Part 6: The Following Night

The next night was rather different. There were no valets but additional security was brought in.

"Hi ladies!" Said one of them. "Hey there newbie! Lieutenant Kolfer at your service."

"And Lieutenant Matseta here. What's your name?"

"I'm Nuviette. Pleased to meet you. I'm just wondering why there are two of you here now."

"It's a request from the prince consort. The lord marshal assigns extra security detail for the queen when the prince is away. He wants extra protection for his wife." Matseta explains. 

"Oh, how sweet of him." Nuviette looks like she is love-struck.

"Yeah, his sweetness is extra work for us." Lieutenant Kolfer whines.

"At least it's extra pay." Anlise retorts.

For a moment there, they were all surprised. Anlise who has been very rigid knows how to joke around. Nuviette thought deep within that their superior was very much like them. Perhaps the extensive experience has made her seem stiff.

Not for long, the orange light opens up on the screen. Another servant who seems to be the same age as Anlise enters the room.

"Good eve, Anlise." She nods. "Good to see everyone again. Oh, new girl?"

"Yes, this is Nuviette." Anlise introduces her to the newcomer in the room.

"Tuyani is Princess Kanunia's personal attendant. Usually, she is here in the daytime alternating with Meliand but when the prince consort is not around, one of them comes in for the night shift.

"The royal sister stays over when the prince is away. It's like a sleepover bonding for both of them." Tuyani says.

"They're cute." Nuviette's eyes sparkle. "I wish I had a sister."

"You're an only child?" Tuyani asks.

"No, I am an orphan. I grew up in an orphanage and I barely remember my mother. I have amnesia which started during the Nybian invasion."

"I am so sorry. How are you holding up?" Tuyani inquires.

"It's okay. I like my job and the people here are great. Besides, the past is behind me. If I don't have memories then I will create new and better memories one day at a time.

"Well said, comrade," Lieutenant Matseta salutes.

Soon, an order in orange appears which says nail polish. Another order in purple says makeup.

Tuyani and Chiriu quickly reach for the shelves. They brought out two gadgets. One looked like a box and the other looked like a mirror. Chiriu gave the mirror to Nuviette.

"Here you go." She utters.

"Hey, I took the orders yesterday. Shouldn't we take turns?" Nuviette negotiates.

"Well, I'm just trying to make you feel more acquainted with the night duties. Once you are desensitized and not so shocked by what is happening, I'll take turns with you." Chiriu rationalizes.

Nuviette looks at Anlise.

"Well, the girl has a point. Besides, I want you all to be more acquainted with the royals because I might retire soon."

"But you're not elderly." Nuviette wondered. Anlise almost laughed with the young servants naive remark. 

"Yes, but I am going to settle down soon. I want a simple life in the countryside" Anlise claims.

"Oh I see. Anyway, we will miss you, Ma'am.' Nuviette says.

"Hey, go on. The queen might buzz." Chiriu adamantly reminds Nuviette of the orders.

"Oh yeah." Nuviette hurriedly trails behind Tuyani.

They enter the royal bedchambers and this time around the bed curtains were tied up. The two sisters are in their nightgowns. The royal sister was lying at her side facing the queen who was staring at the ceiling clasping a small pillow on her chest. Both of them were giggling.

"And then, he did that!" Kanunia says with her palms open gesturing in emphasis.

"Oh, he did not!" Elzilaura's eyes widen and she turns to her side to face her sister.

"Yes, he did!" Kanunia replies and both of them started laughing audibly again.

Tuyani handed the nail-coloring gadget to the royal princess. "That will be all, Tuyani," Kanunia says. The servant curtsies and leaves.

Then, Nuviette hands over the makeup gadget to Elzilaura.

"Thank you, Nuviette. You may go too." The queen smiles.

Nuviette does the same as Tuyani.

While she was leaving, she heard them talk in the background.

"She's new."

"Yes, she is and she's a good one too..."

The queen likes her. That was what Nuviette thought. She gallops back into the service room and closed the door.

Tuyani looks back and sees her. "Well, I hope they enjoy their night."

"How do you use those gadgets?" Nuviette queries.

"You have to set the color or design you want at the top of the box. Once you've selected, you may now put your hand. Your nail color changes after a 5 to 10 minutes depending on the design you chose." Tuyani says as they approach the other staff.

"The makeup painter is the same. You adjust the settings at the back depending on what you might like. Then, you have to look at the mirror part which is the front. Check your reflection if you are seeing your preferred makeup. When the whole mirror lights up, the preset makeup on the mirror will get transferred to your face.

"Wow, that's so amazing!" Nuviette is in awe. "We don't have these technologies in Miriotim."

"Woah, that's far." Tuyani says.

"True." Nuviette agrees.

Soon, the orange light beeps.

"I have to leave now. The royal sister is leaving the bedchambers. I will escort her back to her room and then that's it for me. Good night, guys." Tuyani says. She looks at Nuviette. "Nice meeting you, young fig."

Nuviette confirms the servant is from the Porun Region. Fig is a term of endearment by Fliskans from the Porun Mountain Ranges where different figs grow on the foothills.

"Likewise, see you around good fig," Nuviette answers the servant.

Tuyani smiles before she leaves.

Not for long, the purple light was highlighted with red. The orders say Clothes.

"It's an emergency call. Girls, come with me." Anlise mentions.

"Yes, Ma'am," Chiriu replies.