Chapter 6 THE NEW MAID

The celebration of Princess Jodha's arrival had stretched late into the night, but by dawn, the halls glittered as though nothing had happened.

Somewhere in the east quarters, Milan buttoned her simple uniform - pale cream with a neat waist tie. Her eyes felt heavy, but her hands moved fast. Amy had warned her the palace was strict; one mistake and you were sent home.

Three days had passed since their final exams. While others rested,she's in the palace working, assisting when needed and helping with cleaning rotations. Today, her father had handed her a slip of paper stamped with the royal seal

"Report to the east wing," it read."New assignment: Prince's household." Her heart had skipped a beat - the crown prince's wing? Why?

At that same hour, Prince Kamil stepped out of his car at the private gate of the royal residence, a black mask still covering half his face from the city dust.

He'd spent the night at his penthouse in Rizon City as he barely have time for his friends .

Liam had insisted on keeping him out till nearly dawn while Abel supported.

"Bro, you're not even twenty and you act like you're fifty," Abel had teased, halfway through a drink."Ruling doesn't start when the crown sits," Kamil had replied, dryly. "It starts when no one gives you a choice."

Now, back in the silence of Azzam Palace, he felt that weight again. The guards bowed as he walked in. No one dared speak. Milan entered the east wing through the servant corridor. It was too quiet. Even the air smelled different. She was carrying a tray of polished glasses when she heard the sound of footsteps coming from behind the tall indoor garden that separated the east wing from the main hall.

A man's voice drifted closer ,low and deep.

She turned - and nearly bumped into him.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" she said quickly, steadying the tray.

Kamil blinked, caught off guard. He wasn't used to being apologized to - people usually bowed, froze, or overreacted.

"It's fine," he said simply, stepping aside. His voice was calm, and she didn't look up long enough to recognize him.

Milan nodded, embarrassed. "Thank you. I-I'm still learning my way around."

"New?" he asked.

"Yes, sir. Just got assigned here this morning. I was supposed to bring these to..." She glanced at the note in her pocket. "...the prince's study."

Kamil's mouth twitched. "The prince's study, huh?"

"Yes. They said he doesn't like delays. Or noise."

"That sounds accurate," Kamil said with a faint smile.

"You sound like you know him," she said, curious now, but still not looking up long enough to notice the resemblance to the portraits she'd seen on the palace wall."Maybe I do."

She sighed. "Then tell him his maids work too much. We clean, we polish, we serve, we bow- by the time I blink, it's midnight again."

He almost laughed. "I'll... mention it."

"Please do," she said, grinning slightly. "Maybe he'll pity us and give us a day off."

He couldn't help himself - he laughed, quietly.

Before Milan could say more, another voice called sharply from the corridor:

"Milan! Hurry, they're calling all staff to the main entrance!"

She jumped. "I have to go. Um-sorry again!"

She turned and hurried away, balancing her tray carefully. Kamil watched her until she disappeared around the corner. Something about her lingered - the way she spoke freely, the lack of fear, the faint trace of a voice he couldn't forget.

He exhaled slowly, his lips curving.

"So the voice has a face," he murmured.

Kamil stood near the tall windows of his private lounge, watching the gardens below. The girl from earlier lingered in his thoughts - the maid with the linen uniform and eyes too bright for this place.

He shouldn't still be thinking about it.

It was nothing. Just a voice.

Just a face.

He told himself that twice, then once more for good measure. A soft knock came, then the door opened without waiting for permission.

"Your Highness," Liam announced dramatically, pushing the door wider, "your palace is too quiet. It's depressing. I nearly fell asleep three times before getting here, we thought to surprise you by coming ."

Abel followed, sunglasses still on indoors. "He's not lying. Plus there's more life in a cemetery."Kamil turned slowly. "You're both supposed to be resting."

Liam flopped onto the couch. "Resting is for people without palaces. Abel smirked. "Or maids."

Kamil's brow lifted. "Maids?"

Liam shot Abel a look. "Don't start."

Abel ignored him. "Word travels fast, Your Highness. Something about a new recruit bumping into you this morning. I didn't know palace gossip spread faster than the news."

Kamil exhaled, leaning back against the window ledge. "It's barely minutes , You both need new hobbies."

"Oh, come on," Liam said. "You haven't laughed like that in months. Abel said one of the guards saw you smile."

"I always smile."

"Sure," Abel said dryly, "just never where people can see it."

Kamil's lips curved - barely. "Maybe you're all imagining things."

Liam grinned. "Describe her."

"Who?"

"The maid."

Kamil's silence made them grin wider.

"I don't remember," he said finally. "It was brief."

"Brief," Liam repeated. "Yet here we are, talking about it."

Kamil's gaze drifted to the gardens again.

"I'm not talking about this," he muttered.Abel stretched lazily. "Of course you're not."

Liam leaned forward. "If you ever start sneaking out to the east wing, we'll know why."

Kamil threw a pillow at him. "Get out."

Liam ducked, laughing. "Love looks good on you, Crown Prince."

