Coralie stretched her arms over her head and stepped back, gazing up at the sparkling clean windows in the library. "Phew, I didn't think we'd get all that done today." She sighed, picking up the bucket, and laying the washcloth on the side.

Kate nodded, covering her mouth up as she yawned. "I have no clue how I am going to handle working from 6 to 10. I normally work from sunrise to sunset, not before the sun and after it's set." She complained, picking up her bucket of dirty water.

Coralie placed her hand on Kate's shoulder, walking towards the door. "You'll get used to it after a while. It'll become clockwork and your body will wake up all on its own without the need for the church bell." She explained with a smile on her lips.

"I had a rooster to wake me up -" Kate stopped herself and recoiled. "I kind of slept through the rooster sometimes - most times - all the time." She ended up giving in and admitting she was a sound sleeper.

Coralie nodded her head slowly, never having been in her shoes before. "Well, I'll wake you up if you fail to hear the bell." She flashed a smile, not wanting her to get fired for oversleeping.

Kate followed after Coralie, lugging the bucket at her side. "Thanks," She exclaimed but then realized something. "I don't think your friends would like that." 

Coralie furrowed her brows. "I suppose. I'll just make sure to do it when they're not looking and make sure they leave the room first." She found a solution to the problem.

Kate looked down at Coralie's bucket and reached out her hand. "I can take the bucket. I have to go that way anyways before I come back to the room." She offered, wanting to pop by and say goodnight to Cedar and see how she was settling in.

Coralie weighed her options and then offered out the bucket, letting Kate take it. "Then I'll guess I'll see you in the room." She slowly said, watching the brown-haired girl walk the opposite way she was down the hall.  

She soon stepped out of the staff entrance and took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh night air. Her eyes drifted up to the million stars twinkling in the sky and the soft glow of the crescent moon. 

'Nights like these never get old.' She thought, stepping down the stairs.

She walked down the path towards the servant's quarters. The brisk walk from the castle to the quarters was refreshing every morning and night. 

She glanced over her shoulder at the entrance. 'I wonder what she's doing?' She thought as she furrowed her brows. Pressing her lips into a thin line she looked back in front of her.

She shuffled to her room that she shared with the others. She was exhausted and sore, looking forward to sleeping. As soon as she opened the door she was met by a shrill voice. "Traîtresse!" She looked up to see Embriella with her hands on her lips and a frown on her lips.

Her eyes grew wide as she stared at Embriella a bit startled. "What?" She asked, feeling as if she was shrinking in size. "What did I do?" She hesitantly asked, her voice wavering.

Embriella scoffed, tossing her hairbrush onto her bed. "Don't play dumb!" She marched over and jabbed her finger at Coralie's chest. "You helped Katherine with the chores we gave her to do!" She yelled angrily, her curled fists shaking at her sides.

Coralie took a step back to give them both more space. "But - but that was too much for one person to handle. B-besides, Madame L'Armay specifically told us not t-to put too much work on the n-new maid!" She stammered, her voice sounded weak.

Esmèe looked up from her book and placed it on the table. "That's exactly why we chose it. It was a test and if she happened to finish all on her own then she was worthy to stay." She explained, crossing her legs and resting her hands on her thigh.

Coralie looked down at her shoes and turned her toes towards each other. "I-I know . . . doesn't make it right." She mumbled, biting on her lip and pushing a lock of loose hair behind her ear. "She needed that job and-and Madame L'Armay needed her . . . we needed her." She whispered, shuffling over to her bed and sitting down on it.

Embriella scoffed as if they needed more help. "She's just another country girl who won't last a week in the city. She'll go scurrying home because things were too tough for her and her big starry-eyed dreams were crushed. Then that leaves us with the same amount of work we had before so did we need her? No!" She explained condescendingly.

Esmèe condescending, agreeing with the blonde girl. "Better now than later. Is it easier for Madame L'Armay to find a new maid now versus one in a few days or weeks? If it is too tough for her, then she isn't cut out for this job. It's grueling to be a maid, it's not all fun and exciting." 

Coralie  nodded her head along with what Esmèe said, but she didn't agree. "She's not that bad - she's nice! If you just gave her a chance -" She tried to explain, only to be cut off by Embriella.

