Free From The Palace

.

Orchid sat on the wooden bench in the garden as she watched the servants attending to the blooming flowers

"Princess!" Orchid was taken aback as the familiar voice rang deep in her ears and she whipped her head towards the direction of the voice

"Ava?" she hastily stood up and approached Ava, enveloping her in a tight hug

"I missed serving you, princess" Ava replied, a smile on her lips as Orchid released her

"But how are you here?"

"Prince Ciaran brought me here, princess. He had saved me back at the palace" Ava answered

"What do you mean? How did he save you?"

*

Ava was saddened as she walked over to the living room where Greta and Neera sat. Ava poured tea into the cups and placed them on a tray

She walked over to where Neera sat with the tea but her legs became wobbly, they had deprived her food since Orchid left the palace. Making her do the works when other maids were present

Her hands were shaky, weak and stiff and before she knew it, the tray fell from her hand. Coming into contact with the hard floor, the cups shattered and the tea splashed all over the ground

"Are you nuts? Look what a mess you made!" Neera snapped

"I-I'm s-sorry, m-princess. I-"

"What? Why are you shuttering?" she asked and turned to face Greta "Mum, I think this maid is of no use now that Orchid is gone. She can't even serve tea right. Let's get rid of her"

"Do whatever you desire, dear" Neera beamed at Greta's words and walked towards Ava

"N-no, princess. I'll have it cleaned. Please spare me" Ava shakily pleaded

"Okay, I'll let you off this time, get it cleaned" Ava nodded and wanted to leave "Where are you going? I said clean it up"

"Yes, princess. I-I'll go get the broom"

"There's no need for a broom. Pick up the shards...using your mouth" Ava's eyes widened in fear

"Princess, please-"

"I'm not Orchid, don't make me say it again. Father might walk in anytime soon and when he sees this mess not cleaned up...what he might do will definitely be worse than this" tears formed in Ava's eyes as she stared at the shards on the ground "Go on. Hurry up"

Tears spilled from her eyes. She knew there was no one saving her from this. She slowly knelt on the ground and picked up a piece using her teeth

"Good. Now chew it, let's get rid of the pieces one by one" Neera smiled

"I never knew this was what happened within the closed doors of the humble palace" everyone was surprised at the sudden arrival of an unexpected visitor

"Prince Ciaran" they called out in disbelief. Ciaran walked in majestically and tsked at the pitiful sight of the maid

"Greetings, prince Ciaran. It is an honor to have you here" said Greta

"Hmm? I don't actually feel honored. Anyways, that's not why I'm here. I'm here to get my wife's personal maid which I see isn't doing so well"

"Hahaha. This-" Greta nervously laughed, not knowing what else to say

"Come on, spit it out" Ciaran said to Ava who immediately threw the glass out of her mouth. She stared at Ciaran with eyes filled with gratitude "Let's leave then"

Ava didn't waste another second on the ground, she hurriedly followed him out of the palace

"When we arrive at Regalon, get yourself cleaned and have something to eat. I wouldn't want her seeing you like this"

"Yes. Thank you so much, your highness"

*

"Prince Ciaran saved me from the hands of the second princess. I can't imagine what would have happened if he hadn't arrived" Ava said after telling everything to Orchid, her eyes turning misty

"I'm sorry you had to go through that, Ava. If you weren't serving me, you would have had a normal maid's life in the palace"

"No, princess. Not a day goes by that I regretted serving you. Thanks to you, I'm free from the palace. And also, thanks to the prince"

Orchid smiled and hugged Ava. She was also thankful to Ciaran for bringing Ava to her