Unraveling Truth, Rebecca C. [best books to read TXT] 📗

“The bathrooms need scrubbing, and Lillian’s room needs to be cleaned as well,” Miss. Audrey rattled off. I nodded, and replied with a “Yes Ma’am”. I wouldn’t dare say it out loud but Miss Audrey is a bossy woman. Her stout figure and short brown hair stood out among the slender bodies and lighter colored hair of the other royals.
“Well, off to it girl!”
With a jump, I scurried off down the long halls of the castle and gathered the cleaning supplies I would need. The bathrooms were never quite that dirty, but there are a lot of them. Twelve to be exact. Lillian is another story. Even though she is my age, she acts like she can do whatever she pleases. So I can expect her clothes to be laying on the floor and her bed unmade. Then again, I suppose she can do what she pleases. She’s a royal. Slim, blonde and accompanied with an attitude. Like most of them are.
I nudge open a door to a bathroom. The pearl white tile shines with the sun reflecting on it. Just as I suspected, not dirty. I have to “clean” it anyway. Somehow they always manage to find out. Even though it looks exactly the same. I wipe down the counter and sink, and scrub the floors quickly with skilled hands. I’ve been doing it all my life. Sometimes I think if royals were brought up like maids, they might be a little grateful.
I clean them all without any run-ins with anyone else. I think they are all outside, I heard they just got a new Wyvern. They are dragons, or related to dragons. Its from the Anglo-Saxon word Wivere, which means serpent. Most are nasty, and untamable, and much to big to be a pet. But apparently this one has been bred to be the size of a lilac bush, and has been trained to be well tempered. I wouldn’t trust it.
At the last bathroom, I had to clean the mirror. Someone, most likely Lillian's little brother Tobias, had smeared toothpaste all over it. They look alike but she doesn't treat him like a brother at all. More like a seven year old pest.
“Lucinda, Father wants you outside when you are done cleaning,” Lance’s voice sounded from the doorway. Royal, and Lillian’s older brother, but only a year older. His green eyes were always bright and attentive, and his brown hair by his ears. Looking nothing like the blue eyed Lillian.
“I will be done after Lillian’s room. Do you know what he wants of me?” I asked, curious of what he would want, and worried the same. Lance answered with a small reassuring smile.
“Nothing to worry about. He didn’t sound mad, I might even say he is in a good mood”
He left with a small wave. Well, at least the air felt more positive around me.
I finished up in the bathroom, and moved on to Lillian’s room. White, with elegant carvings framing it. I honestly don’t think she deserves such a beautiful door. Opening it, I saw it wasn’t as bad as I suspected. A couple clothes littered the floor, and the bed unmade. I worked with skilled hands as I cleaned up the mess. As I was picking up a dress from the floor, I saw a piece of paper poking out from under her bed. I reached down, and picked it up. I know I shouldn’t, but curiosity won out.
It was a newspaper from the east side land. The heading read, “Lead on Missing Princess, Gabriela”.

Missing Princess? Why would Lillian have an east-land newspaper? I read on.
Princess Gabriela, who was kidnapped at the age of 4 months was gone without a trace. Now, after 14 years of searching a clue has been found. A ring engraved with the letters ‘HG’ was found in the child’s room, where she was last seen at night, sleeping. Some suspect the western land king, Hugo Gravard. He has denied any part of the accident, but a war is making its way up. King Finnik Tormal has demanded a search of Hugo’s castle, saying “I will not stop until my daughter is found, and will search every land looking for her. I haven’t seen her in 14 years, but I will know it is her when I see her eyes”. Hugo has agreed to have his castle searched, as long as they pay a fee of two-hundred crowns…

