Page 64 of Maid for the Alien Prince

Our first stop was the largest hotel in town. There were no fewer than five former palace staff working there in various positions.

I supposed working at the palace came with a certain prestige, as well as a skillset that would be appreciated in the service industries.

The first two worked the lobby’s front desk. Petite with big, glowing smiles, they appeared welcoming and kind. When they laid eyes on Camila, their entire countenance brightened.

They were quick to check over their shoulders for a supervisor before running around the desk and embracing her. They conversed about how long it had been since they had last seen each other, squealing between hugs with words I could barely understand.

When Camila introduced me as the new Prince, their faces fell. All happiness and joviality faded instantly.

“We quit and carried out our period of notice,” they announced. “We haven’t done anything wrong.”

Camila shook her head. “This isn’t about anything you’ve done wrong. This is about something we want to fix.”

They cocked their heads to one side in unison. “Why would we want to return when we’re treated better here?” one said.

“And there’s no Ges to sexually abuse us here either,” the second one said.

Camila snapped to attention. “We’re… aware of Ges and his… actions towards the female staff. I can assure you he will no longer be a problem.”

Their eyes bulged in unison. “You’re saying he’s gone?” one said.

“I can’t believe he would quit!” the other one said. “Not with all the… benefits he gets from working there.”

For the first time since we began the conversation, the pair didn’t speak or move in unison. One rubbed her arm uncomfortably while the other rubbed her back supportively.

Clearly, Emma hadn’t been the only one to have been afflicted by Ges’ attention.

Camila embraced the slimmer girl, clutching her close. “I’m sorry that happened to you. It shouldn’t have. We’re making him pay right now. But don’t let him win by not returning to the palace if that would make you happy. If he’s the only reason you don’t want to return, then don’t let him win.”

The slimmer girl wiped a tear from her right eye just as the plumper girl wiped a tear from her left. Once again, they were back in perfect unison.

I stepped forward. “You were right when you said you’ve done nothing wrong. It’s actually me that made the mistake. And it’s something I want to fix. But I can’t do that if I have poor workers or a palace that’s not run effectively. That’s why we came here. You’re the best at what you do. I understand that if you returned to the palace, you wouldn’t want to do so under the same agreement as before.”

The two women folded their arms.

“We’re very happy here,” the slimmer one said.

“Very happy,” the plumper one said.

“We don’t have to work such long hours. And we get lots of time off. Nothing like the palace.”

“Nothing like the palace,” the fatter one said in agreement.

“You worked at the palace for three years before I arrived,” I said. “You must have enjoyed it a little…”

The pair shrugged their shoulders in unison. They were clearly not twins but they seemed to be linked by some form of bond.

I recalled the document Camila had prepared for me, with all of the details of the former palace workers. She told me to memorize it for when we discussed the working conditions with them.

There had been so many that I assumed I wouldn’t be able to absorb much of the information but apparently some of it had permeated.

“I’m open for discussions on whatever you want. Do you want shorter working hours? Then it will be yours. Increased pay? Just name your price. More time off? We can negotiate. And we’ll provide training too. You can learn or study whatever you wish to improve your chances of being promoted faster, and if we cannot promote you quickly enough, we will give you all the tools and knowledge necessary to do so at a place of your own choosing.”

Camila looked at me and frowned.

The not-twins frowned at me too, before their expressions melted into grins. “We’ll have to… think about it…”

I wasn’t an expert with human emotions but if they were half as pleased as I thought they were, we would have at least two workers rejoining our ranks soon enough.

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