Chapter four 

It had been a few days since Aster first escaped that had gone awry, and since then she had tried and failed with other plans. 

Her second attempt was done by using brute force. Running through the palace like a madwoman, as a small army had chased after her. They were oddly surprised how quick she was on her feet, as well as how dirty she had played, with knocking anything down to block the guards path. It was going so great till she was barricaded at the palace. Elron was helpfully there; it had seemed that the emperor and empress had discharged him from his usual duties as an ambassador, and instead decree him to become the triplets' babysitter. Using a floating spell Elron had lifted Aster into the air and restrained with an invisible force. Aster had begun to regret that she ever shared a drink with the man, telling him as much. Elron had chuckled, though he enjoyed his travelling, he had a sneaking suspicion that his life was going to get a lot more interesting.

The next day Aster had come up with a much better plan. Creeping into the servant quarters on the lowest level of the palace, she stole a maids uniform, rapidly tearing her royal garments away. She covered her bright orange red hair with a cap, keeping her head down as she travelled through the cramped corridors. Aster was inches away from the door leading to her freedom, but was halted by an angry sounding lady asking her what she was doing.

“Oh i was-” Before Aster could answer, the woman shoved her away from the door, dragging her away. She handed Aster a mop and bucket, leaving her in one of upper palace corridors. 

She had tried to leave again but was stopped by two maids who took her by the arm, rambling that they needed her help with something. It was harder to steak away with two girls who constantly gabbered on with gossip and noticed when Aster wasn’t dusting as she should have done. 

“I love dusting,” one gushed, 

“Yeah who doesn't love dust and cobwebs filling your lungs,” the other spoke.

The first girl huffed leaving the other giggling, “oh, you missed a spot,” the first helpfully informed Clover, who balanced on top of a ladder, trying to reach up to the chandelier. 

“Thanks,” she grunted, not at all grateful, 

“Are you new? I’ve never seen you around before.” 

“Sure,” Aster muttered, 

“I’m just glad we found you,” the second one chimed in, “I didn't know if me and Sue could finish this work without help.” 

“Milgrid has been on everyones arses since the prince and princesses arrived.” 

“Tell me about it, she can really be so-so-” 

“Bossy,” Sue offered, 

“Yeah, but also a bit of a bitch sometimes.” 

“May,” Sue gasped, “what if someone heard you?” 

“No one would care, everyone knows it’s true. Right?” she directed at Aster. Aster nodded, she had to agree for the short moment she met Milgrid she had been awfully unpleasant.

“She thinks she’s so above us all because she was appointed by the empresses herself,” 

Sue giggled, “that's favouritism for you.” 

“I bet she’s enbelzing the staffs funds,” May added, “i’ve noticed that some things have gotten a bit too run down,” 

“What would she use the money for?” 

May smirked, “to short out that bird nest of hair,” both girls laughed. Aster enjoyed listening to the palace gossip, it was one thing she missed about her time as scullery maid. When they were done cleaning, the girls parted ways from Aster, she didn’t wave or smile like they did. Making friends never did feel natural for her, Clover was the chatterbox. Aster didn’t need friends she had her brother and sister, besides talking and hanging out with friends took time, time away from stopping Clover doing something stupid. No she didn’t need any. 

Later she had a shot at a third endeavour. But was once more interrupted by an elderly looking man who suddenly stacked Aster's arms full with books and beckoned her to follow him. She tried to tell him that she couldn’t but he didn’t take no for an answer. She spent the rest of the day stacking books under the watchful eyes of the man, who was intolerable if she had placed a book a fraction out of place. 

“What do they teach the young these days,” the man spoke disapprovingly, “you can’t even stack a book properly.”

“Why don’t you do it then,” 

The man raised his brows at Aster, “my is that how your parents taught you to speak to your elders. I’ll have you know I'm the head librarian here, I have been for seventy years.” 

“Wow, I had nearly thought you were as old as these books,” Aster said dryly. 

“I feel bad for whoever has to deal with you,” the man muttered. “No, no, no, no!” he shouted, “you’re doing it wrong, it’s that shelf there,” he pointed to the one above Aster. She groaned, 

“I must talk to Milgrid, she’s slacking on her hiring. You are the worst servant I have ever met.” 

“You haven’t met my sister then,” she murmured. 

“I would hit you with this cane, if i didn’t need it.” he grumbled. 

It was quiet for a moment, “i didn’t have parents,” Aster spoke as she picked up another book, 

“What?” 

“You asked what my parents had taught me, well nothing, I didn't have them.” 

The man creased his brows, “i see,” 

They fell into silence after that till Aster was done and dismissed from his sight. 

By evening she was too tired to even think about escaping and ended up shuffling back to her room, where Clover had stared at her puzzled and asked where she had been, Aster ignored her, and collapsed to bed. 

On a stroll to stables with Basil and Clover, Aster was struck with an idea. Spying a lone horse, she sprinted, and climbed up on it, tensing her thighs to urge it to move which it didn’t. It stood, turning it’s head to Aster giving out a snort. It started to graze happily on the grass. In hindsight it was the best of plans. 

Her last attempt had been while Elron had ordered her to be locked in her rooms, to cease any other attempts, as funny as they were, the guards were too tired to keep running after her. Her door was guarded by four men, which made it impossible to pass. So she had no other choice, Aster climbed out through one of her windows, she did not however anticipate that eight guards were stationed out by her windows, where they all too glad had escorted her back inside. 

Overall her first week at the palace had been a busy one, she hardly noticed Clover growing better in health or that Basil had begun to train with guards and knights. Yes, a very busy week indeed.