[Author's Note: When Princess Madison reincarnated, she was named Emma, so she's no longer referred to as Madison and Emma instead.]
"Darling, wake up! You can't be late for work!" Emma's mother yelled, her voice raspy.
Emma's mother, Chloe, was the royal maid, in charge of whatever the king and queen of Zenovia needed.
Ah yes, Zenovia, one of the most beautiful kingdoms in the world, which was known as the kingdom of the free.
Returning to Chloe, she had been working in the royal palace for about fifteen years, starting there when Emma was seven years old. Of course, being a royal maid was a strenuous job. Chloe would spend hours and hours of her day working to the point she barely had any time for her daughter.
Every day, it'd be the same routine. Chloe would wake Emma up, leave breakfast on the table, head upstairs for work and return late.
Upstairs, as in the palace. Chloe and Emma lived in the maid quarters of the palace located in the basement. That made it slightly easier for Chloe to serve the king and queen.
Being a royal maid was no simple job, of course. Chloe was always stressed with her daily duties, but her load lightened once Emma began helping.
It started off with simple tasks - cleaning the dishes, sweeping the floors, doing the beds. But, after a while, Chloe had made Emma her assistant, and she never complained. She was a filial daughter and did whatever her mother wanted her to do.
But today was a different day. Today was the day that changed everything.
Emma awoke earlier than usual, noticing her mother not there. She headed to her mother's room, to find her in bed, a cold cloth pressed against her forehead. She immediately rushed to her mother's side, a look of concern etched on her face.
"Mother, are you alright?" She questioned worriedly.
"Oh I'm alright, it's a common cold, 'is all. I'll be fine by tomorrow," her mother assured.
Emma gazed at her mother, who looked pale and weak.
Chloe continued, "But, as of now, I'll need you to be my substitute of the day. I trust you'll do just fine, dear."
Her daughter frowned, admitting, "Alright. Get well soon, mother. It's painful seeing you like this."
The mother managed to nod and Emma exited the room, ready to fulfil her duties. She knew what her mother did every day with the back of her hand. Changing into her uniform, she headed upstairs.
However, on her way to the dining room, she bumped into someone.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Emma apologised.
Emma looked up, and to her surprise, it was Prince Adam, King William and Queen Isabelle's firstborn. The prince had inherited King William's jet-black hair, and Queen Isabelle's emerald green eyes. He was known throughout the whole kingdom for his looks, and being quite the flirty guy.
Eyes fixed on her, he asked, "Why hello there, and you are?"
She blinked, before she introduced herself, curtsying in front of the prince, "I'm Emma. Emma Grey, your majesty."
The prince grinned. He inquired, eyebrows raised and grin widening, "And what is such a gorgeous girl doing here?"
"I work here," she replied truthfully.
His eyes widened. Only now did he realise she was wearing a maid's uniform. He raised his brow, asking her, "So you aren't a guest, and you work here. Why don't I see you around then?"
"My mother's sick, I'm substituting for her," Emma explained.
"Well then, you should substitute her more often then," Adam suggested playfully, adding, "Especially if her daughter's someone as beautiful as you."
Emma found herself irritated by the prince. She just wanted to do her job properly without any distractions whatsoever. She narrowed her eyes and stared at Adam, curtsying one more time before she left, ignoring what he said completely.
She didn't care if he was three years her senior, heck, she didn't care if he was the prince. He was frustratingly annoying.
Emma headed her way to the palace's main dining room, off to serve the royals their meals. Once she arrived at the dining room, she was awestruck. It had been the first time she had stepped foot in it.
There, three people were already seated. The king, the queen, and the second prince.
Her mother had told her all that she needed to know regarding the two rulers of Zenovia, but nothing about the second prince.
Emma gazed at the prince, taking in his appearance. While the eldest prince had a more cocky and arrogant demeanour, the second prince looked different. He had his mother's honey blonde hair and his father's warm hazel-brown eyes.
He spotted her, and she tore her gaze away from him, lowering her head as she felt embarrassed.
The girl was wearing the usual uniform for a royal maid, wearing one of her mother's old ones. She donned a black dress, a white apron and black heels, managing to look both appropriate and stunning.
She curtsied, greeting the king and queen before turning her attention to the second prince.
"Good morning, your majesties. Good morning, your highness," she greeted.
He smiled, greeting her in return, "Good morning."
Emma hid her evident blush, nodding as she began serving the royals their food, far too busy to notice Adam sauntering into the room and taking a seat beside his brother. He smirked once he saw who was serving their food.
An idea had popped in his head, and he informed his parents, "Father, mother, I'm in urgent need of new help."
The king raised his eyebrows. He asked his son, "Do you have anyone in mind?"
Michael turned to look at his brother. What was Adam up to?
He pointed at Emma, asking, "What about her?"
All eyes turned to Emma, who froze in her tracks.
'No no no no no,' she thought to herself.
Adam smirked, glad he got to get back at her for not replying to his attempts at flirting earlier on.
The king, oblivious as to what had happened between his son and Emma, simply nodded. Prince Adam was fortunate his father was in a relatively good mood.
"You, what's your name?"
"Emma, your majesty. It's Emma Grey," she said, unable to meet the king's gaze as she kept her head lowered.
"Hm. Ms Grey, you are to be transferred immediately. You've been promoted to one of Prince Adam's maids. You are to be released from your usual duties, and you will be assisting him with what he needs or wants," he ordered.
Emma looked beyond terrified. On one hand, she was promoted, but on the other hand, she was working for the cockiest and most arrogant person in the palace. She said through gritted teeth, "Thank you."
She was now excused since she wasn't in charge of a regular maid's duties anymore. Of course, Emma wasn't worried about working for the cocky prince. If anything, she was more worried about her mother and how she was faring.
Emma went to check on her mother, returning to the maid's quarters.
As she returned, she also prepared herself to inform her mother of the promotion.
'How do I tell her I got promoted?' She wondered, realising that she had technically gotten promoted because Prince Adam had his eye on her.
Walking into her mother's room, Emma was pleased to see her mother was doing better than she was before.
Her face had regained its normal colour, and she was cleaning her room.
"Mother, you're okay!" Emma exclaimed.
Her mother slightly smiled and shrugged, "I'm not fully healed yet, but I'm well enough to clean my own room."
"At least you're doing better," Emma offered, glad her mother was better.
'Right, I still have to tell her about my promotion.
Emma announced, "Mother, I have some news to tell you."
"What is it, darling?"
"I was promoted. Now I'm to assist Prince Adam with what he needs and or wants," she explained.
She awaited her mother's response, and boy, did she deliver.
Her mother grinned.
"I'm so proud of you!" She exclaimed, resisting the urge to bring her daughter in a hug.
Chloe refrained from wanting to infect her daughter with her sickness, but she radiated joy and pride for her one and only daughter.
Then, she asked.
"Hold on. How did you get the promotion?" She asked curiously, much to Emma's dismay.
Emma winced.