The Royal Maid and the Lost kingdom

CHAPTER ONE

The bang woke me up, I needed no one to tell me that I was not in the right kind of neighbourhood.

Only those who were not accepted in society and wanted to find a way to survive are here.

I sat up ready to start another shitty day in the slums of the Glorious beautiful kingdom of Sanctus, I laughed at myself for the sarcastic way in which I said it in my mind. I saw a few people turn their head toward me and after confirming that it was just another person who has its sanity on the edge, they went back to what they were doing before my interruption.

Now, this kingdom flourished under the reign of the king and it is said that he has two princes, yet I could not help but wonder if he knew that there are slums in which some of his people do suffer. I walked out of my shabby building and looked around.

Yes, I am that weird girl who was dropped at the door of an orphanage before she could even reach her first summer in the world. and since then it was obvious that I had a pretty exciting life ahead of me.

It's been over four summers that I have been living in the streets, I picked up some interesting occupations and skills along the way. It felt like forever since I left the sanctuary because the concept of lack of freedom scares me more than I care to admit.

"Watch it". I heard before I turned yet as always I reacted before my brain caught up, evading to the left of the alley I saw Erin smiling smugly at me. I resisted the urge to chase him and spank his cute little lovable face, the disadvantages of staying in an area where anyone can be the prey to anybody could not be undermined.

Most here are skilled in the little side profession they do before coming to the nearest alley to sleep for the night or the lowest part of the lower town to find the next target or meal for the day.

It is not a lady's dream to live in the street, there are a lot of wolves that can devour a lady's innocence should she give the chance for them to, having learned the hard way that nothing comes easy and having earned my place for now in the abandoned church in this alley I felt safe for now.

"Sorry". He screamed as he ran down the alley, I shook my head. Boys, am I right?

I became one of these people as soon as I became marriageable. I was expected to marry the Nun in charge of us who was like a mother in every sense of the word beloved and did her part. But apart from the fact that she thinks that I would be good to be the second wife of a regular man or the first wife of a baker or a farmer because even though the church may not accept such an act, those were the best option an orphan could get in the society.

Call me picky, but I know I do have selected standards that I must see for me to be able to say that this is the man who has captured me enough to want to get married. She died a summer after my 16th birthday and we all mourned her death, she tested us right and I could not have been happier to have grown under her. The new nun came after replacing her in a blink of an eye and everything changed for me, first, was she enforcing much more dramatic changes to our daily activities.

Also went as far as giving us vigorous punishments for unconscious mistakes made, then her telling me that if I do not give her a palatable answer before the evening runs to an end to my choice out of all the options presented to me then I would have to leave the orphanage. I knew I was stupid but I was angry and so fed up with her so I did the next best unreasonable thing, I packed. I could still remember the days like it was yesterday when I left.

I was beyond sad and yet excited to start something new and fresh in my life. I was a young adult after all and I should be able to make do with what I had and could control. I walked into my room or rather our room in the orphanage and started packing my luggage. I didn't have much.

The blanket that Sister Benedict, the previous nun told me that came with me when I was dropped at the doorstep of the orphanage was held in my hands. I stuffed it into a box given to me by one of the remaining caretakers there. I was praying that one of these people would offer me a home.

I was young, not clueless and I knew that there might be some unforeseen dangers after leaving this sanctuary. I packed the 3 clothes that I had that had been sent by the people who no longer have use for them and stood up.

"Alice, must you leave?". I saw one of the younger ones with whom I shared a room and asked me, I turned to her and gave her a half smile. she, after all, is younger than me to understand that I do not have much of a choice in the matter but I just have to comply.

"I must dearest". I responded solemnly as emotions tightened around my throat forcing me to let out a gasp.

"But you will come to pay us a visit would you not." She asked again as the remaining girls all looked at me. I shared a room with four other girls in the orphanage and they were as annoying as they were lovely.

The first girl I shared the room with was named Margaret. She was only six summer old, with curly blonde hair and big blue eyes. She was a quiet and shy child, and she always seemed lost in her own thoughts. She would spend most of her time playing with her dolls, or sitting by the window, watching the world outside.

