Chapter 3: Elysia

                                                            𝕰𝖑𝖞𝖘𝖎𝖆

The steam of the boiling water reached up to Elysia's face as she let her red hands push down the clothing items that smelt of sweat and body odor. Her fingers pruned from the hard morning labor of washing and her face shined from the warm water bathing her skin. After months of washing the royal's garments, her muscles became accustomed to the work and her soreness went away from the built strength.

She had worked her whole life but never as hard as she did currently. The handmaiden's mother was a cruel woman who didn't understand the world of healing and rest which meant all the girls that served in the castle woke at sunrise and only sat when the roosters perched. All this, however, won over her old life every time. She was blessed by the gods to have a place to sleep and a fire to tend to. No men were allowed to wed her and no men were allowed to harass her. She was safe and that was all the pay she needed.

"Let them soak longer girl." Mother commented as her crooked legs passed through the middle of the tubs. The woman could hardly walk because of old age yet her mind worked faster than most of the young girls.

"Where can I be of service then mother?" Elysia asked as she stepped away from her station and wiped the collected water off of her eyelashes and forehead.

"The Dutchess and her daughters will be needing their baths ran and tended too soon." Mother said. "Take their evening wear on your way."

Doing as she was told, the young handmaiden tied her hair back with the long line of silk she kept in her dress pockets. She felt her long black hair had become frizzy and mother would have been appalled to see any one of her workers looking disgusting in front of the royal family.

Taking the dresses hung neatly together, Elysia dangled them over her arms and floated through the halls. Her eyes stayed down at the ground as she walked; contact had to be at the minimum so she figured it was best to not give anyone the chance to find her face in the crowd of workers. While her eyes peered down the shining crystals that decorated the dresses caught her attention. They were beautiful and elegant, nothing like she had ever had the chance to wear. It felt best though that the pretty dresses were only worn by those who deserved it. She would have felt exceedingly guilty to dirty such pristine garments, unlike the dress she wore with stains and damaged stitching.

Entering the eldest daughter, Antonella's, room, she took no time to go the back and hang up the evening wear. She smoothed out any unwanted wrinkles and stepped back to make sure they were properly separated in length. When Elysia felt satisfied, she went to the lit fire and put a waiting pot of water to hang above the flames. She stayed put on her knees in front of the fire watching the red and yellow hues before she realized the Marquees had entered. "My lady." Standing as quickly as she could, she bowed. "Your bath is not ready yet, but soon."

"I am in no hurry." She sat in front of her mirror and looked at her reflection like she was picking apart every flaw she had. Elysia couldn't see any, the royal family had skin that was a mix of black and white. Their hair was as thick and shiny as the most expensive garments and their bright brown eyes were adored by the countryside. She had watched the royal family as a child when they would venture into their city and gawked at the beauty they presented. The god's probably tired of her prayers at night wishing for beauty like theirs.

"Do you wish for rose scent tonight my lady?"

Antonella stroked her hair slowly before nodding, her mind clearly in another realm as her stare became blank. "I overheard something queer Elysia."

Hearing her name, the handmaiden poured the boiling water into the tub carefully before placing it softly onto the ground. "Do you wish to speak of it, my lady?"

"My words have never left your lips before so I suppose it wouldn't hurt." Her body turned to lean on the table as she watched Elysia break apart rose petals and sprinkle them into her water. " the creepiest messenger arrived during the night from Wellbourne. I'm not sure of the context but I overheard mother and father speaking of marriage. What if the prince wants to marry me?"

"He would be very lucky to have you at his side, my lady." Elysia smiled, throwing in some oils to compliment the already floral scent. "Is this your wish?"

"To be married to Royal blood?" The girl scoffed as she took off her own shoes, they were thick of leather and wrapped around her smooth legs. "It would please me greatly to take his name and bear his children."

"But I thought you were already royal my lady?" Elysia helped the Marquees out of the heavy dress.

The girl sighed. She was aware other women were not given the same education as she was, but it became exhausting to always teach those lower than her. "We may be royal but no one is at the same level as the LeVane's." Stepping into the warm water she let out a relaxed moan. Her arms floated and so did her mind as she looked up at the swirling ceiling. "Queen Alura is not human like you and I. She sits as Queen because the gods created her using their own blood."

"I have heard of the Queen being pure blood," Elysia said while washing the other girl's feet. "I suppose my mind can not comprehend how special that is."

Antonella nodded. "It's almost too much for I as well."

Elysia smiled at her words before continuing to let the ripples of the bath water fill the silence between them. She was thankful Antonella was as kind as she was. At times she could be demanding and somewhat of a spoiled child, but that was to be expected and Elysia didn't take that as a show of character. Her younger sister Katy was far worse in disposition; most handmaidens spoke unkindly of her even though her rank outweighed theirs but she was young so they hoped in the future it would subside. The Duke and Duchess weren't overly cruel but they didn't take the time to be kind either. She imagined Antonella was the only one to be different because of her love of reading which made her softer-spoken and less likely to demand things she simply didn't understand.

"If I marry the son of a pureblood, that would mean my children would have the blood of gods running in their veins." Antonella giggled making Elysia return the excitement. If anyone was to go far in life she was hoping it would be the kind Marquees.

After her long soaking, Antonella dried off with the help of her handmaiden and dressed in the appropriate way to meet her family for dinner. Her mother was adamant about being proper for the evening tradition so it wasn't out of the ordinary to come downstairs with her dress on and her hair put up in braids. Her sister was already seated with a scowl across her face while her mother and father sat with their own disapproving looks. "Good Evening."

The duke pet down his grey unruly mustache as he watched his daughter sit. It worried him greatly to see his two daughters blossoming in front of his eyes. They were too young and too innocent for the world. "There has been news from Wellbourne Antonella."

The girl tried to hide her excitement as she smiled at her mother. She did not reciprocate however as she waited for the woman pouring their ale to leave.

This caused the young girl to frown. Her parents weren't the most loving people in the kingdom. Her father came from a long line of philosophers and teachers, his skin showed his temper quicker than his words did while her mother always had the privilege of riches and higher life. They loved one another in simple ways and complemented the flaws of the other. "Queen Alura has requested one of you to marry her son Prince Nikolai. Seeing as Katy is too young, we assume that role goes to you."

The young Marquees wanted to show her approval but decided against it as she watched her father stare down at his plate full of sweet red meat and crust. "Why does that seem so barbaric to you?"

"You know my views on the LeVane family," Conroy Maddox said, his voice full and deep compared to the three girls. "I trust anyone from Wellbourne as much as I do the witches from the blood forest."

"You are from Wellbourne father," Katy said.

"Then I should know." He cut into the middle of the cow before continuing. "No daughter of mine will be sent to live with that Queen."

"What if I want to go?"

His fist slammed on the table making Antonella jump.

"Your feelings don't sway me!" He looked between his two daughters and felt his wife's dark hand cover his red-tempered fist. "If people want to blindly follow the lead of a mad witch then so be it, but I will not send my own flesh and blood to the den of the lion."

Antonella felt tears well up in her eyes. "But they have blood that runs cleaner than any of ours."

"I piss on their blood." He took a large bite and chewed roughly. "Don't believe those stories you read Antonella. You will stay here where I can protect you."

Having enough, the young girl sent her chair back before running out of the room. Elysia watched her but did nothing as to not get in trouble. Her only job at the moment was to bring water when necessary, not meddle in the affairs of the Duke's children. She was glad she made that decision as well- Conroy burned redder than usual as he waved her over to fill his glass.

"Why must you be so harsh on her? She's just a girl." His wife said.

"If she's old enough to marry she's old enough to hear the truth, Caroline." He watched Elysia's steady hands pour the smooth stream. "That woman holds no fear of mine and if that means my daughter shall hate me then so be it. I don't care if you hate me either. She will wed here where you can see your own grandchildren. I have not thought carelessly."

His youngest daughter moved her food around her plate with a wanderlust look on her face; she was just as beautiful as her sister if not more. Elysia wondered if she was envious of her sister's arranged marriage but she only seemed confused. "You don't believe the gods sent the Queen father?"

He shook his head. "There are two types of gods Katy. The ones we serve and the ones the witches serve. I've seen what the underworld can do and she is exactly that."

"The Queen is not one for the word no," Caroline whispered. "What do we do? I fear for our family's life if we deny her son a wife."

The Duke could feel the anxiety filling his wife and this was something he never wanted. He put his knife down and caressed his mustache in thought. His wife was never wrong and that was something to be afraid of; he never trusted Queen Alura and she knew that. She was waiting for him to say no. "We must send her son a wife."

"How Father?" Katy asked looking at her mother.

Leaning back in his wooden carved chair he glanced over at Elysia who stood in the dark corner of the room with the heavy water jug in her hands. She paid no attention to his stares as she watched the top of the jug wiggle with her movements. Conroy let his lip turn upwards as he looked at his wife. "We will send her Antonella."

                                          ◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