"A chance?" Embriella snapped, shaking her head. "Why should we? We all know how this will play out. You'll end up heartbroken because you lost another little friend." Her words sounded harsh, but she was only trying to look out for her.

Coralie looked down at the floor again, chewing on the inside of her lower lip. "I think she's different. She doesn't seem like the type to up and leave or ignore you for any reason . . ." 

Esmèe stood up and walked over to Coralie. "Until we see that," she beside her and placed her hand on her shoulder. "Our minds are made up. Don't take it to heart. Not everyone is trusting like you." Her voice softened a little bit along with her eyes.

Embriella pressed her lips into a fine line and pushed some hair to her back. "Has she told you anything about herself?" She asked, wondering if Coralie knew anything about this new, mystery girl. "You've spoken to her, no?"

Coralie thought about it for a moment and shook her head. "Uh, yes, I asked if she was a fugitive but she said that the reason she never tells her surname is that it sets the bar high for her. People expect a lot and when she doesn't meet their expectations, it doesn't go well - or at least in so many words she said that." She replied sheepishly. 

Embriella groaned, throwing her hands up in the air. "That's exactly what a criminal or fugitive would say!" She exclaimed, grabbing a ribbon from her vanity and braiding her hair. "I don't feel safe living with her even though I checked through all of her stuff."

Coralie frowned, always knowing Embriella was nosy, but this was a new low. "How could you? Snooping in others' work isn't right! If she found out you violated her privacy, I don't think she'd be happy." She counted, crossing her arms over her chest 

Embriella huffed, tying the braid with a ribbon in a neat little bow. "I don't care. We know little about her and I wanted to make sure she wasn't hiding anything. If it helps I didn't look in her journal, I wouldn't stoop that low." She scoffed, trying to be reasonable.

Coralie shook her head, running her hand through her hair. "I am a little disappointed, but I know you had the best interest in mind." She gently said with a smile. "Just don't do it again?"

Embriella walked over and sat down beside Coralie and frowned. "I'm sorry," She began. "If I was harsh today, it's been a really bad day and I didn't mean to take it out on you. Nothing has gone right today . . . don't take it personally."

Coralie looked up at Embriella and gave a weak smile. "I'm not mad. How could I ever be mad at you? Uh . . . have your parents not written back any of your letters?" She asked, being very careful as it was a touchy subject.

Embriella sighed, her lip wavering a little as she fought back tears. "Not a single one. I'm not surprised seeing how they kicked me out when I was twelve after my brother got married. All because Maria made sure to paint me out as the jealous little sister who tried to sabotage the wedding. I'm sure she threw the letters out before Mother, Father, or Matthew could read them." She ranted, looking down at her feet. "I don't know why I keep writing to them."

Coralie leaned over and wrapped her arms around Embriella's waist and hugged her. "I'm sorry your family is like that. They don't deserve you. You still care about them. No matter how much they hurt you, they are still your family." She gave her a small smile. "You've got us. We will never treat you like that.

Embriella smiled softly, hugging Coralie back tightly. "Oh, you're too sweet. I'm glad you two are my friends because I have no idea what I would do without you. You two are all that I need and as long as you're here with me, I will manage." She then turned serious. "Don't tell anyone about what just happened."

Esmèe nodded her head, standing up and put her hands up in front of her. "I swear on my life, I won't tell a single person." She vowed, crossing her finger over her heart. 

Kate pushed open the door and was met with a chilly atmosphere. She looked over at the three girls for a brief moment and quickly looked away. "Excuse me. Sorry." She quickly apologized, shuffling over to her chest and pulling out her nightclothes. She shuffled out of the room and closed the door with her foot.

Coralie felt bad that Katherine felt the need to apologize for coming into a room that was just as much hers as theirs. She pulled away from her friend and looked at her. "Can you at least be cordial with her?" She sweetly asked hoping she'd agree.

Embriella sighed heavily, standing up and looking down at Coralie. "I'll try," She said, walking over to her bed and picking up her hairbrush. "For you only." She added setting it on her vanity. 

Coralie smiled, laying on her stomach on her bed. "Thank you." She beamed brightly. "And you two Esmèe." She added, looking at her dark-haired friend.