The second girl was Charlotte. She was nine summers old and had a bubbly personality and never knows when to stay in her space. She had brown hair and brown eyes, and she was always the first to start a conversation. She would tell us stories of her life before she came to the orphanage, and she would always make us laugh.

The third girl Sarah, ten summers old and had a serious and studious demeanour. She had dark hair and green eyes, and she was always the first to finish her chores. She would spend her free time reading books and studying, and she would always be willing to help us with our lessons.

We shared a small wardrobe where we kept our clothes and personal belongings. We would take turns keeping it clean and organized. We would also take turns sleeping by the window, as it was considered a privilege to have fresh air and natural light in the room.

Despite the simple and modest conditions, I felt a sense of camaraderie and safety with my roommates, and we would help and supported each other through the hardships of growing up in an orphanage. After all, I became their eldest sister the moment I reached marriageable age. It also made me look after them more as I made sure never to let any of them get into trouble and anytime I was not changed to protect them I found a way to take the blame for myself.

I care for every one of them in my way and all of them loved me as I loved them, I was abandoned and so were the majority of them. I became their family as they became mine, I looked up and I remembered this building and how everything was done.

The orphanage where I grew up was a grand and well-maintained building, made of solid stone and sturdy wooden beams. I could still remember the details: the structure was two stories tall, with a thatched roof that provided shelter from the weather, and the exterior of the building was whitewashed, giving it a clean and inviting appearance.

The main door of the orphanage was through a large wooden door that was garnished with iron hardware and lock, Inside, the building was divided into several large rooms, each serving a specific purpose. The main living quarters for us and the Nuns were on the upper floors, where we all slept in simple wooden beds that were lined up in rows. But the Nuns and the remaining caretaker who do not sleep in their own houses have their separate rooms in the quarters.

I remembered feeling like I should have had mine when I grew up, it took me a while to know the main reason why I could no longer see the older ones who came here before me after some time. Some got married with the choices of either the Head Nun or the caretakers. I even heard a rumour that some of the caretakers were trying to trick the children into getting married to their sons, but they were caught and dismissed.

And no matter how much I tried I never remembered anything from my childhood, I was told by the Nun that I had a fever so terrible that it must have affected me because I was still a child then.

Our beds were covered in thick woollen blankets and had straw-filled mattresses, which we were taught to change regularly to ensure our hygiene. Rooms were well-lit by small windows that were covered with oiled paper to let in natural light. The walls were beautified with religious paintings and tapestries, which provided a weird sense of comfort to us. The lower floor of the orphanage was home to the kitchens and the dining hall.

The kitchens were large and well-equipped with a fireplace for cooking, a wooden table for preparing food, and a variety of pots, pans, and utensils. Every one of us was taught how to use all those utensils and how to act like a proper lady in society. The food always was basic but nutritious, consisting of bread, porridge, vegetables, and sometimes meat if we are lucky or if the kingdom is in festive periods.

The dining hall was a large room with a long wooden table that could seat all the children at once. The children would sit on wooden benches and eat in silence under the watchful eye of the caretakers.

The orphanage also had a small infirmary where medical attention was given to us and one of the Nuns as our nurse, which was annoying because we can't even fake sickness to get out of work scheduled for us for the day, off to the infirmary she goes with Sister Anna to help educate us if she did catch you faking it.

The room was equipped with a simple wooden bed, a small table for instruments, and a cabinet for medicines, and after the earful, we will be punished by having double our workload assigned. The caretakers of the orphanage were trained to provide basic care for us by the church and if Sister Anna was not duty they do know how to treat us, such as treating cuts and bruises.

A small school room was also provided where we were taught reading, writing, singing and how to play an instrument.

We were also taught skills such as sewing, knitting, and basic carpentry, cooking which was my favourite as I would eat quite a lot more than usual. The school room was equipped with wooden desks, chairs, and a blackboard. The caretakers also had the task of providing us with basic education, as they believed that this was crucial for our success in life. How does education help with baking and knitting, I would never know.

I remember that I loved taking a walk in the small garden near the house and the courtyard facing the building where the children love to play. The garden was a peaceful and secluded area, with a variety of flowers, herbs, and vegetables that provided me with a quiet place to just breathe in and relax. I knew I was different because I never loved the idea of knitting and not doing something extraordinary with my life.

