EMILY POV*
As Esther left the room, I was left alone, wondering what I could do next. I felt confused and unsettled about the conversation we had regarding Eron's curse.
My mind raced with questions as I paced around the room. I wondered what kind of curse Eron was under and how I could help him break it. Esther had been very vague, and I could not help but feel frustrated about my lack of information.
I wanted to go out and demand answers from anyone who could help me, including Eron himself, but I knew I could not do it; I would only make him angrier than he already was.
I let out a big sigh as I sat on the edge of our bed, playing with the soft fabric of the sheets with my finger. I knew I needed to find something to do to take my mind and soul off all of this that was happening. Maybe I could call for one or two maids and try to make new friends here. There was nothing wrong with having some new faces in this strange place.
I made up my mind, stood up, and walked over to the door, pulling it open. "Maria? Evenly?" I called out, hoping they would hear me.
How could I know their names if I had never met them before? This gave me confidence that I had lost some part of my memory after arriving here. I didn't need to force myself to remember; it would come back on its own. I knew it.
It didn't take long before I saw two young women hurriedly enter the room, their eyes wide open with surprise. "Princess Emily! How can we serve you?" Maria asked, her voice slightly trembling.
I gave them a little smile, hoping to put them at ease. "Please, just call me Emily. I was thinking and hoping we could get to know each other better. I am a bit lonely here; maybe I could use some new and friendly faces."
The maids looked at each other, appearing unsure and insecure. "Well, we would be honored to stay with you, ma'am, and keep you company, Princ—I mean Emily," Evenly replied, a tentative smile curling on her lips.
I motioned for them to come further into the room, and they obeyed, walking shyly to the edge of the bed. "So, tell me something about yourselves," I urged, moving closer to them. "What do you think about life in the palace?"
I watched as the maids began to open up to me, sharing many stories about their daily lives and the other servants they worked with. I listened intently, nodding and asking many questions, feeling a bit grateful for the little distraction.
As they spoke, I noticed that they occasionally glanced at the door, as if they were expecting someone, or perhaps they expected Eron to burst into the room at any moment. I wondered if they were also scared or intimidated by the rumors surrounding my husband.
"Does Prince Eron often come here?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
I needed to know their thoughts about Eron. Maybe they could help me discover more about him. Perhaps they could assist me in getting to know him better if Esther was unwilling to help.
I wanted to ask them about the curse too, but I hesitated; I didn't know if they knew anything about it.
As I watched Maria talk, I was reminded of Sarah, and I couldn't help but feel saddened. The way they spoke was similar, and they had the same facial features, almost like twins. Or was she Sarah?
"Are you Sarah?" I asked hesitantly. I didn't know what answer I was hoping for, as I didn't think she would say yes. How would I feel if she had changed her face or name, or if she couldn't remember me?
Maria looked at me worriedly and confused. "Ma, what are you talking about?" she asked in a low voice.
"Never mind me; I mistook you for someone else," I replied, feeling disappointed. "Or do you know any maid here named Sarah?"
"No, ma, I don't think we have anyone here with that name," Evenly replied.
I knew they might not know her, but I needed to find out what happened to her. Not now, though; I needed to learn more about Eron from them. That was my plan.
"So, back to my previous question about Prince Eron," I reminded them.
Both of them exchanged uneasy looks that I couldn't decipher, as if they were scared to mention him or talk about him. "She spent a fair amount of time in his quarters," Evenly admitted. "But sometimes he also… he also likes to visit one of the brothels in town at night."
My heart sank, and I lost my words as I heard that Eron visited brothels at night. I knew the meaning of that place; we had one in my kingdom, and Sarah used to tell me all the dark things that went on there. "I see," I whispered, my lap catching my gaze as I looked down.
"Do not worry, Emily," Maria quickly added, reaching out to me and squeezing my hand slightly. "I'm sure that he might care for you deeply. He is a very complicated man."
I mustered a smile and nodded gently. "I am beginning to see that, yes." I lifted my head to meet their gaze. "Everything you said means a lot to me. Thank you very much for being so kind."
"Of course, Princ—I mean Emily. We are here for you, ma'am, and whatever you need, you may ask of us," they both beamed.
I love the way, I find new friends here, but I have one and only friend who's Sarah, I miss her.
The three of us continued chatting, and I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe with the help of these new friends, I could find a way to understand my new husband and navigate this strange new world I was in.