Esmèe looked up at Coralie and nodded her head, puffing out her cheeks. "Fine." She shortly answered, sitting on her bed. "I don't have to try and talk to her do I?" 

Coralie shook her head. "No, you don't. I know you hate small talk. I'm sure she'll just go straight to bed since she did mention it's been a long day or a few long days." She explained, twisting a lock of hair around her finger.

Soon, Kate walked back into the room. She yawned and stretched her arms over her head with her clothes harshly folded in her hands. She set her clothes on top of the chest, trying to fix them so they wouldn't be wrinkled in the morning.

She walked over to her bed and slipped under the covers, making sure her back was towards the girls. She snuggled under the covers, letting out a content sigh. "Reminds me of home." She mumbled out loud.

Coralie perked up when she heard Kate's soft voice. "Reminds you of home?" She asked, sitting down at her vanity. She began to take down her hair, her eyes never looking away from Kate's side of the room.

Kate groaned, inwardly punching herself. 'I can't believe I said that out loud.' She peaked out of the covers and gave a faint smile. "Nothing." She quickly replied, pulling the covers back over her head.

Coralie frowned a little. "Oh, um, okay." She hesitantly spoke, pausing after each word. She turned back to the mirror on her vanity and looked at her reflection. 

Kate pulled the covers back and sat up. "I mean the bed is just like the one I have back home. I'm finally sleeping in a bed again rather than sleeping on the hard ground." She explained, rubbing her eyes.

Coralie made an 'O' shape with her mouth and nodded. "That makes sense." She could see how it would be nice to sleep back in a bed instead of the hard ground. "How far did you have to travel to come to Paris?" She curiously asked.

Kate folded them down and rested her arms over it. "A day. I lived close to the edge of Gascony, so it didn't take long to arrive. Cedar, my mare, galloped most of the way. She loves to run so was able to for miles and miles without stopping. I stopped regularly to feed and give her water." 

Coralie glanced over at Esmèe, who was putting away her books on her vanity, and Embriella who was making sure her hair was preferred before laying down. "Fascinating," She mumbled, turning back to Kate. "What's it like in Gascony?"

Kate narrowed her eyes skeptically at the question Coralie had just asked. "Uh, well, it's big and within it, there are villages and houses and farmland. I live in a small village, although the houses are spaced out quite a distance and it's just mostly farmland." She replied, wondering where Coralie lived.

Coralie hoped her friends were listening and rested her elbows on her bed. "That sounds nice. I've never been outside of Paris, I - we all grew up here." 

Kate realized slightly why the other two girls were so harsh on her. "Ah, so, I guess you see me as a country girl, hub?" She shrugged her shoulders. "That's fine. I'm not ashamed to be a country girl or be from Gascony. It's really fun and taught me a lot about life."

Embriella picked up her candle on her nightstand and blew it out. "Can you two talk in the morning? Some of us need our rest in order not to look like vermin in the morning." She chided, setting it back on the nightstand and getting under her covers.

Kate looked over at her and rolled her eyes, putting her hands up defensively. "My apologies." She then turned to Coralie and gave her a small smile. "Goodnight." She reached over and grabbed her one candle and blew it out.

Coralie followed what the other girls did with her candle and cuddled under her covers. "Goodnight Katherine! Embriella! Esmèe!" She chirped. She hoped since tomorrow was a new day, that maybe things would be better than they had been today.

⊰ • ⊱

The sun was just beginning to rise as the church bells rang throughout the castle grounds, waking up the day staff to start their work at six am. 

Embriella, Coralie, and Esmèe were already up and in the process of getting ready. Kate on the other hand was still sound asleep, snoring every so often.

Embriella shook her head in dismay at Kate still sleeping despite the church bells ringing. "Tsk, tsk, she's going to be late for work if she doesn't wake up soon." She mumbled, tying her corset with her back towards her mirror, and then huffed. "Country girls, hmph!"

Esmèe pulled up her skirt and tied it in a neat little bow. "Someone should probably wake her up or else we could all get in trouble with Madame L'Armay." She shivered at the thought of getting scolded by her.

Coralie walked over to the bed and placed her hand on Kate's arm. "Katherine," She whispered, gently shaking her. "Katherine," She whispered a bit louder since Kate still seemed to be asleep. "KATHERINE WAKE UP!" She yelled into her ear, which shocked her two friends.

