Chapter Two: I miss her

Sitting at the front of the mirror, Lucinda's black, silky hair was combed gently by her maid. Not just any maid, she was like a mother to her. After all, Lucinda's biological mother and this woman were very close. Closer than expected, a queen close to an old maid. The connection was strange, but the deceased queen was generous to all. She wasn't biased. She was kind and loving. This old maid, after her mother's death, this woman took her seriously. Only she made sure she had eaten and taken her bath.

"What's the occasion?" Lucinda asked the woman, breaking the silence between them. The woman gestured a smile as she dropped the comb on the table.

"Kings of other kingdoms are coming to pay your father a visit tonight" The woman said and Lucinda gaped.

"Is there something going on?" Lucinda knew this meeting wouldn't be just to say hello to each other. Her father, the cruelest man she has ever known, would have his selfish reason for welcoming them.

"That I don't know, your father is secretive but one thing I know is that he will be choosing a husband for your twin" Lucinda's jaw dropped drawing her eye bags down together. Yes!! That was it or was there something bigger behind this? Well, this was big enough but if her father had hated her, she would have given her out first, or perhaps he saw her as someone who doesn't worth a rich man.

"That's good" She simply said, and the old woman patted her back. Only her mother did that and whenever she does that, she was calm but as this woman did the same thing, she felt calm. She missed her mom. So much.

"Why do you feel like my mom?" Lucinda said almost in a whisper, and the woman smiled.

"Since when do you feel so?" She answered her with another question.

"After my mother's death. I miss her" She bent face down, and then she lifted her face to the old woman. The Sting of tears piercing through the corner of her eyes were urging to pour down, but the woman held her tears as she firmly looked into her eyes.

"I'm glad I'm making you feel at home like your mother. That's her last request from me before she gave up the ghost" The woman smiled and finally, letting the tears drop.

Fighting the urge, being the loser, she hugged the woman. "Thank you" Lucinda said as the woman hugged her back. Feeling the same warmness her mother has, she refused to let go of her as she wept in her embrace.

"Don't ruin your hair princess, your presence is needed" The woman immediately said as she noticed the girl was refusing to let go of her. The girl finally withdrew from the hug.

"You'd be fine" The woman said as she dressed her hair. Lucinda nodded as she stood up from the stool. Her elegant royal blue gown, beautified with sparkling silver white stones. She hardly praised herself but right now, she could say to herself that she looked breathtaking.

She turned to the woman and gestured a smile before she went towards the exit.