"Alex, a maid servant in the castle, got arrested this week, when she tried to return the Princess-to-be's recents engagement ring from Prince Charles over to the royal guard. The maid claimed she 'found it' on the laundry room floor. She is now suspected of and is now in prison awaiting investigation for stealing the ring to get the reward." The weekly news screamed!

Alex fumed in her prison cell, They really suspect me ME of all people, of stealing that ring to receive the reward money, so that I don't have to work here? The freaking love working at the castle! I've been here since before my previous employer, nobleman George died. Honestly, they make me look like some kind of mastermind criminal for just being a good person.

Her eyes darted back and forth as she examined her grungy cell, there was hay scattered over the stone floor, the only light coming in was through a small window on the door, the walls were mad of grey brick, but the had black smudges from soot that came from the coal stove down in the boiler room. She looked down at her feet that were chained to the floor like an animal. I'm just glad I'm alive she thought. The punishment for the crime they are accusing me of is death. Even though I'm 18, I have a long life ahead of me, and I don't want to die!

She started thinking of all the things she would lose if they decided to find her guilty of a crime she didn't commit. She hoped they would be able to find the real thief soon.

"Oh Bash," she cried out, I'm gonna miss him so much! She gasped What if he thinks I'm guilty? Tears came to her eyes at the thought. She remembered how they first met in the ball room during a party that the king had thrown She had been one of the maid servants serving the food, and she was struggling trying to put a big pot on the table. He had walked up to her, and immediately started to flirt, he even tried to help, and since then he had always been kind to her, even though she was just a servant. He seemed to always look for her, and they spent many hours talking and flirting and him teasing her.

Suddenly the door groaned, pulling her out of her thoughts, as it slowly opened. In the doorway stood Bash. What is he doing here? She thought. Her face contorted into one of confusion, as she examined his face for some sort of explanation. He smiled slightly and gestured for her to stand.

"Come." He instructed. She struggled to stand up against the chains the tied her to the floor, as the guard the accompanied him tried to release her bands with his key.

"Follow me." he commanded. As she followed him out, she noted that the guards obeyed him, bowed, and greeted him with smiles.

He lead her out of the dungeon, and promptly turned down a long hall she had never seen before. The floor was made of stone and the walls were purple, paintings of the past kings and queens of Gardasia hung on the walls. He led her down another hall, looking back briefly as her with a small smile. He suddenly stopped, and unlocked a strangely carved door, with a key that he took off from around his neck. What's going on? She wondered.

The door creaked open to reveal a staircase leading upward. He gestured for her to go first after he shut the door. She slowly climbed the stairs ahead of him, wondering where she was going and why.

When she got to the top, she gasped, Wow, what a beautiful room! Painting adored the walls, there was a king bed with large mahogany bedposts, the bed had a white patterned bedspread with white lace pillow cases. There were hardwood floors, and long red drapes on the two windows across from the bed, as well as matching oak dresser and nightstand. She she noticed a door on the far side of the room and walked over to it, it's a full bathroom complete with a shower, bathtub, toilet, and sink. "It's beautiful! I've never seen a room like this." She gazed around in amazement. She looked at Bash, who seemed pleased that she was so happy with the room.

"I see the room is to your liking then?" He chuckled as he approached with a smirk, his eyes shining with laughter, stopping right in front of her. She felt her breathing hitch, and her palms get sweaty. She suddenly became very self-conscious. I love him so much, but he doesn't know it. She thought as her heart fluttered, why does he make me feel like this? She wondered. He has always made her feel so special, and he even told her to call him 'Bash' as a shorter version of his name, Sebastian. Does he feel the same way? She hoped.

"Yes" she said, looking away blushing, realizing she hadn't said anything for a while, she stared at the ground and started to play nervously with her fingers.

"This is your new quarters while they finish the investigation this afternoon." He said. She looked back up. "Oh, and I almost forgot" he smiled, as he trust an invitation towards her. His smile always lit up is face which made him even more gorgeous. He should smile more. She thought.

"You are invited to attend a little gala we having tonight, it's nothing much, just a bunch of illegitimates, once or twice a year, have a dinner together and talk."

"It's at supper, please come."

"Why me?" She asked. "Why are you doing this for me?"

"That" he said, "You will find out later." His blue eyes twinkled with mischief.

Her face crinkled in confusion as she tried to understand why she what invited, she unconsciously bit her lip when she reached for the invitation. He suddenly seemed whole a lot closer than he had before, her heart fluttered and her breathing hitched, she looked into his eyes and noticed he was staring at her lips. That's when she realized she was biting them, and quickly stopped. He let out a breath that she didn't realize he was holding, and all the tension that had built up in the room, suddenly evaporated.

He quickly turned around, and briskly walked to the stairs.

Before he walked down them though, he turned, smiled at her and said. "See you at supper." Then turned and walked down the stairs and out the door. She stared after him with hope in her eyes. Maybe he does like me. she thought. Letting out a breath, she opened the invitation, it read to dress in 'formal attire.'

"Great." She said aloud, as she started looking for a closet.

~~~~~~~~
Authors note:
Hey my readers! This is just a short story I wrote, it has two parts to it.
P.S. the picture is the ring that was stolen.