Kate sat straight up at the loud voice. "Mother, I'm up!" She exclaimed then looked over at Coralie. "Oh, um, sorry," She sheepishly apologized, placing her hand over her mouth to yawn. "I'm a hard sleeper . . . I should have mentioned that last night." 

Embriella placed her hands on her hips, shaking her head. "You think?" She scoffed, looking in the mirror and giving her hair a few final checks. "Get ready, we have to have breakfast and start work, unless you want to be fired on your second day. Ha, that'd be a new record." 

Coralie nodded her head eagerly with a smile. "Embriella's right, you should get ready. Madame L'Armay wouldn't take too kindly if you're late and believe me, I know it all too well."

Kate rubbed her eyes, pondering what Coralie said. "Madame L'Armay? Not taking kindly to being late? It's hard to imagine that woman with an angry look on her face."

Esmèe raised her eyebrows and tied her skirt around her waist. "What do you mean? She's always that way. Lately, she hasn't been as bad, but she's the worst when it comes to slack or being late." 

Kate furrowed her eyebrows, realizing that maybe the Madame L'Armay she knew wasn't the one the girls knew. "Nevermind." She replied, getting out of bed and making it as neatly as she could. 

She walked over to the water basin and washed her face quickly before beginning to get dressed. She tried to recall her mother's words and look presentable and well-dressed. She managed to do everything, but her corset. "Can someone help me?" She asked, failing at tightening it up.

Coralie turned her attention from the mirror and withdrew her hands from her hair. "I can." She replied, walking over and beginning to lace up Kate's corset. "Can't you lace it up yourself?" She asked, hearing Embriella scoff she shot her a glare.

Kate sucked in a deep breath, trying not to be so dramatic at how tight Coralie was tying it. "Er, not really. I've tried hard but I can never figure it out and I just can't get it tight enough - I prefer it loose but then it doesn't do anything." She replied nonchalantly. 

Esmèe snickered, biting her lip to keep from laughing. "You're serious aren't you? You truly don't know how to tie a corset? Every girl learns when she becomes of age." 

Embriella crossed her arms and laughed at Kate's remark. "Loose? Don't tell me you're one of those women who want to burn the corsets and overthrow patriarchy?" She sarcastically asked, giving her eyes a roll. 

Kate shook her head. "No, no, I'm not. I just found them slightly uncomfortable and restrictive, that is all." She replied simply, silently praying that Coralie would be done soon.

Coralie stepped back after tying the corset in a pretty little bow. "Hmm," She hummed, not knowing what else to say to that. "Come on, we better get to the castle." She walked towards the door and opened it.

Kate sighed heavily and trudged after them, yawning once again. "Breakfast? This early? It hasn't even been fifteen minutes since we woke up. How can I eat when I'm not even awake?" She whined, throwing her arms in the air.

Embriella glared back at Kate and crossed her arms. "Get used to it, Country Girl, or else you can find yourself back on the road to your little countryside!" She exclaimed, frustration laced her voice.

Kate wanted to mock her, she truly did, but she held back. "Sorry, I'm just not used to any of this." She countered, crossing her arms over the chest.

Coralie sent Kate a sympathetic smile, feeling bad for her. "Just, um, try and get used to it? After a while, it'll be like cock work and you will do it without even thinking." She sweetly encouraged the brown-haired girl.

"Thanks, I'll try." Kate flashed a smile and hurried through the doors of the castle. 

It was the start of her second day at work but there was one thing she was going to need to do during her break, and she was nervous about that.

• ⊰ • ⊱ • ⊰ • ⊱ • ⊰ • ⊱ • ⊰ • ⊱ • ⊰ • ⊱ • ⊰ • ⊱ •

A/N:
I'm really inspired by this book. I've got a lot planned and many characters to introduce and maybe even add later? I can't wait to tie in Shipwrecked Princess and have Kalirene's father show up and plan the whole birthday party for Constantin, er, spoiler or not, not sure if I mentioned that before. Lol.

Chapter Talk:
So we know why Embriella is the way he is. You know, I never really gave the other girls much character background in the little OG draft. I'm happy with finding this bit about Embriella. You will find out more about Esmèe and Coralie even, but that is much later.

Thanks for reading!