"Love?" Kamil scoffed. "It's curiosity. Nothing more."

But as the door closed behind them, the word stuck.

Curiosity.

Then why did his chest feel lighter than it had in weeks?

Why did he suddenly find himself wishing the palace weren't so large... so he could cross paths with her again?

He sighed, pressing his hand against the cool glass and for the briefest second, he thought he heard it again - that soft hum, floating in the afternoon air.

Milan clutched a stack of folded linens to her chest, trying not to look lost. Her first full day as a palace maid, and already she had taken three wrong turns and to worsen it all, it's noon already . She hasn't been able to rest well.

The uniforms were stiff, the walls endless, and the people- Well, they all seemed to know where they belonged while she didn't

She grumbled,"if hiba ever says working here is fun, I'll drown her in soap water."

"Violent first day?" a voice teased.

Milan turned sharply.

A young man stood by the archway, tall, dressed simply in a dark shirt - no royal insignia, nothing that gave away his rank. His eyes were unreadable, but they held quiet amusement.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she stammered, clutching her linens tighter. "I didn't mean- I thought I was alone.""You are," he said lightly. "Mostly."

She frowned. "That doesn't make sense."

He smiled, "This palace rarely does."

Milan tilted her head, studying him. "You work here too?"

"Something like that," he said. "You?"

"New maid," she said, managing a nervous smile. "They said I'll be helping in the east wing."

He nodded slowly - his wing. "Busy place."

"You sound like you know it well."

"Let's say I've been around."

She chuckled, loosening slightly. "Then maybe you can show me around sometime... mister...?"

He hesitated, then said, "Rami."

"Milan," she said, extending her hand.

He looked at it, then shook it - careful, measured. "Nice to meet you, Milan."

She sighed in relief. "At least one person here isn't terrifying."

Kamil - Rami - smiled faintly. "Give them time."

She laughed quietly, then added, "Honestly, I'm more worried about the rumor."

"What rumor?"

"Oh, you didn't hear?" she asked, lowering her voice. "Apparently, one of the maids bumped into the Crown Prince this morning. Now everyone's saying she might be punished."He raised a brow. "Sounds dramatic."

"Everything here is dramatic," she said. "And the worst part? It's true. I was the maid."

Kamil blinked. "You-?"trying to sound surprised. He had stepped away from his chamber for a while to come have a silent moment in the garden.

"I didn't know he was the prince! He looked like a guard or something. I said things I shouldn't have said." She bit her lip. "And now Princess Jodha heard about it. I was called this morning by the steward. I thought I'd be fired."

"And were you?"

"No," she exhaled. "But I'm sure she hates me now."

He fought the urge to laugh. "You think the prince will punish you?"

"I hope not," she muttered. "They say he's cold. Unforgiving. The kind of man who can end your job with a look."

He tilted his head, amused. "You believe that?"

"I don't want to find out."

Kamil tried not to smile. "Maybe he's not as terrible as they say."

She snorted. "You sound like you know him."

"Maybe I do."

"Well, then," she said, stepping closer, voice dropping playfully, "put in a good word for me, Rami. I'd like to keep my job long enough to buy a new pair of shoes."

Kamil chuckled. "Consider it done."

"Thank you." She smiled, then hesitated. "You know... you don't talk like a palace worker."

He shrugged lightly. "Maybe I listen better than I talk."

"Well," she said, shifting the linens, "you're better company than most here. Friends?"He blinked.

"Friends," she repeated, holding out her pinky.

He stared at it, then linked his with hers. "Friends."

By night, Liam and Abel entered the lounge unannounced, as usual. Liam dropped a folder on Kamil's desk. "Here's the final summary from the council. And before you say you're busy, no - this can't wait."

Abel sat opposite him, typing on his tablet. "We've been monitoring the Nalal talks.

Bashi's been unusually... vocal. He's aligning himself closer to the Nalal minister."

Kamil leaned back. "That's his problem, not mine."

Abel didn't look up. "It becomes your problem when Kaan gets involved."

Kamil frowned slightly. "Kaan?"

Liam raised a brow. "You don't know him?"

Kamil shook his head. "No. Should I?"

"He's Bashi's son," Abel explained. "Arrogant. Impatient. Thinks the throne should've skipped generations."

Kamil nodded knowing fully well he would forget who kaan was the next minute . "Then he's not very bright."

Liam grinned. "Oh, he's bright. Just dangerous."

Abel added, "And if Bashi's feeding him ambitions, you might want to pay attention."

Kamil stood, gaze moving toward the window again.

He barely heard Liam say, "So, what's our next move?"

"Nothing," Kamil said quietly. "Let them talk."

Liam frowned. "You sure that's wise?"Kamil's voice was calm. "The louder they talk, the easier they are to hear."

Abel smirked. "You sound like your father."

"You don't even know him well. We were kids ." Kamil answered. Liam and Abel had been his childhood friend . They were both orphan . Kamil met them in school while he was away abroad.