Anastasia walked into the kitchen. She was hungry because it was mid-afternoon, and she had skipped breakfast. 

All the maids stopped their work as if almost on cue. 

She felt uneasy until one maid, who appeared to be in her sixties and had graying hair, spoke up. 

“Lady Anastasia, how can we help you?” she said. 

"Can I join you all to help prepare lunch?” Anastasia asked. She devised an excuse: She didn’t want to stop them from performing their jobs, and she missed being able to cook her meals. 

“Your mother would not be very happy to see you in the kitchen, my lady. Why don’t you head up to your study, and I’ll prepare a simple lunch for you”, the gray-haired woman said. 

She agreed, and a few moments later, the same woman walked into her study. 

She placed the tray on top of her desk. 

“Mi niña, you must be feeling better since you want to help out in the kitchen again,” she said. 

“I help out in the kitchen? I thought you said my mother would disapprove,” Anastasia said. 

“ Well, she does, but us kitchen maids don’t mind. You usually help us after dinner and in secret. Don’t worry; sooner or later, you will remember everything,” the old woman said. 

“I feel like I will never be able to remember. I only remember a few things. I’m sorry but I don’t even know your name” Anastasia said. 

“It's Lucia, Lady Anastasia. You can join me in the kitchen later, around 9 P.M., and we can bake a few fresh loaves of bread together.", Lucia said. 

“I would love to, too. Thank you.” Anastasia smiled at the old woman. She seemed to know the former Anastasia, and perhaps she loved her. 

She ate the lunch Lucia had prepared. Lucia informed her of the baking schedule they had created to avoid Anastasia’s mother. She also told her about the kitchen staff and the first time she helped them in the kitchen. 

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door of her study. A servant informed her that Lady Sophia was waiting for her in the study. 

So, her cousin, the famous Lady Sophia, was finally making an appearance. She informed the servant that would meet her soon. 

“Mi niña, please let me get another servant to attend to you before you meet with Lady Sophia,” Lucia said with urgency. 

Anastasia was startled but decided to trust Lucia’s advice. Her cousin would need to wait for her a few minutes more.