I get out of the washroom, now fresh and clean. I glance at the clean servant's uniform laid out on my bed. A pale blue ankle-length cotton dress. Comfortable, but dress? Really?

Letting out a tired sigh, I slowly ease the dress onto my body. The fabric was soft against my skin and very flexible too. Maybe it's not too bad.

After pulling my long hair into a braid, I step out of the room, into the hallway. It was long with several rooms on either wall. There were few girls walking about, but it was mostly empty.

I close the door behind me and start walking aimlessly, not sure exactly where to go.

I hear several pair tiny footsteps approaching from behind and before I could turn around to check its source, something hits my leg from behind.

I fall onto my knees from its force "Ouf". Looking up, I see tiny laughing figures running ahead of me, disappearing into the hallway. Dwarfs? I don't think the king would be too pleased to see dwarfs running around his castle causing chaos. Brushing off my hands, I lift myself from the floor and get walking again.

The guard from the previous night was stationed at the same spot, rigid and emotionless. I send a tiny wave his way when passing him. His eyes double-take when they notice me. Looking closely, I see that the tiniest of smile was tugging on his lips. I smile back, nodding at him.

Looking ahead, I notice that the girls in the hallway were all staring at me, eyes amused. Few of them were even bursting into fits of laughter. What the?

I suppose my shenanigans from the previous night spread already. I groan internally. And here I was hoping that no one saw it.

I pick up my steps and move forward, trying to keep a straight face. The girls were now whispering to each other, giggling each time their eyes fell on me, covering their faces with their palms. That's when I realize. They were not just laughing at me. They were laughing looking at me.

Ahh shit, is there something on my face?

I quickly run back to where the guard was stationed, "Sorry, let me please use your shield" I lean my face in front of the shiny surface of the shield and almost fall on my face seeing my reflection.

What the fuck??

My skin was no longer the bronze tone I was familiar with, instead, it was green.

I look down at my arms and scream. I was green! Head to toe. "Why am I green?" I ask, again screaming at the guard. He puts his hands up in defense, eyes wide.

How did this even happen? How can someone just turn green!

Hearing several pairs of footsteps approaching, my head, along with others, turn to the opening of the hallway.

Under a different circumstance, I would laugh at sight steadily approaching us. The sweet lady from yesterday was dragging what seems to be identical looking children, three of them. She was dragging two of them by their ears with each of hand and the third one was wrapped around her leg like a koala, trying to prevent her from walking.

Despite my current distress, a smile tugs my lips at the comical sight. "What have you rascals done this time?"

she gasps when she looks up and sees my green situation. "You little brats! Correct her right now!" she says, not taking her hands away from their ears.

"Miss Luanda, this is not how you treat a girl. I'll make sure to tell Ricky" says a tiny female voice, who's ears were currently under Luanda's mercy. "That's right! And I will stand by as witness for Gresie's words" says another tiny voice. "And I will stand by Giles' words," joins the last voice, who was barely hanging onto Luanda's legs.

"Yeah right. Whose ass do you think will get whipped when your "Ricky" finds out that you three devils have been turning his help's green again?"

So they have done this before.

"Ricky will not whip our asses, he loves us too much to even try," says the tiny girl self-assured. Luanda grumbles under her breath hearing the girl's confident remark.

"What is going on here?" asks the very voice that kept me awake last night.

That stupid scent is back again, I groan internally, my day keeps getting worse and worse.

"Ricky!" cries one boy, detaching himself from Luanda, he runs towards the king and clings onto his leg. "Ricky look, Luanda is torturing Gresie and Giles"

Hearing his comment, Luanda rolls her eyes and pulls her hands away from their ears. The other boy quickly runs and latches onto the king's empty leg just like his brother.

"What did you do now?" he asks, amused. Sensing me, he turns he head my way and his eyes widen seeing me in my green glory. Feigning a stern expression, he narrows his eyes at the children "How many times have I told you not to change other's skin color?"

"About 23 times" answer the little girl. "And how many times have you listened to me?" he asks again, "None" the tiny boy hanging on his leg like a koala reply.

"I'm telling you, all my hair will turn grey looking after these brats," Luanda says exasperated.

"If it makes you feel any better, I think you will look cute with grey hair," the other boy says. Luanda facepalms herself hearing him.

"Ok, now that's enough," the king says, "Correct her skin"

"But she looks better-"

"No buts Gresie, correct her skin. Now."

She sighs defeated, "Come on Greg, Giles"

All three of them walk towards me and place their hands on my shoulder, muttering an enchantment. I look down at my palms to see the green slowly fade, replacing it with my original skin tone.

"Now don't think you got off easy. This time I will punish you. This has been going on for too long," despite his stern face, his eyes twinkled with mischief.

"But Ricky-"

"No buts, it's time for your classes, I'll take you there," he says cutting all three off. Raising his palm, he offers it to the little girl to take. She huffs and crosses her arm around her body, stubbornly looking away.

Rolling his eyes, the king turns around and drops onto his knees. Smiling, the little girl wraps her arms around his neck and her legs around his torso. He stands up, facing the other two.

"Come on, boys," he says, raising his palms their way. Now defeated, they both hold each of his hands.

"I'll take it from here," he says, nodding at Luanda. With a tiny smile my way, he turns and leaves, carrying the children with him.

"What just happened?" I finally ask.

"That was Gregory, Giles, and Gresilda," she says sighing "Don't mind them, this is quite common around here," I nod slowly.

"How old are they? They speak awfully well for three-year-olds" she laughs hearing me "Oh no, they are not three, five actually. They are fairies"

That explains the tiny size

"Oh dearie, I just realized that I haven't introduced myself "My name is Luanda. I'm the head of the castle help"

I figured that already.

"Now, are you ready? I have a list of things for you to do today" she starts walking "Come on, follow me"

"Today you are positioned at the great hall, you will have to scrub the floor and dust the walls"

We stop in front of two enormous doors, Luanda pushes one open and we step inside.

I gasp looking at the magnificent room before my eyes. The ceiling was as high as the sky, with intricate designs littering its entire length. The right wall was supported with large pillars, gigantic windows between them. "Wow, this is beautiful"

"I know. Too bad this hall doesn't get used as often as it should," Luanda says.

"All the cleaning supplies are already here. I know you did not have breakfast, so I have kept some sandwiches for you. I will come and call you when it's time for lunch"

With a last goodbye, she leaves.

Let's get started, shall we?

After an interminable day of scrubbing, mopping, and dusting, I make my way to my room. Ready to fall face-first into the bed and sleep. Oddly, cleaning somehow felt familiar to my body, like I have done it several times before.

Maybe I was a maid before I lost my memory.

But then how would a maid end up being a prisoner. That too for high treason?

Reaching my room, I turn the knob, exhausted, and ready to retire. Opening the door, my jaw falls at the sight awaiting me.

Everything in my room from top to bottom was covered in one color.

Green.

Those impertinent lil fairies!

***

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