[Music Recommendation: For whom the fire burns (winterscape remix) ~ Phildel]

Done with drawing the bath, Freya moved away from the bathtub. "I don’t know if it’s up to the standard of what you enjoy back in the palace," the girl pointed, going to pick up her book to continue reading.

Oriana walked to the bathroom, seeing that the young girl was lost in her world of reading, she didn’t bother to say anything. She too needed to have her own time to process everything that had happened until now. Stepping into the bathtub, she relished the warmness of the water, which was now soft on her skin. The small smile of Bessie flashed in Oriana’s mind, and it sent goosebumps over her whole body.

"Was that not Bessie?" She asked herself because at this point, nothing made sense to her. She scooped water, pouring it on her body, tracing the marks left by the flogging. Her body no longer looked like that of a princess at the moment. Oriana inhaled deeply. Done with bathing, she stepped out of the bathtub, wrapping her body with the clean towel that was placed close to the bathtub. She walked to pick up her dress, but a dress was pushed in front of her.

"Here, this belonged to my ma. Pa said I’ll wear it when I grow up, but I think you need it more than me," Freya said.

Oriana took hold of the dress, "Thank you," she muttered, before going behind the room divider to get changed. The dress still looked bigger than her because of her petite stature. She had to raise the sleeves at intervals as it kept falling off.

"I guess you look good in everything. Is that a princess blessing?" Freya asked when Oriana stepped out from the room divider.

Oriana used her hand to remove the wrinkles on the gown, "No, your mother just has good taste," she complimented, and the girl shrugged her shoulder. "What was she like, your mother?"

"She died when I was three, according to Pa, so I don’t remember anything about her," Freya replied.

"I’m sorry about that," Oriana didn’t mean to broach such a deep topic, but the girl gave her a small shake of the head.

"I’m very fine. My pa has been doing everything to make sure I don’t miss out on anything," Freya’s words were enough to melt Oriana’s heart. Though the man was aging, Louis was still taking care of his daughter all alone without considering taking another wife, and that was very amazing and rare.

Trying to change the topic, Oriana asked, "I saw other girls on my way here. Do they work here too?"

Freya nodded, "I’ll explain to you while we go to meet Pa." She pushed the door open, and they started walking. "Pa cooks, and other girls help to serve, then he pays them. Even though they also try to make money through other ways,"

"Other ways?" Oriana raised her brows, and the girl nodded.

"Pa would scold me if I say it, but I can whisper it to you," Freya suggested, and when Oriana leaned forward, the girl said it.

Oriana’s mouth was now shaped in an O. It was normal for girls who tried to sell their body in places like this for more money.

"So be careful with them; they betray themselves all the time," Freya gave Oriana the orientation she needed.

When they got to the kitchen, Louis quickly dried his hand with a small towel that was on his waist and with a smile, he bowed to Oriana.

"I hope it wasn’t difficult settling in,"

Oriana shook her head, "No, Freya here helped me with everything I needed,"

Louis smiled, proud of his daughter, "Her too much reading has its perks; she knows how to explain everything in detail."

"Pa!" Freya nudged her father, before looking away. Oriana couldn’t help but smile at the father and daughter relationship which she wished to have.

Louis ruffled his daughter’s hair again, before he clapped his hands to call the attention of everyone in the kitchen, "Attention everyone, this is Princess Oriana. She would be working here with us, and I want you all to give her the same respect as you give to me,"

The princess gave the other girls a smile, but it wasn’t returned as everyone faced their work.

"You don’t have to worry about their attitude," Louis advised, feeling the sense of hostility in the room which was directed at the princess. Oriana nodded, she wasn’t expecting a soft landing.

The next day, Oriana resumed work in the kitchen. She tried her best to fit in everywhere, from washing plates to cutting vegetables, though she only succeeded in cutting her fingers, which she tied with pieces of cloth to stop them from bleeding.

Louis was mostly busy cooking as they had a lot of demand, while Freya stayed around to get her father everything he needed, also watching how Oriana was coping.

After washing plates, Oriana carried the bowl of dirty water to dispose of it, but she was intercepted by some girls who also worked in the kitchen.

"Excuse me," Oriana said to them with a low voice.

Freya, who was reading in the corner, noticed this. She covered her book and watched the scene in front of her.

"I need to pass," Oriana repeated.

One of the girls scoffed, "Do you hear her? She is trying to command us. You think here is your palace where your maids bow at every word you say?"

"No, I don’t think here is my palace," Oriana replied.

The girl who had spoken turned to look at the rest, "Did she just reply? Ha! I know you’re here trying to mock us by acting like us. You think you’re better than us because you’re a princess?"

Oriana sensed what was going to happen next; these girls were obviously having complex issues, and she didn’t have the leisure to entertain them. She just started working, and she didn’t want to cause troubles for Louis, who had helped her out. Without saying anything, Oriana walked around the girls to continue with her work.

"Did she just treat us like we are invisible?" The leader of the gang asked the other girls. "Come back here," the girl nudged Oriana, causing a little amount of water to spill on her leg.

"Ew! What is your problem?" Oriana exclaimed, and with the same speed, she turned her body and poured the entire water on the girl’s body.

"What did you just -" before the girl could say anything, Oriana held her by the hair, causing the girl to wince. "Ow..ow..let go," she cried.

Freya who was watching held her hand over her mouth, she didn’t see that coming.

"What is your name?" Oriana asked.

"Ow, it’s Kate. Let go of my hair,"

"Good, now listen Kate. I know you’re trying to show me how hierarchy works around here. Keep it to yourself I’m not interested. I won’t cross your path so don’t cross mine, it’s really difficult not losing my mind while working here, don’t be unfortunate. Do you understand Kate?" Oriana’s voice was steady,

The girl Kate nodded, "Yes, yes please let go." She held her neck.

Oriana turned to the other girls, "Same warning for all of you unless you’re looking to get bald for free," she threatened before finally releasing the girl she was holding.

"She’s not a princess; she’s crazy. Let’s get out of here," Kate, along with the other girls, quickly scrambled away from the place.

Oriana cleaned her hand on her dress, she picked up her empty bowl from the floor to continue her chore.

"That was cool!" Oriana was surprised to hear Freya’s voice; the girl now ran to her direction. "Teach me how you grabbed her hair so skillfully,"

"Don’t ever do that; I don’t endorse violence," Oriana warned.

Freya pouted, "But you turned her into a wolf in just two seconds!" Oriana furrowed her brows.

"Ow! Ow!!" Freya mimicked the sound the girl had made when Oriana grabbed her hair. "All she needed was a full moon for her to fully transform," the young girl joked.

Oriana threw her head back in laughter, "You’re very naughty,"

"You really gave them a big scare; I’m sure they would tell others the tale never to cross you. And here Pa was, worried that you wouldn’t survive in a place like this, you’re doing just fine,"

Oriana shrugged her shoulders, "Sometimes you need to remind people that you’re not weak,"

Freya nodded, "You’re right; you’re really not a regular princess." She muttered to herself. "Ow! Ow!!" She howled, trying to act like she was mimicking the other girl’s sound.