
"(Y/n)," Connor said, as he stood on your left, "Isn't being our pet a compliment? That means we give you the most attention."
"I don't want your attention," You muttered, noticing Reed running back and forth inside the stable, "If I didn't have your attention, I wouldn't be in this mess."
"Mess?" Aiden inquired.
You gestured to your clothes, "Being a maid. Working at the palace. Having to be around you two."
Connors eyes darkened, "(Y/n), I'm getting very tired of you acting like we're not enjoyable to be around. I don't care about our means of getting you here, but you're here now, and you will enjoy it."
You turned away from him, not saying anything.
"Or," he continued, "Something might happen to that little child over there." He gestured to Reed who was happily grooming one of the horses that were now standing outside the stable.
You shot him a panicked look, "You wouldn't."
Connor raised an eyebrow, "Are you willing to gamble his life to test that?"
You bit your tongue, opting that staying silent was better than saying something.
"Ah, she really does learn fast," Aiden said as he walked over and patted your head, "Now, are you willing to show me that curtsy?'
You glanced at Connor who had his gaze on Reed. Growling, you slowly dipped into a curtsy, staring at the ground.
"Now that made my day. You're so adorable (Y/n)." Aiden clapped in delight before putting a hand on Connors shoulder and they both walked away from you.
They're manipulating me, You growled, clenching your hands into fists, They're manipulating me and I can't do anything about it.
"(Y/n). You're dismissed until we get back." Connor called and you felt the anger rise inside you.