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Acela POV

I arrive at the gates of the palace at exactly the right time I was instructed to arrive by the head of staff. I can't help my eyes gaze as I admire how beautiful the large historical castle-turned palace is. This is everyone's dream in the human realm to work here and now that I have that honor I still can't believe they liked my resume.

I am now a maid for the royal family.

Saying it is still a shock to me, I know the position was sought after by thousands upon thousands of people, I'm incredibly lucky to have been chosen.

I have zero experience other than caring for my mother who passed away last month. My mother had been the only family that I had left and now I'm all alone.

My father died at work when he was a patrol enforcer for the new military, his death had shocked me and my mother, worsening her condition of the heart and forever leaving a stain on my own heart.

I miss them so much.

Gripping my single suitcase as I see two guards come my way. I had to pass at least twenty guards and show my ID making it this far to the castle, this is the last one.. hopefully.

The guards are huge and their eyes are glowing, werewolves are very common these days since the war that shook the world a hundred years ago, since then King Black has ruled.

They stop in front of me holding very sharp weapons that definitely intimidate me. "State your business." One guard asks me.

I stand up straight. "I am the new maid, Acela Shaw, here's my ID and employer card." I say confidently as my hand grips my suitcase harder.

The guards nod while inspecting it with a weapon metal scanner then they open the gate and signal for me to enter. They both go back to their positions as I nod my head politely then make my way up the long pathway to the palace.

Everything I know about the royal family and Kane Black I was taught in school, the war had been the bloodiest of all wars, millions died around the world, nobody knew that supernatural beings existed, we just thought they were made up bedtime stories.

As I make my way, I see two figures standing by the entrance dressed in uniform I can only guess is what the workers wear on a daily basis.

An older pale woman and a small big bug-eyed creature, known as grim are standing waiting for hopefully me.

"Hello, I'm Acela Shaw, I believe you must be Elizabeth?" I ask confidently.

The older woman beams at me while the small creature looks bored. "Yes dear, I saw you at the gate, perfectly on time I like that. Come inside and I'll show you your room and the necessities. Oh and this here is Brim." She says politely.

The creature Brim grunts a hello as I nod politely and say hello back. I have a feeling Brim doesn't like me as the creature continues to scowl at me.

As we step into the main hall I can't take my eyes from the beauty of every single thing my eyes glance at. The ceiling is huge and the walls are covered in art I've never seen before, statues of people I do not know but are on display with marble and gold lining around the features.

"This here is the main entrance, we do not use this unless we are cleaning for events, come let me show you your room then we will get your outfit and Brim here will give you your schedule." She says as I follow behind her and Brim as I'm trying to keep up and look at everything we pass.

"Tomorrow you will start so I will show you your room than let you get some rest, it's a very long travel from the human realm is it not?" She asks curiously as she glances over her shoulder at me.

I nod shyly as Brim grunts at the word 'human'. "Yes, I come from Europe so I have been traveling since yesterday morning." I say.

She gasps. "Oh dear, let's get you settled in then and Brim and I can let you rest." She says sympathetically but Brim says nothing.

Elizabeth leads us down to an obvious part of the palace that is for the staff, everything is simpler and less expensive-looking than the rest of the palace, but in my eyes, it is still quite impressive.. there are hundreds of staff employed at the palace for practically everything.

Elizabeth stops in front of me abruptly and I almost trip. "Right this is you, room 859." She hints at the door. "This is your key and everything you need like your uniform is already inside, Brim here will hand you your schedule then tomorrow morning we shall have someone come at 5 am to collect you and teach you the ropes." She says professionally. "Any questions?" She asks and I shake my head.

She smiles widely. "Perfect! Brim?" She focuses on Brim now.

He grunts and hands me a black folder with the Black insignia with a gold B to me. "That should be everything, maps and information and of course schedules and the rules." She says pointedly. "We follow rules Miss Acela and we give no warnings on breaking them, King Black is very eminent on not breaking them." She says with a hard face and I nod nervously, not knowing what to say to that... I mean I figured.

"Right! That's all. Good luck and I shall see you soon. Brim." She says to me then hints to Brim as they both walk down the long hall as I stand there watching them turn around the corner.

I release a long-awaited breathe as I release the tension in my shoulders.

Oh my god, I was so nervous!

Juggling the stuff in my hands I open the door, thankfully not dropping anything, and enter the room.

Nothing about the room is flashy, theirs a bathroom and a kitchen and a bedroom but to me, it's simply wonderful, it's been so long since I've had something of my own that I feel instantly comfortable as I take off my shoes at the doorway.

I begin to put away my belongings as I check the apartment out. The view from the window is beautiful. You can see the depths of the fields and the royal garden from my room, much better than the one I and my mother had from the city.

I can't believe I'm here! I'm totally excited but a part of me is terrified of being in a new environment.. in The Vale. It has been my dream to come here with my mother.. she longed to see the wonders and the beauty of this realm.

No. I can't think about her now or I will have red puffy eyes tomorrow and I need to make a good impression. I need this job or I'll be homeless again... I was so lucky to get this job, the landlord forcefully made me move out without any money or belongings, just what I could carry in my bag, clothes and some keepsakes and memories of my mother.

With all my stuff packed away and my stuff placed out why I like it, I take a shower and get ready for bed, my body feels exhausted from being so anxious and overwhelmed from everything I've seen too far..

Placing the pictures of my mother and me on the bedside table I glance at it once last time before I turn the light off and sleep, tomorrow is going to be stressful. I hope you're proud of me momma, goodnight.

*****

It's currently 5 am sharp and I am dressed and my hair is tied up and professional for my first day at work in the palace...

I work for the royal family. Holy crap I am never going to stop getting super giddy at the thought!

A knock at my door makes me jump and stop smoothing down my uniform as I head to open the door.