A Secret Princess in Maid's Clothes

Kaelia pushed the heavy oak door shut, her back hitting the solid wood with a dull thud. Her chest heaved. She paced the length of Verity’s lavish guest room, her hands trembling uncontrollably. Verity lounged on the plush velvet sofa, watching her sister roam the floorboards like a trapped and restless ghost. Kaelia tried to take a deep breath, but her stomach churned in protest. A fresh, terrible wave of nausea hit her.

She bolted toward the adjacent door on the left. The hinges whined as she pushed it open and collapsed onto the cold bathroom tiles. She gripped the rim of the porcelain bowl, dropping to her knees. She gagged twice, her shoulders shaking, before the remnants of her breakfast rushed up her throat and splashed into the water.

"Goodness," Verity gasped from the doorway. She stepped inside, looking down at her pale sister.

"Sorry," Kaelia wheezed, spitting the bitter taste from her mouth. "You know how easy it is for me to get sick."

"I know," Verity said. She reached down and gathered Kaelia’s wild auburn curls, holding them back so they did not drag in the mess. She handed Kaelia a damp towel. "But it seems something terrible just happened out there."

Kaelia splashed cold water on her face, shivering as the chill hit her golden-brown skin. She wiped her mouth, leaning back against the cool tiles. "I puked out the window."

"In the Imperial Castle?" Verity let out a sharp laugh of disbelief. "Did you trade your brain for a pebble?"

"My bathroom door was locked!" Kaelia argued, scrunching her nose in defense. "And worse, no one will care about my side of the story. My vomit landed on an Imperial."

Verity froze. Her green eyes widened by a fraction. She stared at Kaelia, waiting for her sister to laugh and say it was all a terrible joke. Kaelia stayed silent, her expression grim. Verity's face drained of color, turning an even paler shade of white. Then, a loud, disbelieving laugh erupted from her throat.

"You threw up on an Imperial? Wow. Father is going to execute you." Verity found the chaotic situation strangely amusing.

"This is not funny, Vera," Kaelia groaned, rubbing her temples. "They are probably building the gallows right now to hang me."

"So what is your grand plan?" Verity asked, raising a brow.

Kaelia knew there was no escaping this. No matter how clever she was, she could not talk her way out of assaulting a royal with her stomach contents. She just needed to hide the evidence and shut that cursed window.

Without another word, she pushed past Verity and slipped out the door. She sprinted down the lavish corridor. A few passing castle servants cast her confused glances, but Kaelia ignored them. She reached her assigned room, darted inside, and slammed the open window shut. She spun around to leave, but a cold chill suddenly crawled up her spine. The tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood up.

Someone was watching her. She felt heavy eyes burning into her from the shadows of the hallway. Her survival instincts kicked in. She did not stop to investigate or look back. She bolted down the hall, slipped back into Verity’s room, and leaned flat against the door, panting hard.

"Running marathons now?" Verity mocked from the sofa, watching Kaelia fan herself.

"Anything to avoid the executioner," Kaelia shot back.

A sharp knock echoed through the room. Kaelia jumped away from the wood in fright. Panic flared in Verity’s eyes, matching Kaelia’s exact terror.

"Hide in the tub," Verity mouthed, pointing to the bathroom.

Before Kaelia could take a step, a soft voice called out through the heavy wood. "Lady Kaelia?"

It was the maid assigned to her. Kaelia let out a shaky breath and cracked the door open.

The young woman bowed her head. "I searched everywhere for you. The staff said you were running through the halls. Is everything alright?" Her meek blue eyes held genuine worry.

Kaelia put a hand to her forehead. It was time for a performance. "I apologize for the trouble. But I simply must share a room with my sister. I suffer from isolation madness. It is a dreadful condition. I cannot bear to be alone." She let out a dramatic, sorrowful sigh, shaking her head for added effect.

Verity snorted loudly from the sofa.

Kaelia shot her sister a lethal glare. The maid looked confused for a second, then her face went blank, masking any humor.

"I understand," the maid said briskly. "I will have your luggage transferred to Lady Verity’s chambers at once." She turned and scurried down the hall.

Kaelia shut the door and glared at Verity. "You did not need to ruin my act."

"I have listened to you lie since we were children," Verity chuckled. "That one was just sad."

Kaelia rolled her eyes. The adrenaline faded, leaving her exhausted from the long journey and the sheer terror of the morning. She dropped onto Verity’s massive bed, sinking into the plush mattress, and fell asleep within seconds.

Her nap felt far too short. When she woke up, the sun was dipping below the horizon, casting a golden glow through the glass. Her mind still spun with anxiety.

"The ball begins in less than three hours, milady. Time for your bath."

Kaelia blinked the sleep from her eyes. The bedroom was swarming with bustling Imperial maids. They unpacked her evening gown, draping it carefully over a velvet mannequin. Cressida, the Scarlet Clan’s head dressmaker, stood guard over the fabric like an angry mother hen, snapping at any Imperial maid who got too close to her masterpiece.

Before Kaelia could fully wake up, the maids descended on her. They pulled at her clothes with hurried precision. Her shirt vanished. Her bra slid off her chest.

"Wait," Kaelia mumbled, bewildered by their speed. She quickly shoved her panties down herself while another maid pulled the claw clip from her red hair, letting her locks tumble down her back. They wrapped her in a thick silk robe and ushered her into the bathroom.

Two maids stood by a grand second tub, tossing rose petals and scented oils into the steaming water. Verity was already lounging in her own tub opposite Kaelia's, soaking in the luxury without a care in the world. Kaelia dropped her robe and stepped into the hot water. The heat instantly relaxed her stiff muscles, drawing a content sigh from her lips.

The two petal-tossing maids smiled at her reaction and left the room. But one timid maid stayed behind. She stood near the towels, fidgeting with her apron.

"What do you want?" Verity snapped, her eyes narrowing at the girl.

The maid flinched. She kept her gaze locked on Kaelia. "I apologize, my ladies. The higher authorities ordered me to ask you a question."

"What question?" Kaelia asked, wiping a wet strand of hair from her cheek.

The maid slowly looked up. She clenched her trembling hands into fists, forcing a determined expression onto her face. "Did you by any chance vomit out of the window?"

Kaelia choked on a breath of steam. She froze, her heart hammering against her ribs. She had forgotten all about the interrogation.

Verity sat up, water sloshing over the porcelain edge. She turned her fierce Alpha glare onto the trembling girl. "You."

"Y-yes?" the maid stuttered, shrinking back and averting her eyes.

"What is your name?" Verity demanded, shifting in the tub so the water rippled loudly in the quiet room.

"M-Maeva," she whispered, her face turning pale.

"Listen to me, Maeva," Verity growled, her voice dripping with authority. "You will keep your mouth shut. No one was in that room. Do you understand?"

"B-but—"

"I said! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" Verity barked.

Maeva jumped backward, tears welling in her eyes. "Yes! Yes, I understand!"

"Then kick your stuttering self out of my bathroom," Verity hissed. "You are ruining our bath."

Maeva turned and fled like a frightened chicken. Kaelia watched the empty doorway, guilt twisting a tight knot in her chest.

"Sister," Kaelia sighed, sinking deeper into the bubbles. "You did not need to be so mean to her."

Verity smirked, placing two perfectly round cucumber slices over her eyes. "If I hesitated, you would be in a dungeon right now."

Verity finished her soak first. By the time Kaelia stepped out and dried off, the maids were already working on her sister’s face. Kaelia frowned at the sight in the mirror. The Imperial beautician applied heavy, dark eyeshadow to Verity’s eyelids. It clashed horribly with her sharp green eyes. She looked like an angry raccoon.

Maeva hurried back into the room, her cheeks flushed. She caught Kaelia’s gaze and gave a small nod of shared distaste regarding Verity's makeup.

"She refused to let me touch her face," Maeva whispered to Kaelia, gesturing to Verity’s stylist. "I am the best beautician here, and they barely know how to blend."

"It is fine," Kaelia said gently, cutting off her rambling. "You can do mine."

Maeva beamed. She guided Kaelia to a gilded vanity. Another maid raised a standard comb toward Kaelia’s head, but Maeva slapped her hand away.

"Stop! You will ruin her curl pattern," Maeva scolded. She pulled a small tube of white liquid from her apron. "Her hair needs a different treatment."

Kaelia watched in fascination as Maeva worked magic. The maid tamed her auburn curls with incredible skill, twisting them into a flawless low bun. She pulled out a few face-framing ringlets to highlight Kaelia’s sharp cheekbones and jawline.

"Where did you learn to style my hair?" Kaelia asked, admiring the mirror.

"The Queen has this hair texture," Maeva said, a soft blush warming her cheeks. "I used to style her hair. But I taught her favorite maids, so she let me go."

Maeva moved on to makeup. She selected warm, glowing tones that perfectly matched Kaelia’s skin. She applied a shimmering lotion to Kaelia’s shoulders, making her golden-brown skin gleam under the bright vanity lights. Kaelia rarely wore makeup. She spent her days saving lives in the clinic. Staring at her reflection, she hardly recognized the stunning woman looking back. A blood-red lipstick tied the look together, matching her jewelry and gown.

Cressida stepped forward with the dress. Kaelia slipped into the breathtaking garment. The deep red silk hung off her shoulders, leaving her neck bare for the jewelry. The sheer, embroidered bodice featured intricate red leaves that curved carefully over her breasts, shielding her nipples but leaving her cleavage bare. The tight corset cinched her narrow waist, flaring out over her hips. The fabric deepened in color as it cascaded past her knees, ending in a short, practical train that would allow her to dance freely.

She slipped on a pair of comfortable golden heels. Finally, Cressida brought the velvet jewelry box. Kaelia fastened the heavy, ancestral red diamonds of the Scarlet Clan around her neck. Matching diamond pins slid into her hair. It was a bold statement. She might dance with Imperial Princes tonight, but her heart and loyalty belonged to her home.

Kaelia turned to face Maeva with a satisfied smile. "Thank you, Maeva. You did a wonderful job."

Maeva’s face brightened, revealing a striking, hidden beauty beneath her timid exterior. She curtsied. "It is my pleasure." She turned toward the door to leave.

Guilt gnawed at Kaelia's conscience. Verity's harsh threats still echoed in her mind. This poor girl did not deserve to bear the weight of Kaelia’s mistake.

"Wait," Kaelia called out softly.

Maeva paused and looked back. "Do you need something else, Lady Kaelia?"

Kaelia stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on the maid's shoulder. "I am an adopted child of Alpha Thaddeus. Legally, I have no title. Everyone calls me Doctor or Miss Kaelia. Please do the same, even if you only serve me tonight."

Maeva blinked, caught off guard by the sincere request.

Kaelia took a deep breath. "And about earlier... if you need to report to the higher authorities, tell them the truth. I barfed out of the window. Do not put yourself in any trouble to cover for me."

The change in the room was instantaneous. Maeva’s meek, hunched posture vanished. Her shoulders squared. Her timid expression melted away, replaced by a sharp, knowing smirk that sent a jolt of unease through Kaelia. The submissive, stuttering maid was gone. In her place stood someone proud and confident.

"You made the right choice, Kaelia," Maeva said, her voice smooth and lacking any trace of fear. "I will be pleased to entertain your presence at the ball."

Without another word, Maeva turned on her heels and swept out of the room, leaving Kaelia staring at the empty doorway in utter bewilderment.