4 months later…
Pacing back and forth in an old servant chamber was Hattie as Nylah watched on.
The old servant chamber was 200 sqft, and brown hardwood floors and plain light tan walls. It was furnished with two twin sized beds that rested on their own metal bed frames, a brown wardrobe that was filled with the same servant uniform (a tea length gray dress with mid length sleeves that had a white apron in front of it), and a brown vanity that had a wooden chair resting in front of it.
Both Hattie and Nylah wore the same thing, the servant uniform and black lace boots.
"I can't believe this," Hattie huffed, stomping on the rickety wooden floor, "Four months and His Majesty won't even speak to me."
"It's horrible, we went from being well respected women to being the lowly of the lowest servants. I mean just look at my hands," Nylah whined, showing Hattie the scarring and blisters on her hands, "And I haven't seen one guard, not one servant who knows Duchess Celila in months. Not even the new recruits have connections with her and all the old servants that were sent have been stripped out of the castle. Your influence is completely gone. It's as if your cousin no longer cares for you."
"No," Hattie protested, "Celila would never forget about me, nor would she allow me to live like this. This is that floozy's doing, she completely destroyed everything we've worked hard on. I mean look at us we've gone from women respected by society to lowly servants while she lives like a royal. I can not bear this anymore."
"What are we going to do," Nylah whinged, "We no longer have a foot up anymore."
"We're just going to have to start from scratch," Hattie stated.
"You don't mean leaving the castle do you," Nylah inquired.
"No," Hattie responded, formulating a plan, "I mean we're going to have to watch closely. We need to watch everything that's going on around here and find our way in."
Away at the Training Grounds….
Sparring in the sparring area of The Training Grounds was a new recruit by the name of Stentin (St-en-tin) and another new recruit as Ansel, Sir Darce, Cobsworth, and Sir Harrison watched on examining their fighting skills.
Stentin was 5'8 and had a toned muscular physique with different scars throughout his hands and arms. His short reddish brown hair was styled into a wavy fringe hairstyle. His almond shaped eyes were dark brown and he had pinkish bow lips. He wore the new recruit uniform (A mid sleeve plain green shirt, black shoes, and brown pants).
Clang, clang, clang…
Stentin quickly overpowered the new recruit, knocking him (the new recruit) off his feet in a quick defeat.
"So what do you think about Stentin, Your Majesty," Sir Harrison inquired.
"He's a tough fighter, picks up on fighting skills quickly," Ansel responded, watching Stentin closely.
"Do you think he's ready to become a guard," Sir Darce asked.
"We'll send him to phase two at the castle along with the other new recruits that passed, see how he does, and then go from there," Ansel directed.
"Alright, I'll let Stentin know he's passed through and is headed for the next phase," Sir Harrison responded, heading over to Stentin Sir Darce following behind him.
"You seem to have reserves about him. Any reason why," Cobsworth prodded, awaiting an answer.
"I can't put my finger on it but something about him seems off… I wonder about his integrity but I want to give him a fair chance before I make a final decision," Ansel disclosed.
"I understand Your Majesty but may I say I would with your gut," Cobsworth advised, looking him in the eyes, "Your reserves haven't been wrong before."
Ansel nodded, "I will," He agreed, looking back over at Stentin, examining him closely…
"On a lighter note at least it's time to go back to the castle… I know how much you've missed Milady," Cobsworth stated.
"I've missed her so much," Ansel responded, looking at Cobsworth…
'I haven't been back at the castle in over a month on account of watching over this new hazing process for the new recruits… I haven't been able to spend much time with her…' Ansel pondered, worry creeping on his face.
"Worried she doesn't miss you I see," Cobsworth interjected, breaking Ansel's train of thought.
"What are you a mind reader," Ansel deflected, failing to hide his worries.
"I've known you long enough to know when something's going on. Rest assured Your Majesty, Milady misses you as much as you miss her, I'm sure of it," Cobsworth chuckled, reassuring him.
"I hope so," Ansel sighed softly.
Back at the castle…
In Gabrielle's room she (Gabrielle) sat wearing a white, long sleeved night gown as she stared out her window.
'Ansel… It's been 2 months since you left… I know you're king and have a duty to your people… But I… I miss you… It's selfish I know but I miss you and I wish you were here with me…' She pondered, deep in her thoughts…
Knock, knock, knock
"Milady," Josephine called out…
Gabrielle mindlessly ignored her as she continued looking out the window, her thoughts taking away her focus…
Boom, boom, boom
"Milady I need to come in," Josephine called out once more, urgency filling her voice.
Gabrielle continued to mindlessly ignore her, her focus being completely taken away with wonders about Ansel.
"Alright I'm coming in," Josephine asserted, entering the room.
She looked over at Gabrielle, seeing her stare out the window.
"Milady, focus," Josephine shouted, catching Gabrielle's attention.
She whipped her head, looking at Josephine.
"Josephine I'm sorry… I was lost in thought," She exclaimed walking over to her, "What's wrong."
"Nothing's wrong but I thought you'd be all dressed up by now and a little more excited," Josephine chirped.
"Dressed up for what," Gabrielle queried.