Although this place is a pleasant environment for anybody to relax in, I still feel like I am missing something, maybe I just want to know what's outside of this space and what real life feels like.

The courtyard was a large open area where the children could run and play, and it was also where the well was located. The well provided fresh water for the cooking and cleaning for all of us, and it was also the source of water for the bathrooms. I've read stories of orphanages that have dirty bathrooms and I had nightmares of them for a while. The Nuns and the caretakers made sure that we were able to clean up after ourselves.

The bathrooms were located in the basement of the building, and they were simple, they consisted of several wooden stalls with a hole in the ground for a toilet, and a large wooden tub for washing. The water for the bathrooms was taken from the well, and it was heated over a fire in the kitchen on days when the weather was too freezing to use the water the way it was.

We always would take turns using the bathrooms, and the caretakers would check at different times to make sure that the bathrooms were kept clean.

The caretakers were of two types, some were kind and attentive, providing us with food, clothing, education, and care while some are like the devil incarnate sent to tournament humans. There once was one of the caretakers called Madam Evil by the children, yes I gave her the name when I saw her spanking Mary, the baby amount us. She was only 2 at the time and she made the silly mistake of stepping in the rooms with mud on her shoe.

The orphanage was run by the church, and it was one of the few options available for abandoned or orphaned children during that period, it's either that or well thrown to the street to survive. Even though after 16 summers have passed, it's either you get married or back to the street which you should have been thrown to when you were young. The building was not luxurious by any means, but it was clean, well-maintained, and provided us with a warm bed and food that we needed to survive and grow.

In addition to the necessities, the caretakers during the festive period make us do some form of entertainment and activities. They mostly go with storytelling sessions, and tag which we use to drag some of our favourites to join us.

The Nuns made sure that we were provided religious teachings and would arrange for us to attend mass with the rest of the community, those were the rare few times that we were allowed to step outside of the environment of the orphanage.

Sister Benedict, the head nun then always said to us anytime we were to go to mass that this was to instil moral values and a sense of community among us. The orphanage was self-sufficient to some extent, we learned basic farming and gardening skills, to be able to maintain the garden and courtyard. The Nuns were strict about discipline, and any misbehaviour was met with punishment. The children were expected to be well-behaved and respectful of the rules and regulations of the orphanage.

"Alice, are you alright?" Jolted back to the present to notice that Erin is back and directly standing in front of me.

"How long was I lost in my thoughts?" I questioned pulling my face into a thinking mode, tilting my head to look at the stubborn yet adorable boy I could call my brother yet not.

"Enough for me to go to the baker to get Mother's request for the day's bread". He responded, instantly I smelt the cool aroma of what he held in his hands.

"Ohhh yummy, that looks like delicacy Erin". I exploded, and even though I was delighted I was also a bit wary, why would his mother tell him to go get bread?

"Well, Momma told me not to touch them and get back soon. So I have to go but come around later, Momma told me to pass the message across that you should come to visit her". He told me with his cute gray eyes. Not giving me a chance to give him a proper response to the message he left me there.

I shook my head, I laughed, he was always light on his feet and even though I should not consider him as a child, he just clocked 15 summers, and last I checked I should be approaching my 22nd birthday remembrance very soon.

Erin is a boy with striking grey eyes that stand out against his fair skin. He has a lean build, and his hair is a dark brown colour that falls just above his shoulders. As a peasant, Erin's family is struggling to make ends meet, and this is reflected in his clothing. Erin's attire is simple and practical, made of rough, homespun fabrics that have been well-worn and mended multiple times.

He wears a linen shirt that is stained from hard work, and the cuffs and collar have been repaired multiple times. The shirt is tucked into a pair of breeches that are made of a thick, durable woollen fabric. The breeches are held up by a simple leather belt, and they have patches on the knee and seat areas. On his feet, he wears sturdy leather boots that have seen better days, the soles are thick and well-worn, and the laces are frayed at the ends.

He also wears a woollen vest that keeps him warm during the colder months, the vest is a dark brown colour and it has a few holes in it. He protects himself from the sun with a wide-brimmed hat that is made of rough straw, the hat has a leather band around it.

As funny as he looks sometimes with his dressing he always was hard working. Erin carries a small knife on his belt, which he uses for various tasks, such as cutting rope or hunting small game.

That knife of his has a simple wooden handle and a well-worn blade. He also carries a small leather pouch that contains a few tools, such as a flint and steel for making fire, a needle, and thread for mending his clothes. He loves going out to hunt and sometimes spend time exploring the forest around the kingdom.

Erin's clothing is not only functional but also a reflection of his family's economic situation, as they can't afford new clothes, so they have to make do with what they have. Despite this, Erin takes pride in his appearance. He always kept saying he was a grown man now after he got to 13 summers. I missed the little cute baby boy who always followed me around and smiled all the time. He hardly waits to talk anymore and he is always clean and well-groomed.

He washes his clothes regularly and he mends them as soon as they get damaged. He understands the importance of taking care of what he has and the value of hard work. I still am marvelled as to why he and his parents have not isolated me after all these while even when almost all the people in the lower part of the kingdom have done that. And we are in the slums, isolating someone in the slums, only weirdos can achieve that and I do guess that term is my middle name.

I smiled as I walked down the street and decided to go visit Erin’s parent later when the sun goes down. Dusted myself to the best of my abilities, apart from been so lucky that I am living in a very interesting neighbourhood I also have one of the most unusual look for a girl from this kingdom. Maybe my vibrant red hair, yes not brown not deep brown and most definitely not brunette but red in blood red.

It flows down to my waist with it being long and beautiful, I also am a small girl or rather I do have a face of an innocent girl which frankly do not help in these streets. I learnt my lesson in a very broad manner when I took to the streets after been chased out of the orphanage, I do miss the children sometimes and also do constantly wonder exactly when it is that I would get to see them again.

Stepping out of the street and walking into the market, I smiled because even my best dressed would still show and make me differ from them, those who grew up in the street have a way of without saying been known to the citizen of the kingdom.

More like when someone from the lower town goes to the upper part of the kingdom to work or deliver. Sticking out like a sore thumb will be what will make others to take notice of you, and being me I have a unique feature that makes it noticeable to get exactly what it was that I am. Spending more than 5 summers out here and after a few adventures of my name spreading wild for all to hear how could they not know who Alice is.

A beautiful girl who looks innocent till suddenly your purses full of coins are no longer seen, extremely proud of how I am able to always avoid being caught as I proud myself to be one of the best out there.

Today I am dressed in a green clothing which by seeing it you would clearly know that it has seen better days and yet as I do not have any clothing that is new nor do I have the resources to get new fabrics, I have to make do with what I have and flaunt it as well.

I walked through the streets, trying to blend in with the crowd. I was dressed in a faded green dress made of a cheap material that I had received from Erin's mother. Despite being almost 22 summers, I still looked like a young girl with my gentle and meek appearance. But, I knew that this appearance could be deceiving as I had been through a lot and had been living on the streets for a while.

The dress hung loosely on my frame, the material rough against my skin. It had probably been washed countless times, causing it to lose its colour and texture. I knew that I looked different from the other people on the streets, who were dressed in cleaner and nicer clothes. But, I tried not to let it affect me and instead, I focused on trying to survive.

My vibrant red hair was the only thing that stood out about my appearance. It was a stark contrast to the dull colours of my dress and the grime on my skin. But, it was also a reminder of who I was and that I was still alive. I kept my head down, trying to avoid the judgmental glances of the people around me.

I knew that people could be cruel, and that they would judge me based on my appearance.

But, I also knew that I couldn't let their opinions define me. I had to keep going, keep surviving, and find a way to make a better life for myself. As I walked through the streets, I couldn't help but think about my past. Growing up in the orphanage, I had always dreamed of leaving and finding a family that would love and care for me. But, the reality of life on the streets was harsh and unforgiving. I had to fend for myself and make difficult choices just to survive.

I never lost hope. I knew that there had to be more to life than this. I would often dream of finding a kind-hearted person who would take me in and give me a chance at a better life. But, as the years went by, my dreams started to feel more and more like illusions.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of hopelessness as I walked through the streets, but I didn't give up. I knew that I had to keep going and never lose faith in myself. I may have lost my family and my home, but I still had my strength and my determination. And with that, I would find a way to make a better life for myself, no matter how hard it may be.