Heartbeats

Waking up when Joe shook her arm. She frowned and turned to the other side.

"Ma'am, wake up. The sun is about to rise."

Joe's annoying voice echoed in her ear. "Why do you want to wake me up? I am so tired," she murmured.

The foundation party was nearing making the servants laboured more than what they had done the past year. She felt like she had fallen from above a tour. Her body was tortured by doing chores that doubled what she worked since she started working as a maid. 

Freya dragged her body and took a quick shower. Dropping the changing potions, Joe assisted her in combing her hair. After wearing the new robe, brought to the maids, she headed to the king's quarter.

The change in the palace was seen at first glance. The passages concealed any speck of dust. The landscape on both sides was groomed. The servants placed a red carpet at the stairs heading to the entrance of the huge hall where the party would be held.

The palace's white walls shone as the huge crystal chandelier hung at the centre. Rose's scent hung in the air. The intricate pieces of furniture were wiped. There was no corner was left untouched. 

Heading to the king's bedchamber, she prepared the bath for the king. Getting in, she greeted. "Good morning, Your Majesty," she said.

The king sighed, sweeping his hand over his silky black hair. "What a troubled day," he murmured, and walked past her.

Freya winded her eyes as she looked at the king's back. 'Did he hate those gatherings?' shaking her head, she walked to arrange the king's clothes for the day. The party would be held in the evening and for her growing understanding of the king, he would go to his working place and start working. 

She glanced at the outfit King Fraser would wear later. The mix of black and crimson colours was good. The golden mane and the red cape beside the pieces of jewellery made the outfit stand high. If the king wore it, he would be …

Footsteps neared her, snapping her out of her thoughts. She turned her body in hast. The king came out in a bathrobe, revealing a good sight of his chest. Droplets of water descended from his wet hair as he wiped them with a white towel.

Freya gulped and shifted her gaze to the floor. The king was a warrior, and his physics was… her cheeks warmed. 

"Why are you standing? Bring my clothes," he ordered. 

Freya raised her head to see the king was opening the rope from his bathrobe. Her chest pounded. She threw the outfit in her hand on the bed and fled out.

Taking a deep breath to calm her surging heartbeats as she closed the door. 'It's your fault!' she reprimanded herself. She took a longer time appreciating the outfit's beauty, and she nearly saw the king naked.

Freya put her cold hands over her cheeks and shuffled to the kitchen. The scent of freshly baked bread and grilled meat lingered far away. She pressed her tummy and went in. 

The cooks were on their toes these days. The food at the party should be top-notch so they worked hard to master different dishes that suited the invitees. The invited people were nobles from the Frowshire kingdom and diplomats from foreign kingdoms. 

She waited as the maid put the king's breakfast on the tray. Freya thanked her and went out. As she neared the king's room, her heartbeats rose.

After knocking, she got in, put the tray on the table and retreated. The king ate silently and went out.

Freya arranged the room neatly. After getting used to the work, her body moved from its own as if it knew what was supposed to do.

Times passed by, and the time of the party was nearing. The king returned to his chamber to get ready. 

"You! Come here," the king ordered.

Freya stopped arranging the king's assignment and followed the king. She stood waiting for the order as the king stood playing with something in his hand.

"Fix this," he threw a small black button in her direction.

Freya grabbed it and looked at the king's opened suit jacket with a missing button at the collar. She hurriedly brought a needle from a maid and got in. "Your Majesty, can you hand me the jacket so I can stitch the button," she asked. 

She learned a little about needlework from her mother in her childhood.

"It's a waste of time to remove it and wear it again. Stitch it like this," he responded annoyingly.

Freya shuffled closer and stretched her hands to stitch where the missing button was. Pressing her mouth, she began to stitch hard because of the king's height. 

Surprisingly, he tilted his body a little. Freya ignored the king's stares and did her work fast. 

"I am done," she said, retreating two steps.

"Help me button it," he said.

Freya bit her lips and got closer to the king once again. The button holes were closer so she pressed the buttons hard to enter. 

"This outfit! How did they wear something like that!" he murmured when he tried putting on the mane and the cape.

Freya shook her head. "May I?" she offered. The king nodded and let her fix the outfit.

Closing the cape's rope lower with a bow shape, she then helped him to wear the black gloves. Putting the square ruby jewels at the collar. 

The king combed his hair in the back. Freya handed him the crown resting above a fluffy red pillow. As he put the crown, he gazed at her for a moment. 

Freya was in awe as she watched the king. His look was above her judgment.

"Fraser, are you ready?" Rachel's sweet voice transmitted through the room.

Freya stood frozen. The king passed by her and walked to Rachel. She turned her head looking at the pair of couple. Rachel wore a stunning red dress that matched the king's outfit. Freya was rooted in her place till the footsteps went farther. 

Looking at herself in the mirror. "You are stupid," she said, raised her face and walked outside.