Filed to story: The Chosen Saga Novel PDF Free
“Why would you help me so much?”
“I have had a few run-ins with Korine. Believe me. She was as unpleasant as she is today.” The maid smirked as Araiya laughed.
“What is your name?”
“Emma, Miss.” Her maid glanced at her face as she got situated at Araiya’s feet.
“Emma, that is a lovely name. When did you have run-ins with the monster over there?” Araiya whispered to Emma, who started to work the cream into her feet. She couldn’t help but gasp; she had never been pampered this way, and it felt amazing.
Emma continued working, finishing her feet and moving on to her hands. She paused her hands for a second while she thought of what to say. “I used to go to school before I took this position. We were in the same age grouping, opposite yours. She always went out of her way to put down anyone not in the same social circle as her. I am from a meager family. I had to drop out of school to become a maid to help care for my family. Your sister has made it her mission to ensure I don’t get any work.” Emma started back on her hands. “She chose me for you because she thought I wouldn’t know what I was doing, and I would make a fool of both of us. I am going to make sure she regrets that choice. We will show everyone today that you are the better sister by far and that I am the best maid in this Goddess-forsaken village.” Emma had scrubbed and scraped her hands and feet and then slathered them in a cream that smelled like peach blossoms. She let that soak in and then put everything back into the warm water bowls while she moved on.
“That sounds exactly like something Korine would do, the miserable cow that she is.” Araiya couldn’t help but empathize. “Korine has gone out of her way to make my life miserable every day, so I know exactly how you feel. I am sorry that you had to experience it too.”
“Oh, it’s quite all right.” Emma giggled. “That cow will regret everything she’s ever done to us. We will make sure of that.” She winked at Araiya as she got up. “What color are you wearing tonight?”
“My brother bought me a black dress and cloak with purple accents that match my eyes. It’s the most amazing outfit I have ever owned. He got it for my birthday. Why?”
“I just want to make sure everything is perfect. Now close your eyes and don’t look until I tell you,” Emma called back to her. Araiya closed her eyes while Emma collected her materials from the table. Emma made her way back to Araiya. She poured some black powder into a mortar and added something to the weird-looking tube. She used the pestle to mix, and when she was happy with the consistency, she placed it to the side. She pulled Rai’s feet out of the water and dried them off with a towel. She grabbed a paintbrush from the floor, dipped it into the mortar, and used the combination she made to paint Araiya’s toenails. Once her feet were done, she did the same to her fingernails. Emma quickly rinsed everything out. “Now, miss, please do not move your hands or feet. I am going to get started on your legs.”
“My legs?” Araiya questioned. “What are you going to do with my legs?”
Emma laughed. “Unfortunately since a maid has never treated you, this will be a new process for you. I am going to remove the hair from your legs. Most maids use a sugar concoction that rips out the hair.”
“What do you mean you’re going to rip out my hair?!” She jumped when she felt Emma touch her legs.
Emma laughed again. “I said most maids rip out the hair. I, fortunately, do not. So, in the next few minutes, when your sister starts to scream, which I am almost certain she will, you will just have to lie back, relax and trust me.” Emma started grinding more ingredients in her mortar and pestle again. By the time Korine started screaming, Emma was done making her newest creation. Araiya felt Emma lather her legs with a thick cream and then let it sit. She also had Araiya lift her arms to get under. When Emma told her to stand to wait, Araiya was covered in cream from her ankle to the tops of her thighs, from wrists to her shoulder, her armpits, and anywhere else Emma saw unwanted hair.
Korine was done with her torture, looked over, and barked a laugh. “What in the world are you doing, Araiya? You look like a fool. Mother, doesn’t she look foolish?” The old woman looked over and started to giggle.
“You do look kind of funny, my dear. May I ask why you are standing there with everything covered in white cream and your arms out, but your eyes closed?” her mother questioned.
Araiya shrugged. “I am trusting my maid. As you know, mother, I have never had this experience, but Emma seems very knowledgeable, and I will trust what she says.” Korine snorted, and her mother hummed.
Emma came over to her side. “Thank you for putting your trust in me. I will not let you down.”
“I know you won’t. I believe you have just as much to prove as I do. I will say I do feel foolish standing like this, though.” Araiya smiled.
“Oh, I know you look downright stupid, but I promise it will be all worth it. Plus, you’re almost done, just one more minute with the cream sitting, and we can wipe everything off.” Emma walked to the table to grab more tools. Emma returned. Just like she promised, she wiped all the cream off Araiya. “Now, how do you want your hair to look tonight? How does your hair normally dry? Is it curly, wavy, or straight? Have you thought about styles or accessories?”
“Emma, this is the very first time I have done this. I have never had my hair done, help getting ready, or had clothes pretty enough to take the time to worry about accessories.” Araiya shrugged. “My hair normally dries curly. I don’t even know what styles are even popular right now. The only style my hair has ever been in is a ponytail, braid or bun. The only accessory I own is the necklace I was given today.” She showed her necklace to Emma.
“That is gorgeous. We have to show it off.” Emma pulled her over to a new table and told her not to look again as she quickly brushed out her still damp hair and slathered it in yet another cream. “Well, we’re going to have to wait until that sets and your hair dries more to work on your hair, so while we wait, I will work on your face. You can open your eyes if you promise not to look anywhere else but my face.”
Araiya quickly agreed as she felt foolish sitting there with her eyes scrunched closed. Emma got to work with powders and various colored creams. She lost track of everything that went on her face. Since she couldn’t see anything, she was very concerned.
“Okay, I need you to close your eyes again.” Emma worked on each eye slowly before she moved on. Once her eyes were done, Araiya was allowed to open her eyes again. Emma took a step back with a smile and nodded before she moved behind to work on Araiya’s hair. “It feels like you’re dry enough to style. Once your hair is done, we can get you dressed.” Emma started to braid and tug on her hair. “I don’t want you to look until you’re finished, okay?” Her hair felt like it took forever, and Araiya didn’t complain. Her hair never listened. After a few select curse words from Emma, she finally stepped back.
“Are you finished?” Araiya asked.
“Let’s get you dressed. Stand up and follow me, please.” Emma went behind the partition board after unwrapping her new dress. She handed it over to Araiya and stepped out.
After a few minutes, she had to call out. “Ummm, Emma, do you think you could give me a hand?”
“Sure thing.” Emma stepped around the partition to help and found her with the dress stuck around her hips. Emma started to giggle. “You have to unlace the dress first.” She undid the bodice and helped situate the dress. Once everything was in place, Emma re-laced the bodice.
“Can I look now?” Emma nodded and walked out from behind the screen so that they could make their way over to the mirror. Araiya was hesitant to look, so she walked with her eyes downcast. She had never been a pretty child. She was overweight and always stood out for the wrong reasons. She was afraid that today would be no different. Araiya knew that Emma had put in a lot of work, but she was worried that she did not have much to work with. Once she was in front of the mirror, she slowly raised her eyes and gasped.
The young woman staring back at her was someone she had never met before. With all the makeup on her face, she felt like she was going to look like one of those performers at a festival but instead looked beautiful. Her unruly black hair was held back by two braids on either side of her head, with the rest softly curling to her hips. Her eyes were lined with something black, which made her violet eyes stand out even more. Her button nose and cheeks were rosy, almost like she was feeling sick or was blushing. Her lips were painted a wine red. She looked healthy and grown up. She was used to seeing a child in the mirror. Now she saw a curvy woman. The black dress accentuated her shape. She looked less like the overweight girl she knew and more like a woman ready for the next steps in her life.
Araiya looked over at Emma to give her thanks and stopped when her eyes landed on her mother and Korine. Korine was sneering at her and was furious. There was a strange look in her eyes that she had never seen, almost like jealousy; but that was impossible. Her mother was a different story. She was crying. “Mom, why are you crying?”
“You just look so beautiful, darling. Ever since you looked up at me with your perfect face, I have been waiting for the day you realize just how beautiful you truly are, inside and out. I know I have not been able to give you the best things, but today, you shine.” Araiya’s mother walked over, grabbed her shoulders, and turned her back to the mirror. “I want you to look at yourself, Araiya. See what I have always seen. The most beautiful young woman. You have grown so much these last twenty-one years. I am only grateful I was blessed to be called your mother.” She kissed her cheek and smiled. “Well, now that I have broken down, it looks like the sun is setting. Which means…” Her mother trailed off, cocked her head towards the door, and smiled when she heard a knock. “Lincoln is always on time.” She walked to the door and opened it.
“It is time to go, Mother. Is everyone ready? The ritual starts soon.” Lincoln looked past his mother to Araiya, and his eyes widened, and he broke into a grin. “Rai, you look stunning. I was told the dress would look good, but I honestly had no idea. Are you ready?”
“Almost. She just needs her cloak and shoes. Here darling, the slits in the dress will showcase the boots.” Emma helped Araiya into the boots, as doing it herself in the dress seemed impossible. She donned her cloak, and everyone was ready to leave.