As the carriage turned in to the palace Alexandra was greeted with hushed whispers and furtive glances from the servants milling around, which she didn’t much appreciate. A guard opened the carriage door for her. Why? Opening doors was for nobles and royals, for guests of honour.

As the castle doors opened, she stood frozen in awe. A golden chandelier illuminated the hallway, dozens of candles standing in it, their light hitting the shards and beads of crystal draped on the golden skeleton. The chaotic ambience was overbearing, but Alexandra found it comforting no one was taking notice of her presence. Nobles chatted in groups, reminding her of the orphanage at mealtime, children sorted in groups based on the most vapid of criteria. Guards whispered to each other in hushed voices, careful not to disrupt the aristocracy talking of less important things.

Alexandra surveyed the room, eyes skipped over hers, disregarding her. Why shouldn't they ignore her? She was a child. A cook. A worker dressed in linen with brown skin and a mane of brown curls. 

But there was one girl. And it unnerved her. The girl was obviously the star of the conversation, with others of her type surrounding her, hanging on her every word. She had a captivating presence and a laugh that made those who heard it want to laugh with her. She was none other than the princess. Princess Eleanor, with a knee-length silk dress embroidered with colourful beads, undoubtedly her "casual" apparel in her daily life. Standing in the great hall surrounded by "friends", subordinates really. and she was staring straight at Alexandra. Her expression unreadable, annoyingly unreadable. 

The pair made eye contact and kept it. The princess's friends were catching on, staring at her and wondering what about the unremarkable girl had caught the princess's attention. One particularly brave girl, or maybe just particularly arrogant, went up to the princess and whispered something in her ear while snickering, eyes fixed on Alexandra. Eleanor didn't spare a glance at her, simply waved her away with the grace and the command a royal upbringing gives you. Eleanor broke the eye contact after what seemed like an eternity, going back to chatting with her friends not referencing the girl. Much to the relief of her shunned companion, no doubt worried about upsetting a girl leagues above her on the social ladder. 

Alexandra stood in confusion as she watched the group go back to ignoring her presence. Trying to distinguish what exactly the princess had stared at her with. It wasn't amusement, wasn't even fascination, wasn't a haughty glare which she would expect for making eye contact with a princess. Then she realised, expectation. And that scared her significantly more. That look of expectation stayed in her mind's eye as the guards ushered her away.