I stopped reading there, afraid of being caught. Why would the king do such a thing? He is a mean man at times, but not as cruel to take a child. I haven’t seen anyone that resembled a royal from the east around here.
I put the paper back where I found it, and left the room confused. I put away the cleaning supplies and hurried down the large halls to find the doors to outside. I had this nagging feeling about that newspaper. It said a war was raising, but how could they start it over what someone thought? If I was a royal, I wouldn’t do that. Once again my theory that royals should be brought up as house servants is proved. Then they would learn patience and control.
I slowed to a halt as Lillian came into view, her face in an annoyed expression and her feet practically stomping. Now what?
“What is taking you so long? Father is getting annoyed,” She hissed. Her blue eyes blazed with the hidden power inside her.
“I was cleaning your room. I was on my way there now,” I stated, emphasizing that it was her room I was busy with. I thought about adding the part that if she kept her room clean herself we wouldn’t have this problem, but decided against it.
“Well you could have cleaned it faster, now get to the garden before I tell him that you tried to burn down my room,” she snapped back. She and I both know that I never did such a thing, but who would the King believe, his own royal daughter, or the house help? Exactly. I brushed past her and hurried down the hall.
Why does she have the right to tell lies about me? To lie, cheat, and over all be a snotty brat? The royal title gives her the permission. I’m plenty happy not being a royal, I am glad I wasn’t brought up like them.
I push the big wooden doors open in frustration. They swing out with ease, and the sun shines through, blinding me at first. I blink and let my eyes adjust before traveling through the pear trees and lilac bushes. Those plants were Queen Salvian’s idea. Beautiful , they are. Finally I came to the maze of trimmed bushes, that stood higher than me. I knew these like the back of my hand. I traveled through them, enjoying the sight of the white flowers that grew on the sides.
Then I come to the actual garden, which rests right in the middle of the maze. The king was seated on a white bench next to the sparkling fountain. His face showed no emotion, and he looked to be in deep thought. His face still looked young, despite his old age, only his graying hair showed his true age. Then, seeming to notice me, he spoke.
“Lucinda, I’ve been waiting. I have something for you to do. My new Wyvern, he is being sent up north to be checked for his health. You are to go with him, and make sure everything goes smoothly. You should be expected back the beginning of the new week”
Going with his new dragon, and he trusts me? Before, he wouldn’t even let me watch over Tobias. This is a big deal.
“Yes sir. Are you sure about your choice of me going? I know how much you treasure it..”
“Of course I am sure. Do not question me. Think of this as a test, if all goes smoothly, you will be rewarded as just,” He said, interrupting me.
“Yes sir. When are your Wyvern and I leaving?” I asked, nervous about asking a question, not sure if it counted as ‘questioning him’. His voice is full with so much power, it makes me want to quiver.
“This night, Lance will fetch you when the time comes. Get your things that you will need now, so there is no wasted time,” he said with dismiss. I left without another word, with two emotions clashing inside me. Fear, and joy. Does he finally trust me? Does this mean I wont be treated as a pet? Then the down fall…Will the Wyvern hurt me? I don’t even know how to handle one, let alone make sure it is okay.
Pushing those thoughts out of my head, I started to think of what I would need. I don’t have much to begin with. The beginning of the new week is in five days, so I would need 5 outfits and 4 night wear…Toothbrush, and a book. I would have to hide the book though, I’m not allowed to read. Reading is strictly prohibited to all house help. They say it distracts us and makes us daydream. Lucky me, I can multitask. I remember having secret lessons with Leona, the old maid, when I was little. I remember the first day…
**FLBA**
“Hello little miss, what is your name?” Leona asked, looking down at me with big brown eyes.
“Lucinda,” I said shyly. This was my first day as a maid in training, I’m only five. Everything is so big, and I’m scared. How will I not get lost in such a big place?
“Oh, what a beautiful name! Well, I am Leona, and I’m going to teach you how to work, live, and get away with things,” she said, taking my small hand in her rough- yet soft one. I giggled at the last part.
“Lee-o-na” I said, trying to sound it out. That name reminds me of a queen. Leona led me around the castle, telling me about life around there and what I’ll have to do later on. All of this frightened me, I didn’t want this life. It sounds so hard, getting two small meals, no fun, and no breaks. Leona squeezed my hand reassuringly whenever she felt me hesitate.
“Now, see here baby girl. You must do what the royals-”
“What are royals?” I interrupted her, confused by her word.
“The Queen, King, Princess, Prince, and anyone related to them. Now, hush up so I can talk. You must do what they tell you. If you don’t, bad things can happen-”
“Like what bad things?”
“They might hurt you. Now, don’t interrupt me anymore. If you cant listen to me, then you wont listen to them, and that’s when things get bad. Do what they say, don’t ask questions, and always believe,” she said, almost down to a whisper. She put a finger to her lips when I was about to ask what she meant by, ‘always believe’, silencing me. I nodded, planning to do what she instructed.
First, she stated me off with just picking up trash and throwing it away, then with scrubbing the floors. I hated it so much, I had broke the bucket by kicking it. Leona gave me my two-bits after that. At the end of the day, my hands were red and my knees sore. I was exhausted. Finally, at last we get to eat.
Leona was explaining the routine for dinner. That we eat at the table with everyone else, and