Chapter 1

From the first time she saw his face, she was scared. He is a tall man with brown hair. His name is His Royal Highness King Kevin the I. He is the king and he owns the palace that she forcefully call home.

Miley's POV

Life in the palace is not what one would call easy. I've been living here since I was 2. My mother was chosen by the king to be a servant. I was hidden from his Royal Highness until I was 7. At that age, I was able to do a few small jobs here and there. The king did exile my mom from the kingdom but he let me continue to work. Of chorus the king has his 3 sons Prince Kevin the II, Prince Joseph and Prince Nicholas. Prince Nicholas is my age according to what I heard from his maid. I'm not one of the servants who has the privilege of seeing the Princes. A servant like me is not one who leaves the kitchen without being ordered to do so. I cook all day and clean all evening until the clock rings 10 times. At 10 in the night, I'm to in my room and not leave. If you can call it a room. It's really small. It has just enough room to fit my bed, a small wardrobe for my clothes, a little fauset for washing my face, and a little wall mirror to make sure that I look presentable before I commence my work in the morning. I get in my room and I change into a nightdress. I get into bed but a noise prevents me from sleeping. I hear a piano being played outside. I open my curtains just slightly and I see a handsome boy playing the piano while a bunch of other people in fancy outfits danced. That's one thing I crave to be able to do. I want to be out there with them in a beautiful dress listening to music and dancing to the music until my feet were sore and eventually if I'm lucky, someone will teach me to play the piano. I want to play it so long until my fingers go numb. I see someone looking up towards my window and I close the curtain abruptly. I immediately get right under my covers and I let the music from outside lull me to sleep.

The next morning

Miley's POV

I wake up after the clock dinges 5 time just like I'm use to and I get ready for the day of work and chores that I know await me. I start by combing my hair until all the knots are out. I start weaving my hair into 2 clean, neat and proper french braids with red ribbons at the end to keep them together. I pull on my work clothes and I tie my apron. I rush to the kitchen to make sure I'm not late. It's only natural for me to jump right to work by preparing eggs, putting bread in the oven, making oatmeal and cutting up fruits.

"Miley can you help one of the other cooks make the pancake?" The boss of the kitchen asks.

"Sir, I can't." I tell him weakly.

"Why not? You are not allowed to disobey orders from me!" He states angrily.

"Sir, I can't do it because I can't read. I can only cook things I've been shown how to cook. Surely Cook Anthony hasn't the time to show me how to cook a pancake." I tell the kitchen boss risking a punishment for disobeying.

The punishment for disobeying is something to be feared. Not only are you not allowed to eat, but you are to go into the basement and sit in the cold an dark until you are released.

"It's alright Miley, I'll show you how to cook pancakes." Cook Anthony says as I go over to his station.

Anthony shows me how much milk and flour and all the other ingredients I need and shows me how to know when to stop mixing. I'm delighted that I made pancakes acceptable for the King on my first try. After the hussel and bussel in the kitchen was done and the last plates were served, we eat some stuff that was extra while the kitchen head is gone upstairs to do some of the King's orders. The food is distributed evenly amongst all the kitchen staff. We would be terribly punished if we were caught eating the food that was prepared for the King and his family. We get served tea, bread and servant soup later in the afternoon, but extra food is always nice since the servant soup is fowl. We are the only ones who know it's contents. We are closely monitored when we make it to ensure we didn't put anything extra in it. Sometimes I slip in some extra meat or spices when the Kitchen Boss isn't looking. We shove the rest of the leftovers in our mouths and chew the last buts just before the Kitchen Boss comes back in.

"Come on people! Let's get moving on lunch! The royal family doesn't cook for itself." The Kitchen Boss yells as we scramble to a station and start cooking various things.

I start stirring a rich chicken soup when I see a figure in the doorway. My eyes lock with his and I remain frozen. Everyone bows down. Cook Anthony pulls me down and we all get back up as we see the young man is about to speak.

"Staff of the kitchen, my brothers and I will be in absence of lunch and dinner as well. You are to only prepare a meal for his Royal Highness, her Majesty and the baby growing inside her." The young man says as he leaves giving me a smile.

I go back to my station next to Anthony.

"Who was that?" I whisper.

"That was his Royal Highness Prince Nicholas." Chef Anthony replies.