"Ah you're so busy missing His Majesty, that you've forgotten what day it is," Josephine giggled, grabbing onto Gabrielle's hands.
"What's today," Gabrielle inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"His Majesty comes back today Milady," Josephine beamed.
"Today," Gabrielle squealed, jumping up and down, "Oh have to get ready right away… What will I wear… What will I do… His Majesty comes back today…"
"There's that excitement I was looking for…" Josephine chuckled, "Here I'll help you find the perfect outfit and get you all dolled up for His Majesty."
"Oh Josephine you're a life saver… Let's hurry up… I'm too excited," She chirped running into her closet as Jospehine followed behind her.
7 hours later…
Through the castle Ansel walked, Cobsworth walking alongside him as Sir Harrison and Sir Darce followed close behind them and a group of 50 new recruits who passed to phase two followed behind them.
"Nervous I see," Cobsworth teasly muttered to Ansel.
"My heart is beating against my chest," Ansel mumbled as worry ate away at him… "What if she doesn't want to see me?"
"That's nonsense," Cobsworth quietly reassured, "I bet you she's as eager to see you as you are to see her…"
Back in Gabrielle's room she (Gabrielle) stood at her body mirror, Jospehine standing behind her, smiling ear to ear.
Gabrielle stared at her own reflection admiring the pale yellow, ballroom styled, short sleeved, boat neckline, floor-length dress that had a sheer white tulle overlay. Upon the white tulle overlay were golden flowers that shimmered brightly in the light catching anyone's attention.
"So what do you think," Josephine asked, placing a white gold, diamond encrusted tiara in Gabrielle's wavy styled hair.
"It's beautiful," She marvelled, looking back at Josephine, "You did an amazing job."
"No, you're just a beautiful woman," Josephine complimented, giving her a gentle hug.
Knock, knock, knock
"Come in," Gabrielle called out, watching as a servant entered the room.
"His Majesty is here," The servant informed.
"He's here," Gabrielle swooned, grabbing on to Josephine's hand "Let's go find him."
As Gabrielle and Jospehine wandered the halls in search of His Majesty, Hattie and Nylah were following them, watching from a distance.
"Are you sure going after that floozy again is the best approach to take," Nylah inquired.
"Positive," Hattie smiled, skillfully plotting against Gabrielle, "The whole reason we're in this mess is because of her and her scheming plots so if we want to have any chance of getting back to our old status we have to get rid of her."
"And how do you plan on doing that," Nylah questioned, "His Majesty has her completely protected its…"
"We wait and watch," Hattie interrupted, a grin painted on her face, "Once we find an opening we can take her down."
Throughout the hallways Gabrielle and Jospehine continued to walk, Nylah and Hattie distantly following behind.
"You know we probably should've asked that servant where His Majesty was before leaving the room," Jospehine chuckled.
"I guess I got ahead of myself…" Gabrielle simpered looking back at Josephine, "I'm just so excited to see him."
"I know you are, you're practically bursting at the seams," She teased, grabbing on to Gabrielle's other hand, "And I'm sure once we find him you'll just be swooooooning. 'Oh your Majesty how I've missed you,' Mwah-mwah kiss, kiss."
Gabrielle smirked, looking directly into Josephine's eyes.
"You must be confused, that's the way you'll be acting with His Highness when he comes back for a visit," She giggled, satisfaction painted on her face.
"Oh har, har so funny," Josephine snickered, scrunching up her nose.
"Mwah-mwah, kiss, kiss," She retorted, laughing alongside Josephine.
Around the corner Ansel came as his generals, Cobsworth, and the new recruits followed, the sounds of Gabrielle's laughter filled his ears, distracting him completely.
He paused at the end of the hallway, seeing Gabrielle in the distance, his heart began fluttering.
"Gaberille," He called out, his eyes on her.
She turned around, her vision tunneling in on him, ignoring everyone else around them.
She ran down the hallway, jumping into his arms, nearly knocking him over.
She kissed him repeatedly, rubbing her nose on his.
"I've missed you so much," She hummed, wrapping her arms around the back of his neck.
He grabbed her chin, gently kissing her once more.
"I've missed you too," He smiled.
"Em-hem," Cobsworth put his fist up to his mouth, loudly clearing his throat.
She looked over, seeing the new recruits, the generals, and Cobsworth standing there, some hiding their chuckles, others looking away in embarrassment, and some whispering among themselves.
She let go of Ansel, her face painted red in embarrassment.
"What's wrong," Ansel teased, softly grabbing on to her wrist, "Don't you miss me."
She met his eyes, failing to tug her wrist away.
"Your Majesty," She whined, continuing to tug on her wrist.
"What," He whined back, giving the back of her hand a kiss.
"Your Majesty please, will you continue in front of an audience," She huffed, pouting out her lips.
He scooped her up in his arms, letting out a soft sigh.
"Sir Harrison and Sir Darce have the new recruits start phase two in the Guard Chambers," Ansel ordered.
"Yes, Your Majesty," They responded.
In the distance Hattie watched on, Nylah standing beside her.
Hattie focused her gaze on Stentin seeing his gaze glued on Gabrielle, she gave a